Summer Of Sixty Nine

Chapter 7. Stay Alive

Danny's POV

Waking up for almost death is the scariest thing ever. I never thought it would happen but here we are. My eyes roll in and out of consciousness and my body feels weightless. Like I'm flying. Black then blurs. I wanted to wake up and call for help. That I am alive. But my body wasn't in my favor. The only thing I could think of was staying alive. Staying alive for Gio, staying alive to make my dreams come true. Just stay alive.

I needed to wake up fully. I need to make sure not to get into any more harm. 'WAKE UP DANNY' I think to myself 'WAKE UP.' Every muscle in my body was working to wake myself up. I was in a lucid dream thing and I need to be out of it right now. My eyes open once more but this time they stay open. 'I DID IT!' My thoughts immediately go to my surroundings. The sight was different from when I was knocked out. I was wrapped around someone. But who? The smell of Gio's cologne filled my nose and his long dark brown hair came into sight. Was he carrying me? I finally get words out "gio?" I whisper barley but enough for him to hear. "DANNY!" He set me down on the cool concrete and hugged me and held on for dear life. Marsha came into my view and she smiled at me.  "Where am I?" I question with my groggy voice. "We are back on Christopher Street. We are going home." He smiles slightly at me and I smile gently back. But the pain in my frail body came shooting up. "AH"  I sucked air through my mouth with my teeth touching making a hissing sound. I have never felt pain quite like this before. It was like almost dying all over again. Nothing felt broken but the bruising was going to hurt forever. "Hey, shhh. It's okay. Let's get you back to my apartment." Gio spoke calmly but I knew that he was freaking out on the inside. I tried to stand but my legs gave out before I got up all the way. "Come here. I got you." The slim boy but more muscular than me picked me up like it was nothing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist and he began to walk. He turned to Marsha and mouthed 'I got this.' she nodded and walked ahead of us getting to her apartment. It was silent the whole time. But it wasn't tense. It was really comforting. I played with Gio's hair like a little kid the whole time he walked back. How was I so unlucky but so lucky at the same time? I was practically homeless but I had amazing people who cared about me.

We eventually made it to Gio's apartment complex, and it was kind of scary at night. The bright town that this once was just a few hours ago was now dark and dim. He lifted me up the two flights stairs and we got to his door. He took out his key and unlocked the dark brown door. He twisted the silver knob and pushed it open. The sight that I saw was the saddest thing I had seen all week. The place was not furnished at all and there was lying covering almost the whole floor was Tayse, Kai, and Annie. "Welcome home." Gio said in a sad tone. He set me down and made his way over to the corner of the room. He grabbed a blanket and layed it over the hardwood flooring and took off his shirt and jeans. "You coming?" He asked me. I nodded and tried to stand up. My legs actually worked this time. I slowly walked over to him and copied him taking off my shirt and pants. I layed down next to him, then put my arm under my head to act as a pillow. The boy rested his arm on my side, sending a shiver down my spine. "You know, this is only temporary. Just as soon as I can make some real money, we won't have to live like this anymore." Gio spoke quietly as I closed my heavy eyes and listened to his amazing, whispering voice. "I have a cousin in California. He is a doctor, and he has a big house, and lots of palm trees. I'm not smart enough to be a doctor but you could. You could become a doctor, and we could live like him." He rambled on. "I could cook, and clean. I could go grocery shopping. Would you like that Danny?" He asked. I felt his presence looking at me and then going back to his spot on the floor. "Good night Danny." He kissed my shoulder gently and laid his head down. I thought to myself before I fell asleep, 'I would love that Gio.' Then I fell into dreamland.

I was rudely awakened to the pounding on the old, dark brown door. "OPEN UP. YOU HAVE TO GET OUT!" A man shouted banging on the door. "Will someone please answer the door!" Tayse said groggily sitting up from her spot on the ground. Gio jumped up to his feet and said to the man through the door, "Aw come on mister, we will pay for the day. We will be really nice, won't we girls?" Annie nods while Tayse opens her sass, "I could be real nice, but I don't want to." I giggle internally at her remark. "You better be out by eleven thirty.!" The man shouts once again. "Okay girls, let's go. We gotta get out of here." I sit up gently and careful not to irritate any of the bruising. I grab my clothes from the pile I left them in and put them on. The pants had dried blood on the cuff but it wasn't that bad. "Girls, we are going to go out to the Stonewall tonight?" Tayse asks in a questioning tone. Everyone in the room shook their heads with excitement. "Well it's settled, we are going dancing." She dragged out the 'G' with a squeal. "I need an outfit." She spoke with some concern but like she had an idea. Just then she walked over to the window and pulled one side of the curtains down. The fabric laid in her hands and I was shocked. "You just take whatever?" I ask while putting on my pants. "Yup, if you are like us, we have nothing. I only take what I don't have... which is everything." I smile a little bit. "Plus that jackass landlord is kicking us out, so he deserves it." Gio spoke with anger but humor in his voice. "Okay let's go ladies!" Tayse shouts and walks out of the dark wooden door. I pull my shirt over my head and follow them.

We make our way to the steps of the apartment building and we take a seat. My daily routine starts. What day is it? I ask myself It's June twenty-seventh, nineteen sixty-nine. How is the weather? Hot, very hot. How is your family? I'm not too sure on that one. Then my brain goes to my little sister. I miss her a lot. I wonder when she has been doing without me. I wonder if she stays up thinking about me, or if she has gotten over me. Maybe she wants to talk to me. Or maybe she doesn't. "Earth to Danny." Gio woke me out of my trance and waved his hand in front of my face. "What?" I jumped a little. "You good?" He asks. "Yeah, just thinking." I reply, going back into my space-out zone. "Okay," he drags out the 'y' and returns to his conversation with Annie. This day is going to drag on forever, I just know it.

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