Word count:2,017
Pages: 8
TW: Abuse
Recap: Nothing
Notes: Sorry that it's all a flashback. Enjoy!
I have known the gang for ages. But Johnny I have known forever.
Flashback
After lots of pleading and convincing my mother finally allowed me to explore my new neighborhood, later she will wish she hadn't. Walking on the hot pavement I felt free. My long blond hair swaying behind me as I take in my new surroundings. The trees here are greener, and the streets are less filthy. I moved here from the city a week ago, it was perfect here. Suddenly I stopped admiring this place because, through my daydreaming, I heard a small voice protesting,
"Stop! Leave me alone!" I turn around to the origin of the noise to see a boy my age getting wailed on by two bigger boys. My initial reaction was to defend him, which is what my seven-year-old self decided to do.
"Leave that boy alone!" To my surprise the boys back away from him. I stand feeling proud until they start heading towards me. They chuckle as they do so. "Get away from me! Don't come any closer!" I scream. I realize I have made a mistake, and it is too late to run, these boys will catch up to me in no time. I have to do the unexpected. I already know that this will end up in me getting beat up, but I'd rather go down with a fight than without one. So I wind up and bolt towards the boy that looks smaller, I run through his midsection tackling him to the ground. Throwing a few hits before the second boy peels me off on him. The boy whom I tackled looked almost as surprised as I was. I didn't think I'd take him to the ground. As one boy holds me back the other menacingly rubs his fist. He starts running towards me and I clench my eyes bracing for the impact but it never comes. The boy who was getting beat up recovered and just in time tackled him to the ground. Meanwhile, the other boy was shocked enough that I was able to wiggle out of his grasp and I tried to remember what my mother always told me.
"If a boy tries to hurt you, aim in between his legs, that will hurt him bad." Knowing this I charge towards him and kick him right in the area just like my mom said. He crumples to the ground and rolls around clutching in between his legs. I look back to see the two boys still wrestling on the ground. The boy I was helping was squirming underneath the bully's weight so I shoved him off and then pulled the boy up. Without saying anything I grabbed his hand and ran with him. I looked back and instantly wished I hadn't. The two boys made a full recovery and were sprinting at us. The boy sped up at this and was now dragging me.
"Follow me!" He said breathlessly.
"Where?!" I questioned.
"Do you trust me?" He asked not breaking eye contact. I nod hesitantly. He led me causing me to swerve through various buildings until I noticed we had finally lost the bullies.
"We lost 'em" I cheered.
"Not yet. Don't stop running." I stare confused but listen and keep going despite my confusion. We soon come to a halt at a vacant lot. I look around at all the broken-down cars, an old couch, and a large blue tarp.
"Why here?" I asked. He points at some other boys who soon come out from behind a tree. They come swarming up to us.
"Johnny!" They all greet him.
"And who's this?" Another blond boy adds.
"She saved me from some Socs, can ya believe it?"
"No shot." Another boy wearing a brown leather jacket comments.
"I'm Y/n." I finally say.
"How come we haven't seen you before?"
"I'm new around here." I rock back and forth awkwardly.
"Can she hang out around here for a little?" Johnny asked.
"Why would we let a girl in?" The boy in the leather jacket scoffed.
"She's probably stronger than you, she took down Jason and Brandon!" I silently blush at the comment. It was nice of him to defend me.
"Stronger than me? Please."
"Give her a break Dallas. She saved me."
"Fine, whatever." Dallas gave up.
"Here lemme show you around." Johnny smiled. As he motioned me to follow him he demonstrated how the stained couch could pull out. And how they'd line up glass bottles and then roll tires into them. All the while the boys were drowning me with questions about, where I came from, how old I was, and how I took down the "Socs", as they called them. Finally, I asked a question, "
"What's a Soc?"
"Well, the Socs, short for Socials, are "the jet set, the West-side rich kids," who are from higher class families." I nod only half understanding. Being rich makes them mean? I shook it off and settled in. Laughing and joking with them. I only soon realized the sun was going down and my mother must be more than worried.
"I should go." I stand up from the couch when someone grabs my hand to stop me.
"Let me walk you home." I look back and see Johnny standing up. I nod gratefully, I didn't want to run into another Soc. At least not alone. Another boy pops up, he looks older than Johnny.
"I'll go as well. Just in case." On the way home we all talk a lot, and when Johnny notices someone coming remotely near us he pulls me closer to his side. Once I reach home I hug him.
"Thank you," I say. He stays surprised for a second then hugs me back.
"Thank you as well," I say to the boy whose name I learned was Ponyboy. I pull back and wave goodbye to both of them.
"See ya around!" Johnny shouts as I retreat into my house. I hope so. I turn around slowly bracing myself.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" my mother shouts. I freeze at the door carefully not to make a sound or any movement. She continues yelling at me. This has gone on for a while now but it has got worse, I've learned to drown her out. Like how I am now. I often try to think about the good times we had, before she, changed. After my dad died she got all crazy and hopped up on drugs and alcohol. She looked horrible today, eyes red and swollen, her hair matted, and how she couldn't stand on two feet without stumbling. Before I know it I see a glass hurtling towards my face, I wrap my arms around my head as fast as I can. The glass still lands on the side of my face and smashes leaving small cuts and a deep gash just next to my left eyebrow.
"ARE YOU LISTENING NOW?!?" My mom yells like a lunatic as I crumble to the ground in front of the door.
"LOOK AT ME!" she shouts continuously. I sob without making eye contact until I realize I don't have to take it anymore. I muster up my energy and in a swift motion, I jump up and swing the door open. When my mother realizes I'm trying to leave she begins to run then trips and face-plants. I take my opportunity and run out the door not even bothering to close it. I ran how I was when running from the Socs. I work my mind harder than I do for a test at school trying to remember all the turns to get to the empty lot. After failed attempts I find myself giving up when I finally find it. But nobody is there. I search around but soon realize I'm alone. I break down and fall to my knees, sobbing.
"Y/n!" I turn my head and it's Johnny. He notices my tear-soaked, puffy, bloody face. He marches up to me angrily.
"What happened!? Did another Soc try to hurt you?" He kneels beside me and puts a hand on my shoulder. I slowly shake my head, knowing if I talk I'll break into sobs again.
"Because I saw you running around everywhere and I-"
"My mom." I manage to squeeze down, Johnny's face softens and he asks,
"Your.. mom?" I nod. He hugs me careful not to touch my wounds. I hear him quietly start to cry and sniffle. I pull back and look at his face. I shoot him a questioning look that says, what's wrong?
"My parents also hurt me." I only now notice all the bruises on his face. He wipes his tears before saying,
"We need to get you help." He grabs my hand and I follow. He guides me towards a convenience store with a sign that says "DX".
"We'll ask someone for help in there." I nod still not letting go of his hand. A bell chimes as we walk in.
"Hello h-" the man looks up and a look of concern washes over his face as he sees my beat-up face. He instantly walks over and crouches down to my level.
"What happened?"
"She got hurt," Johnny answered.
"I can see that, by who?" He questioned. Johnny looked at me and I shook my head. He got the signal and said,
"A random stranger threw a bottle at her." He only stared at us for a few more seconds, suspicious, then dialed 911. An emergency truck rushed over soon after. They tried to separate us and bring Johnny home but refused, he held a tighter grip on my hand. I also refused to go on if he couldn't.
"Fine. Just let the kid come on." Another paramedic told the one talking to us. At the hospital, they wrapped my head in thick bandages that made me wince. They asked me questions like, how old are you, what's your name, and what happened. Meanwhile, another worker told Johnny what a good job he did telling the gas station worker. But the whole time Johnny was paying attention to me and every time I showed pain Johnny would almost shoot up from his seat. Once I was all patched up they asked,
"Where do you live sweety?" Johnny saw me struggling to answer so he jumped in and gave them an address that I didn't recognise. I shot him a questioning look, but he gave me a reassuring smile which made me instantly trust what he had planned. They drove us to a small house that was unfamiliar. I hopped out of the car waiting for Johnny. I saw him talking to the paramedic. He finally convinced them to drop him off here as well, not at his house. This is the Curtis's. Johnny casually opens the door and walks in. As soon as I walk in I instantly recognize three of the boys from before. They begin to greet Johnny until they notice my face.
"Holy- what happened?" ponyboy asks. Once again Johnny asks me through his gaze if he can tell them. I nod this time. He explained everything in detail as if he were there. The Curtis's mother came in with a warm expression until she saw my face and concern overtook her face instead. She offered me many different treatments, although I just wanted to sleep. She asked if I would like to stay for a while. I was glad she asked because I was too shy to ask for myself. Of course, I agreed. Mrs.Curtis was quick to kick one of the boys from their bed so I could sleep there, I tried to deny her proposal but she insisted. Ultimately I was relieved I could sleep on a bed unlike at my own house where I sleep in the basement. She gave me a warm blanket and I quickly dosed off. End of flashback.
