˙˚∘⊹🦋⊹∘˚˙ Butterfly in the Moonlight

- CHAPTER 15 -

Rylee's hands fumbled together, her head slumping to the side as she felt her knees buckle together. "Dally?" She spoke quietly, a somewhat dull look was on her face. Rylee pushed her head up back into place, it's not like she was dislodged in place. She just felt limp and dead.

"Doll-" Dally quickly rushed over to her, gently setting his hands onto her face. He scrunched it together as he leaned down and gave a gentle kiss to her hair. "You should be in bed."

"Nah, got bored." Rylee squeezed her right eye shut as Dally quickly lead her to the room her and Johnny shared together.  She fumbled with the bandages on her hands, pursing her lips in frustration when she couldn't tear off the bandages. "Besides, Johnny sounds horribly thirsty."

Dally never responded to her, which made her bite the inside of her cheek. The hospital gown dropped off her shoulder, giving her a cold breeze as she shook from the cold. He nudged her towards the bed, which she just flopped onto the bed. Even though it kinda hurt, but Rylee didn't care at the moment.

Rylee shuffled underneath the thin hospital sheets, before sighing and shoving her head deep into the small pillow that was provided for her. Rylee's fingers crumpled around the fabric as she curled up underneath the sheets .

Dally watched as he scanned over the area. The IV bag dripped fresh water into Johnny's system. He face was stern, his thin lips curled into a frown in a way. His fingers tightened around the jean jacket he always wore.

"Dally.." Croaked out Johnny from underneath the bed. Dally quickly gazed towards Johnnys' body. "Can I..get some water?" He asked awkwardly as he bit his lip nervously.

Dally nodded, even though Johnny couldn't see it anyways. "Yeah. I got you Johnnycakes." Dally had that stupid small smirk on his face, and he quickly lost it as he turned around to leave the room to grab Johnny some water.

Ponyboy sat in the chair between Rylee and Johnny's cots, his book, "Gone With The Wind", laying beside him on the table. His gaze stayed put on the book, overthinking to himself about if he should read to Johnny or not.

Ponyboy sighed as he picked up the book, and flipping the book open to the set page he was originally reading from with Johnny and Rylee—well, Rylee had read to the two of them.

Johnny groaned and moaned as he moved his body a bit. "Pony..what are you doing?" He questioned, even though he could somewhat already tell that Ponyboy was reading. Johnny was more curious about if Ponyboy was reading to him or just himself.

"Gunna read to you." Ponyboy murmured under his breath, he shook in the cold room before sighing. He started to read, but he was already starting to nod off, nearly falling asleep three pages into the book.
———
Rylee woke up dazed. She groggily groaned as she tossed and turned, before laying with one arm under head, and her hand falling off the bed. Rylee squished her hand together, wincing at the small pain that shot up her arm.

She looked around from her spot. It was darker, Johnny and hers' room was lit by a dimmer light on the ceiling. Only a small lamp also provided some light.

Ponyboy was knocked out on the chair, his head slumped back and he gave a soft snore anytime he breathed.

Rylee groaned as she pushed the covers off of herself, and got herself onto her feet. The floor was cold beneath her feet as she squeezed past Ponyboy's chair, and made her way to the hallway.

Rylee poked her head into the hall, nurses and doctors bustled around and managed every room besides the trios. She gave a glare as she shuffled her way out, her hands crossed in front of her as she walked down the hall.

Nurses and doctors ignored her, just moving past her and talking amongst themselves. Rylee peaked into a room, it looked like a small break room. Her eyes brightened when she saw water, she wanted to grab cups for the trio in the room.

Rylee walked in, looking around and found three of those paper cups. She groaned as she bent down to fill each cup close to the brim. Rylee kneeled down as she set the cups onto the counter, before picking them up again and leaving swiftly.

She passed the nurses, keeping her eyes down at the ground as she managed to get back into her room. Rylee fiddled with the cups in her hands, setting them onto the shared table side as she sat herself back onto her bed.

Rylee stared blankly at the ground, wrapping her hands around her arms and shivering. Why didn't she wrap herself in the blankets? She didn't know. Rylee was just blank, dull, and so, so exhausted.

Rylee blinked as she looked at Ponyboy's shifting body. He groaned as he yawned, opening his eyes to see the water set onto the table side. Ponyboy smiled. "I'm glad the nurse brought us some water." Ponyboy mentioned as he leaned forward to grab a cup of the water.

"Wasn't a nurse." Rylee said, her voice scratchy and rough. "It was me."

"How? They let you bring it?" Ponyboy quizzed, leaning back onto his chair and crossing his legs. "I'm assuming you snuck it in, yeah?"

Rylee snickered, a small smile showing on her cracked lips, "Yeah. Who knew that nurses and doctors are oblivious to a patient sneaking into their break room." Rylee said as she grabbed herself a water, and sipped it slowly.

"What time is it?" Ponyboy asked as he thumped his fingers against his thigh. "Ah. Shit. I forgot to go home..fuck." He whispered as he went to get up, but Rylee shook her head. "What?"

"You might as well stay. Socs roam at night, and well, I doubt Johnny would want you gone." She pointed out, sipping her water before shifting, and then laying down fully. "Just wait till the morning."

"Yeah..will do."