˙˚∘⊹🦋⊹∘˚˙ Butterfly in the Moonlight

- CHAPTER 17 -

Rylee impatiently tapped her foot, not trying to rush the nurse but she was stressed. She didn't know why, she was fine earlier (only like, six minutes ago), and now she was panicked and stressed.

The nurse walked over to her, handing Rylee the cups of water. She patted Rylee's head before a doctor came up to her, and pulling her away.

Rylee narrowed her eyes, clearly unnerved by how quickly the doctor rushed the nurse away. She brushed it off, pursing her lips together as she walked back to Johnny's room.

Rylee poked her head in, giving a sweet smile. "Hey Johnny." Rylee said as she sat down next to him, leaving her own cup on the table beside her. She smiled warmly at him, before helping him take light sips of the cold water.

"Hi." He responded, his face crinkling and his small dimples showing as he smiled. "Thank you." Johnny croaked out, attempting to adjust himself before groaning.

"Maybe don't move yourself, dummy." Rylee scoffed, clearly teasing but got up to help adjust him. She groaned herself, gently moving the boy to where he was more comfy.

"Rylee," he started, biting his lower lip, "I'm scared."

"I know." Rylee replied, lowering her eyes before looking back up at Johnny. "You ain't going to die, Johnny." Rylee mentioned as she held out her pinky. "I swear on that."

"Don't—" He started, before Rylee gently nudged her pinky into his. "Fine. I swear on it too." He smiled, a small toothy grin coming from his burnt face.

Rylee blushed at the smile, before returning the smile, but wider and more herself. She jumped at the nurse opening the door, and knocking.

"Mister Cade," the nurse hummed, "you have a visitor." She said before exiting the room.

In came Johnny's mom, her footsteps heavy. Johnny widened his eyes, which caused alarm in Rylee's face.

"Johnny—are you okay?" Rylee asked before the woman moved her chair away, and trying to talk to Johnny. "Hey!- he looks scared shitless!" Rylee stood up, and wedged her way in front of Johnny's mom.

"That is my son. I'm not letting some random woman interrupt—" Johnny nervously looked between the two. Rylee flinched back before looking at Johnny. His face was all she needed for her to grab a doctor from the hall.

"Sir!" She called out, rushing not out the door, staying in the room. "Can you get this woman out of this room-" Rylee asked, before the woman grabbed onto her leather jacket, tugging it.

"This is my son!" The woman cried out. She shook Rylee like she was a doll. Rylee flinched back, however managed to get the woman's death grip off of her. "I will not be leaving—"

Rylee watched as doctors rushed to take her out of the room. Rylee stared blankly before blinking slowly. She looked back to Johnny, who looked horrified. "Johnny?" Rylee asked, tilting her head.

"W-What?" He sputtered. Rylee softened her gaze, walking over and carefully wrapped a arm around him. Giving him a side hug. Rylee felt him rest a hand on her back.

"Are you okay?" Rylee asked softly, drawing back and leaning against the wall. Rylee held out a hand, letting Johnny gently rest his hand against hers.

Johnny thought for a moment. Rylee had thoughts, considering she had seen scars and such, she assumed it was from fights. It never occurred to her what else it could mean. "I'm..okay, I guess."

Rylee pursed her lips. "I guess?" She quipped, tilting her head to the side.

"It's..it's a rough topic." Johnny simply replied, looking away.

Rylee nodded, falling silent. She assumed what it was, child abuse, maybe physical? Rylee didn't want to push the topic, so she bit her tongue.
———
Rylee stayed awake, watching her lover rest beside her. Tears pricked her eyes, and she was glad Johnny was asleep. Rylee wiped the tears, leaning her head against her hand.

A small sniffle came from her, which she muffled by hiding it in her leather jacket. Rylee silently cried, anxiety overwhelming her. She bit hard on her lip, and bounced her leg up and down.

It was creeping up her chest, and she hated it.

Rylee wiped the tears after Ponyboy and Dally came into the room. She grimaced and looked to the side.

"Hey! Rylee—" Ponyboy started, a bit of blood splattered just about everywhere. He paused when he noticed her wet cheeks. "Rylee?"

"Mmm.." she hummed, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Ponyboy. "What?"

"We uhm.." He tugged on his jacket. "We won the rumble."

"Oh. Good job." Rylee gave a thumbs up, and a small, yet broken smile on her face. "Proud of you two."

Rylee panicked when she heard the heart monitor start to shift between very high and very low. She got out of her seat, pushing by the boys in a frenzy as she skidded into the hall.

"We need a doctor!-" she called out, breathing heavily as she watched a group of doctors come rushing down the hall. Rylee waited for them to pass, before trying to get by Dally or Ponyboy—but she froze as she entered the room.

Rylee blurred out, however she didn't stop moving. She stood beside Dally.

She could barely see, or hear, but she felt Johnny touch her hand with his crinkled hand. Rylee blinked away the tears and stared down at his blurred hand.

"Love—" was all she could hear as she felt him pull away. She wanted to sputter out something.

She watched Johnny fall in and out of consciousness. "I love you." Rylee said, blinking away the tears. She pursed her lips tightly together as she stared down at Johnny.

Rylee flinched at the flatline. Rylee kept her hand clenched around Johnny's. All she could was sputter, before watching Dally leave the room in a frenzy.

Rylee stood there for a few. Leaning down to gently kiss Johnny's hand as she watched Ponyboy leave after.

"I love you, mi amor." Rylee breathed out, kissing his hand again. "I'll keep them under control for you." She smiled warmly, and kissed his cheek.
———
She raced down the street.

Rylee was much faster then the rest of the gang behind her.

Her heart raced. Pounded against her ribcage.

Rylee heard the gunfire.

"DALLAS WINSTON!" Rylee screamed out, her vocal chords ripping as she stumbled, skidding on her knees beside his dead body. She shook him, shaking him hard as tears poured down her face.

"Dally—Dally!" She sobbed, shaking him with blood colored hands. Rylee pulled him into her arms, sobbing into his dead corpse.