They both are the ones

Chapter 7-I'm Okay

When I made it back home I slowly walked up the walkway, Sodapop helping me. Once we reached the front door he opened it.

I saw Johnny sitting on the couch, he was fidgeting with his hands. He also had a worried look in his dark eyes. When he realized we were there his head snapped up to look at me.

He crossed the room quickly, pulling me into his arms. I hugged him back, feeling safe and comforted in his arms.

After a few moments we both pulled away. We locked eyes before he spoke in a serious tone "are you okay? I heard about what happened, I'm so sorry, I should never have let you go off on your own."

I gave Johnny a reassuring smile and said "I'm Okay, only a few cuts." He nodded in relief, but there was still something off about his expression. He always had a fearful look since the Socs had jumped him, but there was now sadness.

Johnny looked at Sodapop and then back to me "Can I talk to you, alone?" I suddenly felt my stomach sink, I didn't know why, but I had a bad feeling about this. My heart started to pound with worry and I could feel sweat starting to form on my forehead.

I said in a nervous tone "y-y-yes." He gently grabbed my hand and walked with me slowly. We stopped a few feet away from the house and then he turned to look at me.

"Jenny, I have to tell you the truth, we can't be together." Johnny said I felt sheer fear hit my stomach at the possibility of Johnny and I breaking up.

"W-w-what do you mean 'we can't be together'" I said in a worried and hurt tone. I had trusted Johnny, and I couldn't say that about a lot of people, I had trust issues. I tried my best to keep people out, keep people out and ya don't get hurt. Johnny wanting to leave me hurt me, a lot.

"Last night, when you said you were okay with going home alone, I-I-I felt relief, I was having flashbacks to when I had been jumped by the Socs. And then I found out you were jumped, maybe if I had insisted on walking you home, you wouldn't have been jumped, but instead I was too afraid. You should be with someone who would of walked home with you." Johnny said

I felt the tears starting to silently drip down my face "p-p-please Johnny I-I-I want y-y-you." I saw some tears starting to well in his eyes. He simply said "I'm sorry Jenny." And then he started walking down the street, away from the house.

Despite the pain I had felt from the Socs, I fell to my knees, feeling the sobs starting to break loose in my chest. I heard Sodapop's footsteps running down the pavement, but soon I couldn't see anything, the tears blurring my vision.