falling for 13 || Johnny Kavanagh

I'll Kill You

J O H N N Y

The phone buzzed in my pocket, vibrating against my leg in the middle of a crowded Biddies. I'd been out with the lads, pretending to give a shite about Junior cert results, laughing at stupid bleeding jokes, and listening to the same stories repeated all night long. I pulled out my phone, looking at Orlaiths name as it flashed along the screen. I hesitated for a second before answering, god only knows what she wanted with me.

"Hello?" I said, confused.

There was a pause on the other end, and I could hear voices, muffled, and something that sounded like crying.

"Johnny?" Orlaiths voice was shaky, like she was in a severe state of panic.

"Yeah?" I replied, still completely confused.

"It's Grace.... somethings happened" she said.

My heart dropped into my stomach, and I felt like the ground had been ripped out from under me. "What do you mean? Where are you?"

There was more conversation, which I couldn't hear very well until she answered again, "Down the alley behind Biddies, you need to come quickly, it's bad."

I didn't wait for her to say anything else before I shoved my way through the crowd, barely hearing the language used from the people I shoved past. I moved as fast as I could.

Somethings happened to Grace.

The words echoed in my head, over and over. I had absolutely no idea what I was about to walk into, but given the fact that Orlaith was calling me I knew it wasn't good. As soon as I got to the alley, I saw them - Orlaith, Clara, Aoibh all huddled together. Then I saw her, sitting on the ground, knees to her chest, her back against the wall, her arms around herself like she was trying to disappear. I'd seen Grace upset before, but it wasn't like this. Her eyes were red and swollen, her face pale. In all honesty she looked completely shattered, like all the life had been drained out of her. Grace Lynch, the girl who never backed down, was here trembling like a leaf.

"Grace" I breathed, rushing to her.

She didn't look up, she just kept staring at the ground.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice barely steady as I knelt down in front of her.

Grace didn't answer, but Aoibh did. "She... Cian... he-" her voice broke off, and she put her hand over her mouth.

I didn't need her to finish the sentence. The second she said his bleeding name, a white hot rage surged through me, so intense I could barely see straight. "Where is he?" I demanded, my voice low.

Orlaith shook her head, looking terrified, "Johnny- don't... we just need to get her out of here."

"Where the fuck is he?" I repeated, my voice rising. I was already on my feet, fists clenched so tight my knuckles were white.

"I don't know! He left after-" Orlaith glanced down at Grace, who was still motionless, lost in her own world, "After it happened."

I closed my eyes for a second, trying to drown out the rage that was surging through me. All I could see was Cian's face, and all I could think about was how much I was going to beat it.

But I couldn't leave her like this.

I crouched down, forcing myself to stay calm as I reached out and gently touched Grace's arm. "Gracie" I said softly, trying to get her to look at me.

Her head turned slightly, her eyes meeting mine for a second before they dropped again. Her lips trembled, and she shook her head, as if she couldn't bear to speak.

"Hey" I said, keeping my voice low, trying my best to be as gentle as possible. "I'm right here, you're alright."

She didn't say anything, but I could see her body relax a little, the grip on her knees loosening.

I stood up, before telling her, "Stay with the girls. I'll be back."

I ran a hand through my hair, before turning to Orlaith. "Don't leave her out of your sight."

Without another word, I turned and went around the front of Biddies. That's when I found him outside with a few of the lads from Tommen, and the Ballylagin hurlers. The sight of him so carefree, so smug, sent a fresh wave of rage through my entire body. I marched towards him, not giving a flying fuck about the consequences. "Cian!" I roared, catching everyone's attention.

He turned, surprised at first, "Well, if it isn't Johnny Kavanagh" he said, slurring his words slightly. I didn't bother saying anything, I just swung at him. My fist connected with his jaw within five seconds, causing him to stumble backwards,"What the fuck, lad?"

"You fucking piece of shite!" I shouted, grabbing the front of the shirt and slamming him against the wall before punching him again. "You fucking raped her you sick bastard!"

Cian's eyes widened, but then he tried to play it off, a smirk creeping up on his face. "Lad, I haven't a clue what you're talking about."

The smirk was my last straw. I swung again, harder this time, my fist colliding with his nose. The sickening crunch of bone was satisfying to me in a way that I shouldn't, and couldn't describe. He tried to shove me off, but I wasn't done. I kept swinging, each punch landing harder than the last, because I wanted him to feel every ounce of pain that he had just caused Gracie Lynch.