WHAT I NEED ( A Johnny Gaudreau Fanfic)

NINE

AVA

Johnny stumbled in after me, clutching his side in pain and staggering a little bit but not letting up.

"Ava please, just listen to me!" he pleaded, attempting to grab my shoulder but I shook his hand off causing him to hiss in pain and for a second I frown at myself. His bloody lip, bruised eyes and hunched over form was enough to cause something in my chest tighten at his pain but the anger I felt towards him far outweighed any sort of sympathy. I continued towards the bathroom to retrieve some washcloths and attend to Sam and he persistently followed me.

"Ava please, it's not what it looks like just let me explain."

Growing tired of his pathetic pleading, I turned towards him with cold, unforgiving eyes and a closed off stance.

"What was that then huh?" I demanded harshly, my voice rising several octaves. "Please explain because I'm dying to hear what happened."

He looked between the floor and my face, trying to gather himself. "I- Sam initiated the whole thing, I had nothing to do with it, I swear you have to believe me."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Yeah that's why I found you on top of him nearly beating him to death."

"That isn't how it happened Ava, will you please try to understand," he implored frantically, running an angry hand through his hair.

"No Johnny!" I screamed. "I can't understand. I will never understand why you would do this to Sam. Why you would do this to me. Do you even know how much he means to me? He was the only one that was there for me after you broke my heart and left me for dead. He was the only one who cared enough to keep trying to make me happy. He's my best friend Johnny, so don't even expect me to understand why you would hurt someone who is so important to me."

Seeing me so venerable, he reached for my arms and pulled me into his chest. "I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose, you mean too much to me Ava, I promise." 

I shook my head in disbelief. This was such bullshit. How had I ever entertained the foolish thought that Johnny had changed? How had I been so stupid? Was the past not enough of an indication of how much I actually meant to him. I couldn't trust him and that was it.

"It's too late for false promises Johnny, you've already hurt me more than anyone." I pushed him away forcefully, fighting his hands that tried to grasp me.

"Ava please-"

"Just let me go Johnny... let me go forever."

He looked at me straight in eyes, sadness and guilt pooling in the brown. But I only sent him anger and hatred. He was begging me silently, with gasping breaths and shaking hands. Begging me to stay and understand but it was all too much for me. Too much betrayal. Too much sadness so I looked away instead.

Sean suddenly appeared in the doorway, his expression urgent. "Ava, tell everyone to pack up their stuff. We have to return the cabin keys by noon plus we have to take these two to the hospital."

I nodded understandingly, walking away from Johnny and towards my room leaving him there lost.

+++

I sat in the small uncomfortable chair of the hospital waiting room next to Sean. Both of the boys had been taken in and were currently being examined and while Emily and Laura had left for their homes, I'd opted to stay for more reasons than I was willing to admit.

"Do you really think Johnny went after Sam?" Sean questioned, cutting through the thick, silent air that surrounded us and I didn't have it in me to look at him.

"I don't know what I think anymore," I replied simply, keeping my eyes trained towards the patterned tile of the floor.  

"Come on Ava, you know Johnny isn't like that," he attempted to advocate and that made a certain kind of fury spike within me. Was that the only argument they had in his defence? That he'd behaved more civil in the past it meant that he couldn't have done this, even when the facts and proof was clearly lined up against him.

"Actually I don't know-"

Suddenly Sam appeared through the automatic sliding door, limping and stumbling and I immediately got up to his aid disregarding my previous conversation. I pulled his arm around my shoulders and wrapped mine around his waist, helping him walk.

"What did they say?"

"Fractured nose, a few stitches and minor bruising. Nothing that's gonna kill me," he beamed, though I was unable to see how despite his pain he was still able to find optimism in this situation. That was Sam though.

"Okay let's get you home then," I said, sending him a tight lipped smile before turning towards Sean. "Tell Johnny I say goodbye, okay?" I requested, to which he nodded. 

And then Sam and I disappeared down the hallway.