Identify Normal | Stand By Me

Normal at Last

I'm back and ready to rumble! This has been my only Stand By Me story, and going back, I was incredibly young when I started this. Over the years, you guys have shown so much support. I love your reactions. You keep me writing; you keep me inspired. Thanks a bunch, and here we go!

Chapter 11

Sadie's Pov

John grinned, curling my hair around his finger. I looked up to him and his eyes grazed mine before focusing on my hair once more.

"Let's run away, Chambers. It's a half a days head start before anyone notices we're gone." He sighed contently.

"And where would we go?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Portland, Disneyland, well, anywhere you want." He chirped, before standing up and running ahead of me.

"John, wait!" I stood, and looking down I had the body of a kid again. My legs were thin and bruised, and my dirty keds were falling apart.

"I'll always wait." He laughed, still moving. "Where would I be without my Sadie?" Oh, John...

It faded away and I hummed lightly, before hearing a crash. I was on scratchy sheets and slowly adjusted to my surroundings. Fluttering my eyes open I was propped on my side, my hand bandaged in front of me. My shirt was white and clean, and I tried to move over before audibly gasping in pain. Moving my hand, I felt stitches on my side. The room was white and sterile; by the looks of it I was in a hospital. By the door ahead of me a saw a shadow zoom past and I called out.

"Hello?" I whispered. A moment later I heard a creak and steps coming back. The door was pulled open by a disheveled looking John. His hair was messy, his eyes were red, and the cigarette he was smoking shook in his hand. "Are you okay?" I asked, worriedly. His expression changed and he snorted.

"I'm fucking peachy...I okay." He whispered, his eyes moving from my face to my side rather begrudgingly. With my bandaged hand I patted the bed for him to sit down, and he rushed over. In a trance he started mumbling, "There was just so much blood; I didn't know what to do. It was too much to handle..."

"What's the matter? What happened to you?" I croaked, reaching out to him with my good hand. His eyes softened, and bore into mine.

"I didn't mean to hurt you." He paused, putting his cig up to his lips, and then changed his mind and put it out. "I hurt you before too." He mumbled into his hands. John was raw and in the moment. His demeanor didn't live up to his reputation, and in this moment, all his cards were on the table.

"Hey," I snapped lightly. "don't say that. We were kids. And I couldn't let you hurt Chris; that's not you." I spoke bitterly.

"It's who I've become, Sadie."

"I don't believe that for two fucking seconds." I bit out.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." he frowned. "If I didn't let you go, things would've been all cracked up to how we wanted it to be. And I let you walk out. I'm sorry about Chris. He's fine." He readjusted on the bed.

"How'd I get here?" I asked myself, looking down at how well I had been tended to.

"My mom patched you up. I didn't know where to go, so I just brought you here. That new doc stitched your hand and hip. But..." he drifted off.

"But what?" I asked gently. His eyes turned cold and he swallowed hard. "John, what's the matter?"

"They couldn't do anything about the...scarring." He growled out. I looked at him worried, and looking my way he could tell I didn't know what he was talking about. "Someone branded you." He stiffly grumbled. He had seen my scar. I jumped and placed a hand on where the word 'worthless' was etched into me. It didn't hurt, but it was still a constant reminder. "Why would they do that?" He asked, more to himself than to me. "You are so important." He spoke flatly, looking back to me.

"Vegas took a pretty hard toll on me." I confessed quietly. "I tried to run away." I murmured, giving him some explanation. Pain lingered in his eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Sadie." I nodded.

"I shouldn't have gotten in the way." I chuckled, changing the subject, and he raised a brow. "I mean, with you and Chris...I can't imagine either of you two getting hurt." I explained

"Why?" He croaked hoarsely. As if no one could care about him. "I've been nothing but a little shit to this town since you left. I'm the bad guy, Sadie. I'm always the bad guy. How could you, of all people, care about someone like me?" Did he not get it? After all this time I came back not only to get away from my mother. Not to see my family. He had been on my mind all this time.

"John, you are worth so much to me." I spoke boldly. I looked at him, disheveled as he was, and had never seen someone so handsome. Trying to sit up, I went about as far as I could before my side began to ache, and I hissed in pain.

"Sadie, you shouldn't move-"

"I love you, John." I blurted out, and pulled him into a kiss. He moaned into this toxic kiss, built up on top of years of anticipation. I loved this man with all of my being, regardless of the toll years had taken on us. We were both lost trying to find ourselves, and in the midst we found each other. This hard, cold shell he created had dissolved. Ace was gone, and in this moment John had been nothing but my saving grace. His arm snaked around my shoulders, holding me as if I would melt away. I clutched onto him as if my life relied on it, and his warmth overwhelmed me. He panted, pulling my hair, and his tongue grazed mine with such intensity to show dominance. He was tender and powerful all the same, and I moaned as his kiss moved to my jaw. He pulled back shortly and I groaned in protest. Looking up, his eyes shed silent tears and his baby blues bore into mine. "John?" I whispered, cupping his face.

"I love you." He cracked. "I love you so much, Sadie. I always have." He choked out in a rush, and pulled me back to him with another grazing kiss. More tears came, tears built up over years of waiting, but this time they were my own. All grown up, our affection was raw and adoring. He needed me as much as I needed him.

"I know. I know." I whispered against him. After a moment I sniffled and we calmed down, our breathing evening out. "Don't let me go, John."

"Never. Never again." He promised, and paused. "Run away with me Sadie. It's a half a days head start before anyone notices we're gone." He spoke quickly, getting excited. I contemplated, holding his hand.

"And where would we go?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Portland, Disneyland, well, anywhere you want." He chirped, his toothy grin returning just as he did when we were kids. I waited a moment.

"Let's go home, John." I smiled softly, and he looked quizzically down at me.

"Home? But that seems so...normal." He questioned. "Do you think you're up for that, Chambers?" He smirked, almost daring me to change my mind. My eyes fluttered close and I exhaled a breath I didn't know I was holding.

"You have no idea how much I need that." I smiled, my eyes capturing his. He nodded with adoration, leaned in, and kissed my bruising lips into abyss.

I must say, I hope I did this story justice. Thank you for the love and support along the way, and Sadie is the only lovebug I can take claim to. Thank you for the unwavering readers, and I'm sorry to draw it out like this. This is my bread and butter, and I couldn't have made it this far without you. With much love and gratitude, -Crimsonsky132