「look at the stars」 | Johnnyboy

E l e v e n .

"How're you feelin', Angie?" She tried to take a deep breath, but a sharp pain shot through her chest. She grimaced, holding in the oxygen for a moment in hopes of it helping the discomfort.

"Like I've been ran over." She admitted finally, a soft chuckle passing through her lips. It still hurt, but she clenched her fists and tried to bear through it. She'd probably just bruised something.

"You basically were." Curly snickered lightly and there was a long pause. "Hey, the Doc says you may be able to come home soon." No one had actually told him that, but when your little sister was in the hospital, you wanted to assure her that she'd be okay. Her face seemed to light up almost instantly.

"Really?" Before he could respond, she fell into a coughing fit — hacking was a word that sounded more appropriate. He leaned forward, hand on her shoulder and blue eyes wide with concern. If it'd been anyone else, he probably would've tried to crack a joke about dying — not with her, though.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah." She nodded, eyes squinting closed a moment as she tried to breathe comfortably. The sharp pain seemed to hit her whenever she tried to inhale, but she figured she'd get through it alright. "I'm fine."

"Okay." He pulled back to his regular sitting position, still eyeing her cautiously. "Anyway, she says you've been doing real good. And since they don't have that breathing thing on 'ya, they ain't really doing anything for you."

"I can't wait to be home." Though she didn't remember her own, she was sure that the word had always held a special, warm meaning — it did to everyone, didn't it?

"Have you been able to remember anything?" She was being careful with her breaths, trying to make them as small as possible. Shaking her head, she bit her lower lip softly.

"I wish I did."

"You will," he reassured her, lips turning into a small smile.

"Hey, how'd you get that scar?" He took a deep breath, and now when his gaze flickered up to her it was reckless.

"You sure you're ready for the story?" She grinned just as wild as he did, excited.

"I was born ready." And with that, he began telling her the crazy tale of a fight he'd gotten himself into just a few years prior to the current.

"The guy pulled out a broken bottle —I guess he knew he was losing— and just sliced me right down the side of my face."

"You're kidding!"

"Nope."

"That's insane." She laughed, then stopped suddenly and put a hand on her chest.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I just..." She paused, trying to properly breathe again. It'd only started recently; maybe she shouldn't have been moving around so much. "It's kinda hard to breathe?"

"Do you want me to get a doctor?"

"No, no, I'm fine." They talked for a little more and then reluctantly said their goodbyes; he never stayed long.