Golden Sun ( Johnny x Ponyboy )

Chapter 4// It's Going to be Okay

I got up ignoring the searing pain that spread through my legs and made me want to cry. The sheer cold of the air around me sent my breaths flying out in puffs that disappeared behind me in a matter of a millisecond. I made a turn on a street flying down the slick pavement as if it was Track practice at school. I felt my left foot slide on a wet patch of rock but quickly stumbled forwards to catch my balance. Even so, I kept running and never stopped. I was barely getting out of breath when I reached the sight. Johnny was backing up against a wall and socs were carrying bats and crowbars. I felt my stomach pinch as I ran up and slugged a guy on the side of the head.

The guy, probably 2 years older than me slurred out a line of curses before raising his fists and pushing past everyone else. Glaring at me with wild eyes that screamed danger.  

All of them turned to me, then, their eyes like tigers eyeing their prey. It made me feel sick. I started to back away until I heard yelling in the distance. I turned to see Dally, Steve, and Soda running up with their fists raised. I started to panic, not wanting to get in a fight at the moment. I felt a warm hand grip my wrist and start to tug. I turned to see Johnny pulling me in the direction of the lot. He looked back at me with wild eyes before I broke into a sprint pulling just ahead of him. My legs were starting to become a problem. 

We reached a lot in a matter of minutes. The noise from the fight was distant and almost like a quiet buzz that hung in the air between our gasps for breath. 

"Why'd ya' run in there Pony?" Johnny gasped between strangled breaths as he bent forwards leaning on his knees. 

I looked to him, not really knowing the answer. I wasn't even sure if I wanted him to be here right now. It felt too surreal. 

"I-I don't know." I dragged a hand through my hair. It had partially grown back to the point where it almost felt the same. The grease had washed away with the rain though and was left with a light fluffy mess on top of my head. 

Johnny's breathing had become light again as did mine. Now there was a silence that settled in the air making it thick and hot. I felt under pressure and it didn't feel good. 

"Darry and Soda were havin' a fit when you pulled that ya' know Pony?" Johnny groaned pulling himself up and wiping the blood off the corner of his mouth. I shuddered to watch him out of the corner of my eye as he walked towards me. 

"An' another thing," Johnny was barely able to speak as he rubbed the side of his cheek. "Why did you do that? Why'd you not visit me at the hospital either Pony?" Johnny had a look of hurt on his face but I kept looking down, I didn't want to meet his eyes. Not now. 

"D-do you j-just hate me or s-something?" This time my eyes were drawn to his face. They scanned over his features taking in every bruise and cut that were spread over his face. The perfect caramel skin had been ruined thanks to those socs. It made me have a twinge of regret that I hadn't gotten there sooner. But what made me feel worse, was the tears collecting in his eyes ready to spill. One did, it ran down his cheek like a waterfall cleaning the dirt and blood in that one particular line. That was the thing that made me feel even worse. 

"I don't hate you Johnny- I could never." I felt that horrible feeling in my gut. The black hole that ripped out my happiness and swallowed me whole. The reason I have been caged to long sleeves.

"It's just-" 

"Just what Ponyboy?! Because you've been ignoring me for a long time and I just can't take it anymore!" He sounded hurt and broken. 

"I just hate myself okay?!" It slipped out, loud, hurt, and angry all at once. Every feeling that I got when holding Johnny's hand flooded back to me. It made me feel horrible that just holding him, he had made butterflies go off in my stomach and my cheeks go red. He shouldn't want to be friends with me it would be worse off for him. He's too nice to deal with some weirdo like me. 

"Pony, you don't really mean that... do you?" Johnny didn't sound hurt anymore just more...concerned. I'm still not sure if I liked that. 

He stepped forward when I didn't answer. 

"Pony, y-you don't mean that..." He hiccuped when I shook my head 'no'. Suddenly, a warm pair of arms wrapped around me tugging me in and squeezing me. The butterflies began to come out and I felt horrible. But- it felt nice being hugged by someone who understood. I felt a whole lot safer in his arms than I have in the past couple of months. Truthfully, I've never been happier. 

Johnny buried his head inside my shoulder and whispered in my ear which sent shudders down my spine. 

"It's going to be okay Pony,"

"I promise." 

A/N: Well I really was supposed to post this earlier but I am a procrastinator at it's finest. So I sat down and forced myself to write this. NOT BECAUSE IM FORCING THIS ON ME BECAUSE OF YOU GUYS! Just because I have to get back into the groove of writing this. It's been a while and I've recently (cough) become obsessed with Lord of the Flies hahaaaaaa. BUT THIS WILL DISTRACT ME NO LONGER! I SHALL FINISH THIS EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!  :') -- <3