Flame ➸ John Murphy

29

"How are you still dancing?" John asked from his spot on the couch.

Multiple songs had gone by and John had worn himself out. He sat on the couch now watching West dance and sing around the bunker. The large amount of alcohol coursing through her system kept her moving. Though, she was beginning to slow.

"How are you not?" She laughed as her words slurred.

The song faded to a close allowing another one to start playing. John was surprised to see West had moved to turn the machine off. Music no longer flowed through the room. The only sound was Wests heavy breathing as she tried to cool herself off. Murphy laughed as he looked at Wests messy red hair hanging in front of her hot red face.

"Don't make fun of me." West told him as she moved to the couch.

"I'm just laughing." John defended.

"About me." She responded with a small yawn.

The girl fell back onto the couch with a huff. Her eyes closed for a moment as she relaxed. Bringing her legs onto the couch, she curled into the corner by the arm rest.

"Tired?" John asked.

"No." West lied. "What do you think the others are doing right now?" She asked to keep herself awake.

John was taken back by her question. In their time being in the bunker they hadn't spoken much of the people they had left behind. West didn't speak of them because she regretted walking away from them. Murphy didn't because he had no one he cared about at the camp.

"Probably fighting the grounders again." He shrugged.

"Will there ever be no fighting?" West thought aloud.

"There's no fighting right now." John answered the question that wasn't meant for him.

"Do you think the City of Light is real?" The girl asked, ignoring the fact that he had answered her other question.

"It's too perfect to be real." John sighed as he sat up straight, suddenly uncomfortable.

"I hope it's real." West said with a yawn. Her arms reached behind her to grab the yellow blanket that lay over the back of the couch. "I don't want anymore death. Anymore fighting."

John watched as the girl wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. Her green eyes looked tired as she fought to stay awake. As he examined her face, West moved her gaze to the boys brown locks.

"You have nice hair." She slurred.

Watching the girl stare at his hair, John chuckled. Her eyes blinked slowly before she leaned forward. Her body slowly fell towards John until her head landed in her lap. Her body was curled under the blanket on the rest of the couch. Johns hands shot up as he sat completely still. Looking at the ginger, he saw that her eyes were closed.

"West? Are you awake?" He lightly nudged her shoulder as he kept he set his other hand on the arm rest.

The only response John was given was a groan that was muffed by the blanket she held close to her face. The boy didn't know how to approach the situation. His mind told him to wake her up and tell he to go to the bed, but his body wouldn't let him. Minutes  passed as he sat with his hands to his sides. When he saw that her breathing was steady and slow, he knew she was fully asleep.

The boy debated before he raised his hand that sat on the couch behind the girl. Slowly, he set his hand down on her shoulder. As his hand touched the blanket that covered her, West stirred. His hot shot back up into the air until she was still. Trying again, he lowered his hand. This time the girl remained motionless except for the rise and fall of her chest.

Johns hand stayed still until he was she she wouldn't wake. Cautiously, he began moving his other hand. With his finger tips he moved a stray piece of West hair behind her ear. Now he was able to clearly see the girls peaceful face. He smiled as he allowed his finger to slowly brush through Wests hair.

As the girl began to move his hands froze. West reached up to grab the blanket. She pulled it to cover more of herself before her hand landed on Johns. Holding his breath, John allowed the girl to pull his hand around her until it was in front of her. Her fingers intertwined with his own before she stopped moving. John let out a breath when she didn't wake.

Looking at their position John let of a breathy laugh. If she were conscious, West would never allow him to be this close to her. He smiled as he leaned his head against the back of the couch. His hand continued to comb through Wests auburn locks until he too fell asleep.

--

Her head ached as West woke from her long slumber. She groaned as she burred her head deeper into her pillow. As she did, she began to remember the events from the night before. She could see the empty bottles of alcohol on the table. Turning her head she saw that she was still on Johns lap. His head hung with his eyes closed. West smiled at the peaceful image.

She began to sit up when she realized Johns arms had been around her. Her hand was holding onto his. Quickly, she let go, letting his hand fall into his lap. West moved further away from the boy to the opposite side of the couch. Her stomach churned as she became aware of everything. She didn't like what she was feeling.

When her throat began to burn she jumped from her seat. Her feet sped her to the bathroom where she leaned over the toilet.  As she did she emptied her stomach of the little amount of food she had consumed the night before. She began coughing up bile when she heard footsteps come into the room. Hands grabbed her hair to keep it from her face. Bile rushed up her throat until she puked it into the toilet.

Shaking hands flushed the toilet as West felt herself blush in embarrassment. Without saying a word John moved from behind the girl to go towards the sink. He soon came back with a glass of water from the tap. West nodded gratefully before washing out the acidic taste.

"First hangover?" John tried to find humor in the situation.

"Obviously." West groaned as she leaned her cheek against the cold toilet seat. "How does this not happen to you? You're literally drunk every night."

"I'm never as drunk as you were." Murphy laughed. "Do you even remember it all?"

Thinking back to the night before West remembered almost everything. She knew that she had danced like an idiot in front of John. When they were talking she had been overly honest. The worst was that she had fallen asleep on the boys lap. Her cheeks flushed red from even more embarrassment. She was thankful that she had fallen asleep soon after meeting his lap so she wouldn't have to remember any details about it.

"I remember bits and pieces." She partially lied.

John nodded as the girl began to stand. She moved towards the bedroom with weak legs. Once inside the girl face planted into the pillows. Closing her eyes she waited for her headache to subside.

"Hangovers are a bitch."