Introverted Hearts // Josh Dun

chapter twenty nine :: i feel like i'm drowning

"Come on, baby," he pleaded. "Don't give up on me. You can't give up on me."

Josh bit his lip harder than he ever had, severing his gums.

"You have to wake up for me baby," he repeated. "We have to go to infinity and beyond. I can't do that without you."

CJ did not even flinch.

Josh took her hand into his and let out loud sobs as he began crying harder. He squeezed his eyes shut as he brought her hand up to his lips.

"I'm so sorry baby," he heaved. "I didn't get to you on time."

Josh stayed silent, only whimpers and sobs escaping his lips.

Suddenly, CJ began coughing.

"CJ?" Josh opened his eyes and sat up. He flipped her on her side again, patting her back to make it easier for the water to escape her airways.

"Josh." She barely got out between coughs. 

"I'm right here baby," he said as she kept coughing, the water still dripping from her lips. "It's okay."

One of the guys who helped violate and throw her into the pool passed Josh her towel. "Here."

Josh glared at him as he clenched his teeth, then snatched the towel from his hands.

"HereC baby," Josh put the towel over her shoulders. "Let's get home."

He helped her up, making sure the towel was covering her front as he wrapped it around her.

CJ coughed the whole walk to the car. She was also crying.

Josh opened the passenger door for her and helped her in. "Don't worry about getting the seat wet. I'm just gonna run back and get our bag, okay?" He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and headed back to get the bag.

He circled around to the far side of the pool and collected her phone with her ear buds, and then picked up his towel and the bag without a word. All eyes were on him, but he did not care at that point.

Josh walked around the path to the front yard, but was stopped by Hunter, one of the boys who threw her in.

"Hey," he tapped Josh's shoulder and held a water bottle out. "For CJ."

Josh only stared at him, wondering how he even had the guts to approach him after what he did.

"Look, I'm sorry. We didn't know she couldn't swim." He apologized.

Josh stared at a few seconds, but then dropped the bags and slapped the water bottle from his hands. "That doesn't give you the right to violate her and feel her up! Do you know what effects that has on somebody?!"

"I'm sorry," he repeated. "I didn't start it. It was Dalton. He just grabbed her and then wanted us to help him get her shirt off. I had no idea he wanted to do that to her."

"But you contributed, didn't you?!" Josh argued.

"Yeah but-"

"No!" Josh yelled. "There is not excuse for that! Do you think she's gonna let me touch her? Do you think she's gonna feel comfortable sleeping in the same bed as me when she just got violated by seven other guys?! Do you know how long it took her to trust me and now we're gonna have to rebuild that all because you couldn't keep your fucking hands to yourself."

Hunter only looked down. "Dude, I'm sorry."

"Look at me." Josh said. "Don't make me repeat myself."

Hunter looked up, the fear apparent in his eyes.

Josh punched him with so much force and rage that he fell into the grass. Josh got on top of him and gave him a few more blows to the face. Then, he grabbed Hunter by the collar of his shirt and got into his face. "You tell Dalton and every other asshole that put their hands on her - next time I see any of their faces, I will make sure they know what it feels like to suffocate."

Josh stood up and resisted the urge to kick Hunter in his side, even though that's what he deserved.

He picked up her bag and headed back to the car, his jaw clenching and his fists balled.