Part 27 - Hold me

Y/n

I couldn't decide which was worse to run on barefoot.

The rough asphalt of the main road that led to Pilgrim World,

Or the almost mile and a half of cold forest filled with sticks and bushes of varying kinds.

Both were just as equally unpleasant, and the forest was still covered in leaves since it was the middle of fall, meaning there could be anything on the ground and I wouldn't be able to see it, especially at night. 

But thankfully I managed to get out of the woods unscathed, but still, not my favorite way to travel.

I think I'd be very much happy just being a passenger princess for the rest of my life if I could.

For now though, this was what my reality was. My shoes were still laying somewhere in the courtyard back at school, since I ran almost immediately when the sheriff told me what was going on. And the adrenaline caused any and all logic to just kind of jump out the metaphorical window in my brain.

Either way, no matter what I was running on, if my feet weren't already doomed from earlier, I'd be surprised if I even still had them now.

The feeling I felt in my soles, and soul, made me want to scream a string of curses into the empty night, but I didn't want to give anyone anymore reasons to think I'm crazy.

Even though I kind of was at this point.

The road was mostly clear aside from the occasional car that passed me, a few even slowed down when they saw me running in the middle of the night on one of the only main roads in this dumb town.

And you know, I understood why. But I really didn't care.

My only priority right now was putting one foot in front of the other until I got to where I was going.

To him.

And I didn't care that I felt like my legs were about to fall off, or that I was so cold that I might just pass out, or even the fact that I was pretty sure I had pulled a muscle a while back and was now running with a slight limp.

None of it mattered.

Was I completely and 100% out of breath and probably surviving on carbon dioxide with how shallow my breaths were? Most likely.

Was I going to let that small inconvenience stop me? Fuck no.

...

Oh thank god.

The distant lights that looked to be the same ones that were brightening up Pilgrim World tonight came into view, and I pushed myself even harder to get there.

The terrain changes as I reach the front archway, where the police cars that were once sat outside school to lookout for any attacks onto the students, were now parked out here in wait outside the gates of the festival.

There was an officer standing by one of the vehicles, seemingly zoned out and staring off into space as he whistled and I limp my way over to him.

"Hey, where did they spot that zombie?"

He turns at my voice, and his face becomes etched with concern at my current state.

Yeah I know I probably looked like shit right now. Puffed and sweaty from running, while simultaneously being cold and uncomfortable from the chilly air.

"Woah, are you alright miss? It's not safe to be here right now, where are your parents?"

I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah, doesn't matter. Where's the zombie?"

He backs up a bit at my dismissive response, and he clears his throat.

"I'm not authorized to give out that information. I think it's best you head on home now."

Oh for fucks sake dude.

"Okay, I don't have time for this."

I look him dead in the eyes as I focus my mind.

I don't like using my power on innocent people, but this time I needed to.

"Tell me where they saw the zombie, right now, and forget I was ever here."

His face went blank at my words, and he blinks a couple of times before he pointed into the park as he answered.

"The haunted hacienda. Over on the other side across the bridge."

Just as soon as the words left his mouth, I was already on the move.

But seriously?

Out of all the places it could've been, it just HAD to be all the way on the other side of this huge park. 

It's fiiiine.

Nobody was running around screaming, so I had to assume that it was at least safe around here. Meaning I could take a small breath of relief.

The lights and colors around me were tempting to stop and admire, especially the fairy lights.

They reminded me of the ones that I saw at camp with Pugsley. The ones on the tower that lit up the night in the most magical way.

And as nice as this place looked, the camp ones have it beat. 

Not because it necessarily looked better, but the memory of staring up that tower, while I knew he was looking at me, that moment just brought a warmth to my heart that I'd never forget.

Don't tell him I said that though, I don't think him knowing that my favorite memory of school thus far was one with him would come across the right way.

Okay, focus.

That officer said I needed to cross a bridge to get where I wanted, so I was keeping an eye out for one as I walked through the empty festival.

Bridge...where the fuck would it be?

"Pugsley!"

I tried calling out for him, I know it was a little hopeless,

It was just in case he was somewhere nearby, but I heard nothing in return.

I sigh as I keep moving, and I'm pretty sure the gravel ground was the final straw on my feet, as I could see tiny drops of blood trailing behind me on the tiny rocks.

Shit.

It's okay, I can push through this. I'll find him soon enough.

Wait, but what is he gonna think when he sees me like this? If he gets all worried about me I'm going to feel so bad about it.

Let's just hope he doesn't stare at my dogs.

"Pugsleyyy!"

Come on man, where are you?

I turn around the end of the path, walking out into a new area.

Oh cool, there's a river up ahead. I wonder if it's any pretty.

Wait.

Oh.

Oh my god.

River, with something on the other side, equals bridge.

There it is.

It had to be the one I was looking for, because when my eyes wandered across what I saw on the other side,

I felt like the weight of the world was lifted off my chest in that moment.

My feet started to run again, but this time the pain just faded into the back of my mind as they moved on their own. 

"Pugsley!"

The wooden planks of the bridge brought me a temporary gentleness under my footsteps, and he turned just as I reached the side he waited on, along with Mr. Addams standing not too far away.

He and I made eye contact, and I could see his expression relax as soon as he saw me.

His arms started to open the closer I got, as did mine, and the moment I was standing right in front of him, I reached up and wrapped my arms around Pugsley's neck, pulling him into a tight hug, and he returned the embrace just as quickly, with his own arms around my waist tightly holding me and not letting go.

I pulled my head back from his shoulder, inspecting his face.

He didn't say anything, and just looked at me with a sad expression.

"Are you okay?? What happened oh my god I'm so sorry I shouldn't have left, I heard they saw Slurp and I got here as soon as I could, did you see him? Are you hurt at all let me see y-"

My words were cut short when the weight of his head fell down upon my shoulder, and he leaned down into me as his arms tightened.

I wasn't sure what to do, so I just let one of my hands come up to hair, slowly holding his head as my other arm stayed around his neck.

He seemed...down.

What had happened in there that made him act like this?

"Hey...you okay?"

...

"Just stay...please."

The way he said it made my heart break a little, and I just held him a little tighter.

"Yeah..okay, I will. Promise."

A long sigh escapes him as his head shifts on my shoulder, and I could feel him looking over it.

"Did you...run here..barefoot?"

Ahhh shyte.

I suppose it was sort of pointless for me to think he wouldn't notice.

This guy would be able to tell if a single hair on my head was in the wrong place if he looked hard enough.

"Uhmm...nooo...?"

"Y/n."

Woah, that was new.

His tone was stern, like I was in trouble for something.

And why did I kinda like it.

I pull back from him, and his once sad look had turned into one of uncertainty at my obvious lie.

"I was worried..."

He sighed.

"So you injured yourself to get here?"

I scoff dramatically. 

"Whaaaat? No, what makes you say that?"

One of his eyebrows raises as he glancing down at the ground where I stood.

"Your feet are bleeding."

...

I was tempted to ask him why he was even looking at them in the first place, but I restrain myself from doing so.

"That's completely unrelated."

He snorts and shakes his head at me as he crosses his arms over his chest.

"I can't keep carrying you everywhere you know."

I looked up at him skeptically.

"Yeah well, I wasn't asking."

"Neither was I."

Wait. What?

He sighed and his arms unfolded, and before I could realize what he was doing, he had already moved over to me, lifting me up,

And suddenly my view was of the ground behind him.

Holy fucking shit.

He was holding me like you would a toddler who had been faking being asleep in the car so they get to be picked up carried inside, and in all honesty, I didn't mind it.

His arms were rested underneath my legs to keep me stable, and he seemed to hold me up here extremely easily.

It was like a piggy back, but better.

"Uhm..Pugsley?"

He sends me a short hum.

"Yes?"

I laugh nervously as I place my chin down onto his shoulder.

"Whatcha doing?"

His head rested on my shoulder in kind as he talked.

"What do you mean?"

My eyes drifted to the tag that was sticking out of the back of the collar in his shirt, and my hand came up to fiddle with it.

"You don't have to carry me, I can still walk."

He hoisted me up a little and got a more comfortable grasp under me and he huffs.

"I know I don't have to, but I want to. I mean, you hurt, right?"

Yes, the sting in the bottom of my heels was pretty hard to ignore, but I still felt bad about relying on him this much.

"...a little bit." 

It's like I could feel him smiling at my admission.

Smug ass.

"Then don't think about it as me carrying you, think of it as you helping me feel better. You're like my weighted blanket, and I'm cold, okay?"

Christ, why did he have to say stuff like that. I couldn't argue with him on this when he put it like that. 

And it did feel nice up here, I'm not going to lie.

I sigh.

"Okay.."

My head relaxes into his shoulder as I stare off to the side, and the sound of footsteps reaches my ears from beside us.

If I'm being completely honest, I may or may not have forgotten that Mr. Addams was standing right there, and just saw this entire interaction.

Oh god now I'm embarrassed.

That was the second time today he's been around when something a little close has happened between me and his son.

I really hope he doesn't think I'm a weirdo for acting so clingy towards Pugsley like this.

But hey, let it be known that he's the one who doesn't want to put me down.

Mr. Addams walked over to stand next to Pugsley, placing a hand on his back, showing me a kind smile.

"We should get going kids, it's late, I think we could all use some rest."

I feel Pugsley's head nod at his fathers words, and Mr. Addams moves on ahead of us as Pugsley begins to follow after him, keeping a tight hold on me,

And he speaks quietly against my hair.

"Come on, let's go home."