"You okay Ponyboy? You seem kinda hot…" Two-Bit felt Ponyboy's forehead after he got back from the local gas station to see if he had a fever. Which, he did.
"I'm okay, be a pal and don't tell Darry." Ponyboy said sourly. Two-Bit clicked his tongue in hesitation, then decided it would be the best to march Ponyboy straight over to Darry to avoid an ass whooping.
"I don't know if I can do that Pone. Darry would skin me slowly and painfully if you get sick and he finds out I knew all along and didn't tell him." Pony sat up as Two-Bit stiffed his posture.
"Come on Two. I'm fine, honestly." Two-Bit saw that the kid sure as hell didn't look fine. And by the way Pony's voice sounded weak and hoarse, he knew he wasn't really fine.
"No no no… come on kid. You're going to Darry." Two-Bit grabbed Pony's forearm but the youngest greaser resisted in worrying his older brother.
"Two-Bit, no! You don't understand what Darry will do if he finds out I'm getting sick. He'll make me stay home from school," Pony stopped to take a deep breath. He then shuddered at the mentioning of missing school despite the fact he had missed almost two weeks while he was away in Windrixville. "Two-Bit, please. It's for my own good."
Two-Bit stopped and thought for a moment. For a second, Pony thought he was off the hook, he knew he was getting sick. He was only refusing because he didn't want to miss the big rumble that night. He wanted to fight for Johnny. For Johnny… Pony was suddenly brought out of his daze when he felt Two-Bit shoving him towards the direction of the Curtis'.
"Sorry Ponyboy. Taking you to Darry firsthand is for mine and your own good. You just don't know it yet." Two-Bit mumbled the last part and at last, Pony complied. The two greasers were almost at the house when Two-Bit spoke up.
"Maybe we should inform Sodapop first," Pony stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Two-Bit as if he was off his rocker. "Something wrong Ponyboy?" Ponyboy nodded his head.
"You can't tell Soda. Darry's enough. If Soda finds out I'm getting sick, which I'm not but apparently I am according to you, he'll go balls off the wall mental! Just, let either Soda find out on his own, or let Darry tell him." Two-Bit silently agreed with this request and the two friends continued the walk to the house.
When they reached the porch, they looked through the window and saw Darry making dinner while Steve and Soda were playing wrestling on the floor in the living room.
"Great, now Soda's also gonna find out first hand. Come on Two-Bit… why do you have to do this?" Two-Bit stood beside Pony and cracked a smile.
"Because I don't want your oldest brother to bash my head in." Pony sighed as Two-Bit opened the door. Two-Bit put a firm hold on Pony's arm and marched him straight over to Darry who was taking chicken out of the oven. Two-Bit cleared his throat forcefully and Darry looked at him. His face dropped when he noticed a slightly red Ponyboy beside him.
"Something wrong boys?" Pony slapped Two-Bit's hand off of his arm and sat down at the diner table.
"Um, yes actually. In fact, something is wrong. Ponyboy over her is feeling a little warm and feverish and wishes to not let you know." Darry put the chicken on the stovetop and worked his way over to his youngest brother and put his large, dry and rough hand on his forehead. Pony flinched at the touch of his oldest brother and Darry frowned at how warm Ponyboy was. He could feel the youngest greaser getting hotter by the second.
"Wow Pone, you are kinda hot," Ponyboy was dreading what was coming next. "I'm afraid you're not gonna be able to go to the rumble tonight…"