I heard Two-Bit's voice outside, but that's probably just because Two-Bit's voice can get annoying when you have a headache. Actually, he, in general, can be annoying, whether you have a headache or not.
"CRAP!" I heard Two-Bit yell. Then I heard him mumble something about stubbing his toe on the porch or something. Idiot, I thought.
"Idiot" Steve muttered. I just laughed. Two-Bit could be an idiot sometimes. Or he could be drunk. Sometimes both.
The door opened up and Two-Bit, Steve and Dallas walked in. Steve stopped, making Two-Bit and Dally run into him.
"Whoa, what happened?" Steve said. Usually he wouldn't care, but I guess that I must have looked pretty bad to make him ask that.
"Johnny and I um…got…jumped…" I said quietly, as I looked down. I heard Dally call the socs something I'm not gonna repeat. I looked up, and saw the anger in their eyes.
"Are you okay, Ponyboy?" Two-Bit asked. I just nodded my head. I didn't really know what to tell them. I got jumped, and I got hurt, that's it.
Darry told them the whole story, even about when he hit me. The gang seemed a little surprised when he said this, but they kept their mouths shut.
"Well, I gotta go. Bye!" Two-Bit said. Dally left, with Johnny, who told me to feel better before they headed out the door. Steve asked Soda if he wanted to go to the Dingo. Sodapop looked at me, deciding if he should go or not. I just smiled, silently telling him I was fine with him going. He nodded, and left.
Now it was just Darry and I. I could feel a little uneasiness between us. We still didn't talk about last night.
"Darry, I'm sorry…about last night. I really am." I said, looking at Darry, who was at the other side of the room. He crossed the room, and sat by my side, on the couch.
"Pony, I'm sorry too. I didn't mean to hit you. I want you to know that I care about you, and the only reason I did hit you was because I was really worried about you. You know what can happen in these parts." He said, looking guilty.
"I didn't mean to make you worry. I didn't realize how late it was. We were just at the movies, and then Johnny and I went to the lot. We were talking, and then we fell asleep.
I didn't mean for everything with the Socs to happen…" I said, with tears filling my eyes at the thought of everything that happened. I couldn't help it, the Socs scared me.
"Oh Pony, come here." Darry said, gently picking me up and setting me on his lap. I put my head on his shoulder, looking at him. He put his arms around me, holding me close to him. I felt safe and protected in the arms of my big brother.
"I'm sorry, baby. I'll always be here to protect you." He said. He took his thumb and lightly wiped the tears that kept falling.
I think that the aspirin was starting to kick in, because I suddenly felt drowsy. I finally relaxed in Darry's arms.
"Darry, I love you." I said tiredly, closing my eyes.
"I love you too, baby. Now get some sleep." I heard him say before I fell asleep.
