"He awake yet?" he lacks that glow that normally accompanies him.
"Not yet, and not sense the last time you asked me, either. Still slipping in and out of consciousness."
"Well you let me know if anything changes." He turns to go. Where did all his laughter go?
"Wait—" a groan escapes my parched mouth. Two-Bit whirls around.
"Did you hear that?" his eyes glint at that sticky woman, that no-nonsense tone coated by syrup so thick it couldn't be separated.
"Yes, I did. I told you the boy was slippin' in and out of the waking world. He needs his rest—"
"How's Johnny?" I cut her off. Can't stand that tone of hers.
"Dally! You're awake! Ponyboy is doing fine, just a bit bent up, I'll be sure to send on your regards to his health. Johnnycakes….well, Johnny is currently in critical condition…."
"What?"
"His back…it's broken. He's paralyzed. Will never walk again…. They say he doesn't have much of a chance."
Johnny. Oh God, not Johnny. But he's Johnny. He'll pull through. Even when his dad beats him into nothingness, when his body is a violent shade of purple and he looks like he might be dead, he pulls through. He always does. He's Johnny Cade, after all. And he won't die on me.
"The rumble. When's the rumble?"
"Two nights from now—" a cough interrupted Two-Bit. The nurse was back.
"Excuse me, but Dallas here needs his rest. Now if you would be so good as to leave."
"But—"
"But nothing. The boy needs his rest. You can come back later."
"Fine. See ya' later, Dally."
And then I was alone again, with only thoughts of the coming storm to keep me company.