Chapter Two
Through The Looking Glass
By the time the ambulance sirens fill the street Ponyboy was beginning to regain consciousness. He was staring blearily into the worried faces of Soda, Steve, and Two-bit. He could comprehend barley anything, only registering the slow throb of an ache in his chest.
Soda was stroking his brother's hair softly as the sounds of the approaching ambulance bounced off the street.
He looked down at his brother with trepidation and, admittedly, he was scared out of his wits. A million questions went in and out of Sodas head as he wondered repeatedly what was wrong?
As the paramedics rushed out of the vehicle they asserted the young Boys vitals. Soda kneeled off to the side to allow passage to the medics.
He couldn't collect himself. This was his baby brother. He was sick and again this time he didn't know what to do about it or what was causing it.
He thought about Darry. He had to get Darry. For the second time since Ponyboy lost consciousness he looked sharply towards Steve and an approaching Two-bit.
"Darry, get Darry." Sodas voice broke on the words and he looked towards his brother again, rising as the paramedics did.
Two-bit and Steve looked at each other before two-bit fished his keys out of his pocket. "I'll go get him Soda."
Soda looked at two-bit and rested his hand on his shoulder to convey his gratitude.
Two-bit looked at Soda for a minute before turning with Steve to run to Two-bit's car.
As Two-bit and Steve left speeding down the street an older Medic looked toward Sodapop. He noted the resemblance between him and the young boy.
"He your brother?"
Soda looked startled out of his thoughts and looked at the Medic. He processed the question and nodded his head twice in affirmation, not trusting to use his voice.
Yeah I'm his brother he thought to himself squeezing his left wrist with his right hand. His fingernails dug into the skin slightly but he didn't care.
"Hop in the front seat son and we'll give ya ride." Soda looked thankfully at the paramedic before glancing toward where they were placing Pony in the back.
When the doors shut he turned toward the paramedic and followed him toward the front seat of the ambulance.
He breathed in deeply and Climbed into the passenger seat, noting this was going to be a long drive.
Two-bit POV
When I saw the kid sway I knew he was going down. The suddenness of it all shocked me into stepping backwards and letting a small gasp escape my lips.
Soda instantly caught him.
The silence that followed was out of shock and then-
"Ponyboy! Pony! Pone!" Soda screeches. He frantically shakes the kid.
Steve is by Soda in an instant. "Two-bit go have them call for an ambulance! Hurry! Now!"
I feel my face instantly drain and I take a second to comprehend. I look at Ponyboy not again not again not again
I turn on my heels and run for the nearest house. As I approach the door I note there are a man and woman standing outside viewing the commotion. I run to them quickly.
"Do you have a phone? Please call an ambulance! A kid needs help!"
The man looks at me, nods, and then rushes into his house. The woman looks worried
"what happened?" She asks gently.
"I don't Know, I don't know…he wasn't feeling that well…" Then it hits Two-bit. In the car the chest pain. He is no doctor but he wonders if that has anything to do with what's wrong with the kid.
The woman nods kindly as the man rejoins her.
"I did it they're on their way."
I say polite thanks then rush back to the group.
Soda looks paler than a ghost, face devoid of any color. "Darry, Get Darry." His voice breaks and he looks me in the eyes.
I knew what I had to do.
Soda rises as the paramedics do.
I look toward the kid. He looks bad, real bad.
"I'll go get him Soda." I say softly digging into my pockets to find my keys. As I locate them I turn to face Soda.
Before turning to his brother he lays a hand gently on my shoulder in gratitude. I take it then pat Steve, who looks increasingly worried, and we rush to the car.
Darry POV:
I was tired. It had been a particularly hard week and I was definitely ready for some R&R time.
Earlier in the night I had slowly worked the newspaper out of the rubber band bind it was in, opened up to a page and sat back on the couch to read.
But now, boy oh boy was I tired. I kicked off my shoes and stood up, deciding to go to bed.
I took a moment to glance out of the window. Ponyboy was out and normally I would be worried about him getting into trouble or something.
But tonight I was decidedly happy he was out and about.
I have noticed how Ponyboy has been acting lately and it is disquieting.
I have attempted to open up to Pony but the boy is a shell. I always saw him as someone who wore his heart on his sleeve, open and always wanting to talk. But now he rarely ever spoke unless spoken to.
I have tried to have an intervention with him to ask him what's been going on recently, but he just sat there and looked down.
I'm not a nitwit and I know the signs of depression. He has been worrying me recently to the point where I have been losing sleep.
Soda's with him I reassure myself. And if anybody is worried about Pony and would try to get him to have a good time it would be Sodapop.
Again I look out the window and hope that Ponyboy going out was a sign of him getting better, but in the back of my mind there was a tiny seed of doubt.
I take a deep breath and sigh rather loudly before heading back to my room to go to sleep.
The loud bang of the front door opening startles me into awakening. I look up in the dark.
I wonder who is in the house. The boys were all out and no way were they coming back that early.
Timorous, I grab the wooden baseball bat I keep beside my bed when I sleep and rise slowly out of the blankets.
But before I reach the door,
"Darry!" a loud booming voice echoes throughout the house.
Steve. God it was Steve.
Why was he here? Why was he screaming my name?
Something happened. I know it. I feel it.
But before I have my hand on the doorknob Steve is throwing it open.
I step back and he sighs apparently having found me.
He takes a second to collect himself and I prepare for what's next.
Steve takes in a deep breath and starts,
"Darry, I'm sorry-"
But before the rest of the words leave his mouth I grab him by the shoulders.
"What happened?" I give his shoulders a shake before letting go.
Steve looks frightened and he looks down at his hands.
"We gotta go Dar, to the hospital."
At the word hospital I can feel my face lose all color and I take in a deep breath.
"Who? How?" I can't stop the shaking in my voice.
My brain thinks subconsciously to my brothers, hoping and willing it not to be them. To be some crazy misunderstanding.
"It was Pony he was all fine and then he was just down Darry, He just hit the ground…"
I look at him a moment and then run beside him and out of the bedroom.
I grab my keys hurriedly, my mind thinking frantically about Pony.
I can't help but notice a picture of him and me and soda by the front door.
I shut my eyes and gather myself before rushing out the front door and slamming it shut behind me.
AN:
OK so IM SOOO SORRY that this was so late it's just that I was incredibly disappointed in the first chapter and how it turned out. More like embarrassed haha. There was an incredible amount of grammatical errors and it's sad that I'm 16 and still make such major errors.
But now I'm back and inspired! I actually took my time with this chapter…and am a little happier with the outcome.
How did you like Two-bit and Darry's POV? I personally found it easier to write in first person.
I want to personally apologize to all those who liked my story and had to wait so long for an update. And thank you so much for reading so far! Reviews inspire me to write faster, it may be sad but its true so please do! 3
I figured out it takes me a good 2 days to write a good chapter and so I will probably update every 2 days from now on…
I have decided to give Pony a little disease but not anything serious just something to explain the chest pain. It will probably increase his depression kehehe!
Were in for a long ride with this story!
Ps: sorry for the minor cliffy…I just couldn't resist!