When I felt someone shaking me, I rolled over, and opened my eyes to see Ponyboy Curtis looking down on me. "What do you want, kid?" I mumbled tiredly, pulling the covers up even further.
"Time for dinner," I could practically hear him smirking when I groaned, "We're having soup." He paused for a second adding "Don't worry, Darry made it."
It took a couple of minutes for me to actually get out of bed, but when I had, I followed him to the kitchen, and sat down between him and Sodapop. Everyone was yelling, laughing, and generally roughhousing, like always, but I had a headache, and wasn't in the mood. I groaned audibly, stirring the bowl of soup with my spoon, but failing to eat any off it.
I looked around the table, locking eyes with a worried looking Sodapop, "You okay Stevie?"
"No," I moaned, "Not really."
"Let's go talk in my room," he offered, and I obliged gratefully.
Once we were in his room, I laid down on the bed, and he asked, "What's wrong, man? You're not yourself lately."
"Just a headache, Sodapop. It's too loud in there."
I hadn't heard him leave, but when I opened my eyes, he was standing in front of me with two pills and a glass of water.
"Aspirin," he supplied, handing it to me.
"Thanks Soda," I said softly.
"No problem," he said, "Want to stay in here tonight? I can ask Pony to bunk in my old room..."
I nodded, thankfully. I was going to ask, but had decided against it, not wanting to sound desperate, "Will the kid be okay on his own?"
"Yeah, he hasn't had a nightmare in two weeks. He can make it," he sighed, "I'm worried about you, Steve. You're lookin' kinda green."
"I'll be fine," I replied, yawning.
"Let me just tell Pony," he said, "And get changed." He pulled some boxers and sweatpants out of his dresser drawer, and headed out into the hallway.
When he came back, in the softest, most childish voice I had ever heard myself use, I asked, "Could we cuddle?"
Soda only smiled in response, and climbed into bed next to me, snuggling up close. I smiled contently as he switched of the light, "Goodnight Soda"
"Night Steve."
And for the first time in weeks, I slept soundly.