Last Place

OoO

Iris is lecturing Ponyboy Curtis in the real world.

Fate's the only one who can descend and interact with the living. I can only bide my time by watching. I must admit, I'm jealous. Though she doesn't like to do it often, it's a privilege I often wish I had.

"I don't like being interrupted, Ponyboy. It is unnecessary."

"Yeah, well, I don't like riddles I don't get." Ponyboy rubs his temple. A trait he's picked this up from his oldest brother. "I don't get this. I don't get any of it. How're you here?"

"I'm here because you called my name. I'm here because you jumped…oh, what's the phrase? The gun?" Iris waves a hand. "That wasn't a Black Fate, my child. That was a stranger…a poor man in need of gas and you frightened him off cruelly. Although, if he were a Black Fate, his name would be drunk."

She sniffs. "Disgusting."

Ponyboy stands, green eyes flashing anger. Pleasure crosses Fate's face. She likes the challenge. It's why she does what she does. "How the hell was I supposed to know?" Pony snaps. "Some random guy shows up, tries to get into my house? I took my best guess."

"Your best guess," Fate muses. She tinkles out a laugh. "It was odd. I'll give you that. But time's are strange…especially now that the Black Fates are here. People will conduct themselves differently. It's like a disease. You have to be on guard."

"Shit," Ponyboy says. He sags onto the couch. The sirens in the neighborhood are still blaring, lights flashing from unknown sources.

Iris moves close, her violet eyes dancing. "You must be smart. Like your mother." She ruffles his hair, earning trust. "I only want to help you, my child. Really sense the danger and you will see. Get within yourself."

"I'll try," Pony says.

"Yes," Iris says. "You will."

OoO

"What's going on?" Soda asks, coming up the walk. He's walking straight, no sign of booze or liquor. He's never been one to drink a ton, not even when he's out with Steve or Two-Bit.

The neighborhood's lit up with cop cars and ambulances, the red and blue lights swirling across house facades, people outside pointing and staring. The man and his car are gone, no doubt driven off by Iris.

I rest my hands on the porch railing. "One of the houses must've sprung a water leak. Or something."

"The craziest shit happens around here," Soda says. Hopping up the steps, Soda takes his DX cap off and settles it on my head. Mimicking me, he leans against the porch railing and we watch the lights flood the street.

Soda smiles. "You're goin' to college, kiddo."

I laugh. "Glory, Soda, it ain't that big of a deal. Darry's in college too, you know."

"Yeah, I know," he says, still grinning. "I just always knew you'd be a big shot or somethin."

Chris Meigs walks across his yard to watch the commotion. Soda raises a hand and Chris mouths a hello. Cops stand around and talk, their body language showing confusion. Finally, the alarms die down.

"Soda?"

"What kiddo?"

"You wouldn't care though, would you?"

"About what?"

"If I didn't go to college?"

I don't know why I ask it; it's a knee jerk reaction to Everett and Iris. What's just happened. Then again, I wonder if it means something more. Knowing what's going around these days, it probably does.

Soda turns his head, his eyes dark, his face angular and thoughtful. People don't give Soda enough credit. He doesn't give himself enough either; he's smart. Probably smarter than I am most times.

"No way," he says. "I'd love you whatever you do, Ponyboy. You could rob a bank and I wouldn't care. You know that. Hell, I'd probably help and drive the getaway card. But that ain't an offer, so don't go getting any bright ideas, kiddo." He laughs and I smile.

Stretching, Soda straightens up and crosses his arms. "But, Pony, why would you even—"

His eyes get big and wide. He touches the base of his nose, above his lips. "Pony, your nose…"

I touch my own and feel the steady trickle of blood. I wipe it away with my thumb and rub it on my jeans. "C'mon," he says in a low voice, grabbing my hand. "Let's go inside."

OoO

The next day I snap at Darry when he reminds me about finishing up a homework assignment. The surprise on his face is enough to make me apologize. He didn't deserve it and I didn't mean it.

I keep thinking about last night, irritated that the explanations I get are vague and not helpful. I get it – that something is probably going to happen to me. But that's it. Iris and Everett keep giving me veiled warnings but I don't know what to do.

Except mess with them. That I know how to do.

OoO

I wait until I'm down by Lake Elmo to do it. If they don't want to tell me anything I'll keep bothering them until they do or until they get sick of me.

I haven't seen Everett in a while. I'm not sure I like dealing with Iris. Fate. Whatever she's called. She's stronger than Everett and seems a whole hell of a lot angrier.

I smirk. But that's not going to stop me.

Slinging my backpack to the ground, I make sure I'm alone and then shout at the top of my lungs. I shout her name. There's a long moment and then a tree splits in half and she emerges from the bark. Rushing forward, Iris's face is twisted into anger, her mouth a round O, hands flung up and then she stops. She glances around.

"Well? Where is it?"

"Where's what?"

"You know what," she hisses.

I shrug and pick up my bag. "I was just practicing."

She juts a finger my way. "Your country boy act is getting old, my child."

"Is it? Aw, shucks."

I laugh when she disappears in a puff of smoke.

OoO

It happens two more times over the next day. Ponyboy calling Iris when he shouldn't be. I must admit it's entertaining watching her show up at the track and at the library but she is not pleased. I see the smirk in Ponyboy's eyes after she disappears. The child is just having fun. Payback for getting him into this.

"He is infuriating," she snaps.

"You're just upset because he's toying with you."

"You know what happened to the boy who cried wolf, don't you?" Iris says and pulls a memo out of thin air.

"Calm yourself," I tell her.

The memo disappears. Sticking out her bottom lip, she flops onto the chaise lounge, gathering her white dressing gown in her hands and bunching it up underneath her so that it looks like she's sitting on a cloud. "This is your fault."

"How so?"

"You never should have let him live."

"I know." But I think of Laura Curtis's green eyes and don't know how I could have done otherwise.

"The one time you show mercy to a human, Everett and the child has been a continuous thorn in our side."

"Don't be a poor sport, Iris," I say. "You had your chance as well."

Like I said, Fate's fickle. She likes someone – in this case, Ponyboy Curtis – until it isn't convenient anymore. Which worries me. I don't take her promises at their word.

"Yes. I suppose I did." She smiles. "When they come for him, he'll change his tune. He'll need me then."

"You'll go, won't you?" I ask. Both Iris and Ponyboy are stubborn; I can envision this playing out into a game of I-told-you-so.

"Of course I will. It is my duty."

But the smile on her lips tells me she'll be having a little fun first.

OoO

"You ready to kick ass and take names, Ponyboy Curtis?" Two-Bit whoops, pounding around the house.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

"Shoot," Two-Bit says, watching me sit down on the coach and lace my track shoes. "I think I'm more nervous than you."

"You ain't workin tonight?"

"No way, kid. Got the night off. It's your last high school run. Think I'd miss it?"

"I'll be running in college, Two-Bit."

"And I'll be there too. But without bells on. Unless you like that sort of thing."

I give him a smile. Darry and Soda are meeting us at the school, heading there straight from their jobs. Tonight's the last night I'll ever run a big meet on my high school track. I think of college and my stomach does a flip flop.

Finished lacing my shoes, I stay seated. The breath in my chest is tight and I feel warm. Really warm. I wipe a hand across my brow.

Two-Bit peers, his gray eyes curious. "You're movin slow, kid."

"Not tonight," I say and hop up.

OoO

People are hammering and hollering in the stands. I squint against the bright lights, halos in my side vision. I can't find my brothers but they're there. Beside me, a track buddy mutters a vague prayer. Someone else spits onto the red earth. I exhale and focus.

College.

My brothers.

Run.

Just run, Ponyboy.

The starter's pistol explodes.

OoO

The air smells like sweat and earth. Such a messy sport. All of them are.

I cross the sidelines, holding Iris's memo.

I'm sorry it has to happen here. I have tried to reason with her – to let Ponyboy Curtis finish out his celebrative night – but she will not do so. She insists here and now. She likes spectacle.

Keeping my hat on, I position myself in Ponyboy's lane on the track. He'll run through me and then what he's been trying to hide from his brothers will make itself known.

OoO

I'm almost there, almost to the finish when I swear to god I see Everett. Blinking, I slow my pace allowing a few runners to pass, but then pick it back up again. I round the corner and there's a whoosh through my body.

"Aw, shit," I say as my heart gives a bump, right before I collapse on the track.

OoO

A loud gasp erupts from the crowd as Ponyboy Curtis topples. People stand, pointing and chattering. The race stops, Ponyboy's teammates gathering in a loose circle around him. A medic runs onto the field.

Darry, Soda and Two-Bit start fighting their way through the stands. They make it to the lip of the bleachers, Soda doesn't wait for anyone. He takes off in a run that would make Ponyboy envious.

OoO

A teacher tries to stop Darry Curtis. "Sir, sir, you can't go in there."

Ignoring her, Darry and Soda break through the circle of gawkers. A paramedic is already with Ponyboy, checking his vitals. Another prepares a stretcher. Soda hits his knees. Two-Bit hangs back, pacing.

"You're family?" the paramedic barks, stepping in front of Darry before he can reach his brother. Soda picks up Ponyboy's hand and starts talking to him.

"What's going on?" Darry asks. "Is he okay?"

"Sir, you are?"

"He's our brother," Darry says, craning to see, to catch a glimpse of Pony.

"Good. Just what we need. Does he have any medical conditions you know about?"

Darry, calm, now blanches. "He has – had – a heart condition but it's…"

The paramedic nods. "That could explain it."

I hear Darry think, Please god. Not this. Not again.

Soda draws back as they lift an unconscious Ponyboy onto the stretcher. He meets Darry's worried eyes and then stands.

OoO

Sighing, Ponyboy sits on the track and watches as they take his body away. Darry gives his keys to Sodapop and goes with Ponyboy in the ambulance. The crowd clears and the track quiets.

"Great now they won't be able to see me run," Ponyboy gripes.

I smile at the worry taking precedence over the fact that he keeled over on the track.

"What happened, Everett?" he asks.

"Something we did came undone."

Pony touches his chest. "This. It was this wasn't it?"

"It is. You heard what Iris said. We had to weaken you."

"A little warning would have been nice. Maybe a softer surface to hit?" He shakes his head. "You know, you're really screwing with my life. There's no way I can take that scholarship now if I can't run."

"You still can. We'll right this after we solve it."

"Darry's not going to understand that." Ponyboy looks pained. "He'll probably still try to make me have that surgery." He groans thinking of all the headaches and fussing lying in his future.

"You're getting ahead of yourself. Put this in our hands."

"I'm not sure I trust your hands."

Wise words. Wise child.

OoO

We go to the hospital. "You're playing a dangerous game."

"With what?"

"With Iris. Testing her like you have."

He snickers. "Serves her right."

I take back what I said about Ponyboy being wise. "Biting the hand that can save you isn't smart, child."

"She's got to have a sense of humor." He cocks a brow. "Just a little bit?"

I chuckle.

We slow when we reach the waiting room. Two-Bit and Chris Meigs are sitting in chairs. Darry's jacket is draped over one, but there's no sign of either him or Soda. They're in with the doctor getting the news that Ponyboy's condition is back and there is nothing they can do to fix it. It's an intimate time and I don't feel right taking Ponyboy in to see that. It would only upset him.

We linger in the hall instead.

"Man, oh, man," Two-Bit is saying and I marvel at how adult he's become. "They have such shit luck. Christ, that poor kid."

"We still don't know anything, Two-Bit," Chris says.

"But it could be that, couldn't it?"

Chris sighs, hating to bring bad news. But he's a doctor. He knows the signs. "Quite probably it is."

I nudge Ponyboy who's staring at the scene. "You should get back." He just nods.

OoO

I've been awake for an hour before Darry quietly enters the room, his hands full of coffee. "Hey," he says in surprise, swiftly setting the cups on the table before moving toward me. "How're you feeling, kiddo?"

His voice is soft and low, a tone I've come to dislike because it means he's worried. I think I've come to like it better when Darry's yelling at me for something.

"It's back, isn't it?" I ask, needing confirmation. I touch my chest.

"It is," Darry says. He swallows. "But we're going to figure this out, Ponyboy. You're going to be okay."

I don't know who Darry's trying to convince – me or him. He doesn't need to convince me; Everett's already done that. I'm not going to worry about it. I wish I could make Darry see that too.

Darry rests a hand on my shoulder. "They're going to keep you here the night and then we can go home tomorrow."

"Where's Soda?"

"He's callin Steve," Darry says.

"I would've won that race tonight, Dar," I say, sitting back in bed and smiling crookedly.

"Oh, kiddo," Darry says but he looks sad. "I know you would've."

OoO

Darry wants to take Ponyboy home and explain. He doesn't like hospitals and worries that Ponyboy isn't thinking clearly. He wants his brother to rest and then he'll talk. Or more like lay-down-the-law when it comes to Darry Curtis.

Iris appears behind me and stares into the fire screen. "You know, the man is very attractive."

I hush her.

We watch as the door opens again and Ponyboy Curtis is engulfed in the arms of Sodapop. They do their talk, concerned words, and Soda climbs on the bed with him. The connection they have is searing.

Iris turns an eye my way. "He'll never let go," she says.

OoO

The next morning, a shadow enters the hospital.

I go visit Ponyboy.

OoO

The doctor has just finished explaining to me what I already know. My congestive heart failure is back. No smoking, no running, no stress. No cure either. The scar that had sealed up from the electrical zap two years ago had apparently been undone by the zap from two weeks ago. It's the only explanation they can find.

Chris sits in with us, interjecting a human voice whenever possible to counteract the disinterest of my own doctor.

"I'll tell you what I told your brothers last night," the doctor says looking directly at me. "You have a two-year mortality rate if something is not done about this. If something can be done."

"Something will be done," Darry says. "Whatever we have to do, we'll do it."

Soda just stares at the floor, his face ashen. He's been leaving the room off and on all day and I know he's doing all he can to keep it together.

"Any questions?" the doctor asks, snapping his clipboard shut.

"I think you said enough, Mike," Chris says.

OoO

Finally alone for once, Ponyboy changes into his clothes, tossing the hospital gown in the trash. Darry's gone to fill out the discharge paperwork and Soda's grilling Chris in the hall about their options. Both brothers have put on strong faces for the other but inside they don't know what to do.

I'm sorry Iris and I have put them in this situation.

The shadow changes into a form. Passes by Sodapop Curtis. Moves to his brother's room.

Winded, Ponyboy sits on the bed. The door opens.

OoO

Pardon typos.

As always, thank you for reading and reviewing.

XO,

Feisty