A/N: This chapter is sort of a filler for what is to come. I promise the story will pick up in the next chapters! Thank you to all the readers, reviewers and followers!

-Soda's POV-

The next two weeks before my meeting with Dr. Wilson were some of the longest weeks of my life. Even longer than when Pony was missing. These days just dragged on because Darry didn't let me do anything. Ever since I passed out during dinner earlier this week, both my brothers kept me on a short leash. The only thing I was allowed to do was sit on the couch and watch TV. I was never a big TV watcher like Pony, but it was the only thing I was permitted to do. I was so bored I even thumbed through one of Pony's books. Or if I wanted to be surrounded by a new set of four colorless walls, I could venture into the bathroom. Other than that, I did nothing this week, and if you're anything like me, that's a hard task to complete.

I was finally relieved from my boredom when Ponyboy came home with Two-Bit trailing behind.

"Hey buddy," I exclaimed, excited to see a person that wasn't one of my brothers or on the TV screen. "How ya been?"

"I have bad news," He started, but I could tell from his tone that he was setting up a joke. "I talked to the principal today and he's forcing me to senior year. He said he's never had anyone be a nineteen year old junior. I told him that I just turned nineteen, but that didn't change his mind."

"Only you Two-Bit would actually try to stay in school," I replied.

"What can I say," He said, going to our fridge for a beer. "I'm one of a kind."

"That you are," I agreed.

The three of us talked and joked around and even played a few hands of poker, until I felt my eyelids pulling down, begging for sleep. I was irritated with how tired I was all the time. I couldn't even stay awake long enough to sit with my friends. I tried to hide my fatigue, but Ponyboy noticed.

"Why don't we stop," He suggested. "I'll start on dinner."

I leaned back on the couch, sleep coming over me like a tidal wave. The last thing I remember before I drifted off was Pony covering me in a blanket.

I dozed for about an hour, until Darry came home and Two-Bit left for his own family. Darry had the same routine every day. Even though I still had my eyes closed, I knew what he was doing. He would remove his muddy work boots, place his tool belt next to the couch and head into the kitchen for a glass of water. He did his typical routine and knelt next to me.

"Hey Sodapop." He gently shook my shoulder. "I know you're awake. It's time for somethin' to eat."

I groaned. I didn't have much of an appetite. Just put my loss of appetite on a long list of things this stupid cardiomyopathy disease took away from me. Usually I could eat a horse, but ever since I've been diagnosed, I haven't been eating much of anything anymore. I'm sure Darry noticed. My clothes have been fitting looser on me. I reminded myself of how Ponyboy and thin he got after the deaths of Johnny and Dallas.

Ponyboy brought me a grilled cheese sandwich and a cup of tomato soup. We have started to eat on the couch, mostly because Darry was worried that I'd pass out again if I walked the ten feet to the kitchen table.

"How was school Ponyboy?" I broke the conversation.

"School was fine. I got an A on my history test," He said. "Track was fun though. Coach says I have a good chance of making it to State."

"That's great Pony!" Darry praised. "I would love to come to one of your meets, if my boss ever lets me have an afternoon off."

I was so glad my brothers were finally getting along. It was what I have always wanted.

XxXxXxXxX

Riding to the hospital was being way too familiar of a routine for me. I dreaded the thought of going to yet another doctor's appointment. I flipped through the truck's radio stations just for a change of pace.

"Anything on your mind?" Darry noticed my apprehension.

"Nothin' in particular."

"Soda," Darry pressed on. "You know you can tell me anything."

"What if," I started to disclose one of my deepest fears to Darry, but decided to take a moment to think about what I was saying. "What if my heart got worse? What is oxygen therapy isn't working the way it should?"

Darry sighed. "I don't know. I wish I could tell you what would happen, but I can't. But I can tell you that Ponyboy, Steve, Two-Bit and I will always stick with you no matter what. We're your buddies, no matter the circumstances. And if your heart did get worse, we will deal with it. We love you Soda, and we want to help you."

"Thanks Darry," I said. Just saying the word "thanks," felt pretty lame to me after the kind speech he gave to me, but it was the only word I could think of.

Darry pulled the truck into the hospital parking lot and repeated the schedule that we've had to do three times in two weeks. Sign in, wait, head back to the exam room, and do some more waiting for the doctor. I don't think I've been to the doctor three times in a year, let alone a week.

"Hello Sodapop and Darry," Dr. Wilson greeted. "How have you been doing with the oxygen therapy? Have you observed any improvements?"

"Well, I noticed my breathing has been better and my coughing has decreased. That's always good."

"Yes that is always good," Dr. Wilson agreed. "But I heard that you fainted on Monday and had some dizziness. That could be caused from low blood pressure, or I'd hate to alarm you, but it could be something worse. I'm going to have you repeat the tests you had done when you were first diagnosed. I want to compare the results from then to now. A nurse will be here soon to take you down for your tests. Any questions?"

I shook my head no. I've been an optimist my whole life, but looking for the positives now was becoming an impossible task when all I was being given was negatives. Why couldn't I catch a break?