Darry
had been sitting at home, waiting for Pony and Soda to come back from
the movies. He hadn't liked the idea of Pony going to the movies with
Jane, but felt better about it when he found out Soda was going with
them.
Suddenly Steve and Two-Bit burst through the door,
breathless and red-faced.
"What's going on?" He asked
them.
They both stopped and looked at him. He knew there was
something wrong in that instant and he grabbed his jacket and ran out
the door to the truck.
"Darry!" Steve called after
him.
Two-Bit ran to Darry and stopped him from getting in the
truck. He managed to persuade him to go back into the house and
listen to them.
They explained everything that had happened and
Darry was wrought with fear and worry for his kid brother.
"Where's
Ponyboy?" He asked.
Steve and Two-Bit looked at each other.
"He wasn't there." Steve said.
Darry figured he must
still be at the movies with Jane. He didnt like the idea of them
being alone, but at that moment he was too worried about Soda to care
about what they got up to.
Steve and Two-Bit managed to convince
Darry to stay at the house and wait for Pony to come home and then go
and see Soda in the morning.
As soon as Pony came home and Jane
left, Darry told Pony everything. Once Pony was in bed, Darry left a
note telling him to go to college and he would pick him up after,
then he drove to the hospital and stayed there all night, just
watching Soda sleep.
-----------
Darry looked back up
at Soda. "You were shot." He stated.
Soda was quiet for
a moment, thinking about something.
"I don't remember it."
Soda said.
"The doctor said you probably wouldn't."
"Who
shot me?" Soda asked calmly. "Why?"
"We don't
know." Darry shook his head again. "There were alot of
people at Buck's, but no-one took any notice when the fight started.
If anyone knows anything, they're keeping quiet."
Soda
nodded. "Where's Ponyboy?"
"At college. I hope."
Darry looked at his watch. "I have to go and pick him up
soon."
"Was he mad that i left him at the drive-in?"
Soda asked. "I was going to go back after a few minutes."
Darry
looked at Soda as though he'd gone crazy, then smiled. "I don't
think he could've been happier." He stood and picked up his
jacket, then added, "I think he was more upset that i wouldn't
let Him and Jane alone. I think he's been spending too much time with
you."
Soda grinned, knowing what Darry meant. "I'm just
helping to raise the kid."
Darry couldn't resist smiling at
Soda. "You have enough trouble with girls, we don't need him
being girl crazy too." Darry joked. "I'll be back later.
The doctor said you have to stay here for a few days. Want me to
bring you something?"
"Yeah," Soda's eyes
glistened. "Niki."
Darry rolled his eyes. "I should
have known." He shook his head, laughing and walked out of the
room. He went to get Pony from school.
Soda lay in the hospital
bed, bored out of his mind and finding it too painful to move. He
inspected himself and found he had a bandage around his chest. He
lifted it up as much as he could and saw he had stitches in his side,
just below his right lung.
"A little higher and you would
probably have died." A nurse came into the room. "Of
course, a little lower and you could've died too." She
stated.
"Guess it was a lucky shot, huh?" Soda
commented.
The nurse regarded him cooly.
She checked all the
equipment in the room and hooked up a new I.V, then left and Soda
found himself alone again.
Soda woke to the sound of a door
closing. He saw Niki walking towards him.
"Sorry." She
said. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"It's okay."
Soda smiled at her. "You took your time getting here."
"Sorry."
Niki apologized again. "How are you feeling?"
"Bored."
Soda stated.
Niki laughed. "Well, i just spoke to the doctor
and he said you'll be able to go home in a few days."
Soda
smiled again, but it wasn't his usual 'happy-go-lucky' smile, it was
almost a fake smile.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Niki
asked.
The door opened again and Pony ran into the room.
