A/N: STOP! READ THIS BEFORE CONTINUING ON!
What was the last thing you remember reading of this story?
If you last remember Ponyboy, Charlie, and Two-Bit cleaning up the house, then you need to go back a chapter.
If you remember what happened after that, then proceed!
Thanks! :D
When we walked into Dally's hospital room, I was still sniffling and trying to stifle my tears. Dally was arguing with one of the nurses.
"Hey Dal," Ponyboy said.
He grinned. "Man, am I glad to see you! These fucking hospital people won't let me smoke, and I want out!"
We sat down.
"Shepard came by to see me a while ago," Dally said.
"What'd he want?" I asked.
"Said he saw my picture in the paper and couldn't believe it didn't have 'Wanted Dead or Alive' under it. He mostly came to rub it in about the rumble. Man, I hate not bein' in that."
I hugged my knees up to my chest. I was tired of hearing about the stupid rumble from everyone.
"Kid, you scared the devil outa me the other day," Dally said, grinning at Pony. "I thought I'd killed you."
"Me?" Ponyboy asked. "Why?"
"When you jumped out of the church. I meant to hit you just hard enough to knock you down and put out the fire, but when you dropped like a ton of lead, I thought I'd aimed too high and broke your neck. I'm glad I didn't though."
"I'll bet," Ponyboy said with a grin.
Dally seemed to be lost in thought as he looked out the window. "Uh…how's the kid?"
"We just left him," Two-Bit replied. "I don't know about stuff like this…but…well, he seemed pretty bad to me. He passed out cold before we left him."
Dally clenched his teeth, his eyes turning a dangerous color before saying, "Two-Bit, you still got that fancy black-handled switch?"
"Yeah."
"Give it here."
Two-Bit reached into his back pocket for his jet-handled switchblade, ten inches long. Twp-Bit never would lend that to Dally if he knew Dally didn't need it.
"We gotta win that fight tonight," Dally said. "We gotta get even with the Socs. For Johnny."
He put the switchblade under his pillow and lay back, staring at the ceiling. We left before Dally's mood could get the best of him.
We decided to wait for a bus instead of walk home. Two-Bit went to a gas station to buy some cigarettes, leaving Pony and I at the bus stop bench. Ponyboy started falling asleep, and I realized that he looked worse than he did before.
I was about to ask him what was wrong, when Two-Bit came back and placed a hand on his forehead. "You feel okay? You're awful hot."
"I'm alright," he replied. "Don't tell Darry, okay? Come on, Two-Bit. Be a buddy. I'll be well by tonight. I'll take a bunch of aspirins."
"All right, but Darry will kill me if you're really sick and go ahead and fight anyways."
I was almost completely silent ever since we left Johnny's room, and I was silent the whole bus ride home. I had too much on my mind. I kept thinking about Johnny, Ponyboy, Dally, Randy, and about what was going to happen to me, seeing as I still needed to go to the hearing. I was afraid that Johnny would die. I was afraid that someone would get hurt during the rumble. I was afraid that my parents would hurt me again.
We got off the bus and headed for home. It was quiet for a long while, until Ponyboy said, "Tonight-I don't like it one bit."
"I never knew you to play chicken in a rumble before," Two-Bit replied. "Not even when you was a little kid."
"I ain't chicken, Two-Bit Mathews, and you know it. Ain't I a Curtis, same as Soda and Darry?"
I rolled my eyes. Fighting had nothing to do with whether you were chicken or not. A real chicken uses his or her fists first, and asks questions later.
"I mean," Ponyboy continued, "I got an awful feeling something's gonna happen."
"Something is gonna happen!" Two-Bit jeered. "We're gonna stomp the Socs' guts, that's what."
When we walked past the vacant lot, Cherry was sitting in her Corvette.
"Hi guys," she said.
"What's up with the big-times?" Two-Bit asked.
"They play your way. No weapons, fair deal. Your rules."
"You sure?"
She nodded. "Randy told me, he knows for sure."
We turned to head home, but before we left, Cherry said, "Ponyboy, stay a minute."
He turned to look at me as if making sure it'd be fine. I nodded. "Go ahead."
He smirked at me, and walked away with her. I watched them for a moment before setting off towards home, suddenly feeling worried.
I walked home slowly, watching the sun set, still thinking about everything. When I walked through the door, Sodapop shouted, "Hey Charlie! How are you?"
I shrugged and sat on the couch. I truthfully didn't know how I felt. I really just wanted to lay down and sleep. I closed my eyes, and soon drifted off.
And there you have it! Sorry if the chapter isn't long, but the rest of the chapters are pretty much this length or a little longer. I can't wait to post the next chapters and see everyone's reactions to the end. I'm excited!
Please review! Even if you don't like it, review, because at least I'll know you're reading!
