I was finally allowed to leave the hospital on Thursday. I spent the entire week lying in bed while each member of the gang took turns watching me. I forced Steve to go back to work against his will, saying that Two-bit would gladly watch me.. even though I'm fifteen and definitely don't need to be watched. Two-bit did too, "Heck Kid, this is way better than school!" I wasn't going to be allowed back to school until Monday but I was already dreading it.

Pony wasn't kidding when he said things with the socs got way worse. Dally came in everyday telling us about the kids he beat the tar out of that day. Johnny was scared to death, even when he was with Dal. Darry was worried for Ponyboy and wouldn't let him come to the hospital until one of the guys could drive him here himself. I felt like the tension with the North side getting worse was all my fault.

When the Doctor came in with a wheelchair and my release papers, he emphasized to Steve just how important it was that I don't strain myself physically for a couple weeks. He said breathing would probably be harder for me now. I was even given an inhaler, even though I don't have asthma.

Leaving the hospital was great and sad all at once. I had been avoiding the fact that Daddy was dead easily while in the hospital, but it was all so real once I stepped into the empty house. There was still beer bottles all over the living room from where he had left them Sunday night. The house reeked of flat beer and I wanted to puke. Steve helped me to my room and he left me to clean up the mess.

I stared at the ceiling wondering how life would be now. At least I wouldn't live in constant fear that Daddy would take his anger out on me. And I'm sure Steve is happy not to worry anymore. I was upset that he was dead but I can't deny my happiness that Steve wouldn't be getting pounced on anymore.

Steve comes back in with more pillows and a bowl of soup. "Here ya gotta eat, then get some sleep it's been a long day." I rolled my eyes. "I think I should take off tomorrow and stay here with you, Two-bit's mom's making him go back to school and I don't want you alone."

"I can stay alone Steve," I said annoyed. I wasn't a twelve year old.

"No you can't, you heard the doctor you can't do nothing straining.. what if you get hungry?" I know he was right I was just so sick of being treated like a child. He was only two and a half years older than me.

"Tell Dal and Johnny to come here then. You can't be taking off." He pondered the idea for a couple minutes then gave in and went to call the Curtis household, sure the two would be there. I ate half the bowl of soup and then turned over. Steve was right, I'm pretty damn tired. His footsteps came back down the hallway but by the time they made it to the door I was incoherent to the world.

x

I woke up to the door slamming. I looked at the clock and it was 9 o'clock. Jeez I slept for 13 hours. "Kimmie!" It was Johnny. He walked towards my room. "Wow you're a hot mess," He laughed.

"Thanks you ass, where's Dal?"

"He had 'business' to take care of with Tim. He's coming a little later." Business usually meant the two were beating someone's ass. "Steve said you're allowed to come hang on the couch, do you need help getting up?" I rolled my eyes at him.

"I'm fine Johnny, go ahead I gotta get dressed." He nodded and left the room, closing the door behind him. I got out of bed slowly and put on jeans and a shirt. I wasn't very found of wearing jeans just to lay around the house but it was better than hanging out with two boys in my pajamas.

I went out to the living room where Johnny was watching Mickey with a Pepsi in hand. I went to the kitchen to find some food. "Woah woah, what do you think you're doing?" He hopped up from the couch and walked into the kitchen. Pulling out a chair, he forced me to sit down.

"I had surgery I'm not dead." I regretted saying it the minute it left my mouth. Two people were dead, I was lucky to be alive. I stayed in silence as he poured me a bowl of cereal.

"You gave us a real good scare there Kimmie," He said sadness in his voice. I hadn't thought about how the gang had reacted. "I'm not sure we could've survived without you, 'specially Steve and Pony."

"Pony's strong, we know that from all he's lost." It's true, all of the Curtis brothers are strong. If they can handle losing both parents, who were good as gold, at once, I can handle losing a dad that didn't even like me.

"It's different when it comes to you. He needs you Kimmie. Yeah he's got Soda and Darry, but it's different with you and him. You don't even need to talk to know what's going on in the others head. I mean imagine if it had been Pony almost dead. I swear he would've never gotten over it." I once again picture Pony lying in a hospital bed and myself unsure of if he's gonna live. I wouldn't be able to handle losing him. I love Ponyboy, he's my best friend. He's everything to me.

I was about to tell Johnny that when the front door opened and in walked two hoods; Tim Sheperd and Dallas Winston. Dally came into the kitchen, and wasted no time pouring himself a bowl of cereal. "Hey Kid, how ya feeling?"

"Fine, just tired. Hey Tim." He took that as his invitation to come into the kitchen as well.

"Hey Kid, sorry about your dad." I shrugged. I sure wasn't gonna let Dally and Tim know that I was upset about losing the drunk I called a father.

I picked up my bowl and set it in the sink, not as hungry as I thought I was and walked into the living room. Johnny followed in suit. Mickey was still on and we watched for the rest of the morning.

Steve came home on his lunch break and ordered me to get back into bed, apparently sitting on a couch is much too much strain on my lungs. There was a lot of eye rolling. Johnny promised not to go anywhere, though Dally had left with Tim a couple hours after he had arrived. I fell asleep once again.

I was back in the truck with Daddy. He was going so fast, and he was all over the road. I reached to put on my seat belt but there wasn't one. I started panicking. He sped up at the red light and a blue car hit us from the side. I flew out of the truck screaming. The person in the blue car was laughing at me. I smacked on the pavement.

"Kimmie, wake up!" I opened my eyes and shot up in bed. I looked around and was in my room. My throat hurt like hell and I realized I must've been screaming. The person who woke me spoke, "Man I thought nightmares were my thing." Ponyboy. I was so happy to see him. I hugged him so tight and started crying. He hugged me gently, still afraid of hurting me, as he rubbed my back. "It's okay Kimmie, you're okay."

I calmed down and released him. Suddenly I was very embarrassed. I've never been one to cry a lot but in the last week it seems like it's all I've been doing. I wiped my tears away and spoke, trying to pretend that didn't happen. "When did you get here?"

"About an hour ago, you were sound asleep. Johnny's still in the living room, I think you scared him." He laughed but his face went back serious quickly, "Does this happen a lot?"

"It's gotten bad since the accident. I used to only have nightmares about Daddy and Steve but I never screamed. The nurse had to sedate me in the hospital the other night." I looked down embarrassed.

He grabbed my chin with his finger forcing me to look at him. "It's okay. Heck my brother has to sleep with me cause I get them that bad." He smiled and I mirrored. I was glad he was here, he gets it. "C'mon let's go watch tv." I got out of bed and followed him down the hall, thankful he was here.

I feel like I got out of character in this chapter, I'm sorry if I did. Let me know what you think & if you have any recommendations please share them!