They were both quiet for a moment, then Niki spoke. "What were you doing outside? You were supposed to be resting." She sounded like a mother.
Soda swallowed. He hadn't been expecting her to ask him that. "Oh, you know me." He said quickly and grinned. "I hate to be couped up, bored, alone... did i mention bored?"
Niki laughed a little, then her expression changed and Soda thought she was going to start crying.
"Well, i hope that fight cured your boredom." She said.
"Niki..." She really looked like she was going to cry. "I didn't go looking for a fight. I just went for a walk."
"Alone? You know that's pretty much the same thing as going out to look for a fight in this neighborhood."
"I don't need a lecture from you, Niki."
Niki looked at Soda and they were both quiet again.
"I was scared, when Darry was stitching you up. I was scared that you might die, or maybe you'll get an infection. I just don't like being scared. There are enough things around here to make me a nervous wreck, you don't need to add on to the list." Niki said truthfully.
"I'm sorry." Soda said and held out his arms.
Niki lowered herself softly onto his chest and he wrapped his arms around her.
She felt safe in his strong, warm arms.
All he could think about was Sandy and the baby...
After just a few moments, Soda fell asleep again, with Niki laying on his chest.
The next time he woke, he found Pony sitting on the bed, reading a book and smoking. Niki was no longer in the room. He had been woken by the sound of Darry's voice.
"Pony! Put it out!" Darry's voice came again.
Soda guessed Darry could smell the cigarette.
"Hey, Soda." Pony smiled down at him. "How you feelin'?"
Soda reached his hand up and took the cigarette from Pony before he stubbed it out and took a long drag on it. It seemed to make him feel a little calmer, but not much. He had never been much of a smoker.
"Something bothering you?" Pony asked as he took the cigarette back.
Soda shook his head. "More than you know."
"Wanna talk about it?" Pony offered.
Soda shook his head again.
pony shrugged and went back to reading the book. Soda took the cigarette from him again and took another drag.
"Damn it, Ponyboy! What have i told you about - " Darry stopped midsentence when he spotted Soda was the one holding the cigarette. He sighed at Soda but didn't say anything.
"You feeling better, kiddo?" Darry asked.
Soda took yet another drag on the cigarette. "That's some fancy needlework you did, huh?" Soda said to Darry.
"My best yet." Darry replied.
For the rest of the day Soda slept on and off. He woke occassionally and found different people in the room. One time he found Steve and Two-Bit in there and heard Darry call them out, telling them to leave him to rest.
He didn't see Niki again though.
One time he woke to find Pony returning a book to his desk.
"Hey, Pony." Soda croaked, his throat feeling a little dry.
Pony wipped around, surprised to hear Soda's voice.
"Where's Niki?" Soda asked.
"She left." Pony said. "After you fell asleep with her. She woke up and left. Said she'd come by to check on you tomorrow."
"Oh." Soda said and fell asleep again.
Soda slept the rest of that day and didn't wake again until the next morning.
Pony was already up and, looking at the clock, Soda guessed he had already gone to work. Darry would be at work too, so once again, Soda was alone.
He sighed heavily to himself, threw off the bed covers, inspected his side, and decided to take a shower.
it stung when the warm water hit his side, so he kept the wound away from the water. It also slightly hurt when he bent in any direction, so he didn't get to have much of a shower.
After he showered, bandaged his side, dressed, and ate, he found himself bored, longing for something to do. He switched on the radio and began playing cards.
After about an hour, Niki walked in through the front door.
"Hey." She smiled at Soda. "How are you feeling?"
Soda looked up. "Hey, i'm fine." He said, then went back to his card game.