Darry POV
"Hey Two-Bit… what's wrong little buddy? Why ya cryin?" When Two-Bit turned around to look at Pony and I, we could see the tears beginning to run down Two's cheeks. I was concerned, not only for Keith's health, but to why he was crying. He's my brother and it pains me to see one of them crying.
"I just…" Before Two-Bit could finish answering, he started balling like a baby. He just sat there, rubbing his eyes with the palms of his hands and crying his poor little eyes out.
I looked at Ponyboy and he looked scared. I put a hand on his back and leaned into his ear. "Why don't you just go ahead to bed? It'll be a while before Soda gets back. You'll see him in the morning." I knew the only reason Pony was up was because he was waiting for Soda, but we both saw no use in waiting.
Pony nodded and went off to his room. When the sound of his bedroom door closed, I walked over to the bed (couch) and sat down beside Two-Bit. I stared at him, waiting for him to embrace me with his tears and sobs and wanting me to comfort him, but it never happened. I put my hand on his shoulder, but he pulled away. "You okay Two-Bit?"
He sniffed and buried his face in one of the blankets that he brought up to his face. He muffled out, "I… I let him down…" He was barely audible.
I was confused. "Who? Wait… what?" Two-Bit brought his face up and looked at me with his bloodshot and still crying eyes.
"Pony… I was supposed to stay strong for him… act like I "forgot how to cry" because that's how he always explained it to me… I told him he would never see me cry because I was strong and he could trust me… nothing would break me! Everything would be okay… I told him there was really nothing to cry about between me or him, you or Steve or Soda… life is great!" He smiled and chuckled, then began sobbing again and choking out, "Life is great…"
I was deeply concerned now. This time when I put my hand on Two-Bit's shoulder, he tensed up, then welcomed it. I blinked a couple of times and the only thing we could hear then was the sound of my light breathing and Two-Bit's crying which was finally starting to let up.
"Hey Two-Bit, why don't you take some of this? It'll help you calm down and you can finally calm down," Two-Bit looked up and nodded his head. I smiled. "Good. You need to take two spoonfuls alright?" He nodded once more and I poured some of the "cherry flavored" goop onto the spoon Pony fetched me.
Two-Bit took the weird looking liquid and cringed when he swallowed it. "I know, one more and then you're done." He nodded for the third time and took the next spoonful with only a cringe again. He was already sleepy and I knew with the medicine and his tiredness, he would be asleep in no time.
He laid back in the pillows and his eyes were fluttering shut. I got up and started to walk off, but Two-Bit called my name and asked, "Darry, will you lay with me? I don't want to be alone, honestly…"
I walked back out to the living room with a huge smile on my face. "Yeah, if you make some room." He scooted over and I laid down beside Two-Bit after I turned off the light. I could hear his breathing finally soften up as he rolled over and cuddled up against me. I let out a breath and put my arm around Two-Bit's shoulders. Before I heard the sound of a car door shutting from outside the house, I sighed.
"You sure are something special… but don't worry Keith, it's the good kind of special."