Chapter Thirty-Five: Last Chance

Georgie POV

It's been a week since I told the boys about Dallas. I hadn't finished the story, but they didn't push for it. Since then, they've been walking on eggshells. I can't stand it. And I'm never alone. But, I think it's because of what I told Ponyboy. The only alone time I get is when I'm doing my homework in Ponyboy's room. I was more depressed then I'd ever been. It wouldn't take much to push me over the edge.

"Hi."

"Dammit, Dallas! This is the only alone time I get. You're gonna take that away, too?"

I got up and went to the window.

"Alright, listen. You're starting to really get on my nerves."

I turned around slowly. Was he serious?

"Really? Because it's totally not getting on my nerves that my dead brother keeps on bothering me. Why can't you leave me alone?"

"Cause I don't have to!"

"You never change. Even death hasn't changed you."

"Being dead isn't much different than being alive. So, no. I haven't changed."

"Then leave me alone. You did it before, you can do it again."

"I wrote you and called you every week."

"I never saw you again. The letters and phone calls weren't enough!"

"Why do you care?! We didn't even know each other a year when you moved."

I teared up. He looked guilty. I opened the window and climbed out. I started walking. He was next to me.

"I felt safe with you. I loved you more than anyone. And I thought you loved me, too."

"You think I don't?"

I stopped on the sidewalk.

"When you got yourself killed, that proved you didn't. You only loved Johnny."

"That's not true!"

"Yes. It is. You were only thinking of yourself when you did that. Your letters and calls kept me going. You didn't think about that."

"Okay, I'll admit it. I wasn't thinking when I made that decision. But, you were on my mind when I was dying."

"And you'll be on mine..."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm doing what you did. Only thinking of myself. I can't go on like this."

And with that, I ran into the street, and my world went dark with a bang...

Steve POV

Me and Two-bit were watching her that day. We thought she was in Pony's room. We heard a bang outside. Someone had hit something. We ran out on the porch the see a woman getting out of their car and screaming for someone to call 911. I ran over.

"What happened, ma'am?"

"This girl ran out in front of me. She must not have seen me! I can't look!"

I didn't really wanna look, but I had to see if the girl was alive. I walked to the front of the car.

"GEORGIE!"

I felt for a pulse, but didn't feel one. I knew a little bit of CPR and started doing it.

"You can't die on me, Georgie. Think of the gang. We couldn't get over it. Think of us. Think of Ponyboy. Think of Sodapop... Oh gosh, don't die on him. If you love him at all, fight for him..."

I heard her take in a shaky breath and felt for a pulse. It was weak, but it was there. I looked up to see Two-bit standing there with tears in his eyes.

"If it weren't for Soda, she would've gave up."

He was right. I believed that me reminding her of Sodapop made her want to live.

"Yeah. I know..."

We heard the sirens a few moments later. They believed she didn't see the car because a car was parked on the side of the road. I hoped they were right.

"You saved her life, son."

When the police officer walked away, I whispered to myself.

"No. Sodapop did."

Georgie POV

I opened my eyes, and I was heading towards a light. I faintly heard someone in the background.

"Think of the gang. We couldn't get over it. Think of us."

It was Steve. Couldn't get over what? I started trying to turn from the light. I wanted to go to Steve, but it just kept getting closer.

"Think of Ponyboy."

I really started fighting to turn around. But the light was still getting closer.

"Think of Sodapop... Oh, gosh, don't die on him. If you love him at all, fight for him..."

I was dying? Oh my gosh, I was dying. I didn't think about the gang, and now I was dying. Ponyboy... Sodapop... I used all my might but couldn't turn. I was almost to the light when I was yanked away and thrown on the ground.

"Dally?"

"Don't ever do that to me again!"

He was kneeled over catching his breath.

"I almost didn't get to you in time!"

"Where am I?"

"I don't know how to explain where you are, but you're not dead, thankfully. It's kind of like a limbo place."

"I... I... I don't even know if I meant to..."

"You did, but you regret it..."

"I can't believe I..."

"Yeah. I know the feeling, but it was too late for me."

"Is it for me...?"

"I hope not..."

Soda POV

I was at the DX when Two-bit ran in and told me what happened. We ran to his car and got to the hospital as fast as we could. Darry was already there. They called him at work. He went and talked to Dr. Matthews. He was gone a long time. We he came back, he didn't look good.

"What did he say?"

"She's in critical condition. Most of her ribs are broken, she was bleeding internally, had a collapsed lung, both of her legs are broken, and one arm. She just got out of surgery for the bleeding... He said she's lucky her back didn't break..."

He sat down. Then, a thought occurred to me.

"How are we gonna tell Ponyboy..."

"I don't know. Steve went to get him. I told him not to tell him what happened."

"Why did she leave the house in the first place?"

"Don't know. She told the boys that she was doing her homework."

"It just doesn't make sense."

"They said it was an accident. That she didn't see the car because of another car."

I didn't tell Darry, but I didn't believe that. I think she saw that car, especially after what Ponyboy told us. It tore me apart.

Pony POV

I ran out of the hospital. I couldn't handle it. If she died, I would be done. Steve ran after me.

"Ponyboy!"

I stopped and punched the wall of the hospital.

"I can't take this! Darry thinks it was an accident! That was no accident! Dammit, she can't die! She can't!"

I was sobbing. Steve put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know, Ponyboy. I know..."

I finally went back in after I calmed down. Darry insisted I get my hand checked out. After my hand was wrapped, I needed to check on Sodapop. He was outside smoking.

"Hey, Sodapop..."

"Hey, Pony..."

"Come here."

He cried in my arms. I hadn't seen Soda really cry since that night he ran. He didn't even cry like this when Sandy died...

After what seemed like forever, they finally let me, Soda, and Darry see her. She looked awful... I think seeing the breathing tube was the worst thing. Knowing it was breathing for her and she wasn't breathing on her own.

Georgie POV

It'd been two weeks, and I was still in this limbo. Dally and Johnny were with me, but I was wanting to just go home...

"What's up, Bug?"

"Just want all of this to be over."

He sat down next to me.

"Fight."

"What do you mean?"

"You have to really wanna go home. And I mean really. If not, you'll be here until your body gives out. Fight it. Want it."

I closed my eyes. Just wanting to go home. I wanted the gang. I wanted Darry and Ponyboy. I wanted Sodapop...

"Hey, Georgie. It's me."

I opened my eyes and looked at Dally.

"You're doing it. You're fighting."

"Ponyboy's going back to school. There's only two weeks left, but he's doing really well. Darry's at work. My boss is letting me take some time off. I wouldn't be much help, anyways..."

"Keep fighting... You're almost there."

The world around me started to disappear. I kept hoping to be there. With Sodapop...

"You gotta come back so we can do everything we've talked about. We gotta see Broadway. That's what you want more than anything... You... You can't leave me... Please... Please come back to me..."

I started feeling pain everywhere. The world around me started appearing again.

"No, Stop! Fight it!"

"It hurts, Dally! It hurts!"

"What's worse? The pain that will only last a little while, or the pain of never seeing Soda again. Come on, Bug... Fight it..."

The world started disappearing again.

"Georgie...?"

It was dark. My eyes felt heavy, and I was in so much pain. I opened my eyes slowly...

Soda POV

I was talking to her like I did everyday. I had just said something, when I saw her fingers move.

"Georgie...?"

Nothing happened for a minute, then her eyes opened.

"Georgie!"

I got up and grabbed her hand. She looked at me, and started tearing up. I ran out the door yelling for a nurse. When the nurse came in, she started examining her.

"Georgie. I want you to blink once for yes and twice for no. Understand?"

One blink.

"Good girl. Now. Are you in any pain?"

She blinked again. The woman pushed her pain button.

"Okay. That should help. Are you uncomfortable?"

She blinked again and brought her hand to her mouth, the nurse put it back down.

"I'll go get the doctor."

Dr. Matthews came in a few minutes later and checked her oxygen.

"Okay. It looks like you can probably breath on your own. I'm gonna take out the tube. It might be uncomfortable, but only for a second. Okay. I want you to try and cough. It will make it easier."

She coughed and he pulled out the tube.

"Th...thirsty..."

He was prepared. He already had water. She drank it down quickly.

"Easy. Now, you got into an accident, and you're pretty banged up. You got hit by a car. But, you're lung is better and the surgery on your stomach worked and is healing nicely. You'll be in a wheelchair for about eight weeks, but you'll be okay."

He said a few more things and left the room. Georgie hadn't talked except for when she was thirsty. I couldn't take the silence anymore.

"Was it an accident...?

She didn't say anything for a minute.

"No... It wasn't."

Her voice was hoarse.

"Why...?"

"Thinking about Dally... How he didn't think of anyone but himself when he got himself killed. I decided to do the same... But, as soon as I did it, I thought of you... I fought... I won't do that again. And this time, I mean it..."

"How do I know that?"

"Next time, it could be my funeral. This is my last chance, and I don't intend on messing it up. I've been lucky... I've been pushing it... I'm not gonna do that anymore."

She looked at me for the first time.

"I'm not Dallas Winston. I don't wanna be where I don't care... Because I do... Especially about you..."

I hugged her. She was finally making sense. Darry and Ponyboy were very happy to see her awake. We really didn't know if she'd make it. A few days later, we took her home. She seemed so happy to be home. I saw a certain sparkle in her eyes. This was her last chance, and she was gonna make the most of it.