~Chapter 34~ Yay! Here's Chapter 34! The next chapter will be the last one. I am positive of that! So I'll just go on with the story now. You know who and who I don't own.
****Soda's POV****
I was in the middle of watching American Bandstand in the back room of the DX, because I had no customers, when the phone rang. "Hey. This is Sodapop Curtis from the DX. Whattya need?"
The voice at the other end of the phone sounded really familiar when it asked to talk to Soda. "This is Soda," I said cheerfully. "Two-Bit, is that you?"
"Yeah, sure is. Hey Soda." Two-Bit sounded worried and a little upset. That was weird because Two-Bit was nevr upset or worried. He was always grinning and making jokes.
"Hang on Two-Bit, I got a customer." There was a person, a lady, at the cash register, waiting, so I put the phone down and went to see what the lady wanted.
"Hi." I grinned at her and she smiled back. She was cute but I could definitely tell she was a greaser. She was wearing a short black skirt and a short v neck t-shirt that showed her belly button. "What can I do for ya?"
"This is all.Thanks." She threw a coke and a bag of potatoe chips on the counter. "Did you hear what happened?" I looked at her, confused. What was she talking about?
I put the chips and coke in a bag and then asked, "No. What happened?"
"I can't believe you didn't hear. Its all over the news now!" I was becoming very impatient. I wanted to shout, "Ok lady just tell me whats going on!" If something happened that was important enough to be on the news I wanted to know what it was. "Over at Merril's place." I hadn't been listening and that was all I got out of the conversation before she left.
Did she mean over at Buck Merril's place? Something happened over there? Riley was there. Then I remembered Two-Bit on phone.
"Damnit Sodapop Curtis! Hurry the fuck up!" I could hear Two-Bit's loud and slightly vulgar words before I even picked the phone up.
"Glory, Two-Bit could you talk any louder?" I asked as I picked the phone up. "Now what's going on?"
"Soda. Get to the hospital right now!" I was more then a little confused at why I should go to the hospital.
"Ok, Two-Bit, I will but first tell me what the hell's goin on!"
"It's Riley." It was then that I started to get worried. Something happened to Riley. If Buck did something to her I would personally kill him.
"Whats wrong with her?"
"She went to talk to Buck, because of the whole Daphne thing, you know? She told me to stay out on the porch. She wouldn't let me come in with her. I heard yelling and the next thing I heard was a gun shot. I went in and Riley was laying there, blood running all down her chest. Buck was gone and I called the ambulance. She's not doing good. Get down here now." I hung the phone up in a rush and just stood there.
I still didn't really know what was going on; I just knew that I had to get to the hospital – quick.
"Darry pick up the damn phone!" I screamed after letting the phone ring three times. Darry had the truck so I had no way to get to Riley and nobody at Darry's work was picking the phone up.
"Ok, ok, what the hell do you want?" I was startled when someone finally answered the phone. The person had such an impatient voice that sounded so familiar. Darry. That's who it sounded like.
"Darry, its me." I said this quickly and realized that my voice was quivering with fear. That's how worried I was about Riley. I had never been this worried, except when my mom and dad were in the hospital.
"Soda? What's wrong?"
"Will you come an pick me up at the DX? I'll explain when you get here, but hurry." I hung up the phone without waiting for Darry's answer. I would probably get in trouble by my boss for leaving when no one else was working but that didn't really concern me. He could yell at me all he wanted, he could even fire me if he wanted, as long as Riley was ok. Besides, Steve could always cover for me when he got out of school. Pony could help too.
A couple minutes later I heard our Ford truck pull into the parking lot and then I heard the honk of the horn. I hurried the door and jumped into the truck.
"Where am I taking us to Soda?" Darry gave me a hard, stern look, that meant give him a straight answer and not a lie.
"The hospital," I said in a whisper. The only thing that kept going through my mind was Two-Bit's words " Soda, she's not doing good."
Darry could tell I was really upset. He kept looking over at me when he didn't think I was paying attention. "soda, something is wrong. What is it?" I felt like snapping, "No Darry, nothings wrong. I'm just going to the hospital to look at the babies and have fun." I didn't say that though.
"Riley." That was all I said before I went back to staring at my feet. I hadn't ever realized how dirty my shoes were. They had dirt and car oil all over them.
"Darry, how come whenever I like a girl, they always do something to hurt me?" Riley was hurting me, because I knew anything could happen to her if she got shot in the chest.
Darry was silent until we got to the hospital. "I don't know Soda. I just don't know honey. But you don't deserve it." We got out and ran to the hospital waiting room where an attendant asked us who we were ther for.
"Riley," I breathed heavilly, catching my breath. The attendant pointed us toward a back room where she said the doctor would be out soon to see us. Everybody else was already there when we got there. Even Steve, and Johnny, and Ponyboy. They were supposed to be in school. Dally was there too and Daphne. "What are y'all doin here?" I asked quietly as I sat down next to Steve, shifting in my seat uneasily.
"We heard what happened and figured you'd need some help. Since we all know how much you love Riley!" This voice came from the corner and I noticed Carmen sitting in the floor against the wall, crying. Steve noticed this too and immediately went over and sat by her. I felt bad, but I guess Carmen felt bad too. That was her best friend who had just been shot.
Daphne looked close to tears but Ponyboy was comforting her. "Hey Dally," I grinned a little. "I'm sorry about everything I screamed at you, and I know she was upset and both you guys were drunk." He scowled and then nodded his head, accepting my apology. The doctor came in after awhile of just sitting there.
I stood up almost immediately when he entered the room. He didn't look happy. "Do you guys want it straight or do you want a lie?" Oh god, no, I thought to myself the minute he asked us this. Could I handle the truth? Everybody was looking at me. I guess it was my call.
I swallowed and managed to say something. "We want the truth." The doctor looked at his clipboard and then looked at me.
"I'm sorry, we're losing her."
~A/N~ What do you think? Good? Bad? Review Please!!