Ponyboy: Normal Again

Disclaimer: Nope, don't own them.

ANOTHER UPDATION!! AREN'T YOU PROUD THAT IT DIDN'T TAKE 5 MONTHS?!?!?!?!?!

And I'd like to thank Araz for pointing out that I made a mistake 2 chapters ago. Pony hates green eyes, not gray eyes. Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed: Pony's girl (Thanks so much!), Araz, TallemeraRane (They had to get found sometime, didn't they? Lol), DreaminaboutDal (Yeah the end is near though.), Naria4 (Aww thank you! I didn't think that was one of my best chapters. It was kind of dry, but whatever. As long as you liked it!), Kimmerkay (We'll see about their friendship), Jessie C (I just read and reviewed the lastest chatper to your story but I really really really liked it!!), MissLKid (Ah, yes…rp-ing is awesome!), and JustinMcBrideCSNStevesGurl (hehe, I get a kick out of typing your user name, don't ask me why lol.)

            My head itched and despite the protests of my churning stomach, I opened my eyes. Everything was blurry and I didn't really know where I was at first. All I could see was white everywhere. Sitting up, I felt the dull pain in my leg and then I remembered what happened and where I was. Slowly I turned my head to the right and saw dozens of balloons and get-well cards, decorating the creamy, chipped walls that were probably once stark white. The nausea took over and I leaned over the bedrails, up heaving everything I ate for the day, which wasn't much anyway. I pressed the call button as I dry-heaved a few times so that the room wouldn't reek of vomit all day.

            "Hey, Pony," Darry said softly coming into the room after my barf had been cleaned, "I heard you had a little mishap this morning. How are you feeling?"

            "A little sick," I admitted, "But pretty good otherwise."

            He nodded. We were silent for awhile, not knowing what to say. Darry and the others had talked my ear off the nigh before when I woke from my slumber and I didn't really have much to say. I told them everything that I could remember from the mountains, but it wasn't much.

            "How's Steve?" I asked finally realizing that I hadn't heard anything about my partner in crime.

            "He woke up a few minutes ago. Soda's in there with the doctors talking to him and everything. He doesn't remember much either, but he's okay which is all that matters. The Randles are here, though."

            "The Randles?"

            "Well, just Mrs. Randle. She said that she'd like to see you for herself and make sure that you're okay." I smiled. Steve's mother was a really sweet woman. I didn't understand why she was still married to a bastard like his dad. Darry left to go tell Mrs. Randle that she could come in. It was nice when she visited with me. It was almost like having my own mother again. She was a gentle woman and she loved the whole gang to bits and pieces because we gave Steve something to look forward to everyday and we gave him an escape from his dad. She loved Darry even more because he always took Steve in when he was pissed off at his father or something happened at home. Mrs. Randle showered me with gifts (chocolate, books etc…) and even though I didn't want to accept them, she insisted.

            For the whole day, everyone went in to visit with Steve since he'd just woken up and I wanted so badly to walk down the hall and visit with him too. But I wasn't allowed to. Instead I spent the day reading the books that Mrs. Randle brought me and reading the get-well cards from some of my friends from school and eating the chocolate I'd received. I watched the soap operas on television and decided that I got bored of Gina crying over Anthony because he was caught cheating on her and the throwing of objects at one another didn't appeal to me much. But it was a last resort.

            "Hi," a young nurse came in after lunch, "My name's Dara. I'll be teaching you how to use your crutches today." Finally. Something I could actually do.

            "Can I go see Steve Randle?" I asked immediately.

            "If you learn how to use your crutches quickly." I shrugged. How hard could it be?

***

            Using crutches was a talent; a talent that I regretted not having. I threw down the two wooden sticks that were supposed to support me for the next six weeks in frustration and desperation. I dropped onto my bed and gave an all-out groan. Dara patiently picked up the crutches and disappeared for a minute. When she came back, she helped me sit up.

            "Ponyboy," she said gently, "I put two towels onto the crutches where your armpits are supposed to go. I know it gets sore after awhile so I put them on. It should reduce the pain there." Grudgingly, I accepted the crutches again. She was right though. I had a much easier time hopping around the room with the towels there to ease the pain. Dara advised me to use damp towels if it got too sore.

            "So when can I go home?" I inquired.

            "As soon as we're positive your leg will be fine and as soon as that high fever of your dies down. You probably can't feel it now since we gave you medication this morning, but it's there." I nodded and thanked her again before resuming my practice hopping around the room.

            "Can I go see Steve now?" I asked her eagerly after hours of practicing around my room. She nodded the sign of approval and I cheered. Laughing lightly, Dara helped me out of the room and down the hall. I hopped excitedly into Steve's room and greeted Two-bit.

            "Hey Pony, I see you're up and about now!"

            "Hey Two-bit." I dropped into the plastic chair by Steve's bedside in exhaustion. Sure I'd mastered the crutches, but I was still tired from them.

            "Hey Ponyboy," Steve said softly from his bed. I smiled at him and began talking to him, asking him the normal stuff. And for the first time in a long time, things seemed to be back to normal again.

LAST CHAPTER COMING UP!!!! PLEASE REVIEW!!!