Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.
Thanks for all the reviews! I can't believe I'm updating again today. I hope you guys like this chapter too!
Soda's POV
I had come home last night, and it was Saturday, so I didn't have to go to work. I was just lying around the house thinking. I was in my room when Darry came in. I pretended to be asleep. I wasn't sure why. I just didn't want to talk to anyone.
"Soda, I know you're awake. I can tell by your breathing." Darry said.
"Yeah. I'm awake. So what?" I snapped as I sat up.
"What's wrong? Why don't you go back to the hospital with me?"
"Nothing is wrong, Darry." I said sarcastically. "Our little brother is in the hospital with cancer that could kill him, and I'm sick of watching it."
"Do you think I'm not? I'm sick of it too, but Pony needs us. Why are you being so hateful?"
"Why? I'm angry, Dar. I'm furious. He shouldn't have to go through this." I yelled as I stood up.
"You're right, little buddy, but we can't change it. All we can do is help him through it. Why does it seem like you're taking this harder than anyone else; even Pony?"
"I don't know. Me and Pony were always so close..."
"Were? Soda, what are you thinking? You're talking in past tense. He is not dead. You two are close!" Darry yelled.
He was getting angry now, but I was not going to quit talking.
"It's not the same now. He's always sick and always locked up in that hospital room! Everyday it looks more like he's never coming home."
"He is going to come home. Haven't we all been through this already? I thought you weren't giving up. Pony told you not to give up on him! Why don't you listen?"
"I don't want to give up on him, but this looks so hopeless. He was on his way to remission and the next day worse off than he was at first."
"Chemo is going to work..."
"If it doesn't kill him along with the cancer! Sure, he'll come home, but it looks like it's going to be so we can make him more comfortable to die!"
I had crossed the line when I said that, and Darry couldn't take it anymore. My attitude was getting to him. Before I knew what was happening, his fist had collided with my jaw. We both stood there in shock. Darry had hit me, just like he hit Pony. I touched my face where he had hit me as tears started to roll down my cheeks. We couldn't fight. Not now. Not when Pony was sick, and we needed to stick together.
"Pepsi Cola, I'm so sorry. Oh my gosh. I can't believe I just did that after what happened before. I've got to stop letting my anger get the best of me. I can't keep hurting you guys..."
I leaned against the wall, still in shock.
Darry's POV
I put my hand on Soda's shoulder. Glory, he was shaking. He almost jumped out of his skin when I touched him. I had scared him. I hoped he would forgive me. I didn't know if I could forgive myself, not again.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Pepsi Cola. Never again. I promise." I said softly.
"I can't believe you hit me after what happened last time." He cried burying his face in his hands.
I wanted to hug him, so he would know he didn't have to be afraid of me. I just didn't know if he would let me. I didn't want my brother to be scared of me, but I wouldn't blame him if he was. I didn't have to decide what to do because Soda had made up his mind. He had his arms around my neck crying on my shoulder. I knew then I had been forgiven.
"Darry, I'm sorry."
"For what? This is all my fault."
"I had the wrong attitude. I pushed you too far. I have to stop talking that way..."
"No, it doesn't matter. There is never a good reason for me to hit you. Don't you think that there is. I was wrong, and I swear I'll never let this happen again."
Thanks for all the reviews! I can't believe I'm updating again today. I hope you guys like this chapter too!
Soda's POV
I had come home last night, and it was Saturday, so I didn't have to go to work. I was just lying around the house thinking. I was in my room when Darry came in. I pretended to be asleep. I wasn't sure why. I just didn't want to talk to anyone.
"Soda, I know you're awake. I can tell by your breathing." Darry said.
"Yeah. I'm awake. So what?" I snapped as I sat up.
"What's wrong? Why don't you go back to the hospital with me?"
"Nothing is wrong, Darry." I said sarcastically. "Our little brother is in the hospital with cancer that could kill him, and I'm sick of watching it."
"Do you think I'm not? I'm sick of it too, but Pony needs us. Why are you being so hateful?"
"Why? I'm angry, Dar. I'm furious. He shouldn't have to go through this." I yelled as I stood up.
"You're right, little buddy, but we can't change it. All we can do is help him through it. Why does it seem like you're taking this harder than anyone else; even Pony?"
"I don't know. Me and Pony were always so close..."
"Were? Soda, what are you thinking? You're talking in past tense. He is not dead. You two are close!" Darry yelled.
He was getting angry now, but I was not going to quit talking.
"It's not the same now. He's always sick and always locked up in that hospital room! Everyday it looks more like he's never coming home."
"He is going to come home. Haven't we all been through this already? I thought you weren't giving up. Pony told you not to give up on him! Why don't you listen?"
"I don't want to give up on him, but this looks so hopeless. He was on his way to remission and the next day worse off than he was at first."
"Chemo is going to work..."
"If it doesn't kill him along with the cancer! Sure, he'll come home, but it looks like it's going to be so we can make him more comfortable to die!"
I had crossed the line when I said that, and Darry couldn't take it anymore. My attitude was getting to him. Before I knew what was happening, his fist had collided with my jaw. We both stood there in shock. Darry had hit me, just like he hit Pony. I touched my face where he had hit me as tears started to roll down my cheeks. We couldn't fight. Not now. Not when Pony was sick, and we needed to stick together.
"Pepsi Cola, I'm so sorry. Oh my gosh. I can't believe I just did that after what happened before. I've got to stop letting my anger get the best of me. I can't keep hurting you guys..."
I leaned against the wall, still in shock.
Darry's POV
I put my hand on Soda's shoulder. Glory, he was shaking. He almost jumped out of his skin when I touched him. I had scared him. I hoped he would forgive me. I didn't know if I could forgive myself, not again.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Pepsi Cola. Never again. I promise." I said softly.
"I can't believe you hit me after what happened last time." He cried burying his face in his hands.
I wanted to hug him, so he would know he didn't have to be afraid of me. I just didn't know if he would let me. I didn't want my brother to be scared of me, but I wouldn't blame him if he was. I didn't have to decide what to do because Soda had made up his mind. He had his arms around my neck crying on my shoulder. I knew then I had been forgiven.
"Darry, I'm sorry."
"For what? This is all my fault."
"I had the wrong attitude. I pushed you too far. I have to stop talking that way..."
"No, it doesn't matter. There is never a good reason for me to hit you. Don't you think that there is. I was wrong, and I swear I'll never let this happen again."