Ch.3

whoop whoop....ch 3!!!!! yay!

We pulled up at the hospital about ten minutes later. I felt my heart drop to the pit of my stomach as I got out of the car as slowly as possible. I looked up at the tall brick building with lights shining a yellow glow onto the outside world. I gulped. Soda slammed his doorshut and glanced over at me. "C'mon Pony." He motioned for me to follow him. I felt someone lightly tap my shoulder. "I'm gonna go call the rest of the gang ok?" Johnny was staring at me, his eyes, or what you could see of them, behind his dark hair, were full of worry. I guess I looked pretty bad because the next thing I knew Johnny was asking me if I needed help walking into the building. I shook my head and he left to go find a payphone. Soda had trudged ahead and I hurried to catch up. I couldn't believe he hadn't told me what was going on yet. This really wasn't like him. "You ok Soda?" I asked. He nodded. Boy, could I use a cigarette. I felt my pockets which were empty and didn't bother to ask Soda. He probably wouldn't have any anyways.

The cold night air bit into me through my thin jacket. I followed Soda into the lobby of the hospital. It smelled so strongly like laundry and antiseptic in there that it made me cough. So Darry was here. I really wanted to know what happened but Soda seemed locked inside himself. I think he had forgotten I was there. I spotted Johnny coming toward us and walked over to him. "Two-bit's not home and Steve and Dally are coming," he said to me. I nodded vaguely.

Soda went up to the desk and the receptionist, a skinny lady with thick reading glasses and frizzy gray hair directed us to the emergency room. "Two doors down that hall. Can't miss it, number 13" she said in a high pitched voice. Soda nodded his thanks and went where directed. I followed suit. He walked down the door and stopped at the designated door. I had had enough by now though. I needed to know what was going on. "Soda, what happened? You have to tell me or I ain't goin' in there." I pointed to the door. He looked at me like I was crazy. I could tell he didn't know he hadn't told me. He got down on one knee and held my arms at the elbows, almost like a father would do to a little kid. At any other time, it would have bothered me, but not now. He put his head down. When he finally looked up at me, his eyes were glistened over tears. He took a deep breath and shakily began to talk. "It's Darry," he stuttered. Well, I had figured that much out....duh.

"Well, after you and Johnny left, he went out the window to work. I guess he thought since it's a weekday he had to be there. And in the state he was in, it was inevitable something was going to happen. And something did. They're not sure what, but they found him unconscious under two things of roofing. I didn't get a chance to get all the details but he's in pretty bad shape. His arm... a compound fracture and....." He stopped because he had started to cry pretty hard now. His back shook with sobs and he bent his head down. I looked at the top of his shiny blonde head. And felt myself start to cry too. Johnny put his hand on my shoulder and gave me an everything is going to be ok look. Slowly Soda got up and looked at me. He had managed to stop crying although I didn't know how. I was bawling my eyes out. He put his arm around me and slowly led me towards the door. He slowly opened it, as if he expected someone to jump out at him from behind it. I was still crying. If Darry didn't make it...I would never forgive myself.

It was really dim inside that room. The walls were a funny yellow color and it smelled very strongly of that antiseptic soap and drugs. A strange humming noise was coming from a curtain around what I guess was Darry's bed. A nurse looked up as we came in. She flashed us a sympathetic smile and came over to greet us. Soda never looked at her, only asked if we could see Darry. She nodded but warned us. "He's in a coma. The doctor hasn't gotten his arm in a permanent..." She stopped when she saw the look on Soda's face. He was clutching my arm, staring at the curtain in a frightened way. I was still whimpering quietly. I was frightened too. I didn't want to see Darry like he was. I wanted that to be someone else behind that curtain. Why hadn't I been able to tell Darry how much I cared? Why was I always out with Johnny or hanging with Soda, never once thinking about him. Why had I acted to ungrateful? If it wasn't for Darry, I would be in a boys home and so would Soda. I felt so sad, guilty, scared...everything. Soda was taking it pretty badly too. He was holding me so tightly I could hardly breathe. The nurse picked up her chart and quietly walked out. Johnny was waiting by the door way.

Soda slowly let go of me and pushed back the curtain. He caught his breath and gave a little start. I almost screamed. Darry lay there but it looked nothing like him. His face was an almost gray color and one side was all swollen. He was hooked up to some kind of machine that was helping him breathe. His arm hung above him in a sling and the white cloth of the sling was red stained. Soda crept closer. He was whispering something I couldn't hear. But I didn't want to hear. I took one look at Darry and almost passed out. He was in really bad shape.

I couldn't take it. I flew out of the room, and almost rammed into Johnny. I swerved to the side and ran blindly down the hall. My tears blurred my vision and I didn't care. The only thing on my mind was Darry. I vaguely heard the nurses yelling something about running not being aloud but I didn't listen. I sped out the hospital door into the cold night. I stopped at the curb and dropped down onto it. I buried my head in my arms and just let everything go. I can't ever remember crying this hard in my entire life. My thoughts ran freely in my mind and they all scared me. I finally looked up and dried my eyes. I was numb now. I was all cried out and couldn't cry anymore. I glanced around me. I saw some one coming towards the hospital; except for the lights coming from the hospital and an occasional car's headlights, there was nothing. I was so tired and the only thing that was in my head was the fact that Darry might not make it.

Johnny, was standing there leaning on a light pole, smoking and staring at me. I realized he had seen my whole break down. But I really didn't care. "You ok man? Glory I thought you were never going to stop crying. It was starting to make me want to cry too," he told me kindly. "You wanna light?" he asked. I nodded and he flicked one in my direction. I lit up and slowly inhaled. He sat down next to me and didn't say anything. I was grateful though because I really didn't want to talk. He put his hand on my shoulder and gave me the most compassionate and understanding look. I was glad for him being there for me. It made me realize how fortunate I was.

I don't know how long I was sitting there but the next thing I knew, Dally and Steve were walking toward me. For once, Steve eyes weren't dancing with some sarcastic remark and that silly grin was completely gone. He looked pretty sorry. Dally's hard blue eyes were softened and he looked at me with an almost sad expression. "How's Darry?" he asked me quietly. I shook my head. If I started talking, I knew I would cry. He nodded like he understood and went into the hospital with Steve right behind him. Johnny and I sat out there for a while longer but it was really getting cold. We finished off our cigarettes and headed inside too. I knew Soda was an emotional wreck and I wasn't in much better condition either. But as I walked down the hall to Darry's room, I prayed a silent prayer of desperation. If Darry left, my life would be over.

I can't think of anything to say...hope u all like...thanx for the reviews and keep em' coming! xxx