"Hello, Mr. Curtis. This is Principal Wesley. I just wanted to inform you that Ponyboy passed out in the hallway, and is still unconscious right now. One of the students found him. We don't know how long he'd been like that. I figured you'd want to take him home since he has been having. . ." she cleared her throat, "problems. This happened a little while ago. If you want to come get him, he's in the nurse's office."
"Okay. Thanks."

With that, I hung up.

"What is it?" Soda asked.

"Pony passed out at school. Mrs. Wesley wants us to come pick him up."
"Is he all right?"
"I don't know. She said he was still unconscious."
"Well, let's go." Soda said.

We got into the truck and headed for the school. I wondered why Pony passed out. He'd been so good lately. What went wrong? Maybe it's nothing.

When we got there, Ponyboy was laying on the couch in the nurse's office, still unconscious. The nurse was standing close by.

When she saw us enter, she said, "I'll leave you alone." So she left the room.

I bent over Pony and waited for him to regain consciousness. It didn't take long.

"Darry?" He asked when he saw me.

"Yeah, I'm here. Are you all right?" I said.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Pony, you passed out." Soda reminded him gently.

"What?"

"Mrs. Wesley called and told us. She said you were in the hallway. What happened, baby?" I asked.

"I don't know." Pony replied.

"Were you in pain? Are you okay? What. . ." Pony cut me off.

"No! It's nothing. I'm fine. I just passed out. It's not like I puked all over the bathroom floor or something!" When he said that, I think he realized he just told us what had really happened.

"Come on, kiddo. Let's go home." Soda said, reaching out a hand to Pony.

"No!" He shouted.

"Pony, what's the matter?" I asked as gently as I could.

"NOTHING!" He shouted in my face. He then got up and ran toward the door. Soda tried to stop him, but was unsuccessful. Pony ran right past him and out the door.

"What was that all about?" Soda asked, concerned.

"I don't know. Let's follow him. I don't want anything to happen to him."

Soda nodded, remembering the last time Pony ran away from us.

We had to chase him out of the school and past the parking lot. He was running down the sidewalk, toward home, when we started catching up.

Suddenly, Pony stopped. Soda and I looked at each other and ran harder. But we were too late to catch him in enough time. Pony collapsed on the ground and I tried to get to him before a car did. He spilled over to the road, and I saw as a car headed straight for him, driving way too fast.

I felt as though I grew wings when I ran as fast as I could. Luckily, Soda stood in shock and fear, as I ran to get him.

Reaching his side, I pulled him up by his shirt, grabbing him out of harm's way. The car swerved out of the way, and the driver stuck out one finger from his window. Soda, breaking out of his daze, gave him the same in return.

I sat on the sidewalk, holding Pony tightly against me, rocking him back and forth. The fear of what might have happened hit me like a ton of bricks. Tears streamed down my face as I thought of how I could have lost my brother in a split second.

Soda sat down beside me, and he grabbed onto one of Pony's hands. He looked as pale as I felt, and for different reasons. Pony was sick again. Something was wrong. The only problem was, I didn't know what.