Chapter 11

What seemed like an eternity in the waiting room was only like 30 minutes. Johnny was hurt, but we had no idea how bad. Dallas had burns, from saving Ponyboy. Ponyboy was sitting right next to me, smoking. Smoking is what had almost killed me. I curled up in a ball, and didn't even look up when I heard elevator doors open. I gingerly touched my ankle, which only had to be wrapped up. I had a nasty limp though.

"Ponyboy," I heard some one say. Ponyboy stood up next to me, I could hear it, and run to the end of the hall.

"Sodapop!" He almost yelled. I heard the brothers talking, and I knew it was a family moment. But where was my family? Or what was left of it. My father was probably still at home, ignoring the phone calls from the hospital. I felt so alone, it was terrible. I felt like there was no end to it, like I was never going to be loved again. Not the way family does, not like my mother and brother had. Not like Ponyboy, Darry, and Soda love each other. They all have something special, some one there for them. But me? No. I didn't, and never would. I got up, and walked pass the three of them, to the hospitals. Sodapop's head followed me.

"Corey? Is that you?" He asked. I turned around and looked at him. I had no smile on my face. He got Ponyboy and Darry to come to me. I looked around, maybe for an escape, I don't know, and nodded. They stopped in front of.

"We had better get you home, Corey," Darry told me. I shrugged, and followed them to their truck.

Once home, I ran up the steps, and ran to my room. I dropped onto my bed right away, and started to cry into my jacket. No, it wasn't mine, it was Johnny's. Now all I could smell was burned wood and smoke. No grease, cigarettes, or Johnny. His smell would be gone out of that forever.

"No. He's all right. It was just a small burn. oh, who am I kidding?" I told myself in my dirty mirror. My face was messed up with soot, and my dyed hair was dirty blonde from the dirt. I hated it, it just wasn't me. I wanted to run out and see how Johnny was, and Dally. But I figured Dally was ok, his burn had been really small when they took him by, and he was well enough to say something nasty to Ponyboy. But he just closed his eyes when he came by me. And I had looked away.

I went to my small closet, got my towel and night shirt, went into the bathroom, and turned on the water for the shower. I felt so disgusting, I hadn't taken a shower in six days about. Maybe five.

After the shower, I went to my bed room and fell asleep without even getting under the covers.

I woke up and it was very light out. I didn't even know if it was a school day or not. I checked my calender, and it was Friday. I checked th date... the 16. So that meant my birthday was the next day. I was going to turn 14! I smiled, but even with my birthday a day away, I didn't feel any different.

I changed out of my night shirt, and got into a jeans skirt, a black tee shirt, Johnny's jacket, and a pair of sneakers. I brushed my hair, and to my horror and dislike it was still blonde, but now almost as white as Dally's, and went outside. I looked around and saw Two-Bit and Steve going towards the Curtis house. I walked up behind them, following in step, and finally Two-Bit noticed me. He looked confused for a second.

"Corey? Is that you? You're... blonde!" he said. I smiled, but quickly stopped. I gently pushed him into the house. "Hey that means... Ponyboy's back!" he shouted as he went through the door.

"Don't slam the... door." Slam. Ponyboy was frying eggs, but Two-Bit tackled Ponyboy, and the eggs went flying onto the ground. I sat down at the kitchen table. "Hey Corey," Ponyboy said when he noticed me.

"Hi." I stayed in the kitchen while Ponyboy and the others went out into the living room. I looked down at the table, which was many years old, and saw all the dent's. I heard Soda get out of the shower, and Steve say some smart comment to him, Darry say things to Ponyboy, but I wasn't paying attention. I heard the door slam again two times, and Ponyboy came into the kitchen.

"Me and Two-Bit are going to visit Johnny and Dally, you want to come?"

"Sure."

"Hey Johnny, man. How ya feelin'?"Two-Bit asked cautiously.

"I'm ok," Johnny said in a harsh raspy voice. I shuddered, but still wouldn't look at Johnny. You caused this, Corey. It's all your fault that johnny is hurt. All your fault. I looked over and noticed Ponyboy was having a hard time looking at him, too.

"Well, Johnny, look. You're in the paper. You're a hero. They even got a picture of you and everything," Two-Bit said while his voice cracked. I became brave and looked at Johnny. My eyes got wide as I saw all the dead skin peeling away, and his breathing was very forced. I was realy glad Johnny wasn't able to see me, because I think I looked really sick.

"Tuff enough..." Johnny whispered. A few seconds of silence follwed. "Hey Pony? You still go that book? I really liked it."

"Sorry man, I don't have a copy with me... it got burned..."

"Hey, no sweat Johnny, I'll go and buy one right now at the shop. Corey, Pony, you guys stay here. I'll be back as soon as possible." And Two-Bit left. I heard a sniffing sound as he did.

"Core? I didn't hear ya come in," He said, almost disappointed that I hadn't said anything.

"Yea, I'm here Johnny. I'm with ya, man." I said, starting to feel my eyes water. If I talked again, I would of burst out crying. He could tell, so he didn't say anything else. A nurse walked in.

"Johnny? Your mother is here to see you," she said sweetly.

"My mother? Why would my mother want to see me? Doesn't she understand I'm in enough pain as it is?"

"But, Johnny, she's your mother-"

"Tell her to leave me alone, just tell her to leave me alo-" He stopped saying it. I looked up. He wasn't moving. I started to panic. The nurse strode over, and checked him.

"He's unconscious. I think you should leave, now," she said as she shooed us out. I had one last look at Johnny before we left him behind. He still looked almost dead.

I Didn't know what to do when we got to Dally's room. He was laughing at a nurse while we got in there. She left saying something about being glad when he would get out of there. I sighed, wondered what the hell he was doing to bother a nurse, and sat down in one of his chairs.

"Hey, Dal," Two-Bit said, wringing the coat in his hands.

"Hey, Two-Bit. How's the kid?" Dally asked instantly.

"Who? Johnny?" Dallas nodded. "Oh, well, to tell the truth, he really isn't well... he passed out cold before we left his room," Two-Bit said with sad eyes. Ponyboy sucked in a breath. My eyes stayed the same, I didn't stir, even thinking about Johnny. I still stared blankly at Dally's wall, and I could feel his stare making a dent in my head. I thought about how Johnny and I would sit outside next to each other at night and have an understanding for each other without talking. I thought about how we may never be able to do that again. And that Dallas would never do that with me. It just wasn't him.

"There's a rumble tonight, Dal. Too bad you're gonna miss it.." Two-Bit trailed. Dallas waited a few seconds.

"You still have that switch blade, Two-Bit?" Dally asked slowly. Two-Bit flicked it open, and handed it to him. Dallas held it while closing his eyes. Bringing the blade harshly down on the bed he said, "We're gonna get IN with those Socs." Two-Bit stood there, unblinking. Finally Dallas finished his side of the conversation."We'll do it for Johnny... we'll do it for Johnny, man!"

As we waited for the bus to come and take us back to our stop, Ponyboy looked like he was falling asleep. He was sweating something fierce, and couldn't keep his eyes open. I was sitting next to him, and Two-Bit was standing above us. I had a head ache, but figured I could take an aspirin or two when we got to Ponyboy's house.

"Hey, you two don't look that hot. Especially you Pony," Two-Bit said with concern in his eyes. Ponyboy said oh, and I just rested my head on the back of the bench so it wouldn't hurt so much. It started to pound worse.

"I don't know if Darry'll want you to fight in the rumble tonight, Pony," Two-Bit pressed on.

"Aw, Two-Bit, I'm fine. Darry don't need to know. I'll just pop a few aspirins when I get home. No big deal..." Pony spoke my thoughts almost completely. The bus pulled up and Two-Bit handed us each some bus fare. Ponyboy and I sat down next to each other, and Two-Bit had to sit two rows in back of us.

"So, Ponyboy... remember Nakia?" I asked, just to make conversation. Then I thought about her. I hadn't talked to her in weeks. I thought about maybe calling her. Ponyboy looked over, and nodded his head while putting his head in his hands. I looked confused. "What did I say?"

"Well... I guess I'll tell you. I wasn't going to tell anyone, but oh well. I asked Nakia out a couple weeks ago. About a week or so before you broke up with Chris, I guess. Anyways, I don't know what came over me. I asked her out after track practice once, in front of her friends. Her Socy friends might I add. She turned her back to me and said without even looking me! Huh, some girl she turned out to be. She could have had the decency to look me in the eye! Her blonde friend... uhh... Jamie, or something, anyways she laughed right there at me. It was the most embarrassing moments of my life. I don't think I'll ever have the courage to ask another girl out." He looked right over at me after he finished. I looked at him in the eye. "Don't mind me asking Corey... but are you going out with Dally? Not to put you on the spot or nothing..."

"What gives you that idea?" I asked quickly, looking back to make sure Two-Bit was sill talking to the girl in back of him.

"Oh, come on, Corey."

"Okay, fine. I really don't know. He kissed me! But I don't know if I like him like that. You know? I mean, he is 17... I think he was right about not going out with older guys... I don't know Pony, I really don't know... why the hell am I telling you this? I mean, I had a hard enough time telling Johnny ..."

"You told Johnny you kissed Dally?" Ponyboy asked quickly.

"I did not kiss him. He kissed me. And yes, of course I told Johnny. Why? Did he say something to you?"

"Well, I mean, come on, it's obvious. I mean, I think Dally even knows."

"Knows what?"

"Hey Pony, Corey, this is our stop," Two-Bit said cheerfully. I looked outside and it was indeed our stop. It was the park, and you could even see the fountain from there. Ponyboy and I froze. Two-Bit was oblivious to us just standing there. I finally nudged Ponyboy a little so we could walk to his house.

"Pony, I really think you should stay here with Corey tonight," Darry said while tucking in his tight black tee shirt. I sat there crossing my arms. Darry had already attacked me with this arguement. I was to stay there and wait for the gang to get back. I said I wanted to at least watch the rumble, but he decided I wasn't even allowed to leave this house tonight.

"But Dar, I always pull through in rumbles, don't I?" Ponyboy whined. I sighed.

"But you," Darry told him, "are running a fever, little man. And I want you to stay here and keep her company. End of story." Ponyboy sighed also, and flopped down on the couch next to me. We watched as the rest of them piled out of the house, whooping and laughing, doing gymnastics and other junk. I saw Ponyboy watch them go wistfully. After we couldn't hear them, I stood up.

"Let's go watch it. We don't have to fight, we can just watch from the side. After it's done, we can run back here, like we were here the whole time. Ask them questions and junk.

"But-" Ponyboy started to object, realized what he was about to object to, and he stood up also.

"Let's go," He said to me, and we walked down the street side by side, grinning like the fools we were.

AN- I'm sorry it took me so long to update! I was at a friends house for four days, then I lost inspiration, then I lost the file for the word processor when I actually had an idea, then I found it again. And here I am now. But at least I have this here and now! Sorry for it being so short though! Okay, review! Isn't it kind of pointless for me to say read and review, because if you are reading this, that PROBABLY mean you've just read this chapter. But ANYWAYS... yea... okay review please!