When school was over, they didn't hesitate to head straight to the house. Steve and Two-Bit made a pit stop at the DX to see Soda. It was a surprise that Steve was worried for her because normally, he doesn't really care for either her or Ponyboy.
However, witnessing her nearly dying in that lake, sent him in a state of shock that he didn't know he could feel. Also, she was Soda's kid sister, and he couldn't bear it when Soda broke down like he did last night.
Ponyboy makes it to the house, not realizing that Bexley was sleeping. He walks through the front door, almost too loudly. Darry was sitting in the living chair. "Quiet, Bexley's asleep," he shushed.
"Sorry, Dar. How'd her appointment go?" Ponyboy asked in concern. The look on Darry's face showed that it wasn't good. "She's not doin' so well. She possibly has the flu, Pony..." Darry replied, rubbing the back of his neck stressfully.
Ponyboy went pale. He knew that she had it before and had to be sent to the hospital. But that's when their parents were around. How was Soda gonna take this?
Bexley was curled up in the fetal position, hugging her stomach protectively. She'd been awake for the last fifteen minutes, shivering in discomfort. All she wanted was for the pain to end. Darry did get her to eat and drink something, but it wasn't sitting well.
It hurt so bad that tears fell from her eyes. Then, her stomach gave a painful lurch and she started coughing loudly, causing her to sit up. Ponyboy heard this and ran into their bedroom, dropping his book bag on the couch.
He walks in and sees his twin sister having a coughing fit. "Darry! Darry, come quick!" Ponyboy cried for help. He ran to his sister's side as she continued to cough. The eldest Curtis rushed into the bedroom and saw what was happening.
It was as if she couldn't stop coughing long enough to take a breath. She looked up at Darry, her eyes withdrawn and glassy. It showed just how much pain she was in. The glass of water was still sitting on the side table so Darry grabbed it and sat down on the bed.
"Easy Bexley, take a deep breath," Darry coaxed, rubbing her back. "It… hurts… make it stop… *coughs loudly* Please…" she gasped, holding onto her throat and holding her stomach. "We know Bexley. We're right here…" Ponyboy said, feeling his throat tighten up.
He couldn't bear to see his twin sister in dire pain like this. He couldn't hate the Socs more than right now. The fact they nearly killed his sister made his blood boil. Before all of this, both of them saw the Socs as people too. But after the many things those bastards had done, those Socs are nothing but cold-hearted monsters.
The coughing turned to gagging, making her stomach contort. She went pale as a sheet and she started sweating. She knew she was going to vomit and she got out of bed and ran to the bathroom.
She collapsed in front of the toilet and instantly vomited everything she ate previously. There was no way that she could hold it down. Her entire body was going from hot to cold while covered in sweat. She trembled madly as she continued to vomit.
Ponyboy knelt down behind her and rubbed her back supportingly. "Let it out, Bex," he whispered to her. She let out a sob and leaned back on the tub, bringing her knees to her chest, her entire body pale except for her cheeks.
She starts coughing again, a loud, wet cough. Darry soon comes in, bringing in a glass of water. "She's not well, Dar," Ponyboy said. Darry saw the pain in her eyes and knelt down next to his kid siblings. "Pony, can you grab her medicine and a spoon? It's in the kitchen," Darry asked, having her drink some water.
Bexley couldn't hold it on her own so Darry helped her drink it.
"Okay, Dar," Ponyboy said, making his way to the kitchen to get her medicine. He brings it back, handing it to Darry. Bexley was still wheezing, still trying to catch her breath.
Darry had to take her temperature. It had gone up to 103.3. She needed to take her medicine. But she needed to be back in bed. "Let's get her back in bed. She has to take her medicine," Darry said, carefully picking her up. Her head rested her head against her bicep.
They took her back to the bedroom. "Pony, help her sit up, would you," Darry asked, getting the medicine ready. It looked similar to cough medicine, which he knew the twins detested.
Bexley leaned back against her twin brother with his arms around her waist. "Here, Bexley, open up," Darry instructed, bringing the spoon to her mouth. Bexley's feverish eyes open and she sees the medicine. She turns her head away and shakes her head.
"I don't want that…" she moaned, trying to push his arm away. Darry wasn't giving in so easily though. "Bexley, none of that. The doctor says you need to take this," he said, grabbing his sister's chin and forcing her to look at him.
"Take it," he says more urgently. She shakes her head again, giving Darry no choice but to take drastic measures. He used his thumb and middle finger to press down to force her jaw open. He slipped the spoon inside of her mouth. Her face twisted in disgust as she was forced to take the medicine.
"I hate you for that," she said, swallowing the foul-tasting liquid down her throat. "Sorry, Bex. But you left me no choice," Darry replied, setting the medicine on the side table. After she drank some water, she laid down on the bed. "I'll stay here with her, Dar," Ponyboy says, laying beside her. "Okay, Pony," Darry said, walking out of the door and shutting it behind him.