The whole day at work, Soda was extremely worried about his baby sister. He couldn't get her out of his mind. He kept zoning out while he was working, getting him into trouble quite a lot.
Steve tried to help his buddy the best he could. He has still freaked out himself. Usually, they didn't mind going there to fix cars and flirt with any girls that happen to come by. Since Bexley is sick, she was all Soda would think about.
Soda was more scared than Steve was. They don't know what she's sick with. 'It could be the flu,' he thought to himself. Steve didn't even want to go to the drag races, which is what they do every week. He knew Soda wanted to be at home with his sister and two brothers.
When they got home, Soda saw Darry sitting in his recliner. He looked as if the veins in his head were ready to pop. Steve went into the kitchen to get him and Two-Bit some beer.
"Darry… how is she?" Soda said, voicing the fear he was feeling. "It isn't good, little buddy. She possibly has the flu," Darry answered, looking up at his younger brother. Soda went pale and suddenly felt dizzy. Darry noticed this and shot up to his feet, having Soda sit down on the couch.
"Sit down, little buddy. Take a breath," Darry said, pushing Soda down with both hands on his shoulders. Soda started to panic when he learned the diagnosis. He was hoping with everything in his being that it was anything but that.
"No… it can't be that!" Soda vociferated, his body shaking. From the kitchen, both Steve and Two-Bit heard what Darry had said, and both froze. "That's not good…" Two-Bit commented, his usual puerility vanished. Steve surprisingly looked worried.
"Wh-Where are they?" Soda asked, referring to both Ponyboy and Bexley. "They are in the bedroom," Darry said, sitting back down in the recliner. Soda didn't hesitate to rush to their bedroom to see them.
When he opened the door, his heart wrenched at the sight in front of him. Bexley was shivering under Pony's arm, her complexion pale and sweaty. She looked like she was trying to sleep, but couldn't.
Soda grabbed the desk chair and brought it around the bed. He sat down in front of his kid siblings. He leaned over and gently brushed her damp hair back, feeling how hot she really felt. Tears rose in his eyes and he didn't bother to wipe them away.
Bexley soon wakes up not a minute later. She opened her feverish eyes and looks up at her older brother. She didn't have to say how much pain she was in. The sickly girl starts to cry again but no tears fell.
"It's alright, baby girl. I'm here," he commiserated, "How're you feeling?" He was aware of her pneumonia and how bad it can get, he thought he'd ask for some reassurance. "E-Everything hurts… I ain't… feeling good," she replied, her voice sounding croaky.
Soda leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead gently. "Oh, baby girl… Do you want some medicine to help you feel better?" Soda asked, looking at her with a look of endearment. There was heat radiating off of her body. "Y-Yeah… but it tastes gross…" Bexley said, making Soda crack a grin.
"Okay, let me go get it," Soda said, standing up to get the medicine. The medicine was back in the bathroom so they'd know where it is. Ponyboy woke up a few minutes later after hearing the door opening.
"Bexley? You okay?" he asks, noticing how pale Bexley was. "No…" she replied, shaking her head. She then starts to cough, a heavy, wet cough which soon turned to retching. Ponyboy reached for a trash bin but she had started to vomit before he even grabbed it. It got on her chin, shirt, and on the blanket.
She started shaking and gasping for air. "DARRY! SODA! HELP!" Ponyboy screamed for help, unable to calm down. The two older Curtis brothers, quickly rush into the bedroom and see what happened. They asked Steve and Two-Bit to leave so they wouldn't catch what she has. The sight was absolutely heartbreaking.
Darry went to the bed and picked her up and took her to the bathroom to clean her up. Soda and Ponyboy follow behind him. "I'm so sorry…" Bexley sobbed, tears streaming down her face. "Oh, don't worry about that, okay?"
His voice was gentle, a tone he uses when he's worried. Ponyboy went to get a new shirt and pants for her. Darry sets Bexley on the closed toilet seat. She was still crying and shaking, trying to take a breath.
Darry asked his younger brothers if they could wait outside despite them wanting to help. He told them that he's gonna help her change into the clothes Pony brought. It was a black shirt, which was way too big for her. It went down to her knees like a nightgown.
He didn't want her to freak out by him doing this so he said, "Bexley, I'm gonna help you out of these clothes. There's nothing to be scared of, okay?" Bexley simply nodded, understanding that her own brother wouldn't hurt her. He helps her out of those clothes until she was in her underwear.
Bexley hugged herself, trying to cover her breasts. She felt vulnerable by not wearing anything so she started shivering. Darry gets a washcloth and soaks it in cold water, wrings it out, and cleans the vomit off of her face.
After she was cleaned up, he helped her put the enlarged shirt on. Darry gave the okay that they could come back in. Soda and Ponyboy had changed the sheets and blankets to their bed while Darry fixed Bexley up. "Soda, take her to bed. Pony, can you get her medicine and some water?" Darry said, "I'll clean up in here,"
The younger brother did what they were asked. Soda came over and picked her up bridal style. He takes her back to bed as she snuggled closer to his chest. Soda sat down on the bed with her still in his arms. Bexley shivered in his arms, her teeth chattering.
She acted as if she was freezing cold, but Soda could feel that she was on fire, heat still emanating off of her. She nuzzled against Soda's chest, taking in the scent of his DX shirt, which he was still in. It smelled like the inside of the shop mixed with car oil since he and Steve worked on cars there.
"Soda…" she whimpered, still shaking. Soda cradled her head with his right hand since her right ear was pressed against his speeding heart. "Sshhh… I'm here, baby girl," he whispered in a voice that was soft and gentle. The same kind of voice their mother used.
"I ain't feeling good… at all… I feel so horrible..." she said, voice breaking as if she was going to cry. Soda's heart ached when he heard this; he'd give anything to take it from her. He was tired of his kid siblings suffering like this. They didn't deserve it…
"Everything's gonna be okay now… We're gonna help you feel better," Soda assured, kissing the top of her head. She started crying from the aching pain in her entire body. Soda rubbed her bare arm to comfort her.
Darry and Ponyboy soon come in with the needed items. "How is she?" Ponyboy asked, worrying about his sister. "She ain't well, Pony. Not well at all," Soda replied, looking up at his little brother.
Darry sat down on the bed taking her medicine and the cup of water from Ponyboy.
"Bexley? Open your eyes for me, hon," Darry said. Bexley opened her eyes barely but looked at her eldest brother. "You need to take your medicine for me, okay? I know you don't like how it tastes, but you have to have it if you want to feel better. You understand?" he tells her, remembering how she acted last time.
She nodded faintly, not having the energy to speak. All she wanted was to sleep, she was so exhausted. Darry poured the right amount of medicine in the spoon, bringing it up to her mouth. She didn't fight him this time, she opened her mouth and Darry slipped the spoon in. Swallowing the medicine, her face wrinkled in disgust.
Darry helped her drink some water to wash away the taste. "Alright, try to get some sleep, hon, you'll be okay in the morning," Darry said. Bexley nodded and was tucked into bed, already asleep.