Two-Bit had returned with the food with some donuts from across the street about 20 minutes later. They had to make sure that he didn't rip them off like he usually does. Soda should've been hungry but for an odd reason, his stomach wasn't agreeing with him. It tightened up.
He didn't want to get asked questions about it so he ate the donut slowly, thinking it was the sugar making him feel sick. However, his stomach clenched when he was halfway through with it. He tossed the rest of the donut away and told Darry and Bexley that he was going to the bathroom.
After finding it, he locked the bathroom from behind him and fell to his knees. He gripped the toilet bowl with both hands and started to retch a few times, but nothing but saliva came out. He was shaking as his stomach constantly did flips. Now he wished he hadn't eaten anything.
After failing to vomit, he wrapped his arms around his stomach and leaned against the wall, closing his eyes. He still knew he had to vomit but it was one of those times where he couldn't get anything up. His breathing became heavier and quicker, waiting for something to happen.
And like clockwork, his stomach started to jump again. He made his way back to the toilet and vomited what little he ate, dirtying the water. With a groan, he felt tears rise in his eyes. He collapsed back against the wall, his whole body was shaking.
Before, it was just a headache, but he knew now that he was starting to get sick also. He scolded himself mentally, knowing that this couldn't be good.
He flushes the toilet and pulls his shaky body up to his feet. He rinses his mouth out with the sink water before washing his burning face. Afterward, he made his way back to Pony's room before Darry and Bexley started to worry.
Bexley and Two-Bit stayed in Ponyboy's hospital room while Darry went to go talk with their state worker. Bexley was starting to worry about her big brother because he'd been gone a long while. After he did come back, she noticed how pale he was.
Ponyboy was given a small bowl of soup and a few crackers to go with it. The nurse told Darry to go with them while Ponyboy ate those. Darry had been questioned about Two-Bit watching over Ponyboy, their daily lives and such, and what Darry did for a living. Darry explained why Ponyboy was home with Two-Bit.
Ponyboy had managed to hold down the soup and was all set to go home, much to everyone's relief. Darry told Soda and Bexley what child services said on their way home. Soda was trying to hide that he had thrown up while they were in the hospital, but the constant bumps were making it difficult.
When they got home, Darry carried Ponyboy inside the house with Soda and Bexley behind him. Darry laid Ponyboy into bed and Soda laid next to him. Bexley wasn't tired so she stayed in the living room with Darry. Neither realized that things would be far from over.