Soda woke up feeling hot and sweaty. For a moment, he thought Dary cranked the heat up, but it was Ponyboy making him feel that way. He felt sweat coming from Ponyboy. Soda saw that Ponyboy wasn't as flush as he was before. It was a relief that Ponyboy was getting better.
However, Soda wasn't as lucky. His shirt was sticking to him. It caused him to shiver. He got out of bed and went to grab a sweater and a baggy hoodie. He didn't care if it was from the clean or dirty pile.
He saw that Bexley wasn't in the room with them. She might be sleeping in his old bedroom. He didn't have an issue with that.
Even though he wore a sweatshirt and hoodie, Soda was still shaking as if he was frigid. He needed some water to help his dry throat, and going back to sleep would only make it worse. He staggered out of the bedroom, leaving the bedroom door ajar, and headed into the kitchen.
Darry was sitting on the recliner, watching the TV when he noticed his younger brother walk into the kitchen. "How's Pony?" he asked, making Sodapop jump while he was filling up the glass with water. "His fever had broken. He is drenched in sweat, but at least he's getting some rest. I didn't want to wake him," Soda explained, his throat unusually dry.
Soda groaned at the dryness in his throat and he couldn't hear correctly. It was as if his ears were blocked by a cotton ball or something. His own voice was muffled. "You feelin' okay, little buddy?" Darry asked, eyeing Soda carefully.
Soda slumped down on the couch, feeling extremely dizzy from standing too long. "Why do you ask?" Soda asked him. "You're awfully red and you've been asleep for a while," Darry replied. It was after ten at night, which Soda had failed to notice.
"His fever broke, like I already said. That's what woke me up," Soda said, trying to make it seem like he was fine. However, Darry wasn't buying it and placed a hand to Soda's forehead. Soda saw that Darry was worried because it was the first time any of them had gotten sick since Johnny and Dallas died.
Soda started shaking, feeling it was more cold in bed as opposed to out in the living room. The door to Soda's bedroom opens and Bexley walks into the living room, rubbing her eyes and yawning. "What're you doing up, Bexley?" Darry asked.
"I'm thirsty. Just came to get some water," Bexley replied. She then noticed that Soda wasn't looking too good and she walked to him. "Soda, you okay? You`re not looking so good," she asked.
Soda didn't want to worry his sister so he gave her a fake smile. "I'm okay, Bexley. Don't worry about me," Soda said, trying to play it off like he was fine. His head was hurting, and it only made it worse when he talked.
Bexley looked at her eldest brother. "Bexley, help Soda to the bathroom and I'll go wake Pony up. We'll get those sheets changed," Darry ordered, standing up from the living chair. Bexley nodded and threw an arm around her shoulders to help her big brother up.
Darry always knew that if one of his siblings was sick, another was surely to follow. And that made him feel worse than before. After all, the three of them do share a room and sometimes a bed. He felt worried that both of his brothers were sick. He just hoped Bexley would fall sick too.
Bexley helped Soda to the bathroom while Darry went to get Ponyboy. When Darry walked in the bedroom, he saw that his youngest brother was already awake, sitting up in the bed. "Um… why am I all sweaty? Is the heat turned up all the way?" Ponyboy said, the first thing coming out of his mouth.
Darry felt at ease that Ponyboy looked to be doing better. Darry couldn't help but feel amused by Ponyboy's confused manner. He thought of Soda's state. The middle greaser couldn't hide the obvious fact that he was sick also, no matter how hard he tried to.
Darry walked to Ponyboy and sat on the desk chair that was beside the bed. "Your fever broke, Pony. This is normal since you had a high fever. I do want you to take a shower to help you cool down." Darry replied.
Ponyboy grinned at the thought of a nice, lukewarm shower. He had wanted to take one. The only problem was, his legs weren't strong enough to hold him up. Darry then picks him up bridal style and carries him to the bathroom, where Soda and Bexley were.
Darry turns the water on for Ponyboy, making sure the keep it at a lukewarm temperature. He couldn't risk Ponyboy getting another fever because of the hot water. Darry then gets the thermometer out of the medicine cabinet. He took Ponyboy's temperature without a fight. It was barely 100, Darry couldn't have felt more relieved.
"Don't watch me undress," Ponyboy muttered, and the other brothers and sister turned away. Their brother being insecure about getting undressed in front of them showed that he was feeling better than before.
Ponyboy gave them the okay to turn around after he got in the shower. Soda was having a hard time sitting up on the toilet, his eyes halfway open. He looked so exhausted.
Now Darry could focus on Soda's health, starting off with taking his temperature. "Bex, see if we got any aspirin in the cabinet," he asked. "Bexley nodded, looking through the cabinet.
Darry knew that there couldn't have been enough medicine for two sick teenagers. He couldn't have social services butting in on this, he'd never hear the end of it. He hoped Bexley wouldn't end up sick either.
Bexley hands him what she could find, and knelt down next to him. Darry took out the thermometer and read it. It was 101.7. It hadn't gotten to the dangerous point yet, but he couldn't risk it.
Soda grimaced, feeling his throat and head hurting him. "Soda, what's hurting?" Darry asked, going through the medicine Bexley brought out. Soda points to his head and throat. He even made a movement towards his stomach.
Darry asked if he was gonna be sick, but Soda shook his head carefully. "No, it just hurts…" he said, his voice hoarse. Bexley stared at her brother worriedly, seeing how pale he was. "Soda, did you already get sick earlier?" she asked, taking his hand.
"Y-Yeah… at the hospital," he answered, squeezing her hand gently. Darry was a bit angry now. Why would he keep it from them? They didn't have to ask because they already had the answer. He didn't want them to worry.
Darry gave Soda some cold medicine so he'd be able to sleep. Bexley stayed in the bathroom while Darry went to go change the bed sheets. Bexley saw Soda starting to doze off on the toilet, nearly falling off of it.
"Soda, Soda, easy," she said, pushing him back up on the seat. Soda moaned sluggishly, eyes squeezed shut. She'd never seen her big brother this sick before. There were other times she did but not this badly.
"Darry's almost done then we can get you back to bed," she assured, her nurturing side coming out, "You okay in there, Pony?" "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me," Ponyboy replied from inside the shower.
Bexley felt relieved that her twin brother was doing much better. He sounded better too. Darry comes back into the bathroom and saw how tired his younger brother was.
"C'mon, little buddy. Let's get you to bed," Darry said, managing to pick Soda up bridal style. Soda nuzzled subconsciously against Darry's chest, heat rolling off of his body. It alarmed the eldest Curtis a little.
Darry walks into the bedroom, and lays Soda down on the bed, covering him up. Soda had started shivering before this and it helped a little bit.
"You need anything?" Darry asked quietly. Soda shook his head before falling asleep. Bexley sat on the couch, worried for her brother. She wanted to go in there with him.
"Darry, can I go into the bedroom with Soda? I wanna make sure he sleeps okay," she asked. "No, Bexley. I can't take a chance of you getting sick as well. Until he gets better, you're gonna have to sleep in his bedroom." Darry said, his voice stern.
Bexley looked down at her hands, and sighed. She couldn't argue with him and had to agree with his order. She wanted to be there for her brothers as much as she can while they're sick.