At 5:30 I was trying to get up. I already had my clothes on since they were on the table next to my bed but I just couldn't walk.

"Walk legs, walk," I said to myself. I just got my body in the sit up position and my legs were on the side of the bed. Everytime I tried to walk I fell right back down the bed. Damn bed, damn legs, damn hospital, damn world I thought to my self.

"I have an idea," I said to myself.

I put one hand on the table and one hand on the chair by my bed. I was able to stable myself. I looked over at the time and it was 5:45. I better get out of here soon before Dally leaves without me, I thought.

I started to walk with my good foot. I limped to the door. I actually put my bad foot down a few times but other than that I just limped on it with the tip of my toes.

I dodged doctors and nurses and limped to the front desk. I figured it was only 5:55 so Dally wouldn't be there yet, so I thought I could try to check myself out.

"Excuse me," I said to the lady.

"Yes," the receptionist said, she had to have been about 50 but she still looked like she was in her early 40's.

"I was wondering if I could check myself out, Lacey Thompson."

"Yes, you may," she said and took out a pen and pad and told me to sign on the dotted line. I was so happy, now I could wait for Dally without having to hide from doctors. Wait the doctors still think I'm in my bed, I'm screwed. I have to tell Maggie or she'll kill me.

It's 5:59, but hey Dally is always late. I got up and went to a pay phone. I searched my pants for loose change. I found a dime, great I need a quarter to work the pay phone. I looked around and saw that there was a cute 16 year old in the waiting room. To bad he looked like a Soc, or maybe I could weasel a quarter out of him. I always was a flirt and a good liar. Hey, I look pretty good, maybe I really can call Maggs.

"Excuse may," I said using the same accent I used in Windrixville. The boy looked up at me like he had seen a ghost.

"Yes, mam," he said.

"I really need to call may ride cause of my broken ankle but I only have a dime, y'all wouldn't happen to have a quarter would ya? My ankle really hurts please sir I don't want to walk home, I don't live close."

Alright so I may have stretched the truth a little bit but I really need to call someone.

I batted my eye lashes and held my bad ankle. I held it so that I could purposely show off my legs.

"I'm waiting for someone but I could give you a ride home if you want?" he said looking at me dead in the eyes.

"No, offense to y'all but I just met ya, I don't really trust ya. Could you please just give me a quarter? Actually you don't have to do that, I can walk really. It will hurt like hell but the exercise will do me good." I said and limped away. While I was limping he called out to me.

"Now wait a minute, I got a quarter right here, miss," he said getting up to give it to me. He stood right in front of me and put the quarter in my palm.

"If you ever do want a ride somewhere when you're in a jam, my name's Jesse Wheeler." He said that and left.

I had a perfectly good quarter in my hands. I looked at the time and it was 6:10 but still no Dally. He probably forgot about me.

I walked straight over to the payphone and called the Curtis's. Thankgod Maggie was the first one to pick up.

"Hello," she said.

"Hey, Mags," I said back, my voice sounded a little hoarse but that was okay.

"Oh, no you found a way to sneak out didn't you and your calling me so you won't feel guilty. Jesus Lacey can you just sit still for two seconds?"

"Nice to hear from you to Maggie."

"How're you getting out?"

"Dally, but I have a feeling he forgot about me, wait never mind there he is, see ya at the rumble, bye," I said and quickly hung up the phone.

Dally that asshole he was walking right through the door. If I hadn't been there he would have left without me, even if I was there he probably would have left without me.

"Dally!" I called out to him when he was halfway through the hospital door. He looked back at me and I could have sworn I heard him say "damn"

When I finally got to him he didn't look to happy to see me.

"How the hell were you able to get out of bed?" he said staring at me in disbelief.

"It took about an hour but I was able to, called Maggie to, flirted with a Soc for some change, next time be on time." I said to him and walked out the door. He was walking behind me and after awhile he got tired of me limping around so he picked me up and started carrying me.

I didn't want to be babied so I told him to put me down. Boy is he stubborn. He told me I was taking to long.

When we got to the place of the rumble Dally put me down. Darry and Paul, the Soc from the book, were circling each other. Maggie was surprisingly there although she was hiding behind Sodapop and Ponyboy. Those poor boys why can't she just let them be. Johnny was next to Pony boy and Steve. It would have gone better for me if Dally hadn't shouted, "Y'all aren't starting a rumble without me." Then Darry got nailed by a punch but it didn't really do anything because as quickly as he went down Darry got back up and nailed the Soc.

I ran to the first Soc that was tiny enough for me. The problem was he looked kindof like a greaser. Actually he looked like the guy that tried to pick me up when I first got here. Thankfully when he tried to pick me up at first, Dally was there to save me, sadly Dally wasn't there now. I think he recognized me to because he smirked then hit me with a right hook. I remembered I only had one good foot and arm to work with so I tried my best.

He had me on the ground within five minutes. What really scared me was that he took out his switchblade.

I saw a flash of the metal when…

Stay tuned to see what happens.