Chapter 2

I went down the stairs to meet up with the rest of the gang. Unfortunately, I was giggling about sitting on Ponyboy's ankles, and wasn't watching where I was going. My foot missed the last step, I let go of the railing, and crashed into the kitchen, face first. I landed hard on my hands and knees. That's usually the way I fall nowadays, on my hands and knees. Mom and Dad taught me at an early age to put my hands out when I feel myself falling, and now I think it's just a reflex. The gang, who was used to seeing me fall, just chewed their mouthfuls of scrambled eggs and patiently waited for me to pick myself up. I did.

"You okay, Ames?" Darry asked as I took a seat at the table. I nodded, not embarrassed at all that the gang had seen me fall. I'd grown up with them; they were practically like my other brothers.

"Yeah. I'm fine."

"That's gonna leave some nasty bruises." Two-Bit said, cocking an eyebrow. I shrugged.

"So? I don't care. I have so many bruises I'm not gonna notice a couple more." I took a strip of bacon and chewed slowly, smoothing my jeans as I ate.

"Anyway, Ames, you wanna play football with us after breakfast?" Soda asked, changing the subject. I grinned. I loved playing football with the guys, even though I totally sucked at it. With my bad balance, I usually fell on average four times a game. But I didn't care. Playing football with my brothers, Two-Bit, Dally, Johnny and Steve made me feel like I was normal, like I was just a kid playing football with her pals.

"Sure! I'd love to." That was all it took. With no further urging, the eight of us finished our breakfast, and, leaving our dirty dishes on the table, rushed out to the backyard.

"So, who're the teams gonna be?" Darry asked, looking around. "Curtis family against Johnny, Two-Bit, Steve, and Dally?"

"Yeah!" the gang roared. With no further ado, the game began. Our team was loosing six to two when I started having a little trouble breathing.

"Time!" Darry hollered, crossing his hands in the T sign. He jogged over to my side, looking concerned.

"I think you're overdoing it, Ames. You better sit down." He tugged on my shirt sleeve and started dragging me out of the way of the game. Darry could sometimes be accidentally rough. I pulled out of his grasp and stared at him defiantly, my hands on my hips.

"Darry, I'm fine. Besides, if I drop out, the teams will be uneven." Darry considered this for a minute.

"Aw, all right. You can still play. But if you start having trouble breathing again, just give me a signal, and you can drop out of the game." I nodded, and Darry jogged back to the rest of the team.

"Time in!" he hollered, and the game started again. But a few minutes later, I was wheezing and coughing even worse than before.

"Time!" Darry called. The other team groaned. Darry came back to me.

"Amy Elizabeth Curtis, your asthma is acting up again, and you know it. Now I insist you drop out of the game. I don't want you having a full-fledged asthma attack."

"But the teams will be uneven!" I protested feebly. Darry crossed his arms and gave me that I'm in charge here look.

"So we'll end the game." This drew dramatic groans from Two-Bit's team.

"Aw, you just wanna end the game 'cause you're losing!" Dally jeered loudly. Darry turned to give that same I'm in charge look to Dally.
"We're ending the game." he said icily. "Case closed." We all headed back to the house, the other team groaning and complaining loudly about the short game. I felt upset and horribly guilty. Another game had been ruined because of my stupid health problems. Pony noticed the look on my face.

"It's OK, Ames." he said, so softly that only I could hear him. "We'll find somethin' else to do." And somehow, my twin brother made it all better, like he always did.

A/N: OK, so I might be crazy for starting another story when I have a zillion other stories I should be working on. But I love the Outsiders. And plus, there are a lot of ppl who haven't read my other stories, so you won't be complaining about how I have a disabled main character in every one of my stories. I have cerebral palsy, myself, so that's why I know so much about it. R&R!