Chapter 14

Two-Bit

I can't breathe.

It's like my body is shutting down, first I couldn't move, then I started hurting really bad, and now I can't breathe. My sister is putting a cold rag on my forehead, but it's not helping. My fever is too high; I don't think anything can make it better. I'm dying. I have to see Savannah before I die. My vision is foggy. I can hardly see my sister, and she's sitting right next to me. She keeps fading in and out.

"Where's mom?" I heard her mutter anxiously. I would have told her, but I'm too weak.

I heard the front door slam and then my sister yelling "Mom! Mom, come quick!"

It sounded like there were two people coming toward my room instead of one. What would I know? I'm almost delirious, I know I am. I heard someone gasp, and then I felt someone sit down on the bed next to me. Then I was being held, and a familiar voice said, "It's OK, Two-Bit. I'm here now."

I looked up and saw Savannah. She was beautiful, just like I remembered her.

"Savannah," I muttered. Then I sighed and everything went black.

Savannah

Two-Bit's eyelids fluttered and then fell closed. His head lolled to one side.

"No," I whispered. I had just gotten here, Two-Bit couldn't be dead.

"Mom!" Two-Bit's sister screamed.

Two-Bit's mom sat down next to me. She picked up his hand and put her fingers on his wrist.

"He still has a pulse," she muttered.

Then I heard Two-Bit moan. His eyes slowly opened and he was looking at me again. His eyes were so sad; there was so much pain in them. He looked scared.

"It's Ok," I said. "You just passed out for a minute, you're gonna be Ok. I'm here now. Everything will be fine."

Two-Bit sighed again and kept looking at me; it looked like he was trying to say something. His lips were moving, but he wasn't saying anything.

"What is it?" I asked.

Two-Bit shook his head and snuggled up against me. He looked so tired.

"Poor thing," I muttered as I stroked Two-Bit's hair. I can't believe I found him.

Two-Bit closed his eyes and eventually dozed off. I tore my eyes off Two-Bit long enough to see his mom standing in the doorway. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to me and Two-Bit.

"I think he'll be fine now," she said. "You're here."