(Ponyboy's POV)

The water I was feeling was warm and there weren't any hands holding me under it. I was actually breathing air and not water. The only thing I was feeling was the feeble numbness in my body as it became warmer and warmer. There was a slight tugging pain, but I was too exhausted to figure out where it was coming from.

I couldn't open my eyes, they were much too heavy. Everything seemed to fade, weariness was taking full control. There was a hand holding mine and another one gently holding my cheeks, brushing away the tears that fell down my face. Nobody would hurt me as long as I felt those hands.

There were three voices, Bexley's nurturing tone, Soda's soothing tone, and Darry's rough voice. They reached my ears, making me feel less alone in this darkness. I couldn't remember much after what happened next.

All I knew was that I was flying, or rather being carried. I peel my eyes open a little to see Darry over me. It relieved me because I feared it was a Soc. I didn't know where he was taking me.

But, I got my answer when he brought me into a room that looked familiar but I couldn't tell where it was. He laid me down on a bed and covered me up with a few blankets. "Huh? Wh-Where..." I feebly said.

"Easy, Pony. You're okay now. Just sleep." Darry softly said. "Darry, I'll stay in here with him." another voice said, laying down next to me. I felt an arm around my waist, pulling me close to their chest. I turned over and snuggled into their chest, pulling the sheets up close to me and letting my eyes slip shut, falling back asleep. I was too tired to figure out who was holding me. I didn't realize just how sleepy I really was.


(August 28th, 1965, 9:34 am)

(Bexley's POV)

The next morning, I awoke without the help of a nightmare. For a moment, I had forgotten where I was until I opened my tired eyes. We were in our bedroom, a deathly ill Ponyboy underneath my arm. I was still sore from last night, my throat, and ribs hurt so badly. And I was feeling a bit nauseous and was shaking a bit.

After what happened last night, I didn't want to leave his side. He had to know that I was right there with him. He was scared to death after I was dragged away from him. And right now, I didn't want to tell him about that Soc strangling me half to death because that would only bring more stress to him.

Then, I hear the bedroom door open, getting me to look up behind me. Two-Bit was standing in the doorway, a grim look on his face. "Hey, Two." I said, my voice scratchy and dry. "Hey, Little Sister. How're you feelin'?" Two-Bit asked, using his pet name that he's used since I was a little kid. It's been my trademark to him.

"Could be better. My throat hurts." I groan, reaching up to touch it. "I heard what had happened last night. Darry's goin' absolutely nuts about it." he replied, sitting in the desk chair that was in front of our desk. "Yeah... I know." I sigh, laying back down beside my brother.

"How's he doing?" Two-Bit asked, looking down at Ponyboy sadly. "Not so good. He hasn't woken up at all since last night. I'm worried about him." I answered, remembering just how scared he was last night when we found him. "Don't worry, Little Sister. He's a tough kid. He'll pull through." Two-Bit remarked. I feel Pony snuggle closer to me, letting out a tired moan.

"I hope so..." I said, rubbing his back. Before leaving, his eyebrows furrowed in concern and he came back over to me.

"Are you sure you're alright, little sister? You're looking kinda pale." he said, placing the back of his hand on my forehead, "Not to mention you're burning up." "Two-Bit, I'm fine." I said, making it obvious that I was lying. "You can't lie to me, little sister. I know you're gettin' sick. Darry needs to know."

"No, Two-Bit, please don't tell him. After what happened, I don't want him anymore stressed out than he already is." I ask, looking at my older friend with a pleading look.

"He's gonna notice." Two-Bit said, looking doubtful. "Two-Bit, please. I don't ask you for very much, please give me this one thing. Please... that's all I'm asking for. Don't. Tell. Him." I beg, trying to give him the best puppy/serious eyes I could give him, and it seemed to work because he grinned at me and he patted me on my shoulder.

Afterwards, Two-Bit left the room and gently closed the door.

I glanced down at my twin brother, he was so pale but his cheeks were deep red. He also felt abnormally hot but I could feel him shaking from a chill that only he could feel. Mom was right when she said that we'd get sick from being too cold.

Two-Bit wasn't wrong, I felt a bit nauseous. And my head was pounding a little bit, but it wasn't unbearable. And me feeling hot, I assumed that it was from me being snuggled up next to Pony all night.

Then, I heard the bedroom door open again, and I looked up. It was only Soda, who had decided to come into the bedroom to check on Pony and I. There was a look of worry in his chocolate brown eyes, which was understandable in this case. He sat down in the desk chair so that he was facing us.

"You okay, baby girl?" he asked me, his voice calm and quiet so as to not wake Pony up. "Other than feeling sore, I'm okay." I lied, my hand gently running through Pony's hair affectionately. The touch had woken up Pony. He turned to lay on his back and his eyes cracked open, they were glassy and withdrawn.

Before long, his grey-green eyes opened wide with sheer panic. "Soda?" he said hoarsely. "Easy, honey. No one's gonna hurt you." Soda muttered, his hand gently holding Pony's scalding hot cheek. "We're right here. It's alright now." I tell him, brushing his hair back in a nurturing way.

"Wh-Where am I?" he asked in a whimper, and I felt my heart break. Soda and I exchange worried glances. Pony was still so delirious that he didn't know that he was home. "You're home, Pony. You're home in our bedroom." Soda whispered, tears in his eyes.

"Bex, is she okay? Wh-Where is she?" Pony asked, breaking my heart because I was right there next to him. "She's right next to you, honey. She's okay." Soda answered, a bit hesitant about me being okay. His eyes landed on the bruises that were on my throat. Pony turned his head to face me, his eyes still widened in panic.

"I'm right here, Pony. I was the one next to you all night." I said, giving him a smile and running my fingers through his non-greased hair gently. Soda gently put his hand on Pony's burning cheek, to which Pony snuggled into. "Go back to sleep, baby. We'll be here when you wake up." Soda quietly said, allowing our brother to fall back asleep.

As I watched Pony fall back asleep, I let out a pained groan and sit up. My stomach gave a nauseating lurch, making me wrap my arms protectively around my abdomen. Soda jumped up and came around the bed and kneeled down beside me.

"Bexley, what's wrong?" he asked me, noticing my distress. I didn't want him to worry, so I just swallowed. "I'm fine, Soda. I just need to use the bathroom." I say in a steady voice. Soda didn't push it and he let me up. Truth was, I was gonna vomit and I needed to go to the bathroom.

I make it to the bathroom in a sprint and I shut the bathroom behind me. Luckily, no one had seen me. My knees became weak and I collapsed in front of the toilet, immediately gagging at least four times. When nothing came up, I leaned against the tub. I hugged securely around my stomach and moaned, knowing that I still had to throw up.

My stomach wouldn't stop churning, making me breathe heavily through my mouth. 'Please don't get sick... I can't be getting sick.' I thought, willing the sickening feeling to go away.

After a few minutes of this, with sweat pouring down my forehead and down my back, my stomach convulsed again. I leaned over the toilet again and gripped the toilet bowl with a grip so tight that my knuckles turned white.

I started sobbing quietly, my stomach tightening up so much that I squeezed onto it with dear life; but it hardly did anything. My scalding forehead was against the cool porcelain bowl as I breathed laborly. I then hear a faint tapping on the door, causing me to freeze.

"Bex? Are you okay in there?" Johnny's timid, quiet voice said on the other side. He heard me gagging, which I didn't want. "I'm fine..." I say, praying that Johnny would leave. But he did not. "Bex, I know you're not fine. Please let me come in." Johnny said, sounding more worried now.

I started fighting against the constant churning in my stomach, causing me to moan in discomfort. God, how can being sick hurt this much? I rarely ever got sick, but whenever I did or when Pony did, it was always really bad. "No... please... leave me alone..." I begged, tears dripping down my face.

Even though Johnny's a timid, jumpy soul, he's also can be stubborn when he wants to be. The door beside me opened, the hinges creaking loudly and annoyingly. I didn't want him to see me like this, all frail and weak. I've never been weak around them, I've always been one of the toughest she-greases in the gang.

I shut my eyes and let a strangled cry pass my lips at my sickness being exposed. Then, my entire body stiffened when I felt a pair of arms around my torso. I knew that it was Johnny. My entire body wanted to curl into itself, to hide from this moment. It was upsetting enough that Pony had gotten sick, and I didn't want to add on top of it.

The embrace Johnny was giving me, it gave me a sense of security and comfort. "It's alright, Bex. It's alright." Johnny said, resting his chin on my shoulder. Then, I felt the nausea wane away. I was glad that it was gone but I was still trembling, not just because I was cold. Johnny unraveled his arms from my stomach and rubbed my arms comfortly. "Are you okay, Bex?" Johnny asked gently.

"Y-Yeah... I think so. Thanks for helping me." I said, swallowing thickly. As carefully as I could, I pushed myself up to my feet, rocking back and forth from the dizziness that overwhelmed me. "You're still really pale, Bex. I'm gonna help you to bed." Johnny said, wrapped my arm around his shoulders.


(Soda's POV)

I couldn't take my eyes off of my baby brother, tears brimming in my eyes at the sight of him curled in the blankets. His cheeks were so red from the heat. It was anyone's guess on how he went from being freezing to boiling hot.

Under the red marks, he was as pale as a ghost. He was shivering immensely, not just because of him losing a lot of weight. It worried me that he was so sick. Then, my mind crossed when I thought of Bex.

I saw that she, too, looked pale while she slept with Pony. And I thought I saw her shivering while she was asleep also. I had watched as she ran out of the bedroom door, heading for the bathroom, claiming that she had to use the bathroom. But a part of me was thinking that that wasn't the case; it had to have been something else.

Her pale complexion showed the bruises on her neck, ribs, and stomach. Seeing that made me so angry. First they jump Pony, and now they're going after her? This was going too far, they don't deserve any of this. Thankfully, the rumble would be happening soon, then I'd give them their punishments.

Then, I see Johnny coming into the bedroom with Bex, her arm over his shoulders. She looked so dizzy and pale; looking like she had vomited or something. "Bex, baby girl, are you okay?" I asked, getting up slowly so as to not disturb Pony. "She almost got sick, Soda. And she's burning up badly." Johnny said, helping her to the bed.

"Bring her over here, Johnny." I instructed, pulling back the covers. Johnny laid Bex down on the bed, a tired groan came from her. "Thanks, Johnny. I'll take it from here." I tell him, smiling at him gratefully. Johnny looked down at them once more before walking out of the room.

"I'm fine, Soda..." she moaned stubbornly, "I'm... I'm just tired." I wasn't falling for that; she's always like this when she does end up sick. I reached over and placed a hand on her clammy forehead.

"My god, Bex. You're burning up." I said, my voice filled with worry. "But, I'm freezing. And my head does hurt. I don't got no fever." Bex said stubbornly. "Yes, you do, Bex. I don't need the thermometer to tell me otherwise. Let me get Darry." I said, only for her to grab my arm.

"No, Soda. Don't get him. With Pony already being sick, I... I don't need him worryin' about me." Bex said, "I don't want him to be angry with me." "He ain't gonna be mad at you or Pony. He's just worried is all. We both are." I say, forgetting just how young my twin kid siblings are.

"Soda... please don't tell him. I'll stay in bed with Pony, make sure that he'll be okay." she begged, giving me her usual puppy dog eyes. I sighed and gave her a warm smile, before leaning over to give both of them each a kiss on the forehead, they were both burning hot. "Alright, my lips are sealed. Get some sleep, baby girl." I tell her, covering her up. "Thanks, Soda." she said with a grin.

Before leaving, I looked behind me to see Pony turn over so that he was facing Bex. She turned over to face him so that their foreheads were touching. It always warmed my heart to see them like that. They had always been close; even as babies, they would sleep like that.

I left the bedroom as quietly as I could and shut the door so they wouldn't be disturbed. "How are they?" Darry asked in a quiet voice as I walked back in the living room. Darry was sitting in his usual spot, which was the living chair.

"Not so good, Dar. They've certainly looked better." I answered, rubbing the back of my neck nervously. It took a lot in me to not tell Darry that Bex had a fever, and oh man, I wanted to tell him. But I kept my trap shut and plopped down on the couch.

Then, Dally walked in the door with a cigarette dangling from his mouth. It was easy to see that there was fury in his eyes; and it carried a suspicious look. "This calls for a rumble." he said smugly, "Damn those Socs for even touching those kids." "You sure that it was the Socs that did this to them? We could ask them. To make sure." Two-Bit asked.

"No! Nobody goes near my kid brother and kid sister. They don't need all of you asking you what happened, they're overwhelmed enough as it is." Darry barked, standing in front of the hallway where our bedroom was. Darry's tone was so sharp that it shut everyone up in the room.

Johnny flinched when Darry raised his voice, remembering just how frightened Ponyboy was when we found him. His screams of terror that filled the night as he begged and cried to be let go. The way he writhed against my hold... Seeing him like that shattered my heart... And seeing Bex hurting too... The worst part was... I didn't even know if they had gotten further than just strangling her.

"Will you give me permission, Darry?" Dally said, eyeing him intensely. The long pause was suspenseful before Darry gave a few nods. "Yes, I do. They're surely gonna pay for what they've done." Darry responded.

"Let's do it for Ponyboy and Bexley! Let's do it for them!" Dally shouted as he walked out of the door. I remained silent, not sure what to make of this. I wasn't comfortable with my kid siblings fighting in the rumble, it just wasn't right.