(September 29, 1965, 11:30 PM)
(Hospital)
(Bexley's POV)
Minutes passed by since I had been brought to the hospital. I wasn't entirely sure who had brought me here. I was in a hospital gown; it showed all of the bruises on my arms. They were going to see them; I didn't want them to.
I turned my head so that my brothers wouldn't see the tears. My body was shaking while tears streamed down my face. I couldn't look my brothers in their eyes; I couldn't bear the punishment Darry would surely give me for taking off like that.
But I feel Darry's rough hand gently grab my chin, making me jump. "Bex, can you look at us?" Darry pleaded, making me look at him. Upon opening my eyes, I started to bawl. "I'm… so sorry, Darry." I sobbed, shutting my eyes again. There was a tight lump in my throat that did hurt when I did manage to speak.
Darry then leans up and hugs me, pulling me to his chest. I buried my face in his shoulder and cried all the tears I could cry. Darry rubbed my back gently, as he whispered, "What're you sorry for, honey?" "I… I had to go after him… I had to make sure that he was alright." I sob, my tears soaking his shirt.
"Oh, you don't need to be sorry. You did what you had to. I'm proud of you and Pony." Darry whispered. Did I hear right? Did Darry say he was proud of us? He never once said that to us. My heart leaped into my throat as I listened to his speeding one in my ear.
It was rare that Darry ever held one of us. We thought he'd never do it again after mom and dad died. We believed that we were nothing more than a burden that he didn't need around, people to take his anger out on. But now I was feeling his strong, warm arms around me, so I knew better. Pony would too. The gang was watching this, but honestly, I didn't care.
Then, I remembered that Pony was here too. I still didn't know if he was alright or not. I pushed him back, worry coursing through my veins. "Where's Pony? Is he okay?" I asked, my voice cracking.
My brothers looked at me with soft gleeful smiles. "He's here, Bex. He's gonna be alright." Soda assured, placing a hand on my shoulder. I let out an audible sigh of relief; a big weight lifting off of my chest. "Can we see him?" I asked.
"We're going to see him right now," Darry said, using his hand to push himself back up to his feet. Since I couldn't walk yet, Darry had to push me in the wheelchair to Pony's room. There was a bounce to Soda's step, however, the rest of us weren't as excited as him.
Soda opened the door since Darry was still pushing me in the wheelchair. The minute I saw Ponyboy, more tears streamed down my face. When I looked up at Darry, I saw that he had tears trickling down his cheeks. Some of them were old, glistening his cheeks.
It surprised me that he was even crying, to begin with. He's never once cried; not even at Mom and Dad's funeral. His eyes were always hardened, seemingly unfeeling. He really did love Pony and me. This is why he hit us because we scared him. It wasn't because he hated us.
I pushed myself up to Pony's bed, rolling up to his ride side. Darry and Soda joined me and held each of his hands. Darry ran his hand through Pony's messy auburn hair, comforting him in his delirious state. There were worse bruises on him than mine, his face was now a different color.
Even though he was terrified, he had been brave enough to fight those Socs. And he let me help him beat those Socs. He was much braver than any one of us. I know Darry would be so proud of him. After all of this, I knew that he was going to be just fine. Everything was going to be fine now.
