Sodapop POV
A broken leg. I had a broken leg. I mean, I remember when I tore a ligament while in the rodeo, but a broken leg?!
"Steve," Steve looked at me as we made our way to the hospital. "How long does it take for a broken leg to heal up?"
Steve shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know little buddy. But I do know one thing, more bills for Darry!" He screamed a sarcastic kind of humor.
"Great… let me ask you something. Was beating up those socs worth a broken leg?"
"I don't know Soda. I'm not the one with the broken leg. Does it hurt?" I could tell Steve didn't want to be sitting in an awkward silence the whole ride.
I nodded. "A lot," I sighed. "I can't believe I have a broken leg!" Steve patted my shoulder as we pulled into the hospital parking lot.
"You'll get over it Sodapop. Come on, let's go." He got out of his side of the truck and walked over to mine and opened the door.
"Ya know Steve, why don't you just go and get a wheelchair instead of trying to get me to walk all the way to the door?"
A look of pure genuine genius spread across Steve's face. "You're right. Sit tight." And Steve ran off to grab one. As I waited for Steve to come back, I mentally wrote a note to my parents in my head.
Dear Mom and Dad,
How are things going? Things are sure going fantastic down here at the moment… I hope you can tell from the sarcasm in my voice. Two-Bit's sick as a dog, Darry's busting his ass off for him and Pony still. Speaking of Ponyboy, he's been getting better from… that night. He's slowly getting over Dally and Johnny. His recent breakdown was just this morning, but like I said, he's slowly getting better!
As for Steve and I, Steve's Dad has officially lost all contact with the world and doesn't even acknowledge Steve anymore. If Steve goes into the house, nothing. Leaves, nothing. Which is good for him because he's not getting beat up anymore by his old man.
Now that you know how the rest of the gang is doing, that only leaves me. I've been better. When I was out the other day, I had a run in with a couple of socs who threatened to hurt Ponyboy the next time they saw him. Who was it? You guessed it. None other that Randy Adderson. Let's just say nobody is going to get anywhere near Ponyboy. If they do, they're gonna have to get through me and everyone else. So, Steve and I went out tonight and went to have a little "talk" with the socs.
Which ended up with me having a broken leg.
So here I am at the hospital with Steve getting it all taken care of. Speaking of Steve, here he comes with the wheelchair. I'll talk to you guys later.
Sincerely,
Sodapop Curtis.
"Your chariot sir!" Steve yelled out. I smiled at his enthusiasm that reminded me of Two-Bit. He helped me out of the truck and into the wheelchair.
"Thank you sir Two-Bit." Steve chuckled and shut the truck door then began pushing me towards the hospital.
"Don't call me that. Makes me feel dirty…"
We approached the hospital and there was a pretty looking nurse standing in the waiting room, smiling.
"Sodapop Curtis?" She said. I nodded and looked at Steve who leaned down to my ear.
"The reason I took so long was because I was getting you registered or whatever it's called." I pulled him closer.
"Did you purposely get such a good looking nurse to cheer me up or…" The nurse blushed. She heard me. Good start Soda.
"Come on. Let's get you fixed up. The faster we get started the faster you can go home Mr. Curtis," The nurse took my wheelchair by the handles and turned to Steve. "Will you be coming back with us too Mr. Randle?"
"Yes, I will. I don't trust Soda alone with such a pretty woman like yourself." She blushed even a deeper shade of red I didn't think someone could pursue on their face. I grabbed Steve by the collar.
"Dibs, Randle." He grimaced and pulled away. We rolled into an empty room where the nurse, who introduced herself as Sally, closed the door and asked Steve to take a seat.
"Actually Mr. Randle, would you mind helping me get Sodapop up and onto the bed?" I wasn't looking forward to this. My leg was already throbbing with pain and I wasn't looking forward to it being worse than it already was.
"Sure." Steve walked up to my left side as Sally was on my right.
"Okay Mr. Curtis. I want you to push yourself up and out of the chair and let the two of us get you onto the bed.
I did as Sally said and with only a couple flinches, I made it onto the bed. Sally walked to the side of the bed and grabbed a needle. "Um… what are you doing with that?" I asked. She smiled.
"Putting it in you." I didn't smiled. I shook my head and looked at Steve he knew I hated needles with all my life.
"No you're not…" I said. Sally frowned.
"Oh I get it… you don't like needles… okay then. I guess we'll just have to do this with as much pain as possible since you don't want the painkiller." I was still looking at Steve and when I looked back at Sally, she had a goofy grin on her face and was holding my hand. I looked down and saw the needle was stuck into the back of my hand.
"Can we just get this over and done with pretty lady?"
I made Sally blush again. "Sure thing handsome."