Ponyboy POV

This wasn't all Two-Bit's I honestly felt terrible. When Two-Bit pointed out that I looked terrible this morning, I started getting scared because I couldn't let anyone know I was sick. I was sick. When I ran off to my room after Steve came in drunk, he and everyone started yelling which was making my headache worse than it already was. I yelled at them to be quiet, and the yelling made my head feel like it was gonna explode. Then he threw up and ran out the door like the devil was chasing after him; but before all that, he started yelling about me!

What the hell did I do?! He was screaming about how everything was my fault and I'm the reason for why him and Soda aren't close anymore. How I always have to go with them when they go out somewhere. I never really want to go, Soda just asks and invites me himself. I always give in and go with them no matter how much I don't want to.

He's was gone for quite some time and we were all ignoring {or trying to ignore} and forget about what Steve yelled about. I was sitting on the couch talking to Soda while Darry was in the armchair and Two-Bit was on the floor. "Ya know, Two-Bit, you shouldn't really be sitting on the floor considering how sick you are…" I suggested.

He waved it away. "Don't worry about it," He said in his strained and hoarse voice that was gone. "I'm fine."

I looked at Soda, hoping he could help me out some because I really didn't want Two-Bit on the floor. He just shook his head. "Just let him be," I nodded. Soda nudged me on the shoulder. "Hey Pone, I gotta favor to ask of you."

"What?"

Soda pointed to his cast that was just a plain boring white. "You know why I got a plain white cast?"

I shrugged then shook my head. "Um… no."

"Because I want you to draw on it. I've seen you drawing and painting or "artistic abilities" and they're really good. Do you think that when you get some time on your hands, you could do that?"

I was ecstatic. A smile the size of Texas spread across my face. "Of course!"

Me and Soda carried on with our conversation and Two-Bit looked like he was falling asleep. Darry continued to read in the chair until the front door was opened and in came Steve.

"Hey Steve, welcome back," Two-Bit barely managed to say. Steve laughed and sat down beside him. "What?" Two-Bit said defensively.

Steve only looked at him. "You've got quite some mother Keith…"

"What's that supposed to mean?!" Two-Bit yelled weakly. His voice was shot. Two-Bit was very defensive when it came to his mom.

Steve threw his hands up in surrender. "Okay DAMN! I was just saying! Gosh," then Steve looked Two-Bit right in the eyes. I looked at Soda, then Darry. Soda looked super concerned while Darry looked ready to start throwing punches. "I just meant I was out talking to your mom and she's a very smart lady. Do you take offense to that too?"

Two-Bit looked like he was about to tackle Steve in the condition he was in but Darry stood up. "Okay boys, that's enough. Steve, you have some explaining to do. Two-Bit, you need to get some sleep," Darry walked over to Two-Bit. "Come on Two, let's go."

Darry held out his hand and helped Two-Bit get up. When Two-Bit got up, he started swaying and panting. Oh golly, please don't throw up again… "Two-Bit, you okay?" I asked. He nodded, then looked up at Darry.

"Dar… I don't feel good…" Two-Bit whined. I felt like I was gonna start crying. But Two-Bit beat me to it.

Darry wrapped his arms around Two-Bit so Two couldn't move. Two-Bit was sniffling and his face was squished against Darry's. "It's okay Two-Bit… I know," Two-Bit sniffed again. "If you take your medicine and go to bed, you'll feel better."

Two-Bit looked like he was ready to pass out. "Can we just go already?" His voice broke because he was trying so hard not to cry. If he was about to start crying, I was too. I saw Two-Bit cry earlier and it just broke my heart.

"Yeah… let's go." Darry put his hand on Two-Bit's shoulder, but before Two-Bit could get a chance to take a step he passed out and onto the floor.

Darry bent down to the floor as Steve scooted over from where he was in fear since he wasn't expecting that. "Is he okay?" Soda asked worriedly.

Darry scooped Two-Bit up in his arms and Two-Bit gave a slight groan. "I hope… never seen him sick before," Darry sighed. "Gonna put him in my room. Let him sleep. I'll be right back." Darry disappeared into his room and shut the door with his foot.

It was just me, Steve and Soda now in the living room. Soda and I looked at each other, then at Steve. He looked at us. "Well… I should explain shouldn't I?" He asked. Soda and I shook our heads.

Before I knew it, Soda exploded. "WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, TALKING ABOUT MY BROTHER LIKE THAT?! IF YOU HAD A PROBLEM WITH HIM, THEN YOU SHOULD'VE JUST TOLD ME YOU PIECE OF SHIT! MY BROTHER IS NOT THE REASON FOR YOUR PROBLEMS! IT'S THE WAY YOU DECIDE TO TREAT HIM THAT GETS YOU ANGRY!" Soda screamed. His face was red, his eyes were watering and Steve just sat and stared at Soda.

I blinked. Soda never yelled like that. Especially not to his best friend. He does yell from time to time, but he also never really does it when I'm around.

Steve slouched some while I winced some. "Look, Soda. I was drunk… and mad. Atleast I got it all off my chest…"

Soda took a deep breath. "DRUNK MY ASS! WE ALL KNEW YOU WERE DRUNK, BUT YOU COULD'VE AT LEAST TOLD ME THAT STUFF FACE TO FACE SOBER! DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO GET DRUNK TO BE ABLE TO SAY ALL OF THAT?!" I was beginning to get scared.

I put my hand on Soda's shoulder. "Soda… just calm down…" He turned to me, face to face.

"DON'T TELL ME WHAT THE DO!" I flinched away but ended up falling off the couch. Soda blinked once, twice, then stared at me.

"Pony…" I scrambled to get off the floor and stood up. I started feeling funny. My stomach was hurting, my head was pounding like it was before, my legs and knees were beginning to feel weak and if I could, I would've feel over right then and there. "Pony I… I'm s-s-sorry…"

Soda tried to plead with me. I backed up away from Soda. I turned to Steve. "Look, Steve… I forgive you. We'll talk about this later. I'm gonna…" I walked towards my bedroom door. "I'm gonna go… lie down." I fumbled around with the doorknob and as soon as I opened the door and closed it, I threw myself on my bed and pass out.

oOoOoOo

"Ponyboy… hey Pone… wake up kid." Someone was shaking and pushing my shoulder. It hurt like hell. I opened my eyes and my head was pounding. My body ached and smarted and I couldn't stop squinting.

"Wha…" When I finally regained my vision, Darry was standing over me as was Soda who was leaning on his crutches.

"Pone, I want you to stay in bed and get some rest. You're running a fever. You feel okay?"

My stomach flipped. It turned. It spun around and was basically doing a full gymnastics routine. "I don't… I think I'm gonna be sick…"

Apparently Darry and Soda came prepared because I leaned over the side of the bed and threw up in the trash can. Soda was rubbing my back as Darry was running his hands threw my hair. I was dry heaving after I got sick. I despised dry heaving. It was worse than actually throwing up.

As soon as I got done, I threw myself back on the bed and passed out without even stopping to take a breath.