When I woke up next the sun was shining and Dal was gone. Instead there was a nurse in my room.
"Oh you're finally awake the doctors been wanting to talk to you." She explained the left hurriedly. She arrived back right after Dally who had gone out to have a smoke. The doctor was with her.
"You'll need to stay in here for two more nights." He explained. "Just to make sure you're healing alright. And when you leave we'll wrap your hand up and try not to use it for a couple of weeks. Nothing that would break the stitches open." I nodded and he left.
A little while later the gang came by to see me with great news- they were having a rumble with the socs. The bad news- it was in two days and I couldn't use my hand. Even though I'd be out of the hospital Darry would never let me. Damn you socs I thought bitterly. We hung out at the hospital all day and the doctor said I could go home in the morning. Dally never left my said the entire time.
In the morning Dally drove me home. I was glad to be home except my hand was killing. The doctor had wrapped it in a bandage but that didn't stop it from hurting. Everyone was getting more and more excited for the rumble as the day went on. I was really bummed I couldn't go. I figured I'd ask Darry anyways, maybe he'd let me go, if he was in a good mood. He came home after work and as we ate an early supper I asked "So who's all going to the rumble?"
"Not you" said Darry. How did he know what I was going to ask?
"Why not?"
It wasn't Darry that spoke next, but Soda. "You're not going you can sit around here with the first aid kit and wait for us."
"Ha-ha" I said sarcastically but didn't argue anymore. If Soda had sided with Darry then the battle was lost.
All the guys came over after. I just sat on the couch as everyone got excited.
"How's your hand?" asked Dally.
"Fine" I said resting my head on his shoulder.
"You're not going." Said Dally. "We have enough people already." Then he saw that I was still bummed he continued "It'll be fine, I'll beat someone up for you."
I smiled and thanked him. He grinned "My pleasure"
The guys left at ten to six, they were all pumped, jumping up and down with excitement. I hated sitting around while everyone else was fighting. I wanted to know who was hurt, if we were winning or losing. No I thought we wouldn't lose, we couldn't lose. I had already gone through a pack of cigarettes and was getting another one when the door opened and the whole gang piled in cheering happily.
"You guys won?" I asked.
"Hell ya" said Two-Bit. I stopped and took a look at everyone. Two-Bit had a huge gash across his cheek, Steve's nose was broken, Johnny had his scar reopened and blood was dripping down his face. Darry had a cut on his forehead, Soda had a few cracked ribs, Ponyboy's eye was swollen shut, and I finally saw Dally. He was swearing and his face was cut from having it smashed through a car window. I bandaged them up and we had chocolate cake to celebrate the victory.
The next morning everyone was sore and tired.
"Dal" I said lightly.
"Go away." He said
"How do you feel?" I asked. He opened his eyes.
"Sore" I sighed and traced his cuts lightly with my finger. BANG! The door slammed open. We both looked up to see Two-Bit smiling looking happy, as always.
"Time to get up sleepy heads." He said "Or you're going to miss Mickey Mouse." I shook my head and rolled over, right off my bed. I landed flat on my face. Two-Bit and Dally couldn't stop laughing.
"Oh Shut-up" I said heading downstairs.
"Don't fall down the stairs as well" said Two-Bit jokingly.
"Very funny" I said.