Chapter Nine: Sore
Soda POV
We'd been driving around for two hours looking for her. Darry was pissed.
"She's gonna be in so much trouble when we find her!"
Pony hadn't said anything since she told us why she'd hit someone. I was looking out the window when he tapped me on the shoulder.
"You okay, Soda?"
"I didn't know she could get so mad that she'd punch some kid's lights out."
He arched an eyebrow.
"You pummeled the guy who gave me a concussion."
We both smiled. Even Darry cracked a grin.
"Yeah, but he really hurt you. This guy was just talking smack."
Pony sighed.
"No. He did more than that. He's been hassling her since the day she started school."
"What're you talking about? She didn't tell us who she hit."
"I think I know who it was. He tried to get her taken away from us by telling the counselor she was living with Bob's murderer."
Darry growled.
"How come I didn't hear about this?"
"Because Mrs. Brenda set him straight."
"Who's the kid?"
"Danny Young."
I groaned.
"He was one of Bob's best friends."
"He's been hitting on her everyday. I think it's just to mess with her, but he's got his whole class calling her grease and greaser. That doesn't bother her, but they pull her hair and push her."
I was mad now.
"How come you didn't tell us?!"
"Don't yell at me! Steve and Two-bit know, too! She didn't want us to say anything, and it's not as bad since Steve threatened them. She's pretty tough on her own, anyway. I think it was all built up, and when he said that about me she snapped. She said she doesn't even remember hitting him."
About that time, a truck honked it's horn at us. Darry pulled over and got out and talked to whoever was inside.
"She's at home, Mikey found her by the old mill."
"The old mill?!"
"Yeah, says she ran there."
We went home, and Steve was sitting on the couch.
"Where is she?"
"Taking a bath. She said her legs were on fire."
I walked up to him.
"How come you didn't tell me people were messing with her at school?"
He shrugged.
"It didn't bother her that bad. It was only that one class, but I took care of it anyway."
Around twenty minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom in pajamas very slowly. She must already be feeling sore. Darry spoke up and pointed to the couch.
"Sit."
She did. No one says no to Darry.
"I understand you were mad about a lot of things, but... You can't lose your cool. Especially not at school."
She nodded. He looked at me and Steve.
"How's her wrist?"
Steve waved a hand.
"A couple of weeks in the brace. Nothing big."
He nodded.
"Go to bed, Cam."
She started to get up, but moaned a little bit.
"Wait."
Pony walked over to her and started squeezing her legs and thighs asking her if it hurt.
"Please stop, Ponyboy! It hurts everywhere!"
"Darry, her left hamstring feels tight. She might've pulled it."
"Okay, so go get her some ice."
She slowly went to her room and Pony took her some ice. We all went to bed and Steve crashed on the couch.
Cam POV
When I woke up the next morning, I realized I hadn't even been in real pain the night before. I felt like I couldn't move my legs were so sore, but it was Friday, so I got up to get ready. Then, I noticed that it was brighter than it should be. I slumped into the living room slowly and saw Sodapop lounging on the couch.
"What time is it?"
"About 9:00."
"I'm late! I have to get ready! Why didn't Darry wake me up?!"
I had a lapse of judgment and started to run to the bathroom. I yelled in pain. Soda laughed at me.
"This isn't funny!"
"You don't have school today."
I looked at him confused.
"What're you talking about? It's Friday."
"The school called this morning. You're suspended."
I groaned.
"Great... Why're you here?"
"I'm off today. How're your legs?"
I glared.
"I'll take that as they hurt like hell."
"This one hurts more back here."
"Pony said he thought you pulled that hamstring. He's gonna make you stretch it when he gets home."
"I can hardly move! How am I suppose to stretch it?!"
He chuckled and shrugged.
"You'll just have to. Why don't you go back to sleep. It's still early, and you need to rest before he gets home."
I happily obliged. Later that day, after Ponyboy had made me do some stretches, I went out on the porch to smoke. He followed me with a smirk on his face.
"Yeah, yeah. You hate me now. I hated my coach when it happened to me, too. You'll get over it."
I didn't move around much that day, not that I could anyway. When Darry got home, he looked pissed.
"How's your legs?"
"They hurt."
"Serves you right."
I winced. I'd heard Darry get on to Soda and Pony, but I'd never been in trouble with him before.
"I was about to go wake you up for school when they called. That kid didn't wanna rat you out, but there were plenty of kids around when you did it that spilled."
That confused me. Why didn't Danny wanna rat me out?
"You're suspended on Monday, too, and you're grounded until Tuesday."
That was fine with me. I was too sore to go anywhere.
The soreness seemed even worse the next day. By Monday, it was starting to get better a little bit. A very little bit. I was surprised when I woke up that morning to find Ponyboy in the kitchen.
"What're you doing here?"
"I had a six month check up today for my concussion. Darry said I could just ditch."
"What time was your appointment?"
"It was at 8:30. I just got home."
I looked at the clock in the living room. It was 10:30. He chuckled.
"Can't sleep in tomorrow."
"I know, I know."
"How about we do some stretches?"
I groaned.
"Noooo... They feel a little better this morning."
"Because of the stretching."
"You don't understand half of it. Sitting down is so hard. Getting up is easier."
"Oh, trust me. I understand. I actually run track, remember?"
I let him do the stretches. We goofed around the house that day, just hanging out. At one point, we were talking about Windrixville.
"If it makes you feel any better, I hate Bologna."
He laughed.
"How're your nightmares?"
He shrugged.
"I still have them, but honestly they're better since I talked to you about the whole experience."
I smiled.
"I'm glad I could help."
"How long have you been here?"
"About three months. Why?"
"I know you're Soda's sister, but I feel like you're mine, too."
"Awe, Ponyboy!"
He scowled. I laughed at him.
"I like it here. I really do."
"Do you ever miss Arizona?"
I looked down.
"Of course I do... It's just... I do like being around people. I miss the farm, but it is nice to have friends who can actually talk back."
"I'll bet... Do you need to talk about anything?"
I smiled at him.
"I'm good right now. Thanks, though. You guys really are like brothers to me, though."
"What about Mikey?"
"What about him?"
"He always has him arm around you and stuff. Do you like him?"
"We're gonna talk about boys?"
"I'm just asking cause he is in Shepherd's gang."
"I don't know..."
Soda POV
I had gone home planning on having lunch with Cam and Pony. I was about to open the door when I overheard their conversation.
"How're your nightmares?"
"I still have them, but honestly they're better since I talked to you about the whole experience."
"I'm glad I could help."
"How long have you been here?"
"About three months. Why?"
"I know you're Soda's sister, but I feel like you're mine, too."
"Awe, Ponyboy!"
I fumed back to the DX. After a couple of hours, Steve cornered me.
"Okay, what's up with you? You left your happy go lucky self and came back pissed."
"He told her everything!"
"Who? What're you talking about?"
"Pony! He told Cam everything!"
"I thought that's what you wanted him to do?"
"To me or Darry! Or even you or Two-bit! He's gonna tell some girl he barely knows instead of us?!"
Steve gave me a pointed look.
"That girl is your sister."
"But, Pony's my brother! Not her's! How could he feel more comfortable telling her something I've been dying to know?!"
"I think you're reading too much into this."
"Screw you!"
I walked away from him. I was pissed. Ponyboy was my brother, not some rich girl's that invaded our lives.