The last time I talked to Ponyboy was four months ago, four whole months. When we'd seen each other in the hallway, I wanted to say hi so bad. My mouth would part to say it and then die in my throat as he walked by, not even glancing my way. He'd disappear into the crowd and that was that, he would leave me standing there in the crowded hallway. At lunch, I would stay with Katie in the yearbook room, munching half-heartedly on my lunch.

"Why did you leave so fast?" Katie asked, not looking up from the article she was on as I doodle o the edge of a piece of paper. My scribbling got faster.

"I had to work on a project I forgot about." She didn't believe me, not in the least. I could tell by the way she gave me a sideways glance and didn't say anymore. I wasn't happy I'd left that day at that time and found Johnny in the lot, someone would've eventually found him. My scream may have made Steve, Soda, and Pony come faster, but they still would've got to him. Still, I was glad he wasn't too hurt.

After a rather sad day, with my lament of whether Ponyboy would ever talk to me again, I skipped going to the yearbook room and decided to go home early. For the whole day I had a headache and an aching in my stomach, I just wanted to lie down.

Normally, I would've gone the long way for a longer walk, but I cut through the parking lot. That's where I saw their little group. Ponyboy, Johnny, and Two-Bit. They were standing in the parking lot, Two-Bit with a cigarette hanging off his bottom lip. He saw me and glanced up, he waved and I gave a small wave back. Johnny turned around looked a little sheepish, but gave me a small wave too. The cut on his face stood out clearly. Ponyboy glanced over and then turned away. I felt my eyes burn. Choking on a sob, I started to run down the parking lot. All I wanted was to talk again, even a 'hi' would be fine. Just to know he didn't hate me. When I was around the corner, I stopped. My stomach was churning and forcing itself up my throat. There weren't any cars coming and I couldn't hold it down anymore. After coughing up everything I'd had that day, I wiped my mouth with one hand and brushed away a few tears.

Once I stood up and started walking again, I felt worse than I had before. There wasn't the pressure or need to throw up, although I could still feel it right underneath the surface, but I still didn't feel so good. I didn't make it to my house, not even close, when I threw up again, stomach acid sliding up my throat. Some lady had seen me from her porch and hurried over. I shook her off and said I was fine, but after a moment threw up some more contents from my stomach. I felt weak now too. She ushered me into her car, not that I could really tell, and started to drive. I can't really remember arriving at the hospital or getting out of the car. I think I might've passed out because the last thing I remember seeing was the hospital doors opening.

I woke up in a hospital bed, feeling light-headed and cold. A nurse was in the room and watched me, her face frowning. Hurrying out of the room, a doctor came in a few minutes later.

"You just had a bout of food poisoning." He said, his eyes staring into mine. I nodded and asked when I could leave.

"This afternoon if you feel better." My eyebrows furrowed and he explained, "You've been unconscious since yesterday when you came in." I closed my eyes and exhaled slowly, knowing Serenity was probably worried sick.

"Thanks." I muttered and started to look out the window, wondering when it would be okay for me to leave. I waited a total of three hours and then got out of bed. The nurse that was in earlier ran over and asked where I was going.

"Home." I said, she grabbed my arm and I yanked it away.

"Someone has to discharge you."

"Don't touch me." I said, tearing my arm away from her grip when she tried to grab me again. I ran down the hall and out the doors when they yelled for me to stop. I was tired, but I kept going anyway. When I stopped I was panting, but relieved to find I didn't want to throw up at all. No one was following me, so I wandered home. It was oddly quiet for a Saturday. There wasn't a note anywhere, and there wasn't any sign that there was anyone there.

"Serenity? Sam?" I called and not hearing a response, ran into each of their rooms. Maybe Rain knows. On the way over to her house, I stopped at the lot to see if Ponyboy was there. I wanted to apologize or something. He wasn't, so I just continued on my way to Rain's. My fist pounded on the door, but no one answered. Becoming desperate, I kept pounding on the door for five minutes. Still, no one answered. Where was everybody?

I kicked stones as I walked back to my house, filling tears fill up my eyes. It was sensitive, emotional, and such a bad thing to do as you walk down the street. No one said anything, but the few people I did passed gave me either strange or disgusted looks. They didn't know what was going on and they still judged me, it seemed unfair. They were entitled to their opinion, as everyone was, but it still seemed so close-minded.

Tucking my hands into my pockets, I stared at the ground as I walked. Cars passed out of my peripheral, all going at varying speeds. Someone was going to get killed one day doing that. That made me think of Ponyboy again and what'd I said. Shaking my head, I walked back to my house and opened the door. Chancing it, I yelled again, hoping someone would answer in someway. When there was nothing, I sighed and sat on the couch in the living room, picking at the threads.

I fell to the side and tucked my legs onto the couch. My head is in an uncomfortable position on the arm rest, but I close my eyes anyway. I'm getting drowsy again, maybe I should've just stayed at the hospital…

"Camille?" I felt someone shake my shoulder and open my eyes to half-lids, noticing the room looks a little blurry. I rub my eyes and see Serenity looking down on me. She looks worried, but I can't tell, I'm too drowsy. I don't hear what she says next before I fall asleep again. When I wake up again, I'm still on the couch, but I have a pillow under my head and a blanket over me. I feel better than I did when I woke up before, but I still don't want to get up. I feel light-headed, something that often comes after I try taking a nap. Locating a clock, I squint and notice the time, four o'clock. When I got back it was about five, so how could… I've been asleep for almost a day. By the look of outside, there was no possibility it could be five in the morning. I sat up slowly and surveyed the room more carefully, there was a note on the table in front of me. I reached over and picked it up, yawning as I read.

Camille,

Stay in bed, I think you're sick. I guessed you were when you didn't wake up when I opened the door. I'm not sure what's wrong with you, but it seems like the worst of it's passed. Just lay down until I get back later, I mean it. Don't go anywhere.

Serenity.

It was just like her to threaten me when I was sick. I wouldn't go anywhere outside, but I was so thirsty. My throat felt dry, as if I'd stuffed hay down my throat and left it there to soak up everything. When I did get something to drink, which was water, it didn't help with the first glass. I had to drink four more glasses before it started doing anything.

The glass clinked onto the counter, right onto the note, the one stained with paprika. I examined it curiously and unfolded it, reading the handwritten print silently.

What was written there created a loud roaring coming from all around me.