Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own with The Outsiders nor do I make a profit from S.E. Hinton's work fabulous work. (I wish I could write like she does!) S.E. Hinton is the true owner of The Outsiders.

Third person POV

Sodapop woke up and went to Ponyboy's room only to find it empty. Then, he went in to Darry's and saw Ponyboy in there.

He had a nightmare and couldn't even come to me. Sodapop thought bitterly.

He sighed and got worried to work.

Sodapop's POV (time lapse) (at work)

I wasn't paying attention at work, I was too busy thinking about Ponyboy. Steve noticed.

"What's wrong, Soda?"

"Ponyboy is mad at me." I told him. He laughed at me.

"No way! The kid practically worships you!" Steve said.

"I Do not!" Drawled a familiar voice behind me. I jumped and saw Two-Bit and Ponyboy.

Pony and Steve were glaring at each other.

At least he ain't glaring at me, I thought.

Ponyboy grabbed a Pepsi and paid for it, leaving without another word to anyone.

Steve let out a long whistle.

"Dang, the kid ain't too happy with you at all. What did you do to make him so mad?"

"Don't call him that Steve. I dropped out of school. The school is moving him up a grade and he was excited to be in the same grade as me. Now we won't and he's upset." I defended.

"You're dropping out! And I have to deal with him in my school without you?" Steve all but wailed at me.

"Shut it Steve Randle! Can't you put that aside for five seconds and just be my friend. Yes, he's s brainiac and yes, I'm dumb and dropped out. Darry would never admit it but he needs help with the bills. I got a full time job here." I yelled, frustrated at his pig-headed nature. Couldn't he put his feelings aside for five seconds and help me?

When my shift was over I stalked out if work, furious at my supposedly best friend's immaturity.

I walked into the house and saw Ponyboy taking some aspirins.

"You feeling okay, Ponyboy?" I asked carefully behind him.

"Yeah, just a headache." He croaked. I felt his forehead, he was a bit warm.

"I think your trying to get a cold or something, Ponyboy. Why don't you lay down on the couch and get some rest, okay?" He tiredly agreed, too tired to even put up a fight with me, this time.

Ponyboy flopped down on the couch, wrapped in a blanket and facing the couch.

I watched him for a moment before going to cook dinner. Blue chili and orange milk!

Darry's POV

I walked into the house to find my youngest brother Ponyboy curled up on the couch facing away from me. I was about to ask him if he felt alright when he sneezed loudly.

"Hey Darry. He ain't feeling too hot so I had him lay down. Need a back rub?" Naw, I wasn't too bad, I didn't need one yet.

"Naw, I'm good for now. Did you take his temperature."

"I'm fine." Came a small voice from the couch. I ruffled Ponyboy's hair, feeling his forehead at the same time. He was pretty warm. I sighed, he was getting sick too much for my liking.

"You feeling okay, Lil' Colt?" I asked quietly.

"It's just a small cold Dar-Bear. Don't worry so much, I'm fine." He croaked.

"You don't sound too good." I informed him. I hated when he lied about how he was feeling or if he was sick. It always got him in trouble.

"My throat hurts real bad." He said defeated. I nodded. I really hoped he didn't have strep throat, him and Soda always got it at least once a year.

"Open your mouth, Ponyboy." I commanded after I got a flashlight. He opened his mouth and sure enough his throat was red. I sighed, he had to go to the doctor. I told him that but he shook his head.

"I'll be fine with a few aspirins, Darry. I don't need anything extra, we can't afford it."

"I handle the bills, Ponyboy. Stop worrying or you'll go gray before I do, and that's saying a lot." He smiled slightly before braking off into a cough that sounded like he was going to hack up a lung. I rubbed his back until he stopped.

"Food!" Sodapop called from the kitchen.

I wondered if he could sleep with Soda yet.

"How long have you been feeling sick Ponyboy?" I asked. He seemed to choose his answer extremely carefully.

"A few days or so." He mumbled. I tried not to lose my temper on him.

"Let's eat some dinner."

"I'm not hungry." Ponyboy replied hoarsely.

"I can make some mushroom soup." I tried but he shook his head.

"Can I just lay down, Dar? I'm real tired." He asked. I nodded and he walked off to his room.

A/N: Holy cow! Two chapters in one day! Yay!