Sickness Chapter 4

Pony's Pov

I woke up and the first thing I noticed was being extremely hot under my blankets. The second thing I noticed was the bed was not sucking me into a vortex like it does when Soda or Darry lay with me.

I was alone, miserable, and just wanted my big brothers. God I sound like a baby but when I'm sick I like to snuggle. The gang often said that I was clingy and a pansy but I knew why.

After mom and dad died I developed separation anxiety and hated when I didn't know exactly where to find my brothers. For example, one time Soda convinced me to go to the drag races with him, despite Steve's protest and Johnny tagged along. When we arrived there were lots of girls and I could tell Soda and Steve were about to go flirt with them.

So Johnny and I are standing next to the fence watching the cars and Soda and Steve are behind me about 50 ft. After I watched a really fast car speed down the track I looked around for Johnny but he wasn't next to me, there were some drunks and sluts but no Johnny so I looked back to see if he went over to Soda and Steve and they were gone too.

My breathing started to get heavy I looked 360° not really seeing the faces in my panicked state. I ran into a huge drunk guy who normally would have made me crap my pants but I just muttered an apology. I had bigger problems. I walked about 5 steps towards were Soda had been and still didn't see him. All that was running through my mind was where is my big brother? Over and over again.

I felt a hand come down on my shoulder and I whipped around. It was Johnny looking at me with concern, without a word he pointed to a burger shop were Soda and Steve were smoking. Only about 20 feet from where they had been.

"Where were you?" I gasped at Johnny. Still trying to catch my breath.

"I just went down the fence a little more. Sorry for scaring you Pony," I think Johnny knew about my fear but he never mentioned it.

I shook myself from the flash back and pulled myself out of bed with my blankets still wrapped around my shoulders. I went to find my brothers. I guess thinking about my fear made me more aware of it. I slowly made my way down the hallway my blanket dragging on the carpet.

I turned the corner in to our tiny kitchen and found no one so I trudged on to the living room. The whole gang was there. Normally there is no way I would be caught dead wrapped up in a blanket with my blue plaid pajama pants on and one of Soda's old but still to big shirts but I felt so shity I didn't even care.

They all looked up when I came in but I guess Soda and Darry had told them I was sick because they said nothing, just regarded me with slightly concerned eyes. Dally spoke first breaking the ice in the room,

"You look like shit kid."

Thank you captain obvious. I said nothing just went straight to the floor between the arm of the couch and Darry's arm chair. Right in between my big brothers. Perfect! I laid down on my stomach, on the soft carpet with my blanket fanning out around me so that only a spot of my auburn hair was seen by the gang.

I heard Darry lean over his chair to look at me.

"Ponyboy? You alright little man?"

I could feel Soda's eyes on me as well as the gangs.

"Mmmmm, "That was all they got in response. A low, miserable moan.

I felt Soda's hand come down on my neck, after a second I heard him sigh and start to rub my back through my think blanket.

"Two-Bit will you go get the orange medicine off the counter?"

"Sure Soda."

I heard a shuffle then felt Two-Bit lean in beside me.

"Hey Pony kid. I heard you ain't feeling too well. What you been doing kissing lots of girls?"

He was just trying to cheer me up but I wasn't feeling up to it at all.

"No Two-Bit. Go away I don't feel good! I hurt and I ache and my head hurts! For once just leave me alone!"

My voice cracked and I could tell without looking all the gang were open mouthed with shock. I was never one to complain but damn I hurt!

"Ponyboy can you take some medicine? I promise you'll feel better when you do."

Soda's voice was soft and comforting. I turned me head to look at him and nodded he quickly poured some goopy orange liquid in to the spoon and I swallowed it down, after another spoonful I turned my face into the carpet again but soon became uncomfortable.

I looked at Soda who was sitting beside Steve on the couch. I looked at Darry who was reading the newspaper in his chair. Both of them would look over and check on me every once in a while. I painfully pulled myself up and turned to Darry all eyes were on me as I laid in his lap. My head was tucked into his chest and my feet tangled with his. He let me get settled and then brought his newspaper back up. Knowing I didn't want to be touched right now.

Soda looked over and smiled and the gang went back to watching TV. I fell asleep feeling protected because I knew when I was this vulnerable not even Steve would let someone touch me. Not all family is blood you know.

Hey so sorry for the long update wait. I wasn't really sure where to go with this chapter but loved how it turned out! If you have ideas for chapter 5 comment!