Darry's POV

Something is wrong. That's one of the first things I realize when I wake up. I feel bad. Closing my eyes again I hope it'll go away, but it doesn't- and just when I thought I was better, too. Looking out my bedroom window I see it's still dark and glancing at my clock it reads 6:30. You'd think I'd go back to sleep feeling like this, but I didn't.

Maybe I just need to wake up a little and then my stomach won't hurt, and my throat won't be sore, and I won't feel so tense. After taking a shower and changing into clothes I see it started to pour outside. It was strange having this much rain, but I appreciated it because I wouldn't have to consider calling in sick since we can't go to work when it's raining.

Walking into the kitchen I smell pancakes. I see Steve cooking over the stove. "What are you doing up so early?" I inquire trying to sound like I was as healthy as I was last night.

"Couldn't sleep," Steve responds simply, "You want some pancakes?"

My stomach doesn't feel like it could keep anything down and I try to casually respond, "Nah, I'm not hungry, yet, but thanks."

"Suit yourself," says Steve as he piles three on to his plate.

I'm relieved to see the newspaper on our porch so I can distract myself with that instead of watching Steve eat. I really hope I'm not sick again. I really don't like being sick in front of people. After sitting on the couch and kind of reading kind of staring at the paper for about an hour, Soda and Pony wake up and serve themselves some pancakes. Not too long after them, Two-Bit comes on in too.

I don't think I could stand being in the same vicinity as people eating so I put on a jacket and sit on our porch that covers me from the rain and continue to nonchalantly read the paper. Luckily no one questions me being outside so I can deal with my sickness by myself. What feels like ten minutes later, the boys all come out with the football in Pony's hands. The rain had stopped, but it was supposed to rain later so I knew no one had to work the afternoon shift. "Hey, Darry," Soda says, "Wanna go down to the park with us and play?"

Determined that I am better and just have some symptoms tagging along, if that's a thing, I agree and walk to the park.

X X X

Soda's POV

I'm so happy Darry's better. Yes, he seemed a little seemed a little weird this morning, but it could be nothing. I'll try to remember to take his temperature when we get back.

Arriving at the park we split into two teams consisting of Darry, Pony, and Two-Bit versus me and Steve. They're uneven, but we manage alright. The rain had started to sprinkle a little, but the game was tied so it was decided that next touchdown wins. We were all playing lousy, but me and Two-Bit were both laughing so hard at everything that everyone thought it was fun. Pony, Steve, and I were all covered in mud from slipping and sliding. I figured Darry would be able to stay dry, so that's not surprising, but Two-Bit would usually be head-to-toe.

As if he could hear my thoughts, Two-Bit runs in for the touchdown pass thrown by Darry, catches it, and can't stop running so he trips and slides in the mud at least ten feet. He finally comes to a halt, sits up, and yells, "Come on in, the mud is fine!"

Steve, Pony, and I start whooping and hollering and dive in to wrestle and drag each other through the mud. Darry stands and watches us with a small smile on his face. "You not coming in?" I ask loudly.

"'Course I ain't! I stayed clean this long right?" Darry responds smiling bigger. That right there catches me off guard. Darry smiling bigger at a question like that either means he actually doesn't want to do what we're doing or he's hiding something. Not wanting to interrogate him I tackle Steve one more time before announcing, "Alright, you guys, let's go on back."

By the time we're heading home, it starts to rain a lot harder. I suddenly feel bad when I see Darry shivering. We shouldn't have come when Darry was just getting better and we knew it was going to rain. Regretting our football game, I barely hear Two-Bit say, "I'm going to go on to my own house to clean up. I'll be back for dinner, though, don't you worry," He winks and we all say bye when he walks on towards his house.

Steve kind of sheepishly asks, "Y'all mind if I stay and clean up at your place?"

""Course you can stay," Pony says first before me or Darry can respond.

We soon arrive at our house and I give instructions saying, "Hey, let's hose off before we go in how 'bout?"

"Yeah, okay," Pony agrees with mud splattered on his face and him and Steve turn toward the hose on the side of the house.

"I'll bring you guys out some towels," Darry offers and I realize he's shaking a little and his cheeks are flushed.

"Are you feeling okay, Darry?"

Darry looks at me with pleading eyes that give away how he feels, but he mumbles some kind of excuse and grabs us three towels.

X X X

Darry's POV

For the most part of the day, I feel like I hid how I was feeling pretty well. During the football game, I was real congested, and my stomach hurt the whole time, and I couldn't wait to get home and go to bed. Now, however I don't think I can hide it with a smile and joke too much longer. I was practically falling asleep as we were walking home and I think I might be sick again. Soda started to question me and I probably gave it all away.

They were rinsing off outside and right when I went inside I head for my room. Halfway there I stop. If I go to bed now they'll know I'm sick. And who knows, maybe I'm not sick, maybe I'm over exaggerating. Instead, I sit down on the couch and try to stop shivering before they get in, but I can't. I'm so cold. I'm so cold. I'm so cold.

My headache intensifies and I rise from the couch for a glass of water desperately trying to make myself feel better. Taking sips slowly, the trio walks in soaking wet. Trying to seem like I'm okay I say, "You guys go change clothes. Steve, you can wear something of Soda's if Soda doesn't mind."

"Of course I don't mind," Soda respond with, "You guys go ahead."

Steve and Pony walk off with both of them staring at us questioningly. "Darry, I think we need to take your temperature again," Soda says in a voice that was so serious for him.

"Soda, it's okay," I try to reassure, but I know I must look sick. I'm shaking real hard, but now my face feels hot so it's probably all red. My stomach is in flip flops. I feel panicky and have so many mixed emotions that I'm not used to. I'm not sure what to do. I wish I knew what to do. I try to regain my composure and I think I do a little bit.

"Darry, you can't pull that stuff on me," Soda explains delicately and reaches for my forehead, but I jerk back once he feels it. "Darry, you're burning up, baby."

"Come on, Darry," Soda pleads, "Trying to act like a tough guy in front of us is unnecessary. We know how strong you are. You're just going to get sicker if you do this."

Kind of shaken up, I feel so much younger as I nod my head slowly with my eyes wide. "Okay, then, let's get you to bed, Superman."

We're slowly heading to my room when I get dizzy and run to the bathroom to empty my stomach of whatever was in there.

X X X

Soda's POV

I felt so bad for Darry. I know how bad he must feel knowing he was so much better just last night. Then what was I thinking getting him to go play football in the cold rain after he had been acting weird. I should've known better.

I finally convinced him to go to bed when he got sick again and ran into the bathroom and dropped to his knees. I run after him now and rub his back as he gets sick. When he's finishing up, Steve and Ponyboy appear in the doorway with dry clothes on.

"Darry," Steve whispers. Darry leans back on the ground with his back against the bathtub with eyes closed and sniffs.

"Come on, buddy, let's get you into bed," I say gently.

Darry nods as he picks himself up and I help him into his room. His eyes are barely open when he steps into his closet to change out of his wet clothes. He comes back out in sweats and his class graduation t-shirt on that I didn't know he still had and climbs into his bed shivering bad and pull the blankets up to his chin and turns on his side facing away from us. "Pony, will you go get some water for Darry? And Steve could you get a damp washcloth?"

Pony heads to the kitchen and so does Steve, but before he goes he reminds me to change into dry clothes. Looking down, I notice I'm dripping wet. I nod and head into my room to change.

Steve's POV

I'm still a little shocked seeing Darry sick- especially since we all thought he was getting better. I should've known when he didn't want any pancakes this morning. Pony's eyes are wide as I pass him. "He'll be okay, kid," I tell Pony.

Pony just sort of smiles in response and he heads into Darry's room with the glass of water. I notice he brought a second glass filled with ginger ale. I go in the kitchen and pull out a washcloth and run it under the faucet a little.

Walking back into Darry's room, Soda's not there yet since he's still changing and Ponyboy is sitting next to Darry on the bed getting him to drink a little. I walk around the other side of the bed and gently get on next to Darry, but on top of the blankets. Darry lays back down with his eyes squeezed shut and I apply the damp washcloth on to his burning, clammy forehead. Pony strokes his hand through Darry's hair and I whisper, "We're going to take care of you, Darry. Just like you took care of us."