Disclaimer- I do not own The Outsiders
It was getting late, so late. I yawned and placed the key in the hole and turned the knob. I sighed. The DX was closed up.
I gated over to the bus stop and sighed. I wasn't exactly looking forward to the hospital visit but I knew Soda would need me. He's always been there for me. I had to be there for him because that's just what buddies do.
* * * * *
The hospital was cold. Ugh and the smell. I hate hospitals. They give me the willies.
I walked over to the nurse's station. She looked up, eyeing me from head to toe. I hate when people do that, trying to decide if you are a criminal or just some kid from the slums. I can't stand it.
"Yes." I rolled my eyes.
'I'm here for a Ponyboy Curtis."
She chomped on her gum. "You've got to be kidding me."
I glared at her. "Just look up the name."
"Fine." She dialed her phone.
"Yeha Stacy I'm looking for a Ponyboy Curtis."
….
"I see."
……
"Yes he has a visitor."
……
"I'll ask him." She looked up. "You a relative of his?"
I bit my lip. This was getting annoying. "Yeha lady he's my cousin." Oh brother.
"Says he's a causin."
……
"Not really but….."
………
"Oh, yes of course. I'll tell him then."
She hung up the phone. "You can go see him. He's in the Pediatric ICU, cubical four."
Pediatric, kids ward? Oh glory the kid is just a kid. I sighed. "Thanks." I mumbled and went up to the ward.
It was a depressing place. The wallpaper was clearly for little kid, all bright and cheerful. Boy was it ironic. I went through the double doors and over to Ponyboy's cubical. Suddenly I felt sick.
Glory I am not nuts about the kid but I never would wish this on my worst enemy, let alone the kid.
He was hooked to these machines, encased in them would be more accurate. He looked so small. He wasn't moving. Lordie he wasn't moving. Soda was in a chair by his bed, holding on to Ponyboy for dear life. Two-Bit was on the other side, just staring at him. Darry on the other hand stood of aways, hands in his pockets. I couldn't place the look on his face, guilt, sorrow?
"Um hey." Darry gave me a curt nod. Two-bit looked up.
"Hey man." Soda said nothing. I walked over to my best friend. He looked awful, just awful.
I put a hand on his shoulder. Soda doesn't need to lose anybody else he loves. I've been here a second or two but I can see this is killing him.
"Hi Steve." He said softly.
"You okay buddy?" I asked already knowing the answer.
Soda's shoulders shrank. I rubbed his back a little. Soda is a very affectionate and loving. He needs the same thing back.
"Not really, Stevie."
I looked over at Ponyboy. "What exactly happened?" Darry coughed.
I gazed at him. "We got in a fight, he came home late. I, I hit him."
My eyes got huge. The Curtis boys had never been hit by their parents, let alone each other, unless playfully. "You what?"
"I hit him. He ran off and got jumped. They, they tried to drown him Steve."
I looked over the kid. Soda was shaking. I got a feeling there was more to the story. "How is he?"
Darry sighed. Two-bit spoke up. I guess he had already asked these questions. "He went without oxygen for a long time Steve. It, they don't know what's going to happen." His voice wasn't joking. His voice was solemn. When Two-Bit starts to act serious, you know things are bad.
Oh glory, were they serious.
Thank you for all your reviews. Johnny will be coming up soon. Check out my Vladimir Tod story. It is the first to focus on Tomas. TTFN