Disclaimer: BOO! I scared you. Ehem I don't own The Outsiders. I make no profit out of it. I am merely writing for entertainment purposes because I have no life.
"Oh good! You're awake. You gave us a right good scare there, Mr. Curtis."
"What's going on?" I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted to the light surrounding me. I was laying on one of the firm, green mattresses that lined the nurse's office.
"You passed out on the track field," the nurse said, looking at me. "We've called your eldest brother, Darrel. He's on his way to pick you up."
I felt like I was going to be sick all over again. What was Darry going to say? I wondered foolishly if he'd be mad at me because I couldn't do track.
"Do you know why you were so tired?" The nurse asked, breaking into my thoughts.
"No. I…I get enough sleep," I said.
She nodded, "What about eating habits? Did you eat breakfast and lunch today?"
"Sure," I lied, "Of course."
She studied my face as she nodded. Before she could open her mouth to ask me another question Darry was in the doorway.
"Hey kiddo," Darry said, looking at me.
"Hey Darry," I said with a small smile. He didn't look mad. He had sort of a sad smile on his face and his eyes were a little wider than usual.
"You okay?" He asked, walking over to me.
"Yeah. I guess I was just tired," I said foolishly.
The nurse looked at me with raised eyebrows, but remained silent as I grabbed my things and walked out the door.
Darry soon followed. We walked out to the parking lot and climbed into the truck.
"Ponyboy, I'm worried about you," Darry said once we hit the road.
Wow. He sure didn't waste any time. That was quite blunt for me.
"How come?" I asked.
"Because you fucking passed out!" He said angrily.
"I knew you'd be mad," I whispered.
"I ain't mad. I told you, I'm worried."
I remained silent. Worried. When he got worried he got mad. It was the same thing.
When we finally pulled into our driveway, I hopped out quickly, thankful to end the seemingly endless silence that dragged on in the truck. Darry skipped ahead of me and into the door. I followed him inside, but stopped when I was in the doorway.
Darry went into the kitchen and I settled myself on the couch. I was just about to relax when the door opened and shut loudly.
"Ponyboy Curtis!" A giddy person yelled. I looked over to the door and saw Two-Bit standing there. He came over and plopped down on the couch next to me.
"Glory you okay? I heard you passed out during track."
I felt my face go hot, "Yeah, I'm okay," I mumbled, feeling embarrassed.
Two-Bit messed up my hair with a big grin. I shook my head at him, trying to suppress a smile.
"Ponyboy, I made you some soup. Come on and get it," I heard Darry say from the kitchen.
My feet felt funny as I got up and went into the kitchen. I plopped down in a chair and Darry set the soup in front of me. Mushroom soup. My favorite.
The smell was enough to send me reeling, so I tried not to breathe through my nose too much. Darry looked at me, like he was waiting for something.
I took a spoonful of the soup. The spoon seemed heavy as I lifted it to my lips. I blew on it, taking my sweet time to make sure it was cool. I then put it in my mouth, now feeling like crying.
No more control.
Darry smiled and said, "I should go back to work, but I don't want to leave you."
I didn't want to swallow. If I could just spit it out, I'd be okay. I looked up at Darry, trying to think of something to do when Two-Bit responded for me.
"Don't worry Darry; I'll stay with the kid."
Darry sighed and waved to me before leaving.
As soon as I was sure he was gone I spit the soup back into the bowl. I got up and washed my mouth out with water, spitting it out into the sink. I then grabbed the bowl of soup and started to pour it down the sink.
"So what should we do while Darry's gone?" Two-Bit said, stepping into the kitchen. He gave me a funny look as he asked "What are you doing?"
I froze on the spot. I had the bowl in my hand, and was in mid-scoop-the-gross-soup-into-the-sink and Two-Bit saw it all.
"I just wasn't hungry," I defended lamely, wondering if he'd buy the same excuse.
"You ought to be hungry. You didn't eat nothing at lunch," Two-Bit said.
"Well, um," I said, racking my brain of other excuses, "I wasn't hungry then, either."
Two-Bit took a step forward. And then another one. And then another one. And then finally he'd reached me. He took a good look at my figure.
"Golly Ponyboy, you ain't been eating?"
"Of course I have!" I shouted.
"Then how come you were putting your soup down the sink?" Two-Bit asked.
"I just…I just…"
"Ain't eating," Two-Bit finished my sentence.
I paused, trying to think of something to say. But of course I had to blurt out, "You can't tell anyone. Not Darry, not Soda, not anyone!"
Two-Bit shook his head, "Ponyboy…"
"Shut up," I said. "Just shut up. Don't talk to me."
I started to walk out the door. The house suddenly got stuffy. But Two-Bit had me by the back of my shirt before I could even leave the kitchen.
"Let GO of me!" I screamed.
"Ponyboy! Just calm down!" Two-Bit said anxiously.
"Just leave me alone," I said.
"Look, you can't do this to yourself."
"I can do whatever I want," I insisted.
Two-Bit pulled me back, "Ponyboy, just…Just stay here, okay?" He went into the living room.
I peeked out at him. He picked up the phone.
"Who are you calling?" I asked, walking over to him.
"Soda."
"No you're not."
"Yes, I am," Two-Bit said.
I wanted to throw the phone across the room. But I didn't. I just stared at Two-Bit. And then I ran out the door.
"Ponyboy!" Two-Bit yelled after me.
I didn't respond, just kept running. Everything that happened whirled around me. Me passing out during track. Me passing out after Dally was shot. Feeling helpless.
I felt someone catch me, keeping me standing.
"Ponyboy?"
"Johnny?" I said, looking up.
"Hey Ponyboy!" The eager-to-please, puppy-dog-eyed, dark-greasy-haired boy looked at me.
"I thought you were dead," I said.
"Ponyboy listen," Johnny said, "You're spiraling out of control."
"No Johnny, I'm finally in control," I assured him.
"Out of control," Johnny sing-songed. Dally suddenly appeared beside him and joined in, "Out of control."
"No," I said, my eyes closing, "No. You're wrong."
"I don't wanna pass out again," I pleaded, "Please. No more darkness. Please."
Johnny came over to me and pushed me. I screamed and started falling through blackness.
"NO!" I screeched. I closed my eyes once more, trying to keep the darkness out.
"Hey! SOMEONE HELP! This kid just fell over! Someone call an ambulance!"
I groaned. I wished that voice would just shut up and leave me alone.
"Don't worry kid. An ambulance is on the way," the same voice said.
"Uhhh…" I groaned some more.
After a few minutes of being dazed I heard faint sirens. "I didn't do anything," I mumbled, "The police can't do anything."
No one responded. But soon the sirens were so close I thought my head would burst open. I was lifted up and was too tired to do anything about it except fall asleep in the rocking motion of the car.