"Hey Johnny, me and Two-Bit came around to see ya, and Shadow's here too," Pony said with a worried look. Johnny groaned and lifted his head a little to see us, and gave us a weak smile.
"Hi ya'll." Johnny murmured, when a knock at the door startled the four of us. Two-Bit roughly shoved me underneath the bed with his foot, and I stayed there silently, my back pressed up against the wall.
"Johnny, your mother is here to see you," a nurse said as she checked him over.
"I don't wanna see her."
"But she's your mother!" the nurse retorted.
"I said, I don't want to see her! She's probably just comin by to tell me about all the trouble I'm causin', why don't ya just tell her to leave me alo-." Johnny's voice faltered before he could finish, and then the room was silent. The nurse was right next to me, but I just stayed there under his bed, waiting for her to leave. Finally she sighed and walked out, and I saw Pony's grim face looking down at me. I scurried out and Two-Bit scooped me up again, and we all headed out to Dally's room.
When we entered, he had just finished cussing out a nurse, and she left with her head held high. I was glad, knowing that he still had his same character as before, and was probably in better shape than Johnny.
"Hey Dally" Two-Bit announced as he dropped me to the ground. "We've got a surprise for ya, look who tagged along!" Dally's face lit up when he saw me, for a split second. He quickly replaced it with a look of mild amusement crossed with annoyance.
"How's Johnny doin man?" Dally asked suddenly, trying to be subtle about it, but everyone could tell how worried he was.
"I don't know much about this kinda stuff but, he didn't look too good. Passed out cold before we left." Two-Bit said in an agitated tone. Dally's eyes blazed.
"We gotta get even with those Socs! We'll do it for Johnny man, do it for Johnny!" he raged as he stabbed the bed beside him with Two-Bit's knife. We finally left him alone in his hospital room, because we needed to get back home to get ready for the rumble.
Ponyboy and I waited outside while Two-Bit went into a store to go "buy" some beer to get drunk before the rumble, and then the three of us headed down the street to the bus station. Pony didn't look too hot, and Two-Bit didn't talk to him too much. We arrived home in silence, and snacked on some chocolate cake while we waited for the rest of the gang to arrive. Soda and Steve finally burst through the door, eyes burning with a fiery passion I had never seen before.
"We'll get those damn Socs tonight," Steve muttered, and everyone else agreed. I even let out a little bark to show my hate for the rich kids, earning myself a chuckle from Soda and Two-Bit.
"Hey, what do ya say about letting Shadow help us out in the rumble tonight? Johnny and Dally won't be there, and she could probably take care of herself!" Soda said with a devious gleam in his eye. This earned him a glare from Darry, who had just walked in the door.
"There's no way in hell we're lettin' her go out and fight." Darry said, but Soda kept pleading and the rest of the gang backed him up. Finally Darry gave in, and I let out a yip of joy. I couldn't help myself, I was just so excited that I would be going to the rumble!
Later that night Soda and Steve began arguing over a poker game (which wasn't uncommon) and began to arm wrestle. This seemed to make everyone a little crazy for the rumble, and they all raced outside, yelling and laughing and even doing backflips! I followed behind, growling and wagging my tail at the same time. Finally we got to the place the rumble was meant to take place, and Darry spoke to the leaders of some other gangs, like Tim Shepard. A few guys from his gang eyed me in curiosity, but I just stood firm with my head held high, in between Two-Bit and Ponyboy. Then we all stiffened as the fancy cars pulled up. The Socs had arrived.