Three phone calls.

Everyone had been on edge after Ponyboy ran. Especially after Dally and Two-Bit went after him. The gang was seeming like it was breaking everyday. I tried to stay strong but after the phone calls…

I felt like I could never forgive Darry. I just couldn't! He made our baby brother run away to a place where he thought he'd be safe. If that wasn't heartbreaking, then I don't know what is. I could see how sad Johnny was. He walked slowly everywhere, almost as if looking for something to do. He stayed over a lot more, waiting by the phone for a call or anything. The light in his dull eyes never seemed so dim.

"Darry are you sure I can't just go n help em find Pony?" It hurt to even say his name but it had already been close to two days since they left. They should've had at least some intel about Ponyboy. Johnny looked at me and Darry. He was close by the phone, laying on the couch. Before Darry could answer with a "no" the phone started to ring. I saw Johnny almost leap to the phone but handed it to me. I nodded, taking the phone.

"Hello?" I greeted nervously.

"Soda! We found out about Ponyboy-" My heart gave a leap. I could now tell that it was Two-Bit talking to me.

"Did you find him!?" I asked almost instantly. Two-Bit sighed. Causing my heart to drop. Still he continued after my interruption, "He might be on his way to New York… Or even Texas"

"WHAT?" I yelled out. Johnny looked to me, obviously being able to hear Two-Bit. His eyes went wide and Darry started to stand closer to the phone. There was a bit of sound and even Steve came inside the house. He gave us a puzzled look before noticing the phone and giving a small nod of understanding. I waited for Two-Bit to hurry and tell me what else. At this point, I was jumping with fear and relief.

"Me and Dal are still working on it. There's a girl with him apparently. She might be the one to take him to New York or somethin'," Two-Bit continued. Darry looked at me, he knew too. Anger filled me, if that girl ever dragged Ponyboy into danger… I could tell that Two-Bit was nervous on the other end of the phone call but I just nodded, pushing down the anger I felt at that moment. Then, realizing he couldn't see me, I spoke.

"Okay… Just please, find him." I begged, trying to ignore the burning tears threatening to spill. I hung up and looked at Darry. No matter how angry I was at the moment, I just wanted comfort. He hugged me in understanding. Steve came around to us and looked at us. He gave a nod to Johnny and Johnny told him what he heard. The entire time, I could see Steve's face contort in anger and fear.

"Kid is fucking insane…" Steve breathed out. The past days had made us all stressed. Except now I could see the toll that it had taken on Steve. His hair always seemed out of place, no matter how much grease he put to try and hide it. And I could tell that even the curls on the back of his head hadn't been taken care of in a while. While I wanted to help him, I had been grieving too much. Especially after Sandy…

Only Johnny and Steve knew for now. They knew how much it hurt me when the letters I sent came back un-opened. Darry had already been beating himself up so much about Ponyboy; I didn't want to worry Darry about Sandy.

"Think Ponyboy will ever call?" Johnny asked. I stood still from that. Would he? My mind raced as to the things I would tell him. How I would beg for him to stay. My eyes flicker to Darry, his disheveled hair showing how worried he had been. I could see a glimmer of hope in his eyes too.

I always waited by the phone after that. Everytime it would ring, Johnny would pick it up. Then he would give it to me in fear. I guess he was worried about having to talk to Two or Pony. After a day or two, we got a call. Again Johnny had picked up the phone, handing it to me. I took it from his hands, waiting for Two-Bit or a random person. What I didn't expect was to actually hear Ponyboy.

"Hello?" The familiar voice said. I stood still, not able to stop myself from answering.

"PONYBOY!?" I almost yelled. Johnny looked to me, shocked. I could tell he wanted to speak to Ponyboy, but was holding himself back. Still, he stared at me until Darry came in.

"Soda… Im sorry," I heard from the other side. Ponyboys voice was breaking, reminding me how young he was. My heart broke at the thought of him miles from home.

"Ponyboy, where are you? Please come home," I cried. My body hunched over the phone, holding it closer to my face. I saw Darry standing over me, obviously wanting to speak. Still, I waited for Ponyboy to answer.

"Im not mad at you Sodapop. But Im not coming home," Ponyboys voice said. I froze at that, letting out a cry. Why- why didn't he want to come home? I asked myself many times.

But I knew the answer…

"One day Soda… I'll come back, okay?" I heard Ponyboy say. My heart still was shattered. While trying to stop crying, I spoke up again. "Tell me at least where you're going," I knew how hoarse my voice probably sounded. I waited, hoping that he was going to be somewhere close. Somewhere that Two-Bit and Dally could get to…

"New York…"

When Ponyboy said that, I almost dropped the phone. Darry heard it too. He gave me a worried glance, his eyes glazed with tears. I could tell how much me hated himself at the moment for making Ponyboy run all the way to New York. He put his hand out and I handed him the phone.

"Ponyboy, look I'm sorry- I should've never hit you. Please, come home," Darry begged. Me and Johnny watched as Darry cried into the phone. Then, Darry was left holding the phone. There was a far away look in his eyes as he put it down.

"What did he say Dar?" I asked, trying to keep myself at least a bit composed. Darry's tears fell, and he answered.

"Im sorry…"

I looked at him. Was he saying that Ponyboy said that? Or was he talking about himself? I kept looking at him for answers, answers not even he could give. He slumped down into the couch, fatigued.

If I wasn't by the phone, I was at work. Steve tried to be nice about it and all. I could tell though, that not having Ponyboy around was wearing him down. As I went through another day, my hope for Ponyboy started to waiver.

I sat in the bed that I shared with Ponyboy. The emptiness of it making me cry. It was to the point that I hated being in that room. Taking the blanket, I trudged my way to the living room. Steve was on the couch, staring off into space. He looked over to me and I could see the concern fill his eyes. I knew that even in the dim light he could see the tears that had lined my eyes. I sat down on the floor of the couch, near Steve. He silently understood as I laid down, falling asleep.

Another day as passed without any calls. I had hoped that maybe Ponyboy would call again, but it didn't happen. All that happened was a call from the police.

Something about a missing car.

I remembered what Tim had said about it. How he had stolen a car and that Pony had taken the car to leave. No wonder why the cops would be on us now.

Although, when Tim heard about the car, he did the strangest thing…

He framed someone else for it.

Even if the car was already in New York, Tim somehow pulled strings and made some guy "Micheal," get arrested for it.

"So you're saying you put some random guy, from your gang, into jail?" Darry asked Tim. I listened in, just in case there was anything on Ponyboy in the conversation.

"Yeah. When we were looking for information about Ponyboy, I found out that he had raced him just the night before. Not only that but tried to kidnap him." There was a small gasp from Darry. Ponyboy almost got kidnapped?

My heart dropped at that. It was like I couldn't breathe anymore. I thought about how scared Ponyboy was. What if he was sick right now? Would he be stubborn enough not to get help?

Then, I thought about the worst case. What if me and Darry were called into the police station to identify the body? My mind supplied me with morbid images of how Ponyboy could've died. Bile rose to my throat as I continued to listen to Tim and Darry.

"How did you find that out?" Darry asked. "He couldn't keep his mouth shut apparently. Angel was nice enough to tell me what he said to her," Tim's voice was smooth, almost as if he had rehearsed it before. Darry must've nodded because there were no more words exchanged.

After a bit, Tim went home and I was left with Darry. He got up and started to work on dinner while I lounged on the couch.

"Ya think we'll ever find him?" I asked Darry. Darry froze for a second, looking over to me before remembering who. "Yes, we will," he said certainly. I wanted to believe him, but, after everything- could I?

Johnny walked in with Steve and took his place on the couch next to me. Steve and I shared a worried glance before he went and settled on the floor in front of me. I continued looking at the phone, waiting for it to ring.

When it did ring, I was the first one up to it. I reached the phone almost instantly and greeted the person. I waited for a familiar voice of anyone. Mostly I expected Two-Bit, not Dallas.

"Soda," Dallys voice was serious. "Yes?" I responded and there was a small sigh of relief. "What's wrong?" I continued, "any news on Ponyboy?"

"We found him."

I almost jumped with joy at that. My heart gave a leap and I looked to Steve and Johnny. I could also see a smile on their faces, they heard it too! Darry walked near us, looking at me questioningly. Johnny filled him in as I continued to talk to Dallas.

"We're taking him to Tulsa hospital right now, and that girl. They…" Dallas froze. I couldn't help but freeze too. They were taking the girl? But most importantly- they were taking Ponyboy to the hospital? "What happened?" I interrupted. There was a long sigh from Dallys end. "The girl is bleedin like a stuck pig and Ponyboy… The kid was sick and just couldnt handle the sight of the girl."

My mind almost relaxed at that. I was so thankful that it wasn't Ponyboy who was immensely hurt. Johnny shared a look with Steve as everyone tried to listen to Dallas.

"We'll be at the hospital in an hour in the emergency room," Dallas informed us. I nodded into the phone, "we'll be there." Dallas let out a grunt and the phone went dead. As much as I wanted to rush to the hospital to see Ponyboy, Darry made us all eat dinner. Although, I could tell that he also wanted to just go to the hospital. While we ate, we talked a bit.

"Think Two-Bits mom missed him?" Johnny asked. I shrugged and Steve answered, "Probably not. I mean- he just bummed off of her for food." Johnny nodded, smiling a bit. The second we finished dinner, we rushed to the hospital. I thought about how much time had passed since the initial phone call. Were they even at the hospital?

When I saw the sight of Two-Bits rusted truck, I let a sigh of relief fall past me. Darry picked up his pace too, ready to run inside of the hospital. As we walked inside, there were codes already being yelled at by the staff. While I looked around for the sound, Darry met up with a nurse. When I saw Darry again, he had a clipboard and a grim expression on his face. I lifted an eyebrow to him and me motioned to where Dally and Two-Bit were.

I noticed the blood on Two-Bit. Quickly, I walked over, looking at him concerned.

"It ain't my blood if that's what you're thinking," he joked. I looked at him worried, "Whos blood is it then?"

"The girl that was just about dying as we brought her here," Dallas answered. His eyes seemed to be far away. "What happened over there?" I asked them. They shared a look, one of fear but also relief.

"We found him, they took him back to make sure he's fine-" Two-Bit explained about Ponyboy, "-it was just that girl… god the sight." Two-Bit put his arms on his knees and leaned forward. Dallas copied him but looked up to me, "in all my years in New York, I never thought I'd see a sight like that. There was just so much…"

"Blood?" Two-Bit answered for him. I heard Johnny give a soft gasp from next to me as they said that. I looked at Johnny, concern in my gaze. "Will Ponyboy be alright?" Johnny asked. Two-Bit and Dallas nodded. Johnny let out a small sigh of relief and settled on the waiting room chair next to Dallas. Steve stood next to me, motioning to the chairs next to Two-Bit. I shook my head, knowing that it would be next to impossible for me to sit still waiting for Ponyboy.

Darry walked over to us, the clipboard he had gone. Instead, he helf a grim look on his face as he settled on one of the chairs. He looked at me, almost pleadingly. "Ponyboy will have to go to court."

I couldnt say anything to that for a second. I had to let the words flow through my head. What did he mean? I thought Tim had already settled the car-

"For the girl?" Two-Bit asked. Darry gave a grim nod, burying his head in his hands. I knew that he wasnt going to cry, more so he was stressed. I was stressed too.

After a while, the doctors finally let us visit Ponyboy, although we were only allowed two people at a time. It was unamiously decided that me and Darry would stay with Ponyboy until the doctor said so. Two-Bit stuck around before going to find the girl. "What are you going to see her for?" Dallas asked him. Two-Bit shrugged, "I doubt any of her family is going to be here. Might as well visit her and see if she could help out with the court."

As Two-Bit left, I stayed by Ponyboys side no matter what. I watched as his breathing would steady about. Sometimes he would breathe heavier, scaring me. Then, he would slow it by a ton, scaring me even more!

"Dont sleeping people breathe at a steady pace or somethin?" I asked Darry after Ponyboy had started to slow his breathing. Darry nodded, eyeing Ponyboy as if he would disapear if he didnt. The silence in the room haunted me, but when it got loud, it didnt help.

"Im heading to the bathroom," I called out to Darry, and he nodded. As I walked out, I saw a doctor. He left a room, room 83. While I made my way to the bathroom I caught a look of the doctor heading to Ponyboy's room.

When I came back, Darry was silent again. I sat in my spot next to Ponyboy and held his cold hand. Uncomfortable with the silence, I spoke up, "They drove hours straight just to bring them to this hospital?" Darry looked at me confused before remembering who I was talking about. He nodded to my question and I thought back to the doctor. Somehow Darry seemed to know what I was thinking about.

"Yeah, although, doc says the girl might not make it."

Before I could respond, I heard a sound from the patient in the bed. I looked over, gasping as I did so. "Ponyboy? Are you awake? Ponyboy!" I called out to him. It took a second, but, Ponyboy steadily said my name. Tears started to fill my eyes "Yes Pony- Im here," I said as squeezed Ponyboys hand, just in case I was dreaming or something. "Darry?" Ponyboy asked again. "Yes kiddo- we're both here…"

Me and Darry shared a grateful look. Although, I wondered why Ponyboy wasnt opening his eyes. "Where?" Ponyboy got out. I could tell how weak Ponyboy was as he struggled to sit up. As he finally settled down from sitting up, his breathing seemed to even out but grew more rapid.

"Open your eyes-" I quietly begged as I ran my fingers through his hair, tugging at stray tangles in it. Part of me didnt want to break it to him that he was in the hospital. But, another selfish part of me wanted to see his eyes no matter what.

Seeing his eyes were better than any phone calls I got from this past week.