When I woke again I could see the sun had shifted and it was hot. I was laying in the middle of the sidewalk. I lifted my head so I could look around but that caused my neck and head to erupt in pain. I continued to look anyway, there wasn't anyone around.
I laid my head back down and tried to recall what had happed and why I was laying in the middle of the sidewalk unable to move. I was thinking as hard I could but it wasn't until my left ankle let an out jolt of pain I remembered the attack. I groaned, I knew I needed to get out of the sidewalk and into a more hidden area.
I didn't want anyone besides my brothers so find me in case they wanted to take me to the hospital, which I didn't want to go to. As I tried to sit up my ribs where screaming at me I whimpered and wrapped an arm around my chest. I looked at my ankle and it was twisted at a weird angle. It was super swollen and was already a deep blue purply color.
I knew just from looking at it that it was broken. I made me sick so I looked away. I decided my best bet was to drag myself into the ally right next to me and wait for my brothers to find me. I laid down on my back and tried to flip onto my stomach. I quickly realized my ribs were not gonna allow for that.
Instead I reached my arms back behind my head and used my good leg to help propel me towards the ally. Every movement caused extreme pain to rush through me and into my head causing my already throbbing headache to become worse.
I had to keep taking breaks in between my movements. After what felt like an hour I had made my way to the ally and pushed myself up so I was in a sitting position leaning against the cold wall. Once my hands were free I gingerly assessed my head. My face was puffy all over and I didn't need a mirror to assume it was probably covered in bruises.
I reached to the side of my head that was in the most pain. My stomach dropped when I felt the huge bump where I had been kicked. I looked at my arms, they were scattered with different bruises but overall unharmed. I lifted my shirt and saw my entire rib area and stomach were completely discolored. Suddenly I had the urge to cry. I was in so much pain and I didnt even know how the gang was going to find me.
My thoughts were all jumbled together and I felt a drowsiness sweep over me. I need to stay awake I told myself. That's the only way the gang will be able to find you. I started to panic. What if they never find me? What if they don't come looking for me? What if the Socs come back for me? Thoughts started to flood my brain only adding to my headache. I started seeing stars I had to squeeze my eyes shut in order for them to go away.
I rested my head against my shoulder and tried to keep my eyes and mind focused on the sidewalk outside of the ally. This way if someone walked by I could get their attention. The sun was setting and it was staring to get cold. I was doing everything to keep from shivering. The shaking caused me too much pain.
Suddenly I could hear voices in the distance. I quite whimpering so I could hear better. "Damnit, where is she" a voice said from closer. I was desperate, I didn't care who found me. I tried to yell but all that came out was a weak groan. "Shhhhh" another voice said. I groaned again. Suddenly I heard several pairs of footsteps getting closer. I opened my eyes a tiny bit just in time to see the entire gang turn the corner.
Everyone froze as they saw me. Man I must look worse than I thought. "Izzy" Ponyboys voice cracked. Soda rushed to my side and knelt down. I opened my eyes wider as Darry appeared on the other side of me. "Hey Soda" I managed sleepily. I wanted to act like I was fine, and didn't just get jumped by six socs.
Soda let out a pained squeak. "Hey Izzy" he half cried. His voice and eyes were filled with worry and concern. I took my eyes off Soda and looked around. Ponyboy was kneeling next to Darry. His eyes were wide. I saw Steve looking down a me a hand over his mouth. I didn't know if my brain was playing tricks on me but I thought I saw tears in his eyes.
Two-Bit had his hands on his knees like he had just run a mile or something. I didn't see Johnny anywhere. My eyes locked with Dallys. His eyes were full of anger. For a moment i thought he might be mad at me. It scared me and before i could stop myself I let out a small yelp.
Darry and Soda followed my gaze to him. "Dally" Soda said gently his voice still full of worry "stop your scaring her" at that his face softend and his fists released for the tight balls they were in. Soda and Darry turned back to me. "What happened Izzabell?" Darry said softly to me his eyes looked pained. I wanted to explain everything to him but all I could muster out was "socs".
I saw a pained expression cross his face and a tear rolled down his cheek. "What hurts baby" Sodas voice was softer than I had ever heard it. Soda was on the other side and it took too much effort to turn my head to look at him. I thought for a second deciding which of my injuries were worth telling. "Head, chest, ankle" I said.
I was tired and I was having trouble keeping my eyes open. As gently as possible Darry pushed my hair behind my ear revealing my black and blue face. He let out a small cry at the sight of me. "Glory look at her ankle" Two-Bit said with wide eyes. Everyone's head snapped down to my super swollen ankle. "I think I'm gonna be sick" Steve cried as he turned around. I had been sitting in the ally for a long time.
I wasn't sure exactly how long but I was uncomfortable sitting against the cold wall. "Darry" I said quietly. "Yes honey?" I saw there were tears in his eyes and that scared me. Darry never cried. Do I really look that bad? Darry was crying, Steve thought he was gonna be sick, and Soda looked at me like I might die at any moment.
My head was foggy and I had a hard time piecing my thoughts together. "Can I go home now?" I asked Darry. He looked over me and down to my ankle. He said something to Soda but i didn't hear it. He also said something to Dally about my ankle. Dally came over and awkwardly positioned himself at my feet. I looked at his eyes which were staring at my ankle.
He looked like he might throw up all over me. Both Darry and Soda placed their arms under me. I felt my body slowly start to leave the ground. I tried my best to keep quiet, but the pain was just too much. I yelped in spite of myself. Soda looked down at me his eyes where full of tears. After a moments pause Darry and Soda started walking again. The sudden movement caused my head to spin.
I shut my eyes and concentrated on not passing out. Something in my back screamed sending electric shocks through my body. I yelped in pain and everyone froze. Darry adjusted his hand on my back and that made it better. "Stay with us Izz" Soda pleaded. "M tryin" I slurred. I was really trying. I was so tired and I just want to let the darkness of slumber pull me down. I heard a car pull up next to us and I stupidly thought it was the socs again.
I opened my eyes to see Darry's black truck pulling up in front of us. Two-Bit opened the back door. Soda let go of me and climbed into the backseat. Once he was situated, Darry laid me down on Sodas lap. My legs were stretched out across the seats. I hated being in such a vulnerable situation. "I'm fine" I said as I tried to sit up.
Sharp stabs came from my ribs and back but I ignored them. Soda caught my chest. "Woah there Izzypie" Soda said softly "lay back down, you need to rest" He was right I did need to rest. But I couldn't just lay here like a baby. Soda must of seen this. "We all think your real brave Izzy" Soda said speaking for everyone in the car. That was all I needed to hear. With the help of Soda I slowly laid head back down in his lap.
"Should we take her to the hospital?" Two-Bit asked quietly. I assumed he was talking to Darry. There was a moment of silence before there was an answer. "Let's bring her home, I don't want to work her up too much" Darry's voice had return to its usual tough sound.
My eyes were still closed but I forced a smile onto my face. The last place I wanted to be was a hospital. I hated doctors, they were always poking and prodding you. They always ask stupid questions. I was relived to be going home. I thought since I was laying down in the car I could finally drift off. I was wrong. "Stay awake baby" Sodas voice said gently as if not to startle me. I only groaned. I was tired and I wanted to sleep. "I know, I know" He pleaded with me. "Just a little longer he assured me. Despite what Sosa just said I felt drowsiness over come me. I couldnt fight it any longer and I let myself drift off.
"Izzy…Izzy" Soda said giving me a slight shake. I opened mg eyes to see him staring down at me. "Where home" Soda said as the door near my feet opened. I felt several pairs of hands slide under and around me before I was pulled out of the car. I could tell they where trying their best to be gentle, but my hip still hit the edge of the door. It wasn't hard but it was enough to make me wimper. My brothers carried me up the stairs and through the door before laying me down on the couch. It felt good to lay down, but my injuries were throbbing making me very uncomfortable.
The initial shock and adrenaline was gone leaving me to feel the full extent of my injuries. "How do you feel?" Darry asked me. I opened my eyes and saw him kneeling beside me. "Hurts" i said with a small cry at the end. I looked past Darry and saw that only my brothers where in the house. I appreciated that because this entire situation was embarrassing. "I know" Darry said worriedly.
He put a small smile on his face for me but his eyes and voice still showed concern. "I-umm" Darry said unsure of what to do. "We are going to evaluate her injuries" Soda said confidently from behind Darry. Darry nodded "Yes" his eyes looked down at my ankle "Starting with that ankle of yours". I didn't protest. Darry moved so that he was standing right next to it. Soda carefully walked to the edge of the couch to examine my ankle as well. Pony Stayed by my head and stoked my hair.
"I'm going to have to move it around a bit to get a better look" said Darry slowly. My stomach dropped, this is going to hurt. I need to be tough I reminded myself. Pony grabbed my hand and I gave him a small grin. "Ready?" Darry questioned. I had a feeling that no matter what I answered he would still continue. "Yeah" I said taking a deep breath. I felt him slowly lift up my leg. He turned my ankle from side to side carful to not injure it any further. The pain was like none I had ever experienced but I kept my mouth shut and tried not to grimace too much.
"Okay" Darry said finally "Good news is I don't think it's broken" I sighed with relief. A broken ankle is no joke they take forever to heal. "Bad news is it looks like it's sprained pretty bad" I was still glad it wasn't broken. Darry shoved a few pillows under it and Soda left to get me something to ice it with. "I want you to keep it elevated and iced for the next couple days" he said as Soda returned with a bag of frozen peas.
Soda gently draped the bag over my ankle. I hissed at the sudden change in temperature. "Since we started at the bottom we are going to work our way up" Darry said confidently "what's would come next?" He asked me. My other leg felt fine and so did my hips. "I took a few punches to my stomach" I said unsure. Darry reached down to lift my shirt so he could look at my ribs but as he did I flinched. I didn't mean to and I wanted to kick myself.
Darry's not gonna hurt you I told myself. Darry pulled his hands away looking at me with a sad expression. Suddenly his expression turned to anger as an idea dawned on him. "Did they?" He trailed off. What what he talking about? My brain was moving at the speed of slow as I tried to figure out what he was asking me. Then I got it. "No" I said feeling ashamed. Darry seemed unconvinced and he raised his eyebrows in question.
His eyes were blazing with anger he was practically vibrating. "They didn't!" I said "I don't think at least" I added quietly. "You don't think?" He yelled raising his voice. "I-I blacked out before they left, I don't know whst they did to me after" I stammered. Darry had never yelled at me and I was so scared I was shaking. He rubbed a frustrated hand over his face. "I'm gonna kill them" Darry mumbled under his breath. I stared up at him blazing with anger. I foolishly wondered if he was gonna hit me too.
I pushed the thought aside. I wanted to kick myself for even having the thought. Darry would never hurt me, I assured myself. Soda must of sensed what I was thinking because he carefully walked around Darry and squatted next me. He examined my bruised face before he smiled sadly.
He brushed the hair off my face so gently that it calmed me. "It's ok honey" Soda said softly. I could tell he was trying to clam me down and it was working. Soda turned from me to face Darry. "I need to talk to you in the kitchen" his voice said seriously. I had never heard Sodas voice so serious. Usually he was wild and carefree.
Soda isnt supposed to be serious I thought to myself as my two brothers walked into the kitchen. Ponyboy scooted around to the side of me. Pony was only two years older than me and he never tried to boss me around like Darry and Soda did. I looked into his eyes and it looked like he was in pain.
Did Ponyboy get jumped too? I foolishly wondered. "Are you hurt?" I asked him gently. He looked at me funny. "I'm ok" he said slowly still confused. I examined his face more closely. His eyes changed from pain to fear when he locked eyes with me. "No your not okay, your hurting and your scared" I said without thinking. To be honest my brain wasn't working real well anyway.
He looked away hurriedly and he didn't say anything. I was about to press him with questions but Soda and Darry walked back into the room. Darry seemed a lot calmer. Soda reclaimed his position next to my head as Darry kneeled down next to me. "I'm going to look at your stomach now" Darry said before reaching his hands down to grab my shirt. I nodded in response.
He lifted my shirt and I could see him trying to hide his disappointment. Soda stood up so he could look over my shirt and I saw him scowl when he saw my stomach. I had seen it myself when I was alone in the ally but I guessed it was even more bruised then it had been before. "It's not that bad Izz" Soda lied and he sat back down.
I rolled my eyes at him. I wasn't trying to be rude but I didn't want him to treat me like a kid. "I know it's bad Soda" I said trying to convince him "I can feel it". Soda opened his mouth like he was gonna say something but instead he closed his mouth proving my point. "Dose it just feel sore?" Darry asked as he poked my stomach.
Compared to the rest of my injuries the bruising in my stomach was nothing. "Yeah just sore" I said nonchalantly. "Okay but if your still in pain in a couple days we might need to take you to a doctor to make sure your not bleeding inside or nothin" Darry answered. "Okay" I said trying my best not to protest. I would cross that bridge if I needed to.
"Now your ribs" Darry said lifting my shirt to reveal my bruised ribs. "I have to feel your ribs to make sure none are broken" he said slowly to me his eyes still trained on my ribs "this might hurt" he added quietly. He wasn't joking. He poked my ribs examining each one. I groaned and winned but Darry didn't stop.
I closed my eyes and clenched my teeth. "Okay I think you have 4 maybe 5 cracked ribs" he gently as if that would freak me out. My brothers and the gang cracked ribs all the time. It happened so often that I was convinced it was normal.
I shrugged. Darry gave me a concerned look. "Can you take a deep breath for me Izzabel?" That's a stupid question I thought to myself. Of course I can take a breath. I started to breath in and I realized I significantly underestimated how bad it hurt to breath. I could feel my ribs moving inside me.
Darry scowled. "Maybe 6". Oh well I thought not a big deal. Soda must of thought differently. "Six!?!" Soda said surprised. "Yeah they got her good" Darry grumbled. "Go get the first aid kit Pony" Darry said still looking at my ribs. Pony! I had forgotten about him being hurt and scared.
"Pony boys hurt" I said to no one in particular. "What?" Soda asked confused "Hurt how?" I shrugged my shoulders "he's scared and in pain" Soda still looked confused but he didn't say anything. "I can see it in his eyes" I said looking at Soda. I knew Soda would understand. Like me we both could see right through people. I always knew when people where lying or what they where feeling even if they didn't say it.
Pony walked back in the room, a small red box in his hand. "Here Darr-" he said before Darry cut him off. "Are you hurt Ponyboy?" Darry asked him. "No" Ponyboy answered quickly. Darry wasn't as good at seeing people's lies and he accepted Pony's answer without further explanation. "I'm gonna rap your ribs so they don't move while they heal" Darry said simply. He helped me sit up and Soda put a couple pillows behind me.
As Darry took out a roll of gauze and began to rap my ribs I kept my eyes trained on Ponyboy. Soda saw this and followed my gaze. Soda looked at Pony for a quick moment and I knew he saw the same thing I did. "Look at me Pony" Soda said gently but his eyes had worry in them. Ponyboy looked like he was debating weather or not to obey his brothers order. After a moment he turned to look a Soda.
"What's wrong Ponyboy?" Soda said softly. "Nothing" Ponyboy snapped at him. Soda didn't even bat an eye. He reached out and moved the hair off Pony's forehead. "It's-it's just that" Ponyboy trailed off. He looked down hurriedly and picked at his finger nail. I saw a tear run down his cheek falling onto his lap. Then it hit me. Ponyboy had been jumped before. The gang had found him just like they had found me.
I looked a Soda and I knew he realized it the same time I did. "Oh Pony, your safe here" Soda said sadly "they can't get you here" Ponyboy wipped his tears impatiently. "I know" he said trying to keep his voice from shaking. "It's just…it just reminds me, that's all" Pony said angrily.
Soda pulled Pony into a hug and Pony returned it without hesitation. "We'll talk about this later, ok Ponyboy?" Darry said sweetheartedly. Darry had been so quiet I had forgotten he was there and I jumped at his voice. I hoped Darry didn't see it but if he did he didn't say anything. I looked down to see my ribs and ankle wrapped up. "Okay time to look at your head" Darry said. I nodded and he put his hand under my chin.
He moved my head up and down examining my face. "You have two black eyes and a swollen jaw" Darry said slowly "your nose might be sore but other than that I think youll be fine" he said as he let go of my chin. I nodded but stayed silent. "What about you neck?" Darry asked next "Dose it hurt at all?" I moved my neck around testing it. "A little" I lied. My neck ached and when I turned my head to the left I felt pain shoot through me.
He put his hands on the back of my neck and moved my head around. I forced myself not to show any sign of discomfort. "You might have whiplash" he spoke slowly "but that should heal just fine" He took a breath.
"Okay you said you blacked out earlier, right?" He asked me. "Yeah" I said. The memory made me shiver. "How did that happen?" He asked. He sounded more worried than before. "One of them kicked my head I think" I answered honestly. He sighed. "Where did he kick you" he asked his voice suddenly gentle. "I reached my hand to the spot that had been aching the most. "Right here" I told him. He reached his hand up and I saw his face drop as he felt the bump.
"I think you might have a concussion too" he said sounding exhausted. "Try and follow my finger with you eyes" Darry said as he placed is pointer finger infront of my face. He started to slowly move his finger back and forth between my eyes. It sounds so easy but my brain couldn't keep up.
I was really trying but I kept getting lost. Not to mention it made my head spin. I didn't even notice I was swaying until Soda put an arm around my shoulder to stabilize me. Darry pulled his finger away "you definitely have a concussion Izzabel" Darry said. He sounded so disappointed. I knew that he was just mad those socs beat me up but I couldn't help but think he was disappointed in me. If I had done better on that stupid test then maybe he wouldn't be as disappointed.
Darry must of seen this look on my face. "You should go get some rest" Darry said careful to not upset me "it'll help you heal" he added after a moments pause. I really didn't want to sleep but if what Darry said was true then I would for his sake. I was a little tired after all. "Okay" I said trying not to show my true emotion. Darry helped me stand up and I was carful not to put any weight on my sprained ankle. Soda came to the other side of me putting his arm under mine and around my waist just like Darry.
My brothers helped me hop to my bedroom, Ponyboy followed behind us with the pillows and ice for my ankle. Soda helped me lay down and made sure I was comfortable. Darry arranged my ankle making sure it was properly elevated. Ponyboy must of grabbed a new bag of peas because this bag was much colder than the half melted one from before.
Soda sat by me on the edge of the bed stoking my head. Darry pulled a chair up next to him and rubbed his hand up and down my arm. With my brothers surrounding me I finally felt safe and I let myself drift off.