Chapter 9

(Day of the State football game)

Harley's POV:

Today was the big day of the state football game. If Ford played well today, he would most certainly clench the Oklahoma football scholarship for next year and have a full ride. I was hopeful that it would work out for him and hopefully reduce his anger towards me. Here is to holding out for hope. Luckily Pony said he would go with me. This would be the first football game this year that I would have been to and the first time I would have seen Ford play in high school. I tried to stay clear of everything revolving around Ford. But, there is a first for everything. My parents weren't going to be there of course because the world still keeps on turning even though the whole town seemed to shut down. After all, a Tulsa team and an Oklahoma City team were playing for the state title.

I walked over to the Curtis house where Two-Bit again was passed out on the couch and everyone else was at work still. Darry had picked up an extra shift this Saturday since someone called in sick, so he went. Pony was the only one left in the house with his unofficial babysitter Two-Bit. "You ready to go?" I asked Pony when I entered the kitchen where he was doing homework. "Yeah, let me finish this up real quick and we'll go," Pony said. "Darry also wants us to go with Two-Bit just because the game is going to be highly populated with Soc and he wants us to be a group." I nodded. I could see where Darry was coming from. I appreciated it. I went over to Two-Bit to wake him up. "What," Two-Bit asked groaning and looking at me blearily. "Can you take us to the football game now," I asked Two-Bit and used my puppy eyes for good measure. Two-Bit chuckled. "God, why do you have to be so cute, Motorbike," Two-BIt said and stood up and ruffled my hair. I grinned back at him.

On the ride to the football game, Two-Bit was whooping, hollering, and honking his horn to join in with the crowd surrounding the football stadium. Pony and I looked at each other with shit-eating grins. But I couldn't get rid of the pit in my stomach. I just hope we don't get into any trouble tonight. After finding a parking spot we walked to the stadium. After getting our tickets, I hesitated when we got to the bleachers. Pony must have sensed my hesitation because he grabbed my hand and gave it ok. "We'll be ok," Pony said softly. "I've got you." This made me feel more comfortable. I followed him and Two-Bit to some free seats in the bleachers. Two-Bit turned to us and asked, "Can I grab you guys something from concessions?" I handed Two-Bit some cash for some sodas and he scrambled away. "How much is riding on this game?" Pony asked me when Two-Bit ran off. "My brother's scholarship," I said with a gulp. "Also probably the last shred of his sanity." Pony looked at me with worry. Right before the game started Two-Bit came back with the sodas for Pony and me and a beer for him. "Sorry about the wait, fellas," Two-Bit said with a chuckle. "That line was so long."

The game was going swimmingly well for our school and Ford was playing great, which was a relief for me because it meant he would be in good spirits tonight. Hopefully, it would stay that way. Ford was most likely going to be walking away with that scholarship. But I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, because when I do they get shattered.

It was the last play of the game and my brother had to make this last stop to prevent the other team from scoring a game-winning touchdown. During the play, my brother got the stop but in the process, the way that he came down while tackling the wide receiver, his left leg bent back at the wrong angle, and the wide receiver landed on it twisting it. I could hear the scream come from Ford as he went down. There was no way he was going to be recovering from that. I heard people gasp in the crowd and people throwing up. I looked over and saw my brother's leg at a grotesque angle with not one bone, not two, but three bones popping out of his leg. The two bones in the bottom part of his leg were protruding out and the bone at the top of his leg was poking out of his leg. I felt myself go white. I looked at Ponyboy who was also white as a sheet and I ran towards the field. No matter how much my brother hit me, he was still my brother and I was going to go check on him. Pony tried to stop me but I shook him off. When I leaped over the railing of the bleachers the cops tried to stop me but I shouted at them. "That's my brother, let me go!" They backed off. Thank god! I ran over to Ford who was surrounded by medics. "Ford," I said grabbing his shoulder. "It's Harley. I'm right there." He looked at me and I saw the little boy that loved me when I was little. He grabbed my hand and squeezed hard. I squeezed back. Pony and Two-Bit ran up behind me. Pony put a hand on my shoulder. Two-Bit kept guard behind us in case the cops or other Socs were giving us trouble. "What do we do for now?" I asked the medics. The medics looked at each other. "We're going to have to transfer him to the hospital via ambulance, we don't know anything from there but it doesn't look good," The medics said. I just nodded in response and tried to make sure that Ford was relaxed. The ambulance came and loaded Ford in and they said I could ride with him since I was family. I turned to face Two-Bit and Pony. "Pony, can you and Two-Bit meet me at the hospital?" I asked trying to keep a steady voice. Two-Bit nodded. "Sure no problem, Harley," Pony said. He reached out and squeezed my hand. "See you there."

When we arrived at the hospital, they had to take Ford into surgery to set his leg. My parents arrived when Ford was coming out of surgery much to my surprise and came into the room where I was waiting. "What's going on with my baby," my mother asked the doctor. "Well Mrs. Cooper," the doctor said. "Your son had three different compound fractures. It's going to be a long recovery practice, but even when he recovers I don't know if it is going to be a full recovery." I felt my head start to buzz. Ford was sitting listening silently. I could tell by his face that he wasn't liking this. "What does that mean," my father asked hoarsely. The doctor continued, "It means that I don't think he would be able to walk or run normally on his left leg again no matter how much physical therapy he has." This caused us all to sit in silence and when I looked out the door window for Ford's room and saw the Oklahoma football recruiter who knocked on the door. My father waived him in and explained the situation. It was something regarding how they can't give Ford the scholarship now because of his leg and he was sorry. I don't know the details because my head was buzzing. God how wrong I was. This day turned to shit. Ford was not going to be the same again. I looked at Ford and he looked in shock when he heard this. My parents escorted the Oklahoma recruiter out of the room to the waiting room. When they did this I walked over to Ford and tried to comfort him. "It's going to be ok Ford," I said meekly. "We will figure something out. This isn't the end of the world." I looked at him with pleading eyes. "You don't know that you little brat!" Ford shouted at me in anger. "This is my whole life. It's the only way that I can get out of this life! The only way I can escape our stupid family!" Then all of a sudden he grabbed the pen, popped it, and jammed it into my hand full force. I screamed. I jerked my hand away and yanked it out and my hand started gushing blood. Then he grabbed me with full force and started trying to choke me by my neck as hard as he could. I tried getting away from him and started flailing, hitting him. The doctors must have heard me scream because they came running in and separated me from him.

I leaned back and started gasping for breath and ran out of the room to the waiting room where my parents looked at me with stunned eyes, walked past me without even batting an eye, and went into Ford's room to calm him down. What the ever-living hell! That confirms that my parents don't give a rat's ass about me. I then looked over my shoulder and saw Pony and Two-Bit. Pony stood up and walked slowly over to me like I was a wounded animal. "What happened Harley," Pony asked while slowly guiding me to a seat between him and Two-Bit. "Ford got bad news," I said in a whisper. "The doctor said he wouldn't make a complete recovery because of how severe the breaks were. They don't think he will be able to walk or even wrong the same. He isn't getting a scholarship. He got mad and took it out on me." I gulped and tears started streaming down my face. Pony looked at me with horror in his eyes. Two-Bit was fuming, looking like he wanted to go into Ford's room and beat him up. "Don't even think about it Two-Bit," I said sternly and daggers in my eyes. Two-Bit spluttered. "Fine," he grunted. "How are you doing?" Pony asked me. "I'll be fine," I said with a sigh. "I'm just going to get this checked out," I said pointing to my hand. But before I could get up a nurse from Ford's room came hurrying over to me and pulled up a chair.

"I'm so sorry honey," the nurse cooed. I eyed her hesitantly. "Let me see your hand." I held out my injured hand and she took out some cleaning alcohol and cleaned it out. Which stung like hell. Pony squeezed my other hand to let me know he was there. That made my heart rate slow down a bit. "It doesn't look too bad, but I'm going to stitch it up," the nurse said softly. The nurse returned with some stitches and sowed up my hand. That's going to leave a scar. The nurse looked at the marks around my neck. "Those are going to leave a mark," the nurse said. "But you should be good to go back into your brother's room if you want sweetheart." I snorted. Like hell I'm going back in there. I turned and faced Two-Bit and Pony and said, "Can we head back to the house?" Two-Bit and Pony looked at me with their jaws on the floor, but they didn't protest. I didn't say anything the whole ride home, I just stared out the window. "We're here Harley," Pony whispered while squeezing my hand. I gave him a wry smile and got out of the car.

When we got inside Darry, Steve, and Soda were sitting on the couch with the local news on. Darry looked up at us, but when he saw me, he jumped up. "What the hell happened?" Darry asked with concern. "Nothing, just Ford, like usual," I said nonchalantly. Soda looked at me with a furrowed brow. Steve looked like he was going to boil over with anger. I looked back at Darry. "Do you mind if I spend the night?" I asked. "I don't mind at all," Darry said still with a look of concern on his face. I nodded in thanks, sat down on the chair, and passed out for the night.

Ponyboy's POV:

It was Saturday and the state football game was today. Our school and an Oklahoma City high school were in the game so it was kind of a local holiday. But, Soda still had to work at the DX and Darry was called in because others called off for the game today. Two-Bit was my unofficial babysitter for today, it wasn't like I needed one though as I kept telling Darry, but he kept on insisting. Two-Bit though was passed out on the couch with the TV blaring Mickey Mouse cartoons. Two-Bit, Harley, and I were going to the big game tonight and I was super excited, but I had to finish up my homework before we could go. Harley also couldn't hang out today because she was tutoring today.

It was starting to become late afternoon when Harley came over to the house. I heard her walk in and pad into the kitchen and she smiled at me. There is that smile again that I love so much. "You ready to go?" Harley asked me when she entered the kitchen where I was doing homework. "Yeah, let me finish this up real quick and we'll go," I said. I still had some math problems to finish up. "Darry also wants us to go with Two-Bit just because the game is going to be highly populated with Soc and he wants us to be a group." Harley nodded, but I could tell she was annoyed that she wasn't trusted to look after herself. Harley walked over to Two-Bit to wake him up.

On the ride to the football game, Two-Bit was whooping, hollering, and honking his horn to join in with the crowd surrounding the football stadium. Classic Two-Bit, always liked joining in on the fun. I hoped that never changed no matter how tough life could get. Harley and I looked at each other with shit-eating grins. Harley seemed tensed up though. I wondered what was wrong. After finding a parking spot we walked to the stadium. After getting our tickets, Harley hesitated when we got to the bleachers. I grabbed Harley's hand and gave it a squeeze in reassurance. I wanted her to feel comfortable and that she was seen and would be protected. "We'll be ok," I said softly. "I've got you." Harley gave me a small smile. Harley followed me and Two-Bit to some free seats in the bleachers. Two-Bit turned to us and asked, "Can I grab you guys something from concessions?" Harley handed Two-Bit some cash for some sodas and he scrambled away. "How much is riding on this game?" I asked Harley when Two-Bit ran off. "My brother's scholarship," Harley said with a gulp. That's why she is so tense. This could dictate Ford's mood and his reactions at home. "Also probably the last shred of his sanity." I looked at Harley with worry. I knew I wouldn't always be able to protect her and it broke my heart. Right before the game started Two-Bit came back with the sodas for Harley and me and a beer for him. "Sorry about the wait, fellas," Two-Bit said with a chuckle. "That line was so long."

The game was going well for our school and Ford was playing well and I hoped it would stay that way for Harley's sake.

It was the last play of the game and Ford had to make this last stop to prevent the other team from scoring a game-winning touchdown. The whole stadium was on edge and seemed to be holding its breath. During the play, Ford got the stop but in the process, the way that he came down while tackling the wide receiver, his left leg bent back at the wrong angle, and the wide receiver landed on it twisting it. I could hear the scream come from Ford as he went down. Harley went white as a sheet. There was no way he was going to be recovering from that. I wanted to gag. I heard people gasp in the crowd and people throwing up. I looked over and saw Ford's leg at a grotesque angle with not one bone, not two, but three bones popping out of his leg. The two bones in the bottom part of his leg were protruding out and the bone at the top of his leg was poking out of his leg. I felt myself go white. Harley looked at me and ran towards the field. I tried to stop her but she shook me off. She leaped over the railing of the bleachers like it was a hurdle. She should try out for hurdles in track. She would be good at it. "That's my brother, let me go!" Harley shouted. They backed off. I gulped. Harley ran up to Ford and gripped his hand. I was nervous for her. I didn't want him to hurt her in his pain. Two-Bit and I ran up to Harley, and I was surprised we weren't stopped. I put a hand on Harley's shoulder. She looked up at me and smiled at me. Two-Bit kept guard behind us in case the cops or other Socs were giving us trouble. "What do we do for now?" Harley asked the medics. The medics looked at each other. "We're going to have to transfer him to the hospital via ambulance, we don't know anything from there but it doesn't look good," The medics said. Harley just nodded in response and tried to make sure that Ford was relaxed. The ambulance came and loaded Ford in and they said Harley could ride with him since she was family. Harley turned to face Two-Bit and me. "Pony, can you and Two-Bit meet me at the hospital?" Harley asked trying to keep a steady voice. Two-Bit nodded. "Sure no problem, Harley," I said. I reached out and squeezed her hand. "See you there."

On the way to the hospital, I looked at Two-Bit. "What do you think is going to happen?" I asked quietly. "I don't know kid," Two-Bit said shaking his head. "I don't know. But it doesn't look good. That shit was gnarly. I almost threw up." I nodded in agreement. "I just hope Ford doesn't do anything stupid and hurt Harley," I said with concern. "We'll be there in case he does," Two-Bit said in a stern tone that I don't normally here from him. We sat in silence on the way to the hospital.

When we got to the hospital we sat in the waiting room waiting for news to come. I saw Mrs and Mrs Cooper walk quickly into the hospital which was a surprise. So now they care? How quaint. They don't care when their son pummels their daughter, but when their precious son is hurt, they come. How hypocritical. "This makes my blood boil that they come for Ford, but won't for Harley," I said fuming to Two-Bit. "It reminds me of Johnny. But at least Harley has her grandmother." Two-Bit nodded. "But where was her grandmother all of those years previously," Two-Bit snapped back. That's true, I never thought about that. "I'm going to give Darry a call so he doesn't worry about us. Two-Bit nodded. I walked over to the phone and dialed.

"Hello," I heard Darry's voice say tiredly on the other end of the phone. "Hey Dar, it's Pony," I said. "I wanted to let you know Two-Bit, Harley, and I are at the hospital. Before you ask, we are all ok. It's Ford he busted up his leg. I just wanted to let you know where we were so you weren't ready." I heard Darry sigh in relief. "Thanks, little buddy for using your head for once," Darry said with relief in his voice. "Keep me posted ok." "Sounds good," I responded and hung up.

Two-Bit and I were sitting in the waiting room where it felt like forever until we heard a shriek rise from one of the rooms and doctors started running. Mr and Mrs Cooper were talking to some guy in the waiting room. The next thing I knew I saw Harley stumble out into the waiting room with red marks on her throat in the shape of hands like someone tried to choke her and blood streaming from her hand from a gaping hole in the middle of her hand. I stared at her in horror. Her parents just looked at her and then brushed past her to go to Ford's room. What the hell! They aren't going to check on her?

I stood up and walked slowly over to Harley carefully because I could tell that she was shaking and that she was not doing well. "What happened Harley," I asked while slowly guiding her to a seat between me and Two-Bit. "Ford got bad news," Harley said in a whisper. "The doctor said he wouldn't make a complete recovery because of how severe the breaks were. They don't think he will be able to walk or even wrong the same. He isn't getting a scholarship. He got mad and took it out on me." Harley gulped and tears started streaming down her face. I looked at Harley in horror. Aren't her parents going to do anything? Will anybody stop the monster? My heart broke for her. Two-Bit was fuming, looking like he wanted to go into Ford's room and beat him up. "Don't even think about it Two-Bit," Harley said sternly daggers in her eyes aimed at Two-BIt. Two-Bit spluttered. "Fine," he grunted. I gave Two-Bit a surprised look. I'm surprised he didn't put up more of a fight. "How are you doing?" I asked Harley. "I'll be fine," Harley said with a sigh. "I'm just going to get this checked out," Harley said pointing to her hand. I knew she was downplaying her emotions to protect me, but I wished she didn't. A nurse scrambled over to us.

"I'm so sorry honey," the nurse cooed. Harley eyed her hesitantly. She must have some trust issues and thinks she might be taken away by social services. I realized we had some of the same fears. "Let me see your hand." HarleyI held out her injured hand and the nurse took out some cleaning alcohol and cleaned it out. Harley winced in pain as the nurse wiped the wound. I squeezed her other hand to let her know I was there for her and would support her. She squeezed my hand back in reassurance like I was the one that needed it. "It doesn't look too bad, but I'm going to stitch it up," the nurse said softly. The nurse returned with some stitches and sowed up my hand. The nurse looked at the marks around Harley's neck. "Those are going to leave a mark," the nurse said. "But you should be good to go back into your brother's room if you want sweetheart." Harley snorted. I chuckled. That would not be a good idea, but if Harley wanted to, Two-Bit and I would be right behind her. Harley turned and faced Two-Bit and me and said, "Can we head back to the house?" Two-Bit and I looked at Harley with our jaws on the floor, but we didn't protest. On the way home, Harley was distant which worried me. "We're here Harley," I whispered while squeezing her hand when we pulled up to the house. Harley gave me a wry smile and got out of the car.

When we got inside Darry, Steve, and Soda were sitting on the couch with the local news on. Darry looked up at us, but when he saw Harley, he jumped up. "What the hell happened?" Darry asked with concern. "Nothing, just Ford, like usual," Harley said nonchalantly. Soda looked at Harley with a furrowed brow. Steve looked like he was going to boil over with anger. Harley looked back at Darry. "Do you mind if I spend the night?" Harley asked. That's probably a good idea for when Ford comes home. Her parents are sure not going to protect her. "I don't mind at all," Darry said still with a look of concern on his face. Harley nodded in thanks, sat down on the chair, and passed out for the night.

Darry looked at me in worry. "What happened to her throat and her hand?" Darry asked me with concern. Everyone turned to look at me to explain. I sighed while looking at Harley curled up in a ball in the chair. I could see her brow furrow and lines crease on her forehead. "Ford has multiple compound fractures in his leg that the doctor said he probably won't fully recover from and would probably walk funny from. That caused him to lose out on a football scholarship and he probably won't play football again," I explained. "I think Harley tried to comfort him, but Ford blew up and attacked her. She didn't get into specifics but it looks like he choked her and stabbed her hand with something, I'm guessing a pen." Soda looked at Harley in horror. "This probably the worst one yet," Soda said. "It probably is," I said in agreement. We went back to the local news and they showed the disturbing clip of Ford's tackle when he got hurt. Everyone groaned and looked away. I could tell it hurt Darry the most because he played football and had a scholarship to play football, but had to give it up when our parents died. He wouldn't have done what Ford did. It got late, and we decided to go to bed. Soda had work tomorrow early and Darry may or may not have to pick up an extra shift. I walked over to Harley, pulled a blanket over her, and kissed her on the cheek good night. I could see bruises start to form on her neck and I smiled at her in sadness.