Begin [Ponyboy Curtis]

Hypocrisy

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNINGS: Hospitals, injuries, mentions of abuse, toxic family dynamic

Playlist: Cocoa Hooves - Glass Animals

My head was swimming as Ponyboy relayed the prior night to me.

"The blood on the couch was from Stacey. Apparently, she was pregnant." There's that word again: was. The most heartbreaking, stomach-dropping word in the dictionary. "You tripped over your own feet once we finally found your dad, and you have a minor concussion from the Rumble. Technically you could've gone home last night but your dad was in no condition to take care of you. They had him sign a couple papers so that Darry could check you out... considering the circumstances."

"Is Stacey okay?"

"I think she left this morning."

I sat up and winced at my stiffened muscles. Oddly enough I didn't regret being at the Rumble. I kind of missed it, "when can Darry sign me out?"

"I can call him right now if you'd like."

A young nurse walked into the room, "sorry to interrupt, I just came to check in on Miss Annafellows here."

I smiled at her, and although it was forced, she smiled back. I had a single IV, a hydration drip. Ponyboy let her know we were planning on leaving before leaving to call Darry. She watched him walk down the hall before shutting the door, locking it, and removing my IV.

"There's no need to panic," she assured me, seeing the surprised expression on my face, "when minors come in with injuries like this it's code for us to have a quick talk with them."

"Oh," I sighed a breath of relief, "okay."

"You're in a safe environment. If your home isn't safe to go to, or your boyfriend isn't safe to be around-"

"Oh, I'm not being abused. It was just a really weird, really rough night."

She nodded, "I have to reiterate one last time that you're safe to let me know if there's something wrong. The hospital and the state can take you into custody if there is."

It occurred to me that the only reason they didn't just take me in the first place was because of Stacey and dad. If Ponyboy came roaming into the hospital with a couple of strangers Darry would lose custody before he'd get a chance to explain himself. It didn't seem fair.

"Thank you, but I'm fine."

She smiled again, unlocked the door, and left me alone. Ponyboy came back with a snickers bar and a cup of water, "Darry'll be here as soon as he can," he sat the food on my bedside table, "I thought you might be hungry... oh, um, your clothes are over there. They're actually mine but..."

"Thanks, my clothes from last night probably reek."

"Darry took them home and washed them."

I wobbled when I first stood up, Ponyboy rushed to my side but I caught myself before I could trip, "I'm fine."

"No," he joked, "you're a klutz."

I rolled my eyes and gently smacked his arm before limping to the bathroom to change. Ponyboy and I were basically the same size. His stuff was a bit big on me, but not so much that it was uncomfortable.

He brought me gray sweatpants and a green t-shirt. Once dressed I pushed the bathroom door open and leaned in the doorway, smiling at him, "the nurse called you my boyfriend."

His face flushed red, he smiled and leaned forward in his seat, "yeah. Sodapop told her I was your boyfriend so that they'd let me stay the night."