An Unlikely Allie

Chapter 60

Phaedra's POV

"No," I folded my arms stubbornly, "I'm not leaving him! You can't make me!"

"Phaedra," I could tell Darry was exasperated with me, "you haven't slept in 3 days. You haven't eaten in 3 days."

"I'm staying here until he wakes up."

"Phaedra..." my oldest brother growled at me and pinched the bridge of his nose, "this isn't up for debate."

I glared at him, "I said, I'm not leaving." I stood my ground.

Soda got in between us, "Phae," he tried to reason with me, "we don't know if...when he's gonna wake up."

"Fuck off, Soda!" I growled, clenching my fists, "I need to know if he's gonna make it!"

Soda and Darry's faces softened a bit, "Phaedra,"

Soda reached for me, but I backed away, "don't touch me." I back away from them and sat on the foot of the hospital bed. I stared at my twin.  He was looked peaceful.  If you didn't know he got shot, you would've thought he was sleeping peacefully. I reached over and brushed some hair off of his forehead, "you gotta be ok. Please Pony...you and me against the world."

Johnny's POV

I hated this, my best friend was laying in a hospital bed, fighting for his life and my girlfriend was a complete wreck.  I couldn't help either of them. 

I sat in the hallway, listening to Phae argue with Darry and Soda.  They wanted her to go home and get some rest.  She was refusing, like I knew she would.  I saw her sit next to Pony.  It just about shattered my heart, she was hurting and wasn't letting one in.

Darry and Soda came into the hallway.  Darry ran his hands over his face.  Both of them looked like they had aged 10 years, "what are we gonna do?"

Soda slumped against the wall, "I dunno.  She needs to sleep, eat a decent meal, shower."

"So do you." I mumbled, "all of ya do."

Soda stared at me.  I usually don't say much unless I'm around Pony or Phaedra, "you think you can get her to go?

"Nope," I almost laughed, "that's a good one.  The only way you're getting her outta here is when Pony wakes up."

"And if he doesn't," Darry's words chilled me to the bone.

The three of us watched as Phaedra pulled two chairs over to the side of the bed.  She face them together, creating a makeshift cot.  She laid down, resting her hand on Pony's.  "That can't happen." I murmured, "if he doesn't wake up, that will destroy Phaedra."  I glanced at the two older Curtis brothers, "go home.  Get some rest.  I'll stay here with them."  Soda and Darry didn't look too sure, "go.  I'll call ya if anything changes."

Soda's POV

We got home and I was relieved when I saw Steve's car in the driveway.  He was covering shifts for me at the DX.   Darry went straight into his room and I sat next to Steve on the couch.  He put his arm around me and I snuggled into him.  Steve kissed my forehead, "how is he?  Any change?"

I shook my head, trying to keep the tears from falling, "no change, but the docs say that he's holding on."

"No news is better than bad news," Steve spoke, trying to comfort me.  When I didn't respond, he cleared his throat, "Douglas stopped by the DX today.  He said that the cops took his statement and talked to Dally too...about that afternoon.  That bigwig lawyer was there.  With Phaedra's testimony, it's a pretty cut and dry case."

"Yeah," I knew he was trying to make me feel better, but it didn't matter.  Nothing mattered except making sure Pony got better.

"He's gonna make it," Steve said, answering my own thoughts, "he's a tough kid, ya know?  I know I give the kid a lot of shit, but he is good kid."

"He thinks you hate him." 

"I know."  Steve closed his eyes.  I saw a single tear slide down his cheek, "I don't hate him.  I never hated him.  I think I was jealous.  Pony has a lot of things going for him and he didn't realize it.  I know it was hard for you to drop out, even though you hated school."

"You resent him cause I dropped out?" I was confused.

"No," Steve sighed, "I don't know what I'm trying to say...all I know I need to make things right with Ponyboy."

I sat up and pecked my boyfriend on the lips, "I would love that."