Down with the Sickness

XI

(Wednesday, October 20, 1965, 6:30 AM)

The next morning, the sun hadn't come up yet. Bexley hadn't come into the bedroom after eating dinner because she had fallen asleep on the couch. She hadn't meant to do it though.

Darry had come into the living room to make a start on breakfast when he saw her on the couch, fast asleep. He didn't have the heart to wake her up since she and Ponyboy don't usually wake up for school until a little bit after seven.

She looked like she was shivering since she didn't have a blanket. Darry grabbed a blanket from the armchair and covered her up. She stirred in her sleep but fell back asleep.

When it was a little bit after 7, Bexley started to stir. It was because Darry was making breakfast and the smell of it was hard to miss. She stretched her stiff body and felt a headache coming on.

"Ow..." she groaned, gripping her head.

'Why does my head hurt so much? Maybe if I take some aspirin, it'll go away,' she thought, pushing herself to her feet. When she stood up, she noticed that she was still in her clothes from yesterday with her shoes still on.

'Did I fall asleep? I don't remember falling asleep,' she thought. She made her way towards the bathroom to take some aspirin for her head. After taking about two or three, she looked at her reflection in the mirror.

She saw how pale she looked. Her cheeks were also starting to become blotchy with red spots. Her heart started pounding at the fear of the possibility of getting sick too. 'No... I can't be getting sick too. It's just stress. That's all," she thought, hoping that's the reason she's so pale.

With a sigh, she walked out into the kitchen to meet Darry. "Morning, Dar," she said, her voice a bit raspy. Darry turns to look at his sister and noticed right away that she was pasty white. "Are you alright, Bexley?" he said, setting the plate he was holding down on the counter.

He walked over to her and looks her over, hands on her shoulders. "Darry, I'm fine. Just tired is all," Bexley defended, pushing his hands away. "You sure, hon? You're really pale," Darry said, sounding worried.

"I'm fine," she protested again. Her stomach then growls loudly. "Looks like that monster of yours has awaken," Darry joked. Bexley did find that funny however, she didn't laugh. "Yeah, I guess," she said.

"Go get yourself a shower and get into some different clothes. I'll go wake Soda and Pony up. Maybe Pony'll be up to eat something," Darry said, pointing towards the bathroom. Bexley went to the laundry room to get a fresh thing of clothes before heading to the shower.

While showering, Soda and Ponyboy came out of the bedroom. Ponyboy looked sickly with a blanket over his shoulders. Without a word, he sat down on the couch with his legs pulled up to his chest. He looked so out of it because of how sick he really was.

"You hungry, Pony?" Darry asked. Ponyboy shook his head as a response. "He's been like that since last night." Soda said, "Where's Bex at?" "She's in the shower. She fell asleep on the couch." Darry said, going back into the kitchen.

Darry let Sodapop know that Bexley looked pale when he saw her. This worried Sodapop greatly and felt his stomach knot up because he feared that she could get sick too.

Bexley came out of the bathroom in a Donald Duck t-shirt, a pair of ripped jeans, and her socks. Soda sees her and walks over to her to hug her. "Soda?" she asked, struck dumb.

"Are you okay, baby girl?" he asked, rubbing her back. "Soda, I'm fine. There's no need to worry about me," Bexley defended, pushing back. She didn't want her brother's to worry about her when Ponyboy needs more attention.

She looked to her ill brother and walked over to him. She sat next to him and wrapped him up in a hug. Ponyboy rested his head on her shoulder, wheezing loudly. Bexley felt her heart ache at the sound.

Their bigger brothers watched the bittersweet scene in front of them. After a few minutes, Darry realized that he was running late for work. "Oh shoot, I'm running late," Darry said, noticing the time on the clock, "Bexley, you're gonna have to come with me so you can get to school on time,"

"But Darry, it's your only day off," Ponyboy wheezed, a pang of guilt in his voice. "Pony, I have to go back because of me taking off early yesterday. Two-Bit will be here to keep an eye on ya," Darry replied.

Ponyboy sighed, he had forgotten Soda had to work also. Soda came out of the bedroom with his white t-shirt and unbuttoned DX shirt on. Bexley didn't want to leave Pony but she couldn't afford to miss school.

Then, Darry, Soda, Steve, and Bexley left for the day and Two-Bit made his appearance to keep an eye on Pony. Darry gave Ponyboy some more medicine and told the younger boy to reset in bed. How they wish they had never left the house.