𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨 ― sodapop curtis

𝕠𝕟𝕖 <3

I wake up, no longer able to drown out the noise of my alarm clock, of which had been going off in my ear for the past 10 minutes. I groan, as I reach over and shut my alarm off. I sit up in my bed and stretch, before groggily stumbling out of my bed. I rub my eyes, yawning loudly. Once I am awake enough to process my thoughts I remember that it's Saturday, which means that I have to go to work at the Tulsa Community Hospital. Out of my sister, Cherry, and I, I am the only one who works. I enter my bathroom, peeling my pajamas off of my sweat soaked body. I shower quickly, before getting ready. Once my teeth are brushed, and my hair is done, I fumble through my closet, finally deciding on a lavender, lilac, and violet plaid pleated skirt, a cream colored tanktop, and a pair of lavender colored high top Chuck Taylors. After I am dressed, I examine the final look in my mirror. I have my long red hair in a high ponytail, with my curtain bangs out. My tank top is tucked into my skirt, and I have a pair of knee high cream colored socks on. Content, I make my way downstairs to the kitchen, before grabbing an apple out of the fruit bowl on the island. I take a bite and chew, as the juices from the apple run down my throat. "CHERRY!!!!", I call, waiting to hear my sisters heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. When I don't hear her, I call for her again. "CHERRY, I NEED A RIDE!!!", I yell. That's when I hear her rush down the stairs.  "Sorry... Zara... I just... woke... up...", Cherry said, panting. Cherry, whose real name is Sherri, is one year older than me, yet I feel like we're twins, especially since our birthday is on the same day, with just a year separating us. I laugh, looking at my sister. Somehow, even though she just woke up, she still looks like her beautiful, radiant self. I hand her an apple, and allow her to take one bite, before dragging her out of the door, stopping to let her grab her keys. Once in the car, I say, "Hurry, Cher, or I'm gonna be late!", causing Cherry to laugh, as she floors it.

♥  ♥  ♥

When we arrive at the hospital, I hug Cherry goodbye, and thank her for the ride, before running into the hospital. I take my spot behind the front desk, and wait. For the whole day, people come in and out, and a bunch of broken legs and stomach aches later, the hospital finally calms down. I look up at the clock on the wall opposite to me, and see that it reads 7:00. Anyone that's anyone knows about the big rumble tonight, so because of that, I have to stay at the hospital overnight in case anyone comes in. I wait and wait, until out of nowhere, a group of greasers rush into the hospital, holding an unconscious Ponyboy Curtis. I know Ponyboy, since him and I are in the same class, and have been partners for projects before. I slap my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide with shock. "I-Is he okay?", I blurt out, worriedly. A tall boy with rain washed shaggy brown hair and tan bruised skin looks up at me, and the second his stormy gray eyes meet mine, my heart skips a beat. Though he has a huge red mark on his cheek, most likely from getting punched, I can still make out the few freckles that dot his nose, and see the sad smile playing on his lips. "Yeah, I think so. He's just a little... out of it, that's all. Do you thin k you could call the nurse?", another boy says. This boy is tall, and looks to be about 19 years old. His hair is more on the blond side, also rain washed. Snapping out of my daze, I nod. "Uhh... y-yeah, I can. Missy!!", I say. Not even a minute after I called her name, the head nurse, Missy, comes running down the hall. "Yes darling?", she says, looking at me, before allowing her eyes to trail past me towards the greasers, then to Ponyboy. "Oh, mercy!!", she says, looking at the boy holding Ponyboy, "Come, come!". She signals for the boy to follow her, and he does, without skipping a beat. The rest of the group sits down, finally giving you a chance to get a good look at them. The boy that caught my eye when the group first walked, I finally recognize as Sodapop Curtis, the boy who worked at the DX Station. I have been there a few times, though I've never had a conversation with him. The boy next to him, I recognize as Steve Randle, who also works at the DX. The last boy, who is wearing a tight Mickey Mouse tank top, I don't recognize at first, but after racking my brain, I realize that he's Two-Bit Matthews. Two-Bit, whose real name I forgot, is in 11th grade still, though he is 18. After a little bit, the boy who came in holding Ponyboy appears, and walks straight towards Sodapop. "Is he okay, Darry?", Sodapop says standing up. The boy, who I now know as Darry, shoves his hands in his back pockets, and hangs his head. "Yeah, he's... he's okay. They said he's delirious.", Darry says sadly. Missy turns the corner. "You boys have to go home now. You can come back in the morning.", she says sternly. I look at Missy, then at Sodapop, who looks nervous. "Oh, Missy, just let them stay.", I say. Missy looks at me accusingly. "Fine, but only family members.", she says, looking at the boys. "Missy, it's clear that they are all family in a way. Just let them stay. Please?", I plead. Missy looks at me angrily, but melts when I give her puppy dog eyes. Sighing, she says, "Fine. If you insist, but If I get fired, Zara...". I smile. "I know, I know.", I reply. Missy walks off, and I swear I hear her mutter something about how she's too soft. Sodapop and Darry sit down. I sneak a glance over at them, and Sodapop looks up at me, the smile in his eyes not quite visible on his lips. "Thank you.", he mouths, before closing his eyes. I smile, as my heart swells.