That's Life for You

Chapter 13

"Curly?" I call out weakly, pathetically. "Can you bring me some water?"

The room is dark, meaning the sun must have set, but the house is quiet, so I guess nobody has gotten home yet. Usually the radio or tv would be blaring, Soda's voice would be loud as he rough housed with Ponyboy in the living room. There's nothing but silence though.

Gosh, I hope Curly hasn't left. All day he's been in and out of my room, bringing me water, aspirin and damp wash cloths, anticipating my every need. I know that I will never forget how I felt in those moments, relief, gratitude and most importantly-not alone.

I open my mouth to call out again, but it's Sodapop who appears in my room, carrying a glass of water.

"I didn't think you were home," I croak out, reaching for the glass.

"Feeling better?" Soda asks, making himself comfortable at the foot of my bed.

I prop myself up on my elbow and drink almost half the glass before answering. "A little."

Handing the glass back to Soda, I lay back down, feeling drained of energy.

"Why were you calling for Curly?" Sodapop's voice breaks in right when I'm about to drop off into sleep.

"Huh?" I ask groggily, fighting to stay awake.

"You were hollering for Curly."

My brain is still foggy and I'm having trouble understanding his question. I want to tell him I don't know but sleep grips me again.

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Sunlight streaming through the window is what wakes me up again. Besides feeling sweaty and gross, I can tell I'm a lot better. Kicking the blanket off, I peel myself off the bed. I stand up slowly incase fatigue hits me.

I make my way to the bathroom and take a long cool shower, the water washing over me almost feeling like a religious experience. There's no greater feeling than the day you recover from being sick. Everything you do just feels better than usual.

After my shower, I go into the kitchen, realizing how hungry I am. I smear a piece of bread with jelly, figuring it's best to start with something light. Pouring a glass of juice, I carry that and the bread into the living room, I stop short when I see Curly asleep in the arm chair.

Any other day I might have been weirded out to finding Curly Shepard asleep in my living room, but the gratefulness seeped over from yesterday and I don't mind it. Which is weird in itself, I guess.

Ponyboy is reading on the couch and he puts the book down when he notices me. "You look better," he says a little guiltily. "If I had known you were sick, I wouldn't have left yesterday."

Placing my plate on the coffee table, I settle next to him on the couch. "It's okay. Like you said you didn't know and it's not like I was alone."

Ponyboy sends a puzzled look at the sleeping figure in the arm chair before looking back at me. "You guys' friends or something?"

"I guess we are," I say thoughtfully. I'm not exactly sure when it happened, I couldn't pinpoint the moment, but over this last month we have developed a friendship.

Ponyboy's eyebrows pinch together. "Just be careful, okay? Curly isn't really the type to hang around girls for their friendship."

I don't know why I have the urge to defend him, but I do, but before I can get any words out, Curly begins to stir.

Me and Ponyboy watch as he stretches out one leg, shifting in the chair, his eyes opening slowly. He looks confused for a second like he doesn't remember where he is.