Dream On Fire (Dallas Winston)

Chapter 13

When I woke, an ice pack was placed on my rib and the spot Pony slept was empty. The smell of pancakes filled my nose and I could hear Darry, Soda and Pony speaking from the other side of the wall.

"Go on and wake your sister up. She can't be too sick for pancakes." I listened harder, "I don't think that's a good idea Darry, she really wasn't feelin too good." Pony muttered, Pony was the worst liar , I could see him now, avoiding eye contact staring down at his hands, I wasn't sure how anyone hadn't caught on to his lies more than they did.

"Yeah Darry, you might wanna take her to the doctors, she fainted and was out for hours, was white as a ghost, said somethin about over heatin." Sodas voice was barely above a whisper. The chair that I could only assume as Darry's scooted loudly across the kitchen floor, his footsteps made its way through the living room, in to the halls and stopped right out side my bedroom. He knocked on my door three times, and I closed my eyes, trying to control my breathing. But when he knocked twice more, I knew I couldn't hide any longer. I quickly hid the ice pack under my pillow and tried to appear as normal as possible.

"Stella." Darry spoke sternly. I tighted my eyes hoping he'd go away. "Stella." He called out louder, I slowly opened my eyes, "hm?"

Darry stepped in the room and switched my lamp on, I closed my eyes again. "What's wrong? The boys said you done passed out yesterday...Do I need to call the doctors?" I slowly shook my head. Darry stared with a puzzled look, "what's the matter?"
I turned on my side to face him, lifting my head up onto my hand. I fake yawned, "I'm just not feelin the best, I just need to rest for a few days."

"Days?" Darry squinted his eyes, "I'm callin the doctor." He turned for the door but I quickly sat up and winced in pain, Darry turned back around, "Darry..." I swollowed, "I'm fine, ok? I just...I just don't feel good...girl stuff." Darry raised his hands in defense, "that's all you had to say." I laid back down, and let out a breath.
"Could you grab me tylenol?" I asked before he shut the door. His footsteps disappeared and I placed the ice pack back on my burning ribs. He returned with the bottle of Tylenol and a cup of orange juice. "You can just set it on my stand."

Darry nodded and placed it next to the glass of untouched water pony brought me last night. He lingered awkwardly at the bedside, his hand absently scratching at the back of his head, I waited for him to talk, "you need anything else?" I shook my head, mentally noted—periods freak Darry out.: Use it for escape. "Ok.." he looked around the room and back to me, "are you sure you're ok? You seem ..."

"Hormones."

"Right..right.." he back away slowly, I tried my hardest not to laugh, "well I picked up a double so...I guess if you need like..chocolate? or something... you can call for Soda or Ponyboy." His hand rested on the doorknob. I closed my eyes taking a deep breath, but when I opened he still stood staring up at the wall. "Darry!" I exclaimed. "Right...ok...feel better." He quickly shut the door. I relaxed into my sheets.

"Numb nuts, it's her time of the month."

Soda laughed, "aww, look at Darry's rosy cheeks." Ponyboy joined in, I smiled and covered my head with the blankets.

——

I stared at the clock on the wall, still unable to move without shooting pain. I wasn't sure if it was bruised or broken, but I hoped after a little bit of Tylenol, and a little bit of rest, I'd be able to at least sit in the living room. I had slept almost the whole day away, there wasn't anything I could do besides stare at the wall, think, and sleep.

The more I let my mind wander, the more sick to my stomach I became at the thought of Bob and Randy. Anytime I fell asleep, I'd wake up in a sweat, replaying yesterdays events. Pony tried his best to cheer me up every couple of hours and exchange my ice pack for a newer one, Soda didn't check up once. I wasn't mad at him, Pony was the only one who knew the truth.