Things Are Rough All Over

Chapter 6: Who Are You?

A Few Hours Later

Audrey's POV

I woke up, feeling pain in my lower side. I looked around me and saw my mom wither her head on the bed next to me. "Mom?" my voice was raspy and it hurt to talk. "Audrey, are you okay? Do you need anything?" she asked, standing up and taking my hand in hers. "It hurts mom, and my throat feels so dry." I rasped out. "I'll get a nurse and get you some water." she said, I nodded and she left the room for a few short minutes, coming back with a nurse.

"Hi Audrey, I'm nurse Andrews. Your mom tells me you're having some pain?" the nurse said, I nodded and tried to sit up some more. "No, honey, you don't need to move. You've got stitches in your side and they might rip." the nurse said, keeping me from sitting up. "What happened?" I asked, looking at my mom. 

"Elena's dad shot you when you stepped between them to protect her. Elena's next door with a small concussion. You'll both be fine though." my mom said, taking my hand in hers. I nodded and leaned my head back against the bed. "Mom, is Two-bit here?" I asked, she nodded and stood up, Cherry and Marcia are here too. I'll go get them and give y'all some privacy." she said, leaning down and kissing the top of my head. 

My mom walked out of the room and a few minutes later, Two-bit walked in with Cherry and Marcia. Two-bit came over and hugged me gently. "Audrey, how are you feeling?" Cherry asked, hugging me as well. "I'm hurting a little, but the nurse just gave me some pain killers." I said, trying to get comfortable. 

"How bad is she.." I said softly, referring to Elena. "She's pretty bad beat up and she has a concussion. She fell asleep about an hour ago. She keeps asking for you but she doesn't know that you're in the hospital too. She doesn't remember you getting shot. The doctor thinks it'll send her into a really bad anxiety attack if she finds out right now." Cherry said, sitting down in the chair beside the bed. 

"I can't believe we're going to miss the game this Friday." I said, leaning my head back. "Hey, don't worry about the game. You need to worry about getting better." Marcia said, Cherry and Two-bit nodded in agreement. Cherry looked down at her watch then back up at Marcia. "I have to get home now. I wanted to make sure you were alright before I left." she said, standing up. "Thanks for stopping by guys." I said as they both hugged me one more time before leaving the room. 

Two-bit sat down on the bed next to me, taking my hand in his. "I thought I lost you Audrey. Don't ever scare me like that again." he said, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles. "I'm sorry baby, I couldn't just let Elena get hurt though, I acted before I thought." I said softly, looking down. He lifted my chin up and smiled. "Audrey, Elena is alive because of you." he said, making me smile a little. 

~~~ 

Beth Anne's POV

"Darry," I said, he turned and looked at me. "We should get the kids home. It's getting late and they have school tomorrow." I said, he nodded and stood up, shaking Sodapop awake. "Soda, c'mon we're going home. Can you carry Madi out to the truck?" he asked, Soda nodded sleepily and carefully picked his sister up. I shook Seth awake and Darry woke Ponyboy. 

We got out to the truck and got in, heading back home. Darry dropped Seth and me back at our house before heading back to their house. Seth and I walked in our house, taking our shoes off by the door. "Head to bed kid, you have school in the morning." I said, locking the door and walking into the kitchen.

I grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and headed to my own room to get ready for bed tomorrow. I got changed and crawled into bed, thinking about what happened today. "Oh, mama, I wish you were still here. Everything used to be so simple but now... now I don't know." I said softly, a few tears sliding down my face. 

~~~

The next Morning

Lela's POV

"Lela, I wish just once, you would do what your teacher tells you to and stop getting into trouble. I have enough to deal with without having to go to a parent-teacher conference every week because you can't mind. Until you can, you're grounded. You go straight to school and you come straight home. And if you need Ponyboy's help with homework, then he's just going to have to come over here. Do I make myself clear?" my mom said, packing her bag for work. I didn't say anything. "Lela Grace Peterson, do I make myself clear?" she asked again. "Yes, ma'am. I'm sorry mama." I said softly. "Then start acting like it and behave. Alec hasn't even gotten in trouble lately." she said, sighing and looking at her watch. "C'mon or you'll be late." She said, we all grabbed our bags and walked out to the car. My mom dropped us off at school and drove off to work. 

"Lela, please try today. Mom's right, she has enough going on right now." Jacob said, I nodded and headed to class. Today was going to be a long day. I keep messing everything up without even meaning to. 

Charlotte's POV

"Please Dally?" I asked, Dally sighed and turned to look at me. "Charlotte Aurora, grounded means grounded. The only places you're aloud to go are school, here and the Curtis'. Now stop asking or the only places you'll be aloud to go are school and here. Got it?" he said, turning back to what he was doing. I rolled my eyes, storming out the front door, heading to school. I ran into Johnny and Raelynn on the way. 

"What's wrong with you?" Rae asked, noticing the annoyance on my face. "Dallas is being unbelievably stubborn and annoying." I said, Johnny took my hand in his. "Baby, you did sneak out to a party that had drugs and alcohol. And you did get really drunk." he said, I sighed, knowing that he was right.

~~~Later That Day~~~

Steve's POV

I drove to the hospital and walked to Elena's room. She was resting when I walked in. I walked over to her and kissed her on the forehead. Elena jumped and scooted away, looking at me confused. "Elena, baby, are you okay?" I asked, she looked at me confused. "Who are you? Who's Elena?" she asked, I felt my heart break.

A/N: sorry for the cliffhanger, I got low key writer's block when I was writing Steve's POV. I'll update soon when I figure out what I wanna do with it.

~Tori