Little Miss Winston

Chapter 10: Hero

  I awoke in my big brothers arms on the couch, I slowly fluttered open my eyes and brushed back his hair from his face.  "Morning Dally."  I said and laid my head back on his shoulder.  "Morning Lela, how was your date?"  He asked smirking.  "Really nice."  I said sighing happily.  "He didn't pull anything did he?"  He asked cracking his knuckles.  "Of course not!  Soda would never take advantage of me like that!"  I said.  "Alright...but if he ever does-"  "I know the drill Dallas."  I huffed as I climbed off his lap and walked outside.  "Morning beautiful."  Soda said and wrapped his arms around my waist.  "Hey Soda."  I said smiling at him.  "Can I have a ride home?  I need to get dressed and then I'll come back over here."  I said.  "Okay!  I have the Mustang here for another hour."  He said cockily.  I jumped into the drivers seat and let the engine roar.  "How you doing, baby?"  I asked in my most Soc like imitation.  "They better not talk like that to my girl!"  Soda laughed as he hopped in the passengers seat of the car. "Whoo hoo!" I shouted and took off down the road.  I pulled up to my apartment and gave Soda a kiss on the cheek before waking inside, "Hey Lela, I'll just wait for you to get dressed okay?"  Soda asked.  "Aw thanks Pepsi!  I'll be right back."  I said.  I ran into my apartment and got dressed. I grabbed a yellow sweater, a black skirt, and some black wedges. I did a small beehive with my hair and ran back outside. "Hey I wanna drive again!" I said laughing. "No way!" Soda said smiling at me. "Fine." I pouted and hopped in the passengers seat. "Your cute when your mad." Soda teased. I stuck my tongue out at him, "Eyes on the road hot shot." I said coolly. He started back towards his house when suddenly we noticed some Socs beating up...PonyBoy and Johnny?! "Soda!" "I see them Lela stay calm." "I-I can't!" I yelped. Soda slammed on the breaks. I jumped out of my seat not listening to him yelling to stop. I jumped onto the Socs back and tackled him to the ground. "Lela?!" PonyBoy and Johnny said in unison. Soda ran up and started to beat up the other Soc. I slammed the Socs head into the ground when he suddenly punched me in the side of the head. "Lela!" Soda shouted and tackled the Soc down to the ground again. PonyBoy was knocked out and Johnny sat there shaking. That Soc had hit me right in my temple and I was struggling to not black out. The drowsiness overcame me and my head hit the concrete. All I could see was darkness, I could hear people yelling.  I tried to open my eyes and tell them I'd be okay!  But there was no way I could open my eyes.  "Lela, I don't know if you can hear me still...But it's Soda, I love you more than anything in the world."  He said taking my small fragile hand in his rough callused one.  "If your alive...squeeze my hand."  I gently squeezed his hand and slowly opened my eyes.  He sat there staring at me, his face was pale and his eyes were puffy like he'd been crying.  I glanced around the room and saw that the whole gang was watching me.  "What?"  I asked shifting uncomfortably on the bed.  "Your...alive."  Darry said.  "Of course I am."  I said slowly.  The whole gang (including Soda) gave me a big hug.  "What happened?"  I asked puzzled.  "Some Socs were beating PonyBoy and I up...you and Soda saved us, but one of the Socs hit you really hard on the head."  Johnny said as he swallowed back sobs.  Soda on the other hand didn't even try and broke down right there.  "Lela I thought I lost you."  He said as he buried his face in my neck.  "Don't be putting moves on my sister, Soda."  Dallas said attempting to lighten the mood. "Shhh it's okay now Soda." I said stoking his hair. I looked up at the gang, "Do I look...bad?" I asked. Darry handed me a mirror, I gasped I had a huge bruise on my forehead. "Wow...it doesn't hurt that bad." I said my voice suddenly hoarse. "Well, that's good." Darry said holding my hand. "How long was I out?" I asked. "T-three days." Pony stammered. "Three longest days of my life." Dallas mumbled. The rest of gang nodded in agreement. "I'm okay now." I said smiling at them. "I'm gonna kill those Socs for ever touching my lil sister!" Dallas turned to run out but Darry grabbed his shoulder in a firm grip. "Dal... I need you." I said. He walked next to my bed and kneeled down. He brushed my hair out of my face and kissed my forehead. I smiled at him, "I'm sorry, Lela." He said and ran out the door to find those Socs. I sighed and whispered, "It's okay." "The doc says he'll let you come home if you feel well enough, do you?" Soda asked his blue eyes wide. "Yes." I said kissing his nose. He grinned like crazy and Darry picked me up knowing Soda was to happy I was coming home to walk straight. I laid my head on Darry's shoulder, I felt really small in his muscled arms. Darry looked down at me to make sure I was alright, I smiled and he kept walking. We went outside and all piled into the ford, I was in between Soda and Pony. "I'm glad your okay...your my hero."  Pony said holding my hand. I gave him a smile and squeezed his hand. Soda kissed my cheek and I nuzzled into his flannel shirt.  It felt nice to to be a hero.