In Sickness and In Health

Chapter 25

Steve's POV

Soda makes a plate with crackers and a broken up chocolate bar and we walk into Darry's room. I switch on the light, but stay in the doorway with Two-Bit and Pony while Soda goes in. He sets the plate down on the bedside and gently wakes Darry up. "Can you wake up for me Darry?" Soda soothes. I can see Darry grimace and the light reflects off the beads of sweat on his forehead. Darry blinks a couple times before really waking up. "Soda?" Darry croaks, but coughs and continues trying to sound better, "What is it?" "We got you a little lunch, Dar." Darry's face falls and he says, "No, Soda, please, I'm not hungry." Soda sits on the edge of the bed and explains, "Darry, you're sick and haven't eaten all day. You should have at least a little." "No, but, Soda I don't think I can keep it down," Darry pleads softly. It almost breaks my heart when I hear him say that with such vulnerability that I know he doesn't like. "Come on now, Darry, you'd be telling us to eat if we we're in your place." That gets Darry and he reluctantly sits up. Soda sets the plate on his lap and Darry picks up a piece of chocolate to eat. "Hey, guys," I whisper to Two-Bit and Pony, "let's go ahead and make lunch for us."