The Outsiders: Nothing Left

Chapter 7

Ponyboy's POV

      I woke up to my head throbbing. My arm felt a little stiff too but it wasn't unbearable. I pushed myself up onto my bed to stretch out. When I glanced down at my arm, my eyes went wide and I nearly screamed. There were stitches in my arm! After sitting there for a minute and trying to think of how they got there, I finally remembered that Darry gave them to me the previous night ( although I don't understand how I could forget something like that). I didn't know that he was able to do that.

       I got out of bed and made my way out of the room. As I was leaving, I turned to face the mirror and let's just say, I looked like crap. My face looked pale and my head was covered in bandages. I heaved a sigh of annoyance/disgust and then headed down the hall. When I reached the kitchen, I saw Darry leaning against the counter with a coffee in his hand. "How're you feeling?" he asked while eyeing my injuries.

    "Well, besides the thread that is sewn into my arm, and the hole in my head, I guess I feel okay," I said with a small smile. Darry smirked and set his mug down. I just now realized that he had his work clothes on so he must be leaving soon. I totally forgot that it was Monday. " I'm gonna go get ready for school," I said as I made my way out of the kitchen.

    "Yeah, I don't think so little man," he said with seriousness taking over his voice.

    "Why not?"

    "Kiddo, you look awfully sick and your injuries need time to heal," He replied as if it was obvious (which I guess it was).

    "Aw come on Dar, I feel fine," I whined. But, I really didn't feel fine. I felt terrible. I just don't want to be stuck in the house all day. I would be forced to focus on my memories and that was something that I definitely didn't want to do. It would be too painful.

    "Not gonna happen Pone," He said while shaking his head. Signaling that that was his final answer. I guess that I'm not going to school but that doesn't meant that I have to be stuck here alone. I walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. I guess that Steve and Two-Bit came in when I was talking to Darry because they were sitting with Sodapop and watching TV. I took a seat in between Sodapop and Two-Bit on the couch.

"Hey Pone. How're you doing," Two-Bit asked me. I guess that Sodapop and Darry told him about what happened.

"I'm fine," I replied. Two-Bit tried to annoy me by poking at my bandages so I smacked his hand away. Sodapop laughed and I smiled at him.

"The kid looks like he got hit by a car," I heard Steve mumble. I guess Soda heard him too because he was quick to respond.

"Steve, maybe someone should hit you with a car," Soda said jokingly. Steve jumped out of his chair and tackled Sodapop to the floor. They began wrestling and hitting the coffee table and almost knocking down a book shelf while Two-Bit and I just watched in amusement.

"So Two-Bit, 'wanna skip school today? I'm stuck at home and I want someone to hang out with," I asked Two-Bit over the occasional shouts from Steve and Soda to surrender.

"Sure thing kid. And may I just say that I am mighty honored that you would want to spend your day with me," he says while sniffling and wiping away fake tears.

"Yeah, 'cause you were the only one that doesn't have a job besides me and you're slightly more tolerable than Steve." I said while rolling my eyes.

"But, Steve has a job,"

"Yeah but he only works half a day so I could've asked him. So, be grateful," I replied calmly. Two-Bit laughed in return. I was only doing this to try to act normal. I would never in a million years ask Steve to hang out with me. Since he already doesn't like me, he would try to avoid as much interaction and activity with me as possible. At least when I'm with Two-Bit, he tries to make me laugh.

I put my attention back on Soda and Steve who had apparently ended their fight and were getting ready to leave.  Darry had come out of the kitchen and was about to head out too. "See ya later Pony," I heard Soda say as he stepped outside with Steve and Darry.

"Bye," I said with a small wave.

"Ponyboy, come here I 'wanna talk to you for a sec," I heard Darry say from out on the porch. I sighed and made my way outside. Darry was leaning against the side of the wall with his arms crossed.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked casually. I already had a pretty good idea of what he wanted to say but I was hoping that I was wrong.

" I wanted to know how you got beat up like that. Were you jumped? The wound on your arm looked like it was from a knife so that was my best guess," Darry finished. Dammit, I was right. Well, half right. I didn't respond to him and I just looked down at my shoes. I felt too embarrassed to tell Darry the truth. I guess that I just wanted to forget my dream and I thought that hitting my head would solve that. It sounds stupid now that I think about it but I felt like I deserved the pain. What if what I dreamed was true? Maybe the gang kept this a secret from me so they can spare my feelings. Maybe I created a story in my mind to try to convince myself that I was innocent. That's not possible....right?

"Look Pony, you may not want to talk now, but when I get home, the three of us are going to sit down and you need to tell me what happened. Understand?" He asked sternly. I nodded solemnly but I still refused to look at him. Darry sighed and stood up straight. "I heard that you would be with Two-Bit today so if you go out, then you stay close to him. If you start to feel sick then make sure you get some rest, ya hear?" He said. I nodded again. Darry nodded to himself with approval and headed to the truck to head to work with Steve and Sodapop. Great. This is just what I need.

A/N
Hello my lovelies!! I'm sorry that I took forever to update. I was on vacation recently and I was also working on another Outsiders story. But it's done now so hopefully I can stop being a couch potato and actually update sooner. Thanks for being patient and for putting up with my crap! Stay gold!! 😊❤️