Left Behind

Chapter Eight

When I woke up I was in my bed, my eyes were heavy. I looked and Darry was sitting over me. 

"Darry?" I asked sleepily, what was up with my voice I sounded like a chain smoker. 

"Yeah, it's me." he answered patting my hand, "Go back to sleep now." he said.

"Darry, I'm sorry." I croaked my eyes getting heavier, he looked down at me.

"No, don't be sorry, I'm the one who should be sorry." he whispered "Now please, go back to sleep, honey." I closed my eyes, and I fell fast asleep.

It was night when I woke up next. My room was dark and the moon outside my window was bright. I rolled over in my bed, the throbbing pain in my head was gone. I sat up, my stomach rumbled, I was starving. I got up out of bed and slowly walked out of my room. When I came out of my room into the living room I saw my brothers all sitting on the couch together watching a baseball game, they hated baseball.

"Hi guys." I said, my voice was still really messed up. They all looked right at me,

"How are you feeling?" Pony asked, I shrugged

"Okay, I guess." I croaked, "I'm really hungry though." Darry got up from the couch,

"What is I make you chocolate chip pancakes, your favorite?" he asked, I smiled 

"Yes please" I answered, Darry went off into the kitchen and I went and sat in between Soda and Pony on the couch. I leaned my head on Soda's shoulder, I was still a little sleepy. 

"You okay Mar-Bear?" Soda asked, I nodded,

"What happened that day, the day the Soc cut me?" I said rubbing my cheek that was covered with a bandage. 

"Pony was walking home and he heard you scream." Soda said "If it weren't for him, you could have ended up a lot worse." Soda whispered. I turned to Pony,

"You saved me?" I asked

"Not really, I mean kinda, well you're my sister...its my job." he said blushing, I threw my arms around him, this was the first time in a long time we had hugged.

"Thank you Ponyboy." I said, he hugged me back,

"No problem little sis." he muttered releasing me. I turned my attention to the television, the Yankees were kicking butt. I yawned and stretched,

"How are you still tired?" Soda asked playfully,

"I don't know." I mumbled

"Well you have been out since Saturday morning and its Monday night." He called from the kitchen. I stood up quickly,

"The dance!" I said "I told Zach I would go with him, and now..." I started to cry and Soda wrapped his arms around me and lifted me up bringing me into my room. He placed me on my bed, I buried my face in his chest,

"Shh, Mary" Soda said rubbing my back, "it's okay, Zach was just happy that you were okay. There will be other dances, please don't cry." I couldn't stop crying, what was wrong with me? My head started to pound again, and my vision got all blurry,

"Soda," I mumbled "my head hurts." Soda yelled for Darry and ran in.

"What's wrong, honey?" Darry said holding my hand.

"My head hurts and my eyes are all blurry." I mumbled, Darry sighed,

"The doctor said this would happen, you have a concussion Mar." Darry said. I was puzzled,

"What?" I asked more tears slipping down my face, I felt a new pair of arms on me, Ponyboy.

"I saw it happen," Pony whispered "When they saw us running for you they dropped you, on your head. Darry carried you all the way to the hospital." he added in, I shook my head trying to clear out the bad memories but all it did was make the sharp pain grow. I groaned,

"Go back to sleep Mary." Pony whispered, and I did. 

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"Mom?" I walked out of my room into the kitchen and my mother was at the stove making breakfast. She turned to look at me, she smiled tipping her head to look at me like she always did. 

"Good morning Mar-Bear" she sang, she was the one who gave me that name. When she died Soda thought calling me it would help, I guess it did. I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her, she hugged me back. I breathed in the smell of the kitchen, pancakes. I looked up at her,

"I miss you mom." I whispered, she shushed me.

"Well I'm not going anywhere." She said smiling, I smiled back. "I love you Mary" She said,

"I love you too mom." I said, just as I said that I heard a train. I looked out the window, it was coming right for the house! I ran over to my mother, "we have to move, a train is coming!" I screamed as the front end of the train broke through our house, I looked up at my mother, her eyes were all glassed over and she held out one hand. 

"Mary?" she whispered, looking at me and then the train. She pushed me square in the chest, I flew backwards. I got up just in time to see my mother look at me with sad eyes, then the train hit her.

"No!" I screamed running towards the train, The force from the train blew me back. "COME BACK!" I screamed over the roaring train.

.......................................................

Somebody was shaking me,

"Mary! Mary wake up! Your dreaming!" the voice called, my eyes opened slowly, Ponyboy was standing over me in his pajamas. "You were dreaming." he said looking down at me, his voice concerned. 

"Pony, I dreamed about the train." I whispered, I didn't want to wake Darry or Soda up. 

"Was it bad?" Pony asked sitting on the end of my bed. I nodded,

"She said that she wasn't going anywhere and that she loved me. But when the train came, she just stood there and let it hit her." I looked at him, "Pony, I miss mom." I said as I started to cry. Pony scooted closer to me and held me just like Soda dose. 

"I know, I miss her too." he said soothingly, "But you know Mary, maybe the reason mom said she wasn't going anywhere is because she is in heaven." I looked at him,

"But why would she rather be there than with us?" I whispered confused,

"Well," Pony said "she probably watches us from way up there. And she see's you and me fighting, and then she sees Darry or Soda come and tell us to stop. She sees that we can all take care of each other."

"Like right now." I whimpered

"Yes," Pony whispered "like right now." We both fell asleep soon after that, my head resting on Pony's shoulder. I felt safe, and I didn't have any more bad dreams. 

THE END

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Hi guys! I'm sorry to end the story. I know how pissed off I get when stories end. I wrote this story when I was very young so it is far from the best. If you're wondering why Zach never made an appearance at the end it's because his and Mary's relationship wasn't that serious yet. The story was more about Mary and Ponyboy and the rest of her brothers. Thank you for reading, maybe a sequel. Give me feedback or this may be the end. Love you all.

Update: Please check out my new book, Lily's Diamonds. It isn't an Outsiders fic, but I would really appreciate the support. Currently working on a SEQUEL for Left Behind and I would love any suggestions, so please stay tuned. 

- Mae