"I love you too, Ponyboy Michael Curtis." | The Outsiders Story

10

I bring a bowl and a hot towel into the room Soda and Pony share. Soda was sitting next to him, sadness in his eyes. He was rarely ever sad. It makes me sad inside to see him sad, this happy-go-lucky kid who got drunk off plain living.

I walk over to the side of the bed next to Soda, I put the towel on Pony's forehead. He looks so peaceful, so... untouched by what happened.

I sit down next to Soda and I run my fingers in a circle on his back. He doesn't look up, still fixated on his unconscious brother. I start to tear up, scared to death about Pony. What if he doesn't wake up? What if he's not okay, like he loses his memory or something? I can't stand to see Pony hurt, or even anyone of the gang in pain.

Ponyboy's eyes move under his eyelids. Can he really be awake? He opens his eyes, but only a little, the light probably hurting them.

The next conversation made me even more sad. He looks confused, like he's missing something. He asked Soda if he's sick. Soda answered yes, not daring to let Ponyboy in on the sadness that everyone else was feeling.

Pony asks if Darry was sorry he's sick. What a werid kid, I thought to myself. I almost chuckled, but I stopped myself when he saw me. He tried to smile at me, his eyes still not adjusted to the light. "Hey Sarah."

"Hey hunny." I say back. I take the rag off his forehead, and rub my hand on his forehead, over his hairline. "Shut up and go back to sleep will ya?" I say. Soda chuckles next to me as Pony closes his eyes again.

-

Pony's been awake for a day now. Soda and Darry have taken some days off from work to watch him, but I haven't. I'm trying to get back into everyday life, but the terror still hides behind my eyelids. I don't sleep. I can't sleep, not after what happened.

"... I gotta go." Darry finished. I zoned out while talking to him. It's not my fault totally, but I still feel bad.

"Yeah. Is Soda still sleeping?" I ask. After Ponyboy woke up, I found Soda and Pony sleeping in their bed. I've noticed that Soda hasn't slept also, the dark circles under his eyes became more visible as each day went on. The first night after Dally and Johnny died, Soda and I sat together on the couch. We didn't talk, and didn't sleep, but it felt nice.

"Yeah. He hasn't slept since Pony's been out."

"Yeah I know. I've noticed his eyes. You too Superman." I brought up. Superman was my nickname for Darry. He didn't like it very much, but I liked to annoy him sometimes. Brings out the kid in him that otherwise would have been lost a year ago.

He glares at me. "You gotta sleep Darry. It's not good for you." I say to him.

"Take your own advise." He says and leaves through the front door.

I walk into the kitchen, looking in the refrigerator for things I can cook for when the boys wake up. With Soda's lack of sleep, I'd figure he'd be out for the rest of the afternoon.

'No chocolate cake.' I noticed. That's a weird sight. The Curtis house always had chocolate cake. It's was part of their breakfast. I decide to make some, pulling out the ingredients. I try to be as quiet as I can, but you can't be totally silent with glassware. When I put the cake in the oven, I decided to walk in the bathroom.

It was a mistake. I see how sleep deprived I really look. I haven't really examined myself in a mirror since they died, and I think I might've scared myself if I did. My face looks gaunt and colorless. My cheeks are thin and pale. I decide to stop looking at myself, my face too much to look at.

I then notice the smell. That sweet chocolate cake smell fills the air. The aroma is pleasant, and I almost smile.

Sodapop then walks out. "Hey Soda, I thought you'd be sleepin' longer."

"Yeah I thought so too, but I can't resist chocolate cake." He rubs the back of his neck and gives his movie star smile I love so much. It makes me think of the smile Pony had on my birthday, but that seems like ages ago.

Steve then walks in, he sniffs deeply. "Mmmmm, chocolate cake." I laugh quietly as he walks in and says hello. I say hello back and he walks into the kitchen, lifting he up as he goes behind me. I giggle.

"I haven't heard you laugh in a while Sar." Soda says. Me and Steve become quiet and look at him. "It's nice."

My face becomes serious again and I stand behind the counter. Ding, the timer rung on the oven. I walk over to the one of the top cupboards to get a potholder. I stand on my tiptoes, struggling to reach them.

Steve says. "Here." He slightly pushes me out of the way and gets the potholders with ease.

"Thanks." I say, I little embarrassed.

"No problem shorty." He answers, I playfully punch him and open the oven to check the cake. When I find out it's done, I put another potholder on the counter and put the cake on it so it'll cool.

"Hey wanna go to the Dingo Soda?" Steve asks.

"Um I can't, I have to watch Pony..."

"I'll watch him." I offer.

"Are you sure?" He asks.

"Yeah. I'll be here anyways. I don't have a shift 'til tomorrow." He smiles at me. "You might wanna put on a shirt though. It's pretty cold." I joke. He scrunches his face and gets a shirt from the laundry pile Darry just finished.

Soda yells goodbye and thanks as he pulls on his shirt and the boys leave. I smile at them, I wish I had a friend like Soda had Steve. Even though Ponyboy is the best one I could ask for, a girl would be nice to talk to, ya know.

I hear a creak in the bed springs near Pony and Soda's room, so I make my way over there. I knock on the door and walk inside.

"Oh Sarah. I thought Soda was still home."

"Oh no. I just told him he could leave with Steve. They went to the Dingo. Why, what's up?"

"I wanted to change my clothes, but I'll wait 'til one of 'em get home." He explains.

"I'll help you." I offer. I look in his drawer for a pair of clean clothes. I take a pair out and set it on the bed. I didn't realize how weak Pony was, he could barely move his muscles on his own, them just barely shifting when he attempted. I maneuver his arms to get his shirt off his and a new one on. I didn't realize how hard this would be, me not being as strong as Darry or Soda. Then I realized I have to change his pants. "Okay, I'm gonna scoot you down so your laying on your back."

I move him, just like I warned him I would. The only way I could think of a way to change him was like a baby. I pull his pants off in one swift motion. 'I gotta change his underwear,' I thought. I sigh and get them off and put a new pair on.

When I finished getting his pants on, he looked a little red. Like embarrassed. "Thank you." He says.

"No problem." Awkward silence.

"I'm sorry you saw..." I chuckle, knowing what he was going to say before he finished his sentence.

"It's okay. I'll wash those clothes." I lay down next to him. "I'm so happy your awake and feeling better."

"Me too." He answered. There was a few seconds of silence. Not awkward, more of a thinking silence. "I'm so bored in this bed."

"I bet. I can't let you out though. Darry'd kill me, plus I can't carry you very far." Another silence. "Hey I'm sorry about track."

"Yeah, I'm bummed. Coach really needed me."

"Yeah. You got next year though." For the third time, silence. "Are you hungry? I just made cake."

"Starving." He answered, smiling the famous Curtis smile. I walk out to fulfill my boyfriend's wishes.