Ponyboy POV

"Pony, Ponyboy you better be getting up 'fore Darry comes in here." Soda says trying to shake me awake.

"Uhh.. Soda go away. I don't feel good." I felt awful. My head was pounding and I felt nauseas. I wasn't feeling good last night either, Darry made my favorite, baked chicken, but I wasn't hungry and I felt like I was going to be sick. Now I have stomach cramps and I feel cold.

"You sick or somethin'?" Soda puts the back of his hand on my forehead, and jumps back.

"Wow! You're burnin' up Pone. Hold on let me go get Darry."

"No, Soda wait…" but he's already gone. Oh great, I love Darry and all, but he is the last person I want taking care of me if I have to stay home today. He knows how to take care of anything, fever, cold, flu, but he is really rough when he tries to be gentle. I remember when I was 7 and Darry was 14 mom told him to take my temp, but I was sleeping so he didn't want to wake me up. He shoved the thermometer into my mouth really quick like hoping I wouldn't notice. I did. He shoved it too far in my mouth and I ended up choking on it. Darry hasn't taken care of me sense.

He and Soda come into the room and I close my eyes. "You feeling' sick, Ponyboy?" he asks in a disbelieving tone. He puts the back of his hand on my forehead, cheeks, and the sides of my neck. He frowns and turns to Soda.

"Go get the thermometer in the medicine cabinet, Soda." Soda leaves to get it.

"Were you feeling sick last night, Pone?" he asks in a soft tone now

"Kinda" I say

"Anything else feel bad?" he asks as Soda comes back in

I couldn't answer him cause just then my stomach gave a lurch and I guess I looked as bad as I felt because Darry grabbed the waste basket and held it up to my mouth right before I emptied my stomach into it. When I finished I moaned and I tried to lay back down but Darry held me up. I moaned again.

"Sorry, Pony, but I need to check your temperature. Come on sit up" Darry holds me up and puts the thermometer in my mouth. "Soda go get him a glass of water to rinse his mouth out." "Kay, Dare. Be right back Pony." He assures me

"Well Ponyboy looks like you and me get to spend some quality time together." Darry jokes. Soda comes back into the room with the water and holds it up to my mouth. I sip on it and spit it back out so I don't get sick again but I can get the taste of puke out of my mouth. "Pone you didn't get to answer my question" Darry presses "Where else do you feel sick" "My head and I have stomach cramps." I say just wanting to sleep "Alright go back to sleep, I'll wake you up to check your fever this time." He smiles

I put my head back on the pillow and listen to Darry and Soda talk about something I cant hear. My head ache and my stomach cramps get worse and I feel more and more tired. I think I hear Soda calling my name but I'm too tired to answer.