Chapter Text
Ponyboy knew he was in trouble the second he hit the ground.
For a few seconds, he didn’t move.
He just stared at the pavement, trying to remember how he’d gotten there.
His breathing was uneven, and his whole body felt strangely distant.
“Get up,” he whispered to himself.
Nothing.
He pushed himself onto one elbow.
A sharp wave of pain forced him to stop.
Ponyboy squeezed his eyes shut.
“Okay.”
He took a breath.
“Okay. Just… give it a minute.”
He could hear voices somewhere behind him.
That was enough.
He forced himself upright.
Nobody could see him like this.
Especially not Darry.
Darry would ask questions.
Soda would worry.
Johnny would probably look at him like he was about to fall apart.
And Ponyboy absolutely wasn’t about to fall apart.
He got to his feet.
For a moment, everything tilted.
He grabbed the nearest fence and waited for the world to straighten itself out.
“Come on…”
His voice sounded small.
He stayed there until he was sure he could walk.
Then he started home.
⸻
By the time Ponyboy reached the neighborhood, he had convinced himself he was fine.
Mostly.
He kept one hand shoved into his pocket so nobody would notice it shaking.
He walked slower than usual.
That was okay.
He could explain that.
He’d been tired.
Simple.
Easy.
Nobody had to know.
The house came into view.
Ponyboy stopped.
Lights were on.
Darry was home.
Soda probably was too.
For one second, Ponyboy considered turning around.
Instead, he took a breath and opened the door.
“Hey, Pony.”
Soda’s voice came from the living room.
Ponyboy froze.
“Hey.”
Soda looked over the back of the couch.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Too fast.
Soda frowned.
Ponyboy forced a smile.
“Just tired.”
“Where were you?”
“Out.”
“Pony.”
“I’ll tell you later.”
He started toward the hallway.
“Hold up.”
Ponyboy stopped.
Soda stood up.
“You look pale.”
“I’m fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
Soda studied him for another second.
Then he nodded.
“Okay.”
Ponyboy disappeared down the hallway before Soda could change his mind.
He shut the bedroom door behind him.
Finally.
Alone.
He leaned against the door.
His legs immediately started shaking.
Ponyboy slowly slid down until he was sitting on the floor.
He stared at his hands.
They wouldn’t stop trembling.
“Nobody knows,” he whispered.
That was good.
That meant everything was fine.
Right?
He tried to stand.
His knees buckled.
Ponyboy caught himself against the bed.
His vision blurred.
“No.”
He blinked rapidly.
“Not now.”
He reached for the bedpost.
Missed.
The room seemed to tilt sideways.
Ponyboy took one unsteady step.
Then another.
He barely made it to the edge of the bed before his strength disappeared completely.
His knees gave out.
The last thing he saw was the bedroom floor rushing toward him.
Then everything went black.