I woke up feeling terrible. My head hurt, my throat was sore, I was freezing, everything seemed wrong. I kept on and on coughing. Throwing up was what I felt was coming next.

"Are you alright, Johnnycake? You don't look so good." I heard Ponyboy when I looked up.

"No, I'm fine. I'm seeing Torie today, and that's final." I disagreed. Then I coughed again which sounded and felt like I was gonna throw up.

"You're not gonna go to school today. I mean, look in the mirror. You look terrible!" he protested.

I gaged. "I'm fine."

Ponyboy walked out of the room, then came back with a trash can. "You're gonna need this."

"I'm fine, Pon--" then I started to throw up.

"Johnnycake, you're definitely NOT gonna go to school today." he stated, shaking his head.

"Sick huh, Johnnycake?" Sodapop came into the living room with a look of sorry. "Can't see Torie today, huh?"

"Don't remind me." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Do you work today?" Ponyboy asked Soda.

"Ah, no, I'm off."

"Good. Now you can stay with Johnny. So bye, school today." Ponyboy waved, then he stopped. "Maybe I can pick up Torie."

I tried hitting him on the arm, but he got away.

"Need another trash can, Johnnycake?" Soda asked me.

"I don't care..." I groaned.

"Hey, maybe Torie'll visit you after school? Ya never know." he smiled.

"Yea, I guess..." I sighed, really wishing I could go to school today. That's weird. Me wanting to go to school? Wow.

"Oh Golly." I groaned.

"What's wrong?" Soda asked, tilting his head.

"It stinks." I held my nose, which made me sound funny.

Soda laughed, and I threw up again. I spit after.

"It's gross." I complained in a groan.

"Hey, one second." Soda said, walking into the kitchen, then bringing a tiny cup of pepto bismol. The stuff I always hated.

"Here." he handed me the cup. I groaned. "Stop pagganap like that, Johnnycake." I gulped the medicine down, leaving a disgusted look on my face. Sodapop laughed at that. I glared. I started to gag again. "Now don't throw that up!"

At that, I threw it up. Sodapop sighed.

"It ain't my fault." I growled.

"I know, I know." Sodapop chuckled softly. "Wait." he placed his hand on my forehead. "You're burning up."

"Oh good glory." I groaned, now knowing why I'm freezing to death.

"Are you cold?" I could hear his voice from in the kitchen.

"Yea." I answered, placing the trash can full of vomit down on the floor and brought the blanket up around me. I started shivering more.

Sodapop brought me the thermometer, and I stuffed it under my tongue. When it was thirty segundos later, I looked at it and it went up to 101.2. I groaned again.

"Stop your groaning. Geez, Johnnycake." Soda chuckled slightly. "What does it say?"

"101.2." I answered.

"Do you still think you're gonna throw up?"

"Naw."

"Then lay down. Sleeping makes it better."

~~**~~

"Johnnycake, wake up!" I heard Ponyboy's voice waking me up.

I sat up and stretched. "Did you bring Torie?"

"Yeah."

"Where is she then?"

"She left."

I gave him the 'Well, why didn't you tell me in the first place' look.

"Why'd you wake me up while she was here?"

"Because she was combing your hair with her fingers and she was talking about you."

I smiled widely. "What did she say?"

"Oh God, she sinabi alotta good things about you. The things you've been dying to hear."

"Like what?"

"Like how gorgeous, how smart you are. How she loves your gorgeous, beautiful black eyes. How she loves how you have the grease in your hair. She just loves that crooked smile of yours. Johnnycake, she loves everything about you." Ponyboy repeated her words.

"Yeah right, Pone. You're just trying to make me feel better." I shook my head.

"I'm not! Didn't she, guys?" parang buriko asked, I looked at Soda, Two-Bit, and Steve.

"She did." Soda smiled.

"Really?" All of them nodded their heads. "I need to go over there." I said, getting up and trying to run for the door. But they all took me sa pamamagitan ng my arms.

"You're sick. Maybe tomorrow." Two-Bit told me.

I groaned.

"Now Johnnycake, you want to eat?" Ponyboy asked me.

"I can't. I've thrown up too much." I answered.

So I laid down and fell back to sleep.

~~**~~

I woke up in the middle of the night, needing to throw up again. I made a loud noise because of it. Ponyboy and Sodapop ran into the room.

"Still sick, huh?" Sodapop winced.

"But I've gotta see Torie tomorrow, I--"

"Actually, it's Thursday. It's 2:00 in the morning." he corrected me.

"Smart ass?" I named him.

"I'm not sure you'll be able to see her today..." Ponyboy shrugged with a sorry look.

"But I'e gotta ask her about what you all said!" I whined.

"She'll come at the end of school. I'll be sure to wake you up, Johnnycake." Ponyboy promised.

"Fine." I laid back down, covered myself in the blanket, and fell back to sleep.