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Warmth enveloped Donna's body as she rested, swathed in thick blankets. Her head rested on a pillow, her hair in messy curls underneath her. She didn't know where she was. She couldn't remember. Sleep had been overtaking her, drifting in and out of consciousness. Occasionally, she would open her eyes in a flutter, examining the dark room around her. She'd stare into the darkness, collecting her thoughts, and only then did she remember that she was in the Curtis House.
She had protested against staying, but Darry had insisted. When the fever crept up much more fiercely, Donna found no strength in herself to argue. She didn't know how long she'd been here for, and it was frustrating her.
Sometime in mid-afternoon, Soda showed up. Donna could make out his DX uniform through hazy eyes. "Hiya Donnie, you feeling any better?" he asked softly, reaching her side. She heard the faint clink of something being set on the bedside table. "I got soup. It's good for you. You should eat."
She hummed a grunt. Soda leaned over, feeling her forehead with the back of his hand.
"You're still burning up bad," he frowned. Donna could hear him soaking a wet towel into a bowl of water somewhere, before wringing it and placing it right on her forehead. She sighed, the hot air escaping her mouth. That felt good.
"M'fine," she muttered, closing her eyes. "You got off work early?"
"Yeah, I got time off," Soda nodded. "Darry will be back in a few hours."
If she had in her to roll her eyes, she would have. So she just huffed. Darry was always so firm with things and made her eat when she didn't want to. He also made her take that sickly-tasting medicine that made her stomach lurch just thinking about it. "I liked y'all better when you were stuck at work," her voice drawled.
Soda laughed quietly. "Yeah, whatever you say, Donnie." He reached for her hand, uncovered by the blankets. "You know," he began again, absently rubbing circles with his thumb. "You gave us all quite a scare."
"Yeah?" Donna's eyes remained closed. "How come?"
"Well, it was all sudden like," he explained. "The least we wanted was for you to crash at your place with no one to check in on you."
"I guess," she mumbled, her mind fogging over.
"You were really out of it," he paused, taking a breath, "we don't want to lose you either, Donnie. I hope you know that."
There was no response. Donna's breath had evened, her chest rising up and down. She had fallen asleep.
A couple of hours further into the day, the sun had begun to set. Donna stirred in her sleep, opening her eyes a bit. How long had she been asleep for? It seemed all she ever did was sleep.
Rolling to her side, she tried to sit up. But even that movement alone was making her stomach act up. She squeezed her eyes shut until the room stopped spinning. Every bone in her body felt sore.
Regardless, she swung her legs over the side of the bed, and her feet met the cold floorboards. Once she stood, the room tilted violently before settling again. With a groan, she grabbed the bedpost to steady herself.
Soon she was out of the room and making her way down the stairs. Ain't no way in hell was she staying in that bedroom any longer. When she made it down, voices grew clearer.
Darry sat at the table with Ponyboy, a schoolbook spread open between them. Across the room, Soda sat on the edge of the couch with the telephone pressed between his shoulder and ear. He must've been talking to Sandy.
On the opposite end of the couch, Dally and Two-Bit were halfway through a game of cards. "You cheated!" Two-bit exclaimed.
"I ain't cheated once," Dally grinned.
Donna stepped off the last stair, the old floorboard creaking beneath her boot. Every head turned toward her, and the room went quiet. Soda was the first one to react. "Hang on a sec, Sandy." He pulled the receiver away from his mouth. "Donnie, what you doing down here?"
Darry was already pushing back in his chair. "What're you doin'?"
"Walkin'…"
"Back upstairs, c'mon."
"No," she spat. Darry stopped a few feet in front of her.
"You can barely stay on your feet."
"I dunno, seems like I'm doing a pretty good job now," she lied. She was swaying ever so slightly where she stood. Her face was flushed scarlet, her hair sticking out every which way. "Besides, I'm sick of being cooped up in that room. I'll be fine."
Without another word, she brushed past him. Darry stepped aside, watching her in case she lost her balance. She crossed the room slower than she'd intended, but eventually she dropped onto the couch with a heavy sigh.
"Sandy, I'm gonna call you back later," Soda muttered into the receiver before smiling faintly. "Yeah, alright. I'll see you Sunday."
Once he hung up, he shifted over to give Donna room, one arm draped across the back of the couch. He looked her over with concern.
"Well," Darry began, "saves me the trouble of havin' to carry supper upstairs."
Donna slowly lifted her head to look at him. "I ain't eating," she mumbled. "I come downstairs after bein' stuck in that room for… I don't even know how many days! and the first thing you talk about is food."
Darry rolled his eyes as he walked to the kitchen. "The first thing I think about," he answered evenly, "is the fact you haven't eaten since breakfast. And even then, it was half a piece of toast."
"It still counts."
"And you hadn't touched your soup this afternoon," Soda added.
Donna shot him a look and groaned, falling back against the couch cushion. "For cryin' out loud… I don't feel like eatin'. My stomach's been turning all day. Unless you'd like me to be sick all over the floor, be my guest."
"Well, you gotta eat if you plan on gettin' rid of that fever," Darry said.
For a long moment, there was silence in the room. Then she pushed herself upright. "… Y'know what? I think I oughta just head back to my place."
Soda stood up beside her. "Donna."
"I'm practically better anyway, and I've been sittin' around her long enough." She took a step toward the front door. "I appreciate it an' all, but I ain't gonna keep freeloadin' off you, folks."
She reached the middle of the living room. "I'm goin' home."
"Donna Lockwood, you better not walk out that door," Darry spoke firmly.
Donna spun on her heels, hoping to get her last words out, but she had spun too fast. The room around her lurched, and the floor seemed to slip sideways beneath her. She stumbled for a moment. A hand caught her by the upper arm before she hit the ground.
Dally had caught her, steadying her with one hand. "Sure, you're fine, Red."
Donna glared up at him. "I had that under control."
"You damn near kissed the floor."
Donna jerked her arm out of his grip. "I don't need you holdin' me up, Winston." She planted both feet squarely beneath herself. "There. I'm standin'. M'fine!" She looked between all of them.
"Yeah, barley," Dally coughed under his breath.
Donna shot him another murderous look. "You are the most annoyin' son of a b—"
"Language," Darry cut in automatically. Donna had almost forgotten that Pony was in the room.
"Aw, c'mon, I've heard worse from you and Soda," Pony added, sheepishly.
Donna sighed. "Yeah, yeah. I'm still leaving."
"Donnie," Soda spoke then. "You've got a hundred-and-three-degree fever."
"And you're too bullheaded to admit you ain't fit to leave this house."
"I am fit!" Donna snapped.
"You almost fell over…"
"I caught myself."
"Well, technically, Dal caught you," Two-Bit remarked.
Donna whipped around so fast it almost made her dizzy again. "…I oughta hit you."
Two-Bit held both hands up with a grin. "Was just statin' the obvious facts."
The room fell quiet again. Donna folded her arms tightly across her chest. Darry waited until she looked back at him. "Done?"
"No," she scowled.
"Good. Then listen—"
"I ain't five!"
"Well, you sure ain't acting like it." Darry's voice was firm and sharp. After a minute, his expression softened, just a little. "I'm not tryin' to keep you here because I like tellin' you what to do."
Donna just looked at him, then looked at the floorboards. For once in a long while, she had fallen silent. "Fine," she muttered before reclaiming her seat on the couch again.
Soon enough, she did eat. Though not as much as Darry would've liked her to do. But it would have to do tonight. By that time, Dally and Two-Bit had left. Pony had completed his homework and was now helping Soda fold the laundry. And Darry had made Donna take her medicine.
Despite her insisting she wasn't tired, she'd managed to fall asleep on the couch. Darry wondered if carrying her upstairs or leaving her here would be the best option. Eventually, he decided leaving her would be the only way they'd avoid a grumpy Donna again. Not until the next morning. At least she wouldn't complain about being stuck in that room again.