Chapter 1:

The Beach (Ponyboy)

Have you ever felt beauty? I have. Like today, I feel beauty all around me.

I'm in the back of Dally's convertible, top down, wind blowing through my hair, but not a strand falls out of place—I've got it all oiled up. The sunlight is dying slowly, melting into the sparkling sea—gosh, is that sea pretty. And I've got people I love with me to enjoy it all: Sodapop, Dally, Cherry, and Johnny. What could be more beautiful than this?

Cherry invited us to go to the beach with her. She said she wants to spend more time with me somewhere the Socs won't find us. They certainly won't be all the way out in Florida. Her family owns a house down at the beach and she thought I might want to come stay with her. Of course I said yes—how could I pass up an opportunity to go somewhere I've never been? And I would love to get closer to Cherry Valance. She's got something gold about her, and I think she's tuff. She told me I could bring some of the Greasers along. I asked all of the guys, and Soda, Dally, and Johnny were up for it. When I mentioned Dally's coming along to Cherry, she said, "Gosh, no. I don't want that grease punk anywhere near me!" But I could see in those pretty eyes that she didn't actually feel that way. She eventually gave in and let him come, but only on the condition that he didn't bother her. I knew he would probably break that rule, but I didn't tell her that.

Dally is driving, which means it has been a bit of wild ride. Cherry keeps screaming at him to slow down and he keeps ignoring her. At one point he says, "You sure are a fiery little broad," and winks at her in the rearview mirror, still neglecting to slow down.

Soda is sitting shotgun, whooping and laughing the whole ride, even when we nearly crash into an oncoming car. I am sitting in the back between Cherry and Johnny. Cherry seems tense and nervous because of Dally. Johnny seems tense and nervous because he is always tense and nervous.

I put my arm around his shoulder and say, "You can relax, Johnnycake. Ain't nobody gonna hurt you at the beach. It'll be like being out in the country—no gangs to worry about."

He smiles gently, cheeks pink.

"Okay, Pony. I'll try to relax."

Cherry looks over at us, her lips curving upward.

"You two are cute."

I blush. Feeling uncomfortable, I take my arm away from Johnny.

"Um, thanks."

"We're almost there, right, babe?" Dally asks, meeting Cherry's eyes in the rearview mirror.

"Yes," she grumbles, narrowing her eyes at him. "You need to take a left here…"

We pull up to a big blue house. All of us Greasers just gawk at it in disbelief. We've never so much as set foot in such a grand house.

Soda whistles appreciatively.

"Sure is a fancy place you got here, Cherry."

"My folks are a little extravagant," she mutters, getting out of the car.

We all grab our bags from the trunk. Shockingly, Dally takes both his and Cherry's bags. Soda cocks an eyebrow at him. I want to ask him why he's suddenly acting like some southern gentleman out of Gone with the Wind, but I don't. I'm always afraid to make fun of Dally. Cherry continues to glare at him and flattens her lips into a taut, unamused line.

As we go into the beach house, Dally holds open the door for her. She walks straight past him without a word. Dally follows promptly behind her, checking her out on the way in. He lets the door slam in my face.

We each get our own bedroom in this giant house. When Cherry tells us this, I glance over at Soda anxiously. He gives me a reassuring smile.

"It's okay, Pony," he whispers. "We can still share a bed if you want."

Soon enough, I've thrown my bag on my bed and run out the backdoor.

"Wait for me!" Johnny cries.

I hold the door open for him and let him catch up. I whip off my t-shirt, step out of my shoes, and roll up my jeans—I should probably find myself a bathing suit. It's so hot, but in the best way. I feel like I'm made of sunlight as I run across the soft sand, Johnny at my side. When we reach the ocean's edge, I stop so the water can wash up over my feet. It's cold and foamy and I've never felt water quite like it. I watch the waves roll toward us. The sun is setting, dyeing the ocean shades of red and gold.

"Wow," I say. "I don't think I've ever seen something so beautiful."

"Yeah," Johnny says quietly.

I feel his eyes on me, so I look over at him curiously.

"What is it?"

"Oh, nothing." Johnny grins. "You know, Ponyboy, you're really starting to fill out."

My face feels as red as the sun.

"I am?"

"You sure are. Who knows? Maybe you'll get to be as big as Darry."

"Oh, I don't know. I'm not much of an athlete, not like he was."

"Well, you'll look good no matter what. You already look real good."

I duck my head bashfully.

"Gee, Johnny."

Suddenly I hear Sodapop yell, "Ponyboy! Johnny!"

He is on the porch of the house waving at us. Grinning wildly, he does a somersault through the air and lands on the sand. He almost slips and falls, but he just laughs it off and comes dashing toward us. Once he reaches us he wraps the both of us up in a bear hug.

"Can you believe we're at the beach?" he cries, picking us up off the ground to swing us around.

Johnny and I can't stop laughing. When he sets us down, I take off running down the beach. My feet splash through the water and sink in the wet sand.

"Pony! Where you going?" Soda calls out.

"I just want to run!"

I breathe in the salty air deeply, steadily. I want to capture the feeling of the beach inside of me.

I realize that Johnny is running along beside me. We smile at each other. Our run lasts until after dark, but we're quiet the whole time. It's a nice kind of quiet, the kind where it feels like you're communicating with the other person without needing to talk. Johnny understands me. He knows each and every one of the dreams that race through my head. I'm sure he knows how happy I am right now, being here at the beach and being with him. He's a good friend to have.

When we get close to the house, we slow to a walk. I see Dally standing alone on the porch, smoking a weed.

"I sure hope ole Dal doesn't get too bored here," Johnny says. "I don't know why he bothered coming."

"I know why. He wants to get Cherry to go out with him."

The sentences came out sounding clipped and bitter.

Johnny glances over at me inquisitively.

"Why does that bother you?"

"I don't know," I grumble.

He lowers his eyes to the ground.

"Pony, it's okay. You can tell me if you like her."

I feel a blush creep into my face.

"I guess maybe I do."

He nods slowly, and then he says, "That's great, Pony. I hope she likes you too."

Johnny smiles at me, but in a stiff sort of way that doesn't light up his dark eyes. Then he turns away to head up to the house. I just stand there and watch my small friend disappear into the house, leaving me with nothing but confusion.