*I don't own The Outsiders.

Darry's best buddy is Leslie Welker. It took a while, but Dar realizes he's in love with her. He realized too late. She's being sent off to 'Nam. Will she be the same when she returns? What horrors plague her? How will she prove to her father she's a hero? Does she feel the same towards Darry?

(DPOV)

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Prologue

My heart throbbed in my chest. Out of everyone I knew I never thought I'd be seeing my best buddy off to war, Leslie Welker. She's been my friend since the playgrounds, literally. I'd fallen and she came and picked me up. It's been like that ever since.

Her dark crazy curls bounced as she took a step closer, her fathomless blue eyes shined with tears. I watched as they dripped down her long lashes and landed on her pink cheek, I reached up and wiped them away.

Leslie had left Tulsa for Texas where her Mom lived in Fort Sam Houston. She went to train at Brooke General Hospital to become a nurse. Like with anything, she finished with flying colors.

I hadn't realized how much it would hurt to say goodbye, the lonely sting I felt every day. It'd hit me hard, that's when I realized I loved her. I always knew I loved Les, we've been together forever, but we've never been together, if you catch my drift.

Now here I stood, waiting for her plane to Vietnam; where she would excel in nursing in order to make her military driven father happy. I felt like I was going to throw up every time I thought about her there, seeing men mangled and dying. Watching them wither away, hearing their final words.

She had a large heart, one that cared for everything and she wore on her sleeve. I doubted she'd come back the same girl in front of me, just like most soldiers came home changed by their experiences.

It scared the living shit out of me. I needed her to be happy, yet what could I say now? Just blurt out I love you before she heads out on that plane? I couldn't do that to her. I can't do that to myself. I'd spent the last year with her away, with weekend visits and many phone calls. This time there wouldn't be weekends or phone calls.

Tears sprang in my eyes and my heart wrenched at the thought.

"You be careful, you hear me?" I tried to keep my voice strong and steady, I failed miserably.

"Of course. Don't worry, Dar, I ain't the one on the field. I'm just the one who patches them up and is gonna try to lend a hand," she continued to sniffle, reached a palm up to me cheek. It was a stretch for her at a small five feet, two inches and me being over six feet.

I scooped her into my arms and held her tight. I memorized her scent for one last time, people were already boarding.

Without another word, she turned and walked over to the flight attendant, showing her paperwork to get on the plane. Leslie turned and smiled weakly, tears running freely. She was scared but would never admit it. She waved.

I smiled a little and returned the wave.

With my heart officially torn out, I headed home, praying to God the girl with my heart comes back to me.

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