It's almost impossible to believe how much has changed in just a few years.

Being handed my high school diploma was an experience I'll never forget. Everyone was cheering in the stands for me when I walked up to the principal and shook his hand.

Darry, Sodapop, and Cherry. Especially Cherry.

My heart was beating fast and my palms were becoming sweaty; I almost panicked as I shook the principal's hand.

"Sorry, sir." I told him sheepishly.

Shy laughter came from the stands.

"It's all right, Mr. Curtis. It's perfectly a-okay! Congratulations, young man! You just graduated high school!" The diploma was thrust in the wrong hand, and the loudest claps of the night came from the crowd.

After graduation was over, we took a few quick pictures and headed to the diner for a late night dinner.

"I can't believe it, little bud! You've graduated high school!" Sodapop smacked me on the shoulder.

"I know." I replied, felling guilty about the fact that he never got to graduate; that it was my fault he didn't.

"Don't worry about it." He drank his soda, staring at Cherry and I almost silently. "So, you've got a chance to get outta here, don't you?"

"Yes." Cherry answered for me, "I wanted to stay with him, Soda. I didn't want to to head off without him."

"Where do ya' wanna go?"

We shrugged our shoulders.

"If I had the chance, I'd go to California." Cherry said, looking straight into my eyes.

I had no clue until then, but the way her eyes lit up just at the thought of it made me agree.

After our quiet dinner, Cherry and the rest of my family went to my house. It was just the same as it had been since we lost Johnny and Dallas, and it was also the same way it was when Cherry lost her once beloved Bob.

It was the only thing in Tuscaloosa that remained the same. Our hangouts and even our diner were made to fit the decade. Socs and Greasers had become hippies and smartalecs; the skirts and hair of girls became longer, and the boys snipped away their hair and shed their leather like an animal would shed it's fur coat.

We all arrived to my house late at night, and we all laid down and slept. Cherry was on the sofa, Darry was alone in his room, and Soda was with me. Our bed was small, crowded, and the only once of childhood I felt I had left with me.

"Are you really goin' to Cali?" Soda stared at the ceiling, watching the shadows from the bright moonlight.

"Yeah. But I'm not going without you. Or Darry. We're family and we've gotta stick together." I mumbled, truthfully, but half asleep.

"We said that to Two-Bit and Steve.. That didn't work out."

"Well, Steve ran away, remember? We were given no choice with Two-Bit. We'll see if they'll give him back. None of this is our fault, Soda. It's time. And time is change and time is-"

"Enough with your rambling! You're a writer even when you're asleep!" Soda crossed his arms underneath the sheets, "Ever since Cherry came back, you've changed."

I agreed. And I told him that. "But that doesn't mean I'll ever lose you. It doesn't mean I'll ever let you go. We'll track down Steve and we'll make our case for Two-Bit. He ain't insane, Soda. They think he is, but he ain't! He just loves Mickey, that's all!"

"They said he had autism and put 'im away..."

"Then they shouldn't have." I said, "I know better than that. There's loonies running around, but yet, Two-Bit's gone.. That's just wrong."

"You're right, Pony. Now, let's get some sleep. Maybe we'll go in July. And see the sunshine, huh?"

"Yeah." It was quiet for a while, and I wanted to sleep with Soda and I on good terms, so I sang one last song. "I need to laugh, and when the sun is out, I've got something I can laugh about-"

"Pony, they ain't tough!"

I chuckled and kept going, "I'm in love and it's a sunny day.."

Before I knew it, we created our own little chorus.

"Good day sunshine! Good day sunshine! Good day sunshine!"

And I swore to God, I heard Cherry laughing outside our door.