Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders

I had known Wendy since I was two years old. Mom and Ms. Thompson had been friends since grade school so it was natural that they would want to see each other. As a result, Wendy and I were often forced to play with each other. Wendy lived on the nice side of town, what we now call the Soc side. She always looked picture perfect with her brown, wavy hair and freshly pressed sun dresses. But honestly, I never really thought about her. She was just Wendy, that annoying girl that always came over with Ms. Thompson and wanted me to play dolls with her. It wasn't until I was seven years old that I actually remember liking Wendy. I'll never forget that day for as long as I live.

It was a Tuesday in mid May when I heard someone crying on the other side of the playground. I was playing on the swing set with a few of my friends and decided to investigate, she was standing with a bunch of boys and tears we're streaming down her face. She was wearing a pretty yellow sundress with white sandals and a matching bow in her hair. Her soft brown eyes were spilling over tears as she knelt next to the grass crying over a dead bug.

"Geez Wendy!" Tim said annoyed. "It was just a caterpillar! Calm down! You're gonna get me in so much trouble!"

"What happened?" I asked him and his two other friends.

"She was talking to that caterpillar like it was a person! It was weird so I squished it." he said in a nonchalant tone.

"You killed it!" she yelled in complete dismay. "How could you do such a wicked thing!"

Tim clenched his fists and came towards her, I stepped between them. "Just leave her alone Tim." I said bravely. "You've already upset her enough. Just let it be."

"Why?" he asked. "She's a freak!"

"Because her mom and my mom are friends, okay? If I don't stop you from picking on her then my mom is going to kill me!"

"Alright, Darry." Tim said after a moment of thought. "I'll leave her alone because she's your friend. But that's the only reason. She's way weird!"

Once he left I turned towards her, expecting a thank you but instead got her death stare, something I'd come to know very well as we grew up.

"I don't need your charity Darrel Curtis!" she said getting up and brushing off her dress. "Don't stick up for me just because our mothers are friends."

I felt my face got hot with anger. "I just stuck my neck out for you and you can't even say thank you? Well fine! See if I ever help you again!" I sat down on the grass and ground my teeth, annoyed. "Why do you care so much about that stupid caterpillar anyway?" I asked after a moment of silence.

She looked at me as if she had never thought about it before. We were quiet for a few minutes before she finally answered.

"Because...that caterpillar had dreams, too, just like you and me. It dreamed of becoming a beautiful yellow butterfly and being able to fly through the air, free and alive. But now, it will never have that chance."

That was the first time I knew that Wendy was something special. Who else would think of a caterpillar having dreams and wanting to preserve beauty and life like that? She was so different from anything I had ever encountered before. Even at an early age I wanted to be a part of it, I wanted to be a part of her.

"Darry! Wake up!" Soda yelled pounding on my door and interrupting my thoughts. "You're going to be late for work." I groaned and slowly got out of bed, cracking my back.

"Yeah, I'm up." I answered through the door. "I'll be down in a minute."

I quickly got dressed and went to the bathroom, then came into the kitchen and started making Pony's lunch.

"So what are you going to do about Wendy?" Soda asked as he gathered his things for work.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Meet up with her I suppose."

Soda starred at me for a moment then spoke his mind. "Darry, I'm worried about you. I know how much Wendy means to you. I just don't want you to get hurt again."

I tried to act cheerful. "Calm down, Pepsi Soda! I'll be fine! I practically forgot about her anyway." I turned away from him; we both know that was a lie.

"When is she coming again?" Soda asked after a moment.

"Saturday, I have no idea why. Her family moved to Connecticut last year so there really is no reason for her to come to Tulsa."

"Maybe she misses you." Pony said coming downstairs ready for school. I didn't dare dream.

"Come on, kid, let's get you to school." Soda said dragging him out the door, Steve honking his horn outside.

I waved goodbye to my brothers and got my things together, then locked the door and went to my car. What if Wendy did miss me? But it was impossible, I quickly concluded. She had a fantastic job in New York, lots of money, and hadn't a care in the world. To come back to him would only make her life more difficult. I tried to tell myself that if she did by chance want me back that I would resist her, but I knew I was lying to myself. I'd take her back in an instant if I had the chance. Being with Wendy was like being in constant sunshine; I was always warm and happy. I hadn't felt that way since she had left two years ago, and I doubted I would ever feel it again. Wendy was my one and only...and I had let her go.