1I AM SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY IN UPDATING, BUT SCHOOL HAS BEEN ON OVERLOAD, AND I'VE HAD MAJOR WRITER'S BLOCK, SO I HOPE U LIKE THIS.

888

A House and Funeral?

I folded the remaining cash I had gotten after finishing the rent for mine and Randy's house. It cost 550 all together, so I paid 275. It left me with a good chunk of money left. I don't understand why Randy couldn't afford it. However I didn't care really. I think it'll be nice.

I walked up the porch steps and stepped into the house, shocked as hell to see Randy sprawled out on the couch. He looked up at me and grinned.

"You sure move fast." I said and walked over to sit down. I rested my arm on the rest carefully.

Randy chuckled, "dude I was already in Tulsa when I called, I had a feeling you'd agree."

"Oh, I see. You just assumed I'd go along with this whole thing didn't you?" I looked at him, one eyebrow raised, as Two-Bit had taught me.

"No never." he said with sarcasms dripping from his voice.

That was how I spent my afternoon. A pleasant afternoon in a long, long time. It wasn't until 5 we decided to move stuff into our house. So for the next hour me and Randy worked together bringing stuff down the street. Which was hard with me and a bad arm, and Randy with a broken leg. But we made due eventually. When we were done, we collapsed on the couch. After a few seconds of silence we looked at each other and burst out laughing. Realizing how ridiculous we probably had looked.

It was then Soda, Darry, Steve and Two-Bit came in. We both looked up and Saw Soda and Darry looking at me, with a relived, happy, expression.

Two-Bit ruffled my hair, and I promptly swatted it away.

"Gee, kid. I didn't think you still knew how to laugh. Of course with your lack of humor it's no wonder." Two-Bit said with a wide grin on his face. I smiled and as he walked by stuck my foot out. He tripped over and fell flat on his face. The entire room burst into laughter, at Two-Bits expense of course.

He got up, trying to look hurt, but off course failing, "your lucky you hurt. Cause I would have just wrestled your ass to the ground."

I looked at Randy, we both remembered our wrestling with each other, and with Rick. My smile faded, as did Randy's.

I sighed, "can we talk for a second, Soda?"

He looked worriedly at me, but of course agreed. He followed me to my room, which was empty. I opened to the door and motioned hi in. He went in and stood in the middle of the room, surprised, written on his face.

"Where's all your stuff Pony?" he looked at me, and I rubbed a hand over my face.

"Me and Randy rented a house down the street, Old Lady Widrel's Place."

He looked at me with wide, surprised, shocked eyes, "what? Why?"

I shrugged, "cause he asked, and I feel like I'm just dragging everyone down." I said quietly, Soda stopped and starred at me long and hard. Slowly he walked over, and put his hand on the back of my neck, like Dad used to.

"You're not Pony, you're the reason we're still here. Trust me you ain't bringing us down."

He then hugged me, carefully and gently. It didn't hurt, thank god. I nodded, forcing tear back.

"Yeah, well. I umm, just needed a change of scenery I guess." I looked ta him, asking him to understand. He nodded.

"So that's what you wanted?"

I shook my head, "me and randy are leaving tonight...for Austin, Texas."

Soda pinned me with a caring look, asking me why.

"Rick's funeral, is in two-days, and its about a day's drive." I explained, Soda looked concerned again but nodded.

"You want any of us to come?"

"No, I want you to know him through pictures of us when we were together, not seeing him..."

"Don't worry Pony, I understand."

I nodded my thanks and hugged him again.

After a few seconds, "how do I tell Darry?"

"YOUR WHAT?"

I cringed, and Soda looked helplessly at me, "I think Randy already told him Pone."

I nodded, and we both carefully walked into the room. There Darry stood, disbelief written on his face as he starred at Randy with a hard expression. I stepped up,

"Lay-off Darry. I agreed."

Darry looked at me, "Lay-off? Pony, you just got home from war and the hospital ,and you want to leave? What you don't think this house it good enough anymore? What is it?"

I looked at Darry, somewhat hurt, I just stood silent, thankfully Soda stood up for me.

"Darry, stop. He's 19, he's not a kid anymore. Sides it might do him some good, a change you know."

Darry shook his head, "whatever." he said and walked away. I caught his arm though,

"Me and Randy are going to Texas tonight."

His eyes got even bigger, which I thought was impossible, "what could you possible need to do there that's so important?" he said, well more spat.

I looked at my shoes, "Rick's funeral." I whispered.

I saw Darry relax, and knew he felt guilty. "Sorry Pony, I didn't mean."

"It's okay Dar, really."

I said it, but of course knew otherwise, I took a seat. Soda and randy pinned me with a look, telling me they knew I was not okay.

888- later that night

I sighed as I sat down on the swing outside. I was watching the sunset, before me and Randy left for Texas. I was lost in my thoughts when I heard the screen open up.

I turned around, and wasn't surprised to see Soda. He sat down next to me, but didn't talk for a few minutes.

"Are you gonna be okay with this?" he asked, and I shrugged.

"Ain't no walk int the park, if that's what you mean."

He huffed and smiled but looked in my eyes, " it'll get better Pony, I promise."

I sighed, everyone kept saying that, but no one really knew. Sure Randy saw it but he does no how it feels. To know your best friend died, to save you, because of you.

"I guess." was all I said. Soda put his arm on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. I smiled.

"We better get going." I said and got up. Soda nodded and followed me inside. Once me and Randy left, it was like 9:00.

On the ride over there, we talked about anything that came to mind, even talked about Rick some. The next day we arrived at a big farm. We pulled up to a large white house, draped in flowers. I shared a glance with Randy and we both got out. Randy was slower of course. We walked up the stone walk way, looking at the variety of flowers planted along the pathway. Once we got to the doorway, Randy and I stopped.

"Now or never I guess." I muttered under my breathe.

"No one knows but us Pony, it wasn't your fault."

I sighed and shook my head 'no' but I rung the doorbell anyway. We waited for about 2 minutes before the door opened and we saw two ladies. One I knew was Lora, and the other Rose. Both had red-rimmed eyes. Sure signs they had been crying.

I cleared my throat, "umm, hi Lora and Rose. I-I'm Ponyboy, and this is Randy."

Lora smiled through teary eyes. She grabbed me into a hug, which hurt a lot, ut I held in my groan. She did the same to Randy. Then to my surprise Rose threw herself onto me. Her little arm rapped around my waist. There I heard her cry, and felt the tears run through my shirt.

I crouched down, "shh, hey. I know Rick. He wouldn't want you to be sad. He'd want you to smile. He was always saying how pretty your smile was."

She looked up and sniffed, "R-R-Really?" she asked, with a hint of hope in her teary eyes.

I smiled, "of course. Me and Rick were best buddies." I said, trying hard not to let my voice crack, from grief or guilt.

Then Rose smiled, and I knew why Rick had said her smile was pretty. Her face seemed to glow with her white teeth. I carefully picked her up. Even though she was 9, she was little, and I easily held her to my uninjured side.

"Come on in." Lora said and dabbed a tissue to her eyes. I let Randy in first and then I carried Rose in. Once we all got settled, Lora told her all about how she had gotten custody of Rose. We got to know each other real well. And Rose had taken a good likening to me, and I'd be lying if I said I hadn't also. She was so much like Rick.

888-Wake

me and Randy stood in line with Rose and Lora, during the service. Everyone had tears down their faces, which didn't exclude me or Randy. It was so hard to look at the casket, even with it closed. I could still see the bullet hole in his head. I knew what it looked like, and I knew why it was there.

I felt a pull on my good arm and looked down at Rose.

"Yeah Rosey?" I used her nickname I had come up with, she smiled slightly.

"D-Did Rick hurt?" she asked in a small voice, and I heard Lora gasp, but I could tell she was wondering the same thing.

I shook my head, "No sweetie, he didn't hurt, he went peacefully." it took all I had to hold the truth from them, it was unfair to them.

She nodded her head, "good, I don't like it when Rick is hurt."

I smiled and ruffled her hair. That night when I was in my room, I cried myself to sleep. I cried for Rick, I cried for Johnny and Dally, and for my parents. I cried for me too, because I was the one to blame.

888-Funeral

the funeral was harder than the wake. The preacher spoke many good words about Rick, all of which were true. Randy and I were asked to speak about him. We both agreed. Randy had just ended his speech, and it was my turn. Taking a deep breathe I went up. I looked out at the small group of people grieving.

"Rick was a good friend. He was always there when I needed him. He knew me just as much as my family. He had a way of reading people. He could tell if you were happy, sad or just, content. He made all of us feel good. He always wanted to help. We had each others back all the time. It's so hard to believe that he's gone, but I know he's watching over all of us. He's our guardian, who'll protect us throughout our life."

I stepped down and took my seat once again. After all the speeches were said, me, Randy and 4 other guards fired off rifles. Then me and Randy folded up a flag, and I got down on my knees. I gave it to Lora. I got up and kissed her cheek,

"He loved you Lora, he wanted to marry you, never forget him ok?"

She looked up, tears making there may down her cheeks, "never."

I smiled. The next day, me and Randy were to head out. We spent time with Lora and Rose . Rosey was upset when I was getting ready to go. So I went into my bag.

"I want you to hold onto something for me Rosey. Okay?"

She looked at me, and nodded.

I pulled out my dog tags. I had two, carefully I took one off, I got a piece of string and put it on. Then I put it around her neck.

"You hold this until I see you again okay?" I asked her.

She nodded and threw her arms around my neck, which hurt but I didn't care. I hugged her back. I looked at her through the rearview mirror as we drove away, and I knew I would be back, because Rose was the person, I needed to feel like Rick is still here, because in a way, she is him.

I hope you like...:)