~1 Week Later~

-Carla's POV-

I stood at the airport gate with my bags all ready and packed about to leave to go back to New York. I was completely healed from my disaster at the party which was good. I looked at my family and the gang. Ponyboy was crying again, Sodapop looked like he was going to cry, Two-Bit wasn't making any jokes, Mom was crying, Dad was solemn and picking at his hands and Steve and Dally were tearing up the floor pacing back and forth.

"Delta Airlines Flight 204 heading for New York, New York we are going to begin boarding first class passengers now"

I stood up and looked at my family. This was the hardest part of everything. I didn't want to leave them and I almost didn't at all from the beginning but when I told them I made the company they all told me that I was crazy if I didn't accept it. So I did.

I walked up to Darry first.

"See ya later Dar. Make those boys work hard" I said making him smile. He was in the middle of football season right now and of course he was the quarterback. Darry was an amazing quarterback so he was the first freshman to actually become one of the captains.

I then turned to Sodapop who was trying not to cry. We had this big heart to heart during the week...

Flashback

I was sitting on my bed reading a book when I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in" I said as I looked up to see a sad looking Sodapop.

"Hey Soda what's wrong"

He looked at me for a second. I could tell something was really bothering him so I moved over and patted the spot next to me on my bed gesturing for him to sit down. He then came over and curled next to me.

"Now what's on your mind Soda"

"I need to ask you how you did so well in school" He said looking at me with those big eyes.

"What do you mean?" I said confused.

"I mean how did you get straight A's all through high school" He said more quietly this time

"I worked hard" I said looking at him dead in the eye.

"That's it?"

"Ya that's it" I said. "You don't have to be smart. You just have to be willing to put the time in until you get it right" I said smiling at him

He smiled back and I could tell he relaxed a bit. I saw him smoking earlier. He only smoked when he's upset or nervous about something.

"Why the interest in how I got straight A's in high school" I asked

"Because. I want good grades too. Mom and Dad always talk about how proud they are of you and Darry but I can't do anything so they never say they're proud of me" He said starting to sniffle.

I hugged him "Soda mom and dad are proud of you. You know your way around a car better than anyone in these parts" I said smiling.

"Ya I guess but I just feel dumb. All you guys are so smart. Darry's in college on the football team, you graduated early as valedictorian and now you're dancing in New York and Ponyboy is in track and also really smart. I just feel dumb. I work on cars and almost fail all my classes" He said starting to cry.

I held him tight.

"Soda" I said touching his face so he could look me in the eye "Nothing I learned came easy to me. I had to study so late and hard to be able to get an A on one test. You have to be willing to work hard for what you want. I wanted to dance so I sacrificed my time and energy to dance after school till 8 in the evening and then do homework after that. Sometimes I would stay up all night and get extra shots in my coffee to make up for it. It's not easy but you don't need to be Albert Einstein".

He smiled and hugged me

"Look I can teach you some of the things that helped me when I was in school" I continued.

He nodded.

"Ok. Don't stress Soda. If you want something you go after it. How else do you think I got to where I am today? I worked my butt off every single day because I wanted something. You can have anything you want, you just have to be willing to make sacrifices and work for it"

"Ok thanks Carla" He said hugging me and then leaving the room to head off to bed.

I smiled at the thought as I hugged Soda.

"Remember what we talked about and what I showed you" I said. He nodded and smiled

"Thanks Carla" He said kissing my cheek and hugging me one more time.

I turned to Ponyboy.

"Aw Pony please don't cry so much" I said slightly frustrated. I swear that boy is always crying over me. I pulled him into a hug

"I'll miss you Carla"

"I'll miss you too Pon" He said stroking his hair "But i'll be back at latest Thanksgiving ok? That's just a couple weeks away ok?"

"Ok"

I then turned to Two-Bit who gave me a big long hug and Steve who kissed my cheek and gave me a hug. I then turned to Dallas who had his hands shoved in his pockets.

"Thanks Dal. For everything" I said.

He looked down at me. The next thing I know he pulls me into a hug. I was in complete shock. Dallas never hugs anyone. After about 30 seconds or so, he let go of me

I looked in his eyes. He had this new fire in his eyes that I'd never seen before. Like some kind of lust or something.

"Alright all other passengers for Delta flight 204 for New York can now board" The intercom said.

I went and hugged mom and dad and quickly grabbed my purse and carry on bag and started to stand at the back of the line.

I was about to step into the gate when i heard someone yell my name. I turned to see Tim, Curly and Angela screaming my name and running towards me. Angela barreled into me first and we hugged. I then hugged Curly and then looked at Tim.

"Tim thank you so much for what you did. i'll never forget. Thank you" I said as I gave him a hug. At first he tensed because he didn't like hugs but he relaxed and wrapped his hands around my waist. I pulled away but he didn't let go of me. I looked down at his hands still around my waist.

"Damn girl you are thin" He said looking down at his hands too.

I looked up at him and smiled. God those eyes were amazing. I hugged him one more time inhaling the scent of cigarettes and cologne. I turned around and looked at my family. I waved to everyone one last time, stepped on the ramp and then started to descend to the plane.

"Carla"

I turned to see Tim calling my name one more time. I looked at him. He mouthed something but I couldn't quite tell but I think it was 'I love you'. I looked at him puzzled.

"We'll talk about it later" He called out to me

I nodded. I then turned around and went to get on the plane.

-Tim's POV-

Angela, Curly and I were speeding in the car racing to get to the airport to see Carla before she left. We almost blanked that her flight was today. We arrived at the airport and ran inside. We looked at the big screen and found her flight and her gate. We then barreled through the airport until we got to the gate. I then saw her. Her long brown hair and perfect body. She was about to step onto the ramp when we started calling out her name. She turned around and smiled. Angela gave her a hug first, then Curly.

"Tim thank you so much for what you did. I'll never forget. Thank you" She said softly smiling at me. She then pulled me into a hug. I tensed at first because I didn't like hugs but I relaxed and wrapped my hands around her waist. She smelled so good. I could tell she was wearing perfume. It was light and breezy and suited her well. I then felt her pulling away but I didn't want to let her go. I kept my hands around her waist. We both looked down at what was happening. She was so thin. My hands could almost wrap around her waist completely.

"Damn you're thin" I said to her. I mean my hands are big but still she was a twig yet she still glowed everywhere she goes. She was a healthy skinny person.

She hugged me one more time then started to walk towards the ramp. She turned around looking at everyone including me. She looked like she was in pain but I knew this was the hardest part for her. She waved one last time to everyone and she stepped onto the ramp. I suddenly felt an urge to tell her I loved her. That I needed her in my life.

"Carla" I yelled out to her.

She turned around again. I mouthed 'I love you' to her but she looked at me a little confused but i'm pretty sure she knew what I said.

"We'll talk about it later" I said to her out loud.

She nodded, turned around took a couple more steps turning a corner in the ramp and just like that she was gone.

Angela and Curly came up to me

"What did you say to her" Curly asked obviously curious

"Nothing to concern you with" I growled back. I looked at Angela and I could tell she knew. Angela knew everything. That girl is psychic. We then walked back to our car with Loraine, Tom and the gang and we all headed home.