This chapter isn't as long as I'd like it to be, but alas, here it is.

Thank you all very much for reviewing the last one :) Keep them coming!

…

Ponyboy POV

"Here sweetie, take this."

Beatrice forces a bottle of aspirin into my hand. I look at it for a moment - thinking about how much Darry wouldn't approve - then look back to Beatrice. "Thanks." I murmur, pocketing the aspirin. I know it'll come in handy. The pain pills the hospital gave me weren't helping. Before I had left, a doctor who changed my bandages told me to expect pain; but I never could've imagined the constant throbbing I feel in my shoulder.

It's bright and early in the morning. I'm getting ready to leave. After being discharged from the hospital with strict orders to get rest, I had gone straight back to the apartment and packed my bag. I was done with Miami.

The guys are all out front of the apartment in the car; which is stuffed full and ready to go. I'm anxious to get home.

Beatrice looks over me guiltily. "I'm sorry it had to end like this for you."

She's talking like I'm dead. I give a one-shouldered shrug. "It's ok. It's not your fault."

Outside, the car horn blares. I guess Clarke wants me to hurry up. Smiling wanly, Beatrice reaches behind her and hands me my bag. "Take care honey."

I stop at the door and turn around to face her. "You too." She looks sad; all alone in her apartment once again. Maybe I'll send her a Christmas card.

…

By three that afternoon we're someplace in Georgia. Clarke has gotten out to refill the gas in the car and switch spots with Lowell, who will be driving. Smith is leaning up against the passenger door with me, fumbling around with the lock.

"What do you think your brothers will say?" he asks me with a grin. Ever since the night he took me out, we've been hanging around one another a lot more. I guess we both have something in common.

"I dunno," I shrug, being honest. "Darry sounded pretty pissed over the phone."

Smith's grin spreads wider across his face. "It'll only be better in person."

"Exactly."

We both hunch back in a comfortable silence. I can hear the scuffle inside the car as Clarke and Lowell scramble around. Lowell is switching into the driver's seat without actually getting out of the car.

There's a tap on the window we're leaning on. Smith and I both jump away to find Clarke with his face pressed up against the glass. "Get in!" he yells at us; his voice muffled inside the car.

Smith and I meet each other's eyes, then laugh. From the corner of my eye I can see that Clarke looks confused; but we're not laughing because anything is funny. We're just relieved that it's all over.

…

Next to me, Lowell is just about to doze off. Smith has the wheel and Clarke is next to him; struggling to light a cigarette. It's around 3AM and we're just arriving in Tulsa.

I have only been gone for a month but seeing everything over again makes it feel like years. I wonder about my brothers. What are they doing right now?

"Alright Curtis get out." I almost don't hear Clarke's dull, monotone voice as we pull up in front of my house. My chest starts to hammer in unison with my throbbing shoulder. Would they be awake this early?

I grab my bag shove open the door. Before heading into the house I stop by Smith's window. He looks as tired as I feel; pale with dark bags under his eyes. If he looks like this, I think. How do I look? I smile wryly at him, leaning my tired body onto my bag. "It was a fun time."

He musters up a tired grin back at me. "Let's go again next summer. Ok?"

"Ha ha." I glance back to my house, not wanting to go inside but knowing I have to. "See you."

Smith nods and guns the engine. "Bye." Then the car shoots away, rumbling down the street. The last thing I see when they turn away at the stop light is Clarke holding out his hand in a peace sign through the window. I roll my eyes.

I stumble in through the door, expecting to find the house dark and empty. But thankfully Darry's there, sitting in his chair with his newspaper. Just like the night I got drunk and then came home. I muse, comparing the two nights wryly.

My brother looks up to me. I expect him to smile or at least yell but he doesn't. He jumps up to his feet, dropping the newspaper on the chair and scooping me up in a hug. "Thank god."

I hug him back just as tight. He still smells like sawdust. "I missed you," I murmur into his shoulder, meaning it.

He pulls me back and examines me, as though I might've changed in the month I was gone. Which I realize I have. Then Darry grins full of relief. "You have no idea."

…

Phew. Ponyboy's finally out of Miami.

The next chapter will be the last!

Thanks to all for sticking with me throughout this crazy story so far. It's almost over, don't worry. ;) One more to go!

Puh-leeze review!