It was now September 5. Only 5 days left for me here in Tulsa. And right now I was with my girl at the old school rock dance. She was moving her feet like nobody's business, keeping me on my toes; literally, she was gonna step on em. "Ariela, can I get a drink?" I shouted over Gloria. "Yeah, sure," She said, walking over to the table Sodapop and Snady were at with Darry sitting there. "Dallas, I'm getting a drink. Wanna come with me?" He looked up from his making out with Sylvia and nodded. "C'mon, Dal!" I said. He ran over to me and walked with me to the bar. "What can I get you boys?" "Just a water," I panted. "Gimme a Budweiser, will ya?" "Are you 21?" "Do I look like I'm 21? Just gimme the beer, uptight. Get the boy his water," Dallas demanded. The bartender nervously brought the bottle of alcohol out and handed me a plastic cup of water. "Man, I never thought I'd see you on the dance floor," Dal said, raising the beer bottle to his teeth. "Yeah, well, these are my last couple days... I might as well embarrass myself now while I still have my dignity," I said, taking a gulp of my water. My throats been really scratchy lately. I spotted Ariela dancing with Sodapop on a slow dance now. I saw it now... How they walked in the moonlight together, held hands, snuggled in bed, cried together, went to school dances, hugged, laughed,... Kissed. I saw as he crept up in attack and pushed his lips into hers. She didn't push off right away but they were making out. Sandy was nodding as if she understand. "Glory, your ears can sure turn red, Ponyboy," Dally said, laughing, knowing his teeth into the beer cap. "Don't patronize me, Dal..."I said, staring at them. "Why don't you steal a dance with her before they get too rowdy?" He began to laugh hard and finally clicked the beer cap off, sending it flying. We walked back to the gang and I sat next to Bryon. "Who'd you bring tonight, Bry?" "Cathy. We're back together again," He said, kicking his feet up on the table. "How long did y'all go out this time?" I asked, taking a sip of my water. "10 days." "That's a record, man," I said. He pushed me off my chair and I hit the floor on my face. I jumped right back up, laughing my head off. "You never outgrew that, Bry," I said, getting back in my chair. "Yeah, and I'll do it again if you make fun of me again," He warned. "Hey, Ariela! Big Girls Don't Cry!" I said as the song came on. "I think I have a better plan, Pone," Ariela said, pulling me by the hand out of the door and onto the sidewalk outside. "I was reading something and it said these words; our lives are made in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate, time falls away, these small hours still remain... Ponyboy, no matter how long you're gonna be out there... There's someone back here counting down the hours until you get home. You have to make the best of it, dear... We'll get by." "Time falls away... Time's precious... I'll make it through... I promise..." I said, engulfing her in a hug. I separated our chest and looked into her beautiful her eyes and brushing the blonde strands or hair out of her perfectly drawn face and I smiled. She soon smiled too and I met our grins in a kiss and compressed my fingers in her back. She raised her fires behind my necks and stroked my cheek. "Stay Gold..." She whispered.