A/N: Thanks for the reviews! Second to last chapter right here :)


A/N 2: Alex, wow, that sounds...I can't even think of a word right now and honestly I don't know if I should be giving advice for that, but if you really want to know what I think...I think you (assuming you're talking about yourself) should do what she wants you to. Rather, do what she needs you to do. If you love her enough for that, then I think you should do it.


There they were; the letters from the colleges I had applied to. I sat there nervously looking at them. I wanted to open at least one of them so I picked up the one from North Carolina and tore it open. The college was a nice one in a small town called Huntersville. It wasn't my first choice, but I still liked it. As I scanned over the first few sentences I let out a sigh of relief. I had been accepted! I couldn't believe it! I was excited, but I was afraid to open the other two so I decided to have Ponyboy help me.


"Pony," I called, walking into his house.

"Hmm?" I heard him mumble from what sounded like his room.

"I need help with something."

I walked down the hall and into his room to find him there half-naked. His unbuttoned jeans were on him awkwardly as if he'd just hopped into them, which I think he might have done. His hair was wet and a mess, but I liked it like that so I didn't really mind.

"Hey," he laughed.

"Hey. Did you just get outta the shower?" I replied.

"Yeah. What gave it away?"

"I don't know. Maybe it was the whole sexy hair thing."

"Sexy hair?"

"Yeah you know, when it's all wet and messy like that."

"You think my messy hair is sexy?" he scoffed.

"Absolutely," I grinned.

"Well maybe I should just forget about greasing it from now on?"

"I'd be in heaven."

He crossed the room and smiled, pulling me close to him. I rolled my eyes and let my hands rest on his bare chest. He gave me a quick kiss on the lips before snatching the letters out of my hand.

"Hey!" I yelled.

"Oh come on, what are these anyways?" he asked.

"My college letters."

"Oh."

"Yeah...I wanted you to help me open two of them because I already opened the one from North Carolina and...I got in."

"Babe, that's great!"

"I know, but that's not the one I was hoping to get into."

"Well you wanna open these ones?" he questioned.

"Did you already get yours?"

"Yeah, but those aren't important right now. Let's open yours," he told me.

I gave him the one from UCLA and took the one from New York. Slowly and cautiously I opened the letter. I closed my eyes and when I opened them I couldn't help but grin. According the letter, I had been accepted on full scholarship!

"Oh, babe," Ponyboy sighed.

"I didn't get in?" I questioned.

"No..."

"Well that doesn't matter! I got into New York!"

"You did?" he asked.

"Yeah! Did you?"

"I did...and I got into Florida State too."

"Well this is great! We can go to the same college!"

"I know," he grinned.

He pressed his lips to mine and I immediately kissed back. I let one hand slide down to is bicep, feeling how strong he was. He was definitely turning out to be just like Darry; all brawn with a whole lot of brain. He had bigger muscles than most of the guys I knew and he was pretty tall. He also resembled Soda a lot more than he did when he was younger. He still had that boyish look to him, but he also had that manly facade. To be honest, he was an even better kisser than he was when we first started dating. I guess I just loved everything about him; his personality and his physical appearance.

"Oh my god," I moaned into his mouth.

He pushed me against the wall and grabbed my butt, hoisting me up as he did so. I felt his hands travel up my skirt and soon I was without it.

"Ponyboy," I nearly whimpered and he pulled his lips away from mine.

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you too," he said.

I grabbed the back of his neck and pulled his face back towards mine for another kiss. He stumbled and lost his balance, bringing us both down on the bed and I laughed.


I sighed happily as Ponyboy ran his hand up and down my naked stomach. I didn't even care that he could see the goofy smile on my face because he was wearing his own goofy smile.

"I'm so happy that we both got into New York," I sighed.

"So am I," he agreed.

"I was so scared that I would lose you," I admitted, turning on my side to face him.

"That's never gonna happen."

"I know that now."

"I really wish I could spend every minute with you. You're so...beautiful," he smiled, softly kissing my lips.

"I guess we should spend more time together. I mean I know that we'll be at the same college, but we won't see each other as much."

"Can we really spend any more time together?"

"I think so," I said, "We could just stay in here until college rolls around."

"That sounds nice," he agreed, pulling me closer to him.

"Have you heard from Soda lately?"

"Yeah, he sent me a letter earlier this week. He says he thinks he'll be coming home soon."

"That's great!" I exclaimed.

"I know," he smiled, "I think he'll be here for graduation."

"Can I read the letter?"

"No," he answered quickly.

"Well why not?" I whined.

"Because...because I told him some things that I don't want you reading about. He replied to all of the things I told him about so if you read it...I just don't want you reading it, okay?"

"Fine."


Ponyboy'sPOV

With Valerie lying there in my arms there was no way I could go to Florida. I knew she expected me to go to New York with her, but Florida State was a good school too. But when she told me that she was afraid to lose me I made my mind up. I would go to New York with her. I loved her enough to do anything for her and this was a big decision. I guess it helped to be with her if I planned on marrying her anyways. I was being serious when I told her that I wanted her to marry me, but I don't think she really believed me. After she left my house, I needed to get some help on this marriage thing.

"Hey, Dar," I called.

"Yeah?" he shouted from the kitchen.

"Could I, um, get your help with something?"

"Sure."

I got up and walked into the kitchen, taking a seat at the table. Darry was reading his newspaper across from me, but he set it down when I walked in.

"What's wrong?" he asked, looking up at me.

"Um, look I know you ain't ever had to do it, but...but how do you think a guy could ask a girl to, um, marry him?"

"Why? Are you thinking about asking Valerie to marry you?"

"Well yeah," I answered.

"You guys are only seventeen, Ponyboy. Do you really think it'd be smart to get married now?"

"I just wanna ask her. I mean, we'll wait until after college or whenever, but I have to make sure she's really mine."

"I see. Well you're gonna have to save up for a ring so you-"

"Darry, I already bought her an engagement ring," I interrupted.

"With what money?" he inquired.

"You know how I haven't been around too much on Saturdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays?"

"Yes."

"Well that's 'cause I got a job. I had to get one to buy her a ring."

He sat there for a minute just looking at me. I thought he would get angry about me lying to him about where I had been or that I wanted to propose to Valerie, but soon a smile spread onto his face.

"I'm proud of you, Pony."

Hearing those words nearly made me jump up with joy. I couldn't believe Darry had finally told me that he was proud of me.

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, really. Seems like you have this all figured out, huh?"

"Except how I'm gonna do it."

"Valerie's a simple girl, Pony. Just ask her."

"You think?" I questioned.

"Yep. Just ask her and then try not to be too happy when she says yes," he teased. I smiled and gave him a nod.

Just as I was walking out of the kitchen I stopped and turned around. "Thanks, Darry."

"No problem."


Valerie's POV

I sighed as I laid back against my bed. Ponyboy was gone again for the umpteenth time on a Saturday morning. He'd been doing this for the past seven months and it wasn't just on Saturdays. He was no where to be found on Wednesday and Thursday nights either. It worried me to a certain degree that I didn't know where he was, but it also worried me because he wouldn't tell me the truth. I turned onto my side and huffed a heavy sigh. What made things worst was that he'd been there the night before, but when I woke up he was just gone.

"This is stupid," I said to myself.

"What's stupid?" Ponyboy asked from the direction of my doorway making me turn around quickly.

"Oh my god!" I gasped, "You scared the hell out of me!" I sat up and folded my arms across my chest.

He tried to bite back a smile as he took a seat on my bed. He reached to take my hand, but I kept both of them close to me.

"What's the matter?"

"You weren't here when I woke up."

"Oh...right."

"In fact, you haven't been here when I woke up a lot of times. I mean, what am I supposed to think when I go to sleep with you here and wake up with you gone?" I nearly shouted.

"I'm sorry, Val, but I've just had to do some things lately," he shrugged.

"For the past seven months?"

"Yes, for the past seven months."

"Pony, what have you been doing?"

"It's nothing," he assured me.

"Tell me, now," I demanded.

"Valerie, it's-"

"It's not nothing. You better tell me now because I honestly don't know what to think."

"I, um, I've been...working," he said the last word quietly, but I still heard it.

"Working? Since when do you work?"

"Since seven months ago," he laughed nervously.

"What do you do?"

"I just help out down at the library. I figured you'd never go there so I didn't have to worry about you finding out that I worked there."

"Why were you hiding it from me? I thought we were supposed to be honest with each other about everything?" I furrowed my eyebrows, not understanding why the hell he would hide having a job from me.

"I know, I know, but if you found out that I had a job then I was afraid you would ask why I got it in the first place."

"Well yeah, I kinda do wanna know why you got it. Do you just need money?"

"Yeah I needed money. I needed it for...for this." He pulled out a small black box and I felt my mouth dry up.

"Pony, what is that?" I quickly asked.

"Val, I have something to ask you."

"Uh huh."

He got off of the bed and got down on one knee. I started freaking out on the inside, but I didn't want Ponyboy to see it. I had a feeling I knew what he was going to say, but I let him do it.

"Valerie...you know how much I love you. I don't think I could ever love anyone as much as you; in fact, I know I could never love anyone as much as you. You're my entire world, babe, and I have to know that I mean that much to you."

"Oh, Pony..." I sighed happily.

"We don't have to do anything now, but I wanna make sure that you're really mine. Will you marry me?"

I put my hand over my mouth as the tears welled up in my eyes. I couldn't even get a response out of my mouth so I just nodded my head like some idiot. He grinned and got off the floor. He took my hand and slipped the ring onto my finger.

"It's beautiful," I told him once I could speak.

"You think?"

"Absolutely. I love it."

It really was beautiful. It wasn't huge or anything, but it was good enough for me. It was silver, with a small diamond in the middle of it. More tears fell from my eyes just looking at it. I was so surprised because I wasn't really sure if he was being serious about getting married or not.

"I love you," he spoke, interrupting my thoughts.

"Oh my god, I love you too," I grinned, throwing my arms around him.

As soon as we pulled away I glanced towards the door, noticing that it was closed. I also remembered Two-Bit telling me he'd be out for a little while. With those thoughts in mind I began to unbutton my shirt.

"Are we-" he began to ask, but I cut him off with a kiss.

"You're getting laid," I whispered and he grinned wolfishly at me.

I took off my shirt and he stared at my bare chest. I guess he'd forgotten about me not sleeping with a bra on and now he was pleasantly surprised. He grabbed me by the waist and pushed me down against the bed. I giggled and he met my lips with his.


I stood on the last step with Ponyboy behind me and he kept trying to make me go down into the kitchen. I knew we had to tell Two-Bit about the engagement, but that didn't mean I wanted to.

"No," I whisper-hushed.

"Just do it. Trust me, he's not gonna be mad," he assured me.

"But what if he is?" I turned around and he gave me a strong kiss. I was momentarily frozen and he took this opportunity to push me into the kitchen.

"Hey, guys," Two-Bit greeted and I looked at Ponyboy with worried eyes.

"Two-Bit, we have something to tell you," Pony said.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah...I think you know what it is." I was confused. Why would Two-Bit know?

"You mean..." Pony nodded and Two-Bit let out a low whistle, "Well I'll be damned. Congratulations."

"How did you know what we were gonna tell you?" I asked.

"You really think he'd ask you to marry him without my approval?"

"I guess not. So you're not mad?"

"I'll admit, I was a bit mad at first, but I can see how much this kid loves you," he smiled.

"Kid?" Ponyboy scoffed.

"Yeah, kid."

"You're letting me marry your sister so I guess it's okay if you call me kid."

"You two are nuts," I commented.

"That's why you love me," they both replied at the same time and I laughed.

"That's very true."


A week and a half later

I was sitting on Ponyboy's lap on his couch as he whispered over and over again how much he loved me. I melted each time he repeated himself. I wasn't one of those girls who just liked to hear their boyfriends tell them that they loved them because it made them feel good about themselves or something, I actually needed to hear it. Not in a needy way, but I just never could grasp why he loved me so much.

"I love you more than anything or anyone in this world. You are the only person that makes me feel so nervous and great at the same time. I'm so lucky to have you," Ponyboy continued to whisper these things in my ear as he kissed my neck.

"I love you too," I finally whispered back.

"Hey, Pony," Darry called, walking into the living room not even giving us a look anymore. I think he'd gotten used to seeing us cuddle on the couch and also the fact that we were engaged.

"Yeah?"

"Guess who's comin' home?"

"You mean..."

"I just got off the phone with Soda and he's coming home on the next plane back to Tulsa."

I turned my head to look at Ponyboy's face and he had tears running down his cheeks.

"Baby," I smiled, kissing him.

"You were right," he told me, "He's okay and he's comin' home."

I looked back to Darry and he was actually smiling. No, scratch that, he was full blown grinning from ear to ear.


A/N: Hehe, I felt really good about that chapter :) I love those two and now they're officially engaged! So are you guys happy about Pony and Valerie going to the same college and all? Please review 'cause you know I love it when you guys review! Thanks so much :)