krista: thanks for reviewing :)
sorry, I've recieved your review when I already have set the 12. chapter
that's why I thank you a chapter later for it
well, in the meantime I personally know too that suicide isn't an answer...
well, here comes the second last chapter...
let's see what happened to selena, pony and the others...
13. When an old life ends, begins then a new one?
Many people already gathered around on the street.
Ponyboy forced his way through the crowd and saw his dead 'mother' lying on the ground.
Now he knew it exactly: Selena was dead.
Pony dropped down the ground beside her stunned.
"Oh no, Selena, please don't..." he whispered and his eyes were filled with tears again, but he didn't hold them back.
He cried again. He embraced Selena and sobbed.
He didn't care that Greasers don't cry and even less in public.
In this moment he didn't feel as a Greaser, neither as a quite tough one nor as one at all.
In this moment he only was a 12 year old boy, who had lost his mother for the second time.
When he looked up after a while he saw Mike standing in front of him. He had forced his way through the crowd as well to see what was going on there.
Pony watched him full of hate. But Mike replied his glance ice-cold.
His expression stayed unchanged coldly and unfriendly when he looked down to the dead Selena.
He didn't seem to feel any grief at all! Even a sneer appeared at his mouth.
Ponyboy didn't understand how Mike just could be that coldhearted and unfeeling at this tragic sight.
This made Pony angry and sad at the same time!
Pony pointed at Mike and screamed.
All glances were turning to Mike, who didn't feel well with that.
"Nonsense! I've got nothin' to do with that! That's a lie!
This boy's crazy! He doesn't know nothin' at all. He's just lyin'.
I hope for ya that ya believe me and not a dirty rotten little bastard of a Greaser, who has no idea anyway.
Remember he's the shame of our town!
If not you're gonna regret that..." Mike replied uncertain, when everyone looked at him angry after that.
But the people believed Pony, because they knew Mike. They knew that he was greedy for money, violent and brutal!
They also knew Selena! She was a popular and welcomed young woman. She always was friendly and although she was a whore all people liked her! But not because she was a whore!
That's why a few men came towards Mike threatening and shouted, "No, Mike, YOU're gonna regret it!"
And they already went for him...
Pony didn't know what happened to Mike.
And if he was honest he didn't care! He hated Mike so much that it even didn't matter to him if Mike would be murdered by the men!
Pony wished him to the devil and the death on his neck!
It was Mike's fault that Selena committed suicide and Ponyboy simply couldn't forgive that!
Pony had to cry again at the thought of Selena.
He crouched next to the dead body, covered his face and sobbed.
He winced frightened when a hand was placed on his shoulder. With tear-stained and huge eyes he looked over his shoulder when he heard his name.
"Darry?" Pony asked surprised. "But what...?"
"Ponyboy? Oh, thank god, nothin' happened to ya!" Soda shouted behind Darry and hugged Ponyboy.
"How did ya get here?" Pony asked confused.
"Sorry, Pon, I had to tell 'em." Johnny answered with an apologizing glance, when he appeared with Dally, Two-Bit and Steve after Darry and Soda.
"Oh Soda." Pony sobbed and flung his arms around the neck of his big brother.
Soda stroked him affectionately over the head.
The others looked at the dead Selena silently.
"I would have liked to introduce her to ya, but..." Pony trailed off and pointed to Selena.
His eyes were filled with new tears.
"It's all right, Pony, it's all right..." Soda rocked him back and forth, until he had calmed down.
Then Soda got up and led Pony gently away from Selena.
Pony looked back at his dead mother sadly the last time, till a woman kneeled next to her and covered her with a cloth.
Then Pony turned around again and let his brother take him home.
Selena's funeral was after two days.
There were many people present, because Selena was very popular.
The other prostitutes had gathered their money together for Selena's funeral.
Of course Pony and also the others took part on it.
Everybody was deeply shocked, dismayed and sad about Selena's death!
But Ponyboy probably was the one, who mourned for her the most.
She had been a mother for him. But now she was dead, as well as his physical mother, and they never ever would come back to him again.
He was as left and lonely as before again, even if he still had his brothers and his friends around him, but they couldn't replace his mother.
And he felt that when he stood together with the others at her coffin.
Pony cried bitterly, because he missed her so much.
When all the others said goodbye to Selena and were gone only Pony and the others stood at her grave.
Dally left first of them. Two-Bit followed him and after that Steve, Soda and Darry walked away.
Johnny stood beside Pony, placed a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "Come on, Pony, let's go, too."
Ponyboy nodded and whispered, "Oh Johnny, why just die all people I love and care 'bout?
I'm scared to lose all beloved people... please, Johnny, promise me that you're never ever gonna leave me.
Ya ain't supposed to die and leave me here alone. I..." Pony trailed off.
"Yeah, Pony, I ain't gonna leave ya!" Johnny answered, squeezed Pony's shoulder gently and then he turned away to leave Ponyboy alone for a moment with Selena, so that he could say a final goodbye to her.
Now Pony was standing all alone at the grave.
He took a step forward, placed the tarot-card of Selena with the two lovers - the card that had chosen their both destinies - on the gravestone and stroked affectionately over it.
Then he sobbed once more, turned around and walked back with lowered head to the others, who already waited for him.
