Author's note: I finally wrote another chapter on this story. I was studying for mid-terms, then the holidays came along and…I'm making excuses. But, I'm back now, and I hope you like this chapter.

Chapter 11

For a while, I couldn't decide where to go. It was like nowhere was safe, everywhere I went reminded me of Aurora. Finally, I wound up in front of the school that I went to before I went to the asylum. I looked at my watch; it was 3:00, school was about to get out. I didn't know if Two-Bit had gone to school that day or not, but I decided to wait around in case he had.

I walked around the school grounds waiting for the bell to ring. There wasn't really much to see; the school is just an old, two-story brick building with dirty windows. The grass around the school was dead, and there were a bunch of mud puddles everywhere. The track and football field are behind the school, I started walking toward track; maybe I would see some of my old friends.

There was no one on the track. That was strange because seventh period is when the athletes do most of their practicing. Maybe there was a pep rally going on, that was the only logical reason for no one being there. I walked around the deserted track wondering where everyone was until the bell rang. I headed toward the front of the school, I wasn't too worried about Two-Bit already leaving; he usually stays after school and talks to people.

I was standing in the area in front of the school where everyone waits for their friends or to be picked up, when I heard some people talking.

"Hey, isn't that Ponyboy Curtis?" One of the people said.

"Yeah, I think it is," someone else said.

"Where was he? He just disappeared for like, a year," Someone said.

"I heard he went crazy," one of the people said.

"I heard that too," someone else said. "That friend of his, Aurora, she died or something and then he tried to do suicide."

"So did his brothers take him out of school?" someone asked.

"No, he got sent to an asylum," one of the people said.

"An asylum?" Someone asked.

"Yeah," one of the people replied.

"So he's really crazy?"

"I guess so."

"So what's he doing back here?"

"I have no idea."

That was all of their conversation that I heard because Two-Bit walked up to me and said, "Hey, Pony, what are you doing here?"

I could feel the people that were talking about me staring at me. I guessed that I'd have to get used to the feeling of getting stared at. People would probably be staring at me a lot when I came back to school.

"Pony, didn't you hear me?" Two-Bit asked.

"Oh, yeah," I replied. "I don't know."

Two-Bit laughed and shook his head, "You're one weird kid. C'mon, let's get out of here; I've had enough school for one day."

I followed Two-Bit off the school grounds. We started walking toward my house. About halfway there Two-Bit said, "So, when do you go back to school?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

"Pretty much everyone at school knows that you're out of the asylum now," Two-Bit said. "There are all sorts of rumors going around."

"You're making me feel so much better," I said sarcastically.

"'Just thought I'd give you fair warning," Two-Bit said.

Great, now I had another thing to try not to think about. First I was trying not to think about how much I missed Aurora, and now I had to try not to think about the living hell that school would be. I also still felt guilty about the fight that I had caused between Soda and Steve. I knew that I had promised myself that I wouldn't try suicide again, but then all these problems had come up and I needed a solution.

Suicide was looking like the best answer to my problems. But I couldn't, I would be letting Darry down.

Two-Bit was babbling about Mickey Mouse. My house was coming up; I needed some time alone.

"Hey Two-Bit, I've gotta go, OK," I said when we got to my house.

Two-Bit nodded and kept walking and I went inside the house. I sunk down on the couch. Why was I feeling so depressed all of a sudden? Then I remembered the anti-depressants that Dr. Murphy had given Darry "In case of emergencies". I think that this would qualify as an emergency. Now, where did Darry put the anti-depressants?