This chapter is longer than usual and I hope you like it…and even if you don't, please review and tell me what are your thoughts, because I really appreciate everyone's opinions…and they keep me motivated!

Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders.

5 – G-day

Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse, they did.

Sophie had left the house pretty early in the morning and there was a note from her on the kitchen table, saying she was grateful to us for letting her stay but that she needed to work out her problems on her own. Not knowing where she and Jeff were staying, I had no clue as where to find her: I could only hope I'd bump into her somewhere in Tulsa.

What was making me feel even more miserable was the fact that Sodapop wouldn't be in town the day I'd finally get my degree: his boss had told him they'd be in Texas, showing off the horses and hopefully selling some of them. I didn't want to make Soda feel bad about it, because it definitely wasn't his fault he wouldn't be there to see me getting rewarded after four years of hard work, but I couldn't help but feel sad about it…and it showed.

"At least the rest of your friends will be there, won't they?" Joan asked me, as we were having lunch together in the school cafeteria.

"I guess so…but it just isn't the same as having Soda there!" I complained. "I want him to be proud of me…and it's an important moment of my life, I wanted to share it with him!"

"Just consider yourself lucky you've got such a great guy, Sybil." My other friend from college, Helene, piped up. "You know how many guys I've dated?…And none of them was what you'd define a gentleman." She wrinkled her nose, disgusted.

"I know I'm lucky I have Soda…it's just…I don't know. I've always imagined my graduation day as one of the best moments of my life and without him…it kinda…doesn't make sense." I insisted.

"Hey, I have an idea: why don't the three of us go out together to celebrate our graduation?" Joan suggested.

"When?" I asked.

"The same day we get our degree. We could go to the movies or to dinner somewhere…and get so drunk we won't even remember our names!"

I laughed. "That sounds great, but I'm not a big fan of alcohol. Actually, I have never tasted something that I really liked." I pointed out.

"You're such a goodie-two-shoes!" Joan complained.

"I know." I sighed. "You think I'm boring?"

"No, you just…need to relax more."

How can I relax when everything's going wrong? I thought. "So…" I decided to changed topic. "What are you girls planning on doing once we're finished with college?"

"I'm not sure yet…the only thing I can picture myself doing is teaching." Helene replied.

"I don't know either." Joan exclaimed, sounding a bit gloomy. Her eyes lit up, though, when she added: "What I know for sure is that I want to marry Adam." Adam was Joan's boyfriend. "Maybe I wouldn't mind just being a housewife after that."

"And you, Sybil?"

I hesitated. "Well, I…I'd like to write for some newspaper…"

"So you wanna be a journalist?"

"Not really, I mean…I just want to write. I'd love to be able to write a novel."

"Knowing you, that seems likely to happen." Joan reassured me.

"I don't know. It's not that easy and writers aren't necessarily that wealthy most of the time, unless they're super famous, are they?" I pondered outloud. "I guess I'll start looking for a job very soon. I don't wanna be just a housewife."

"Well, what's so bad about that? Once you have kids you'll have to stay home and look after them anyway." Joan pointed out.

"Who knows…I'm not even sure Soda and I will ever have kids. We never discussed about it seriously." As I spoke those words, I couldn't help but feel really sad.

"It's not like you have to plan it, you know…just…let it happen." Helene suggested.

"I can't! I have to make sure Sodapop's okay with the idea…and I need to be okay with it, too."

For some reason, the idea slightly scared me and I didn't know why.

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That week went by slowly. On late Friday afternoon, I was walking around aimlessly and I ended up reaching my old house, the one I had sold when my dad had passed away, the one my brother and I had grown up in.

It still looked the same. I stared at it for a while, remembering my sweet mother, my caring father, my impulsive brother. Remembering the first time Soda had picked me up. The first time he had had dinner with my dad and me. The time when he had almost spent the night when my father wasn't there. The time when he had finally come back from Vietnam and showed up at the front door.

"Sybil…"

I turned around and smiled. "Hey…how did you know I was there?"

"You always take a walk and end up showin' in front of your old house, when you're upset."

"You know me too well, Soda…" My smile faded a bit. "I hope I haven't been too much of a pain lately, holding a grudge against you…" I added.

"Look, I feel lousy that I can't make it on time for your graduation…I know how bad you wanted me to be there and I don't guess I can make up for it in any way…" He looked so serious as he spoke, as I rarely saw him. "But…I hope you can forgive me."

"Sure I can, I know you haven't purposely decided to go to Texas on the week of my graduation. It's just…I guess I'm just being selfish at the moment." I replied, nervously running a hand through my hair.

"You got every right to be." Soda gently got ahold of my hand and interlocked his fingers with mine. "If I could, I'd be with you always." He grinned and added: "But you'd probably get tired of me if I were there all the time, right?"

I made a face: "Right. I really don't know how I could manage. Thank goodness you aren't always around."

"Sure, you hate me so much you can't stand sleeping on your own. I know you hate it." He grinned.

"I do not hate it!" I tried not to look guilty. Truth was…I hated it when Sodapop was away because of his job and I slept in our king-sized bed all alone. Those nights, I wished so much we had a puppy, a kitten or a dog.

"You do." He insisted.

"No I don't."

"Then, I could just sleep on the sofa from now on, it's so much more comfortable than the bed."

"What? The bed's new and the sofa's like, fifteen years old!" It used to be the one of the living room of my old house.

"That's why it feels nice to sleep there, it's old enough but not too old it's completely worn-out." He laughed.

"I hope you're kidding."

Soda smiled once again before hugging me. "You know…and I mean this in a serious way…I'd give you the world if I only could, Sybil…but since I can't…" he paused and looked into my eyes, slowly letting me go. "I arranged something for you. It's a surprise."

Being the most curious person in the whole world, I immediately started firing questions at him: "What do you mean? What kind of surprise? Where-"

"Let's go back home and you'll see." He grinned devilishly, reaching the car he had parked nearby and opening the passenger's door for me.

I eyed Soda suspiciously for all the ride back home, which took about ten minutes. Soda drove pretty fast most of the time and I usually scolded him because of that, but this time I was going to let it go because my curiosity was overcoming me.

"So?" I urged as we both got off the car.

"Hold in!"

He motioned for me to enter the house and reach the living room. I did, and felt my good mood come back all of a sudden. "Lewis!"

"Hello, little sister!" My brother smiled and I didn't say anything but rushed to hug him. "I missed you!"

"I know, I know, but please, don't squeeze me to death!" he joked.

I let go, feeling close to tears. "I really missed you!"

"Me too." He smiled. "Why are you making that incredulous face? You didn't seriously believe I'd miss your graduation!"

I was speechless. Lewis turned to Sodapop: "Is she always this talkative?"

Soda grinned and shook his head: "It just depends on her mood."

"Yeah, I know how moody she can be." My brother nodded.

"What? I'm not moody! Don't look at me like that, Lewis, you know I'm not! Why are you laughing now?" I replied.

"Nothing…" He ran a hand through his medium-length hair. It wasn't as long as Soda's, but it wasn't short either, and his grey eyes were as piercing as they had always been, which was also one of the reasons why girls liked him so much when he was in high school. He looked the same old big brother of mine, but there was something different about him. He was definitely more manly, but I thought it was normal, since he was twenty-five.

I turned to look at Sodapop, who was standing close to both Lewis and I. Soda was as tall as my brother, but that was the only similarity. They were totally different, when it came down both to looks and personality. It was strange in some way, considering they were two of the most important people in my life.

Then, I almost snapped: "Lewis, are you really staying to see me graduating?" I couldn't help but feel suspicious.

"Have I ever broken a promise?"

I carefully thought about it for a minute. It was true he hadn't always been around when I needed him and he had kept things hidden from me before, but he had always kept his word: when he said something, he'd do it, no matter what. So I slowly answered: "I guess you haven't…"

"I know you're only receiving your diploma next week, but I kinda…missed Tulsa and I thought…hell, why not spend some extra time here?" he shrugged.

"I'm glad you came early. You still haven't told me where you're living at the moment!"

We spent the rest of the day chatting. I never realized how much I truly missed my brother.

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"Soda, I'll be fine! Don't worry about me…I've got Lewis and Pony…and Joan and Helene…okay. I'll see you on Monday…when you come back. Be careful, alright? Don't do anything stupid like trying to…tame a wild horse or something…please. Yes…bye."

I hung up the phone and looked at my brother who had just entered the living room. "Soda phoned."

"Yeah, I got that." He grinned. "You act all lovey-dovey when you speak to him."

"That's not true."

"It is."

"It's not."

"It is."

"You're acting like a ten year old."

"Same goes for you."

I couldn't find a successful comeback, so I didn't reply. Seeing Lewis look so peaceful, though, made me lose it and I started venting. "I'm graduating tomorrow and I'm freaking out already! What if I trip and make a fool of myself? What if I don't wake up on time? What if…what if my degree goes missing and they can't give it to me?"

Lewis looked at me like I were some kind of psycho. "Sybil, calm down. Take a deep breath…okay, take another deep breath. Everything will be perfect tomorrow, alright? Just stay calm."

"I can't!" I sighed and plopped into the sofa. "I know that I wouldn't be so nervous if Soda was here. But since he's away…I can't help but feel insecure."

Lewis sat next to me and put his arm around my shoulder. "You're gonna do great, with or without him! You're independent, you aren't like many girls I know who have to rely on someone else, especially a man, all the time…that's what's great about you."

His words made me feel better. "You think so?"

He nodded. "You just need to relax now! Tomorrow will be a great day for you and you should feel excited, not frightened."

"You're right. You know what? You've matured so much!"

"Me?" he laughed. "No way!"

And for once, Lewis was right about everything. I didn't trip, I didn't make a fool of myself, I didn't act like an idiot and everything went pretty smoothly. On May 25th, I got my degree in English and American Literature and Language and while I was standing there, holding it, getting my picture taken, I couldn't believe it. A feeling of wholeness and serenity came over me and I knew that was going to be one of the moments I'd always remember as the happiest and most rewarding.

When everything was over and I headed toward Ponyboy and Lewis, I let a tear escape. Because they weren't alone. "Soda!"

"Congratulations, Sybil." Sodapop was there as well, smiling hugely and looking extremely pleased. "I'm very proud of you!"

"You made it! How come? I'm so happy!" I hugged him and let his arms envelope me in a tight embrace.

"To make a long story short…I decided my boss could do without me for some hours and I drove back to Tulsa…" He grinned.

"It must've taken you hours to come back!" I exclaimed.

"Who cares? I felt so lousy at the thought of missing this amazing day…I didn't want to let you down."

"And you didn't! I can't believe it…" I paused and kissed him. "Thank you! You have no idea how much this means to me!"

Soda laughed. "I do, I can see it in your eyes. I'll have to leave tomorrow, pretty early in the morning…now let's go somewhere and celebrate!"

Ponyboy piped up: "If you don't mind, and I'm sure you don't, I'm meeting Lauren in about half an hour, we're having dinner together, so…I'd better leave…"

"I think I'll also leave you alone and go see some old friends." Lewis said. "Don't wait up for me!"

I thanked both of them for coming (and for standing stressful-me all day) and looked up at Soda: "So…what do you wanna do?"

"It's your great day, you tell me!"

"I just want to be with you…possibly alone."

"That's what I was thinking." Soda smiled and we left the college grounds, together.