Previously: I looked into her sky-blue eyes, seeing another Johnny. She suddenly looked much more vulnerable than she had when I'd first met her. I felt myself soften, feeling for the first time in months sadness. Sadness and mourn.

That's when I realized I was accepting what had happened. Everything. It was as if someone had torn the blindfold off my eyes. I really saw the girl in front of me. She was nearly trembling with emotions. I felt for the first time in a while the fresh air rolling in through the windows.

*Sarah POV*

I woke to the sound of laughter. Disoriented, I opened my eyes, looking around the room. I was on a couch, with an old blanket around me. Then I remembered. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

But the windows were dark – it must have been later in the evening.

"…c'mon, Soda…" Pony complained, and it was followed by a roar of laughter. "Knock it off you two, you're goin' to wake her up."

There was still some chuckling as I sat up, rubbing my eyes.

"Too late," Darry sighed. Pony was at the table, arm wrestling Soda. Abruptly, his arm went down as he noticed me. Soda smiled triumphantly. "Give me the weed, Pony."

Pony shrugged and threw him a pack of cigarettes. Darry rolled his eyes and turned back to me. "You sure you don't want to stay?" He asked. I nodded. "I'm fine, thanks."

Pony stood up and came over to me. "Want to go outside? We can talk for a couple minutes before you head home."

I felt much better, and quickly agreed. "Sure." As we started towards the door, Soda spoke up. "Hey, Sarah… mind talkin' a minute?"

I exchanged a glance with Pony, who looked suspiciously at his brother. Soda grinned toothily. "Watch it little brother, I'll come over and tackle that greasy hair right off your head."

I stifled a giggle and Pony threw me an exasperated look. With a sigh, he said, "I'll be out in the yard…"

When he disappeared through the creaky front door, Soda turned to me. Darry watched with questioning eyes.

"It ain't none of my business or anything… but was there somethin' you and Pony talked about that made him like this?" Soda asked. My eyebrows rose. "Made him like what?"

Darry and Soda looked at each other. "You'll see," said Soda. I bit my lip. "Is it a bad thing?" I wasn't sure at this point – I'd only been awake for five minutes.

"Heck, no!" Soda exclaimed, his eyes brightening. "He's happier than he's been in a couple months… ever since…" He trailed off, and hurt showed on his face. Then it was replaced with happiness again. "You're real good for him, Shortie," he said eagerly.

Darry stood next to Soda, making me feel shorter than ever. "I agree, kid," he said, and patted my shoulder. "Don't forget to wear your jacket – it's chilly tonight."

Feeling a little lightheaded, I grabbed it and walked out to meet Pony.

It was a full moon, drenching him in white light. He smiled at me as I hurried over. "It's nice out tonight – never seen such a clear sky." He commented, nodding towards the stars. I sat down next to him, looking up.

"Sure is," I agreed softly. His yard wasn't anything special; kind of small with some car parts around. Still, it felt… homey.

Pony pulled out a cigarette, and when he lit it, a small red flame made his face glow.

"Could I have one of those, Pony?" I asked suddenly. I don't know what made me do it, but I did. He gave me a strange look. "I thought you didn't smoke?" I shrugged. "I guess I'm in the mood," I explained. Looking unsure, he handed me one, and lit it up.

Without hesitation, I put it in my mouth and inhaled deeply.

I started coughing hysterically. I was vaguely aware that Pony was patting my back, but mostly tears blurred my vision. My lungs ached sharply as I sucked in fresh air.

"God, Sarah, take a breath!" Pony gasped, and I tried to. Eventually, the coughing died down.

"Maybe you shouldn't be smoking," he said, and offered me his hand to take the cigarette. I shook my head weakly. "I ain't dyin'," I snapped, and then carefully took a smaller breath of the smoke. This time I only coughed once.

Pony turned to face me. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doin' what?" I asked hoarsely, tapping the ashes into the grass. He looked pointedly at my clothes. "The jacket, the hair, the smoking… why?"

I looked at him with a saddened smile. "Why not? I've got one life to live, and I'm goin' to do whatever I feel like doing. I want to prove to everyone here that you don't need to wear certain clothes or have lots of money to be a nice person. Like you Ponyboy… you're such a nice guy. Any Soc that took the chance to take a good look at you could see that."

He thought silently for a moment and then looked at me with some bitterness in his eyes. "It goes deeper than that," he decided. "We just can't agree, can't get along. It'll always be that way."

"No it won't," I disagreed solemnly. "Someday things will balance out."

Pony seemed to be imagining it. I fell silent to let him. Maybe he'd never tried. That was hard to believe. He seemed so able to imagine. Something most people lose as they get older.

"So what's the country like?" Pony asked, interrupting my thoughts. I sighed thoughtfully, and then answered what came to mind.

"The country… well, it's blue skies and cornfields. Lots of rolling hills, where you can see the sunsets for miles."

Pony smiled when I said that. I continued, remembering my childhood days on the farm. "It's the smell of sweet summer grains and winter breath. Spring flowers and the fresh smell of autumn leaves…" My voice died down as I remembered, and Pony looked at me with those kind eyes. "Could you tell me more? I've always wanted to go to the country," he said with a sort of awe.

I smiled, staring at the moon. "There are so many kind neighbors, who all seem like a family… see, sometimes we'd have campfires for the community. We would talk and roast hot dogs and marshmallows."

Pony seemed lost in thought.

"I guess it's not much, but it's always been enough," I concluded. I took another swig of the cigarette and then rested my chin on my knees. "Someday I'll go back, and maybe have a farm of my own."

We could hear the frogs croaking and the crickets singing as we thought. I fell into the rhythm, picturing my dad and I fishing at the stream. It made my heart ache ever so slightly.

Pony finally looked at me. "So tell me some things. What's your full name?"

I blushed. "That's really not necessary," I tried to get out of it, but he grinned. "Aw, c'mon, Sarah, I won't bite."

After some time of just staring, I cursed myself for having such a strange middle name. "Alright… My whole name is Sarah-Leigh Gold. Happy?" I asked, flushing scarlet. His brows lowered. "I thought it was going to be something worse than that, by the way you were acting. It's a real nice middle name."

It was getting really cold. I wrapped my jacket tightly around myself, watching as my breath came out in fog.

"Maybe it's time we head in," Pony suggested. I shrugged. "I don't care," I lied. He laughed, standing up. He offered me an arm, and I tugged myself up. "I should get home," I said wearily. Even after my long cry and nap, I was still tired. I threw my weed on the ground and rubbed the smoldering tip into the grass.

"Let me walk you home," Pony said. He looked extremely wary all of a sudden. I shook my head. "Pony, I swear, I'll be fine."

"I'm not asking, Sarah. My brothers wouldn't let you go alone either. It's late," Pony said sternly. I couldn't help but grin. "You sound so much like Darry."

He laughed. "You asked for it," he chuckled, and took a step forward. Then he leaped, and I stepped out of the way, dodging his attack. Then he turned in a backflip, surprising the heck out of me. He tackled me, and I fell with a squeal. His hands protected my head from hitting the ground, but he easily held me in place. "Darry taught us some moves," he said somewhat smugly. I snorted and shoved his hand away. He easily let me go and helped me up.

"Whatever. Do what you want, but be careful. My aunt… she's…" I struggled for the right word. "I know," Pony said confidently. "Another reason I'm walking you home. If it'd make you feel better, Darry could come too."

I groaned. "I don't need body guards, Pony."

We started walking, and Pony stopped in to tell his brothers where he was going. Darry didn't seem so happy about it, but Soda was coaxing him into it. I stood in the cold air, watching with amusement.

When we finally started walking, Pony lit another weed. He offered me one, and I quickly shook my head.

He just shoved it away and walked slowly along with me.

"Have you ever heard of Gone with the Wind?" He asked randomly. I blinked, bewildered. "Um, yeah. I've read it a couple times, actually." He smiled. "It's a real good book. Something I read while I was… hiding." He only hesitated a little. I didn't see his face harden, which was a good sign.

"Cherry told me," I blurted out. He looked down. "You don't think we're hardened criminals?" He teased, but his voice lowered somewhat seriously. I shook my heads, playfully hitting him. "Pony, you are so true and sweet… you would never go out of your way to hurt someone. It was all –"

"Self-defense?" Pony asked wearily. "Yeah, I've been told."

I frowned. "Pony, you aren't a hardened criminal, and you'll never be one. Your too smart. Johnny… I didn't know him before, but if he was a good friend of yours, he was most likely just as sweet. He wouldn't want you to be upset."

Pony didn't act stoic anymore, but his eyes tightened and teared up. "Yeah, I know… he left a note in Gone with the Wind. You know, I used to read that to him in the church – that's where we hid from the fuzz. A couple of times I read to him in the hospital. He was really hurting, and I couldn't help him any other way." He seemed to be fighting back tears. "Worse yet, I didn't cry at his funeral. I didn't cry at all."

"Aw, Ponyboy…" I whispered. He blinked rapidly, turning away ashamedly. I touched his shoulder. "I didn't cry at my parents funeral," I said, and my voice weakened as I fought back my own tears. Pony looked at the ground, his face twisted. Then it smoothed out, and he looked down at me with tear-filled eyes. "We're goin' to be okay, Sarah. I know it."

I sniffed and wiped tears away, smiling shakily. "We are."

My house seemed to suddenly appear in front of us. I swore silently when I saw that the kitchen lights were still on.

"She's always awake!" I hissed. Then the curtains pulled back, and Aunt Theresa was glaring at me. Her eyes focused on Pony, and I gasped. She disappeared, and the door slammed open.

"GET OUT OF HERE, GREASER!" She screeched angrily. A wave of anger overtook me, but fear ripped through my heart. "Pony, go home," I whispered. Pony looked irritated too.

Theresa pointed a bony finger at me. "Get in here you bitch!" she screamed. I flinched, and started walking forward. Pony's hand caught my shoulder.

"Don't call her that! How could you say that to your own niece?!" He shouted, furious. Theresa ran out in slippers, her eyes blazing. "She's no family of mine, the… Greaser!" She spat, using it like a swear word. I pursed my lips. "Pony, get out of here now," I said through clenched teeth.

Theresa stormed at me, and got close enough where I could see the belt in her hand. She lashed out at Pony, and caught him in the side. He hissed in pain.

"Pony!" I cried. He stumbled, and it gave Theresa time to hit me. A sharp pain across my arm made me gasp and trip. She got me once more across the leg, and I fell in shock.

Pony stood in front of me as Theresa tried to get at me again. She looked at his hand, and I followed. He held the knife again. I couldn't see his face.

"Get out of the way," she hissed, but her eyes were locked on the knife. "You have no right, Greaser."

Ponyboy didn't glance at me. I saw him shaking as he said, "Sarah, can you get up?"

I stood, and pain shot across my leg. It wasn't broken, but it sure hurt.

"Don't you dare run, Sarah, you'll never see the light of day," Theresa snapped. I froze, but Pony motioned back. "Start going, Sarah."

I listened, stepping back quickly and clumsily.

"We're leaving now," Pony said shakily. "Don't make me use this."

Theresa looked ready to scream. She watched as Pony and I retreated with eyes like a bird.

Pony abruptly turned and started to jog. He grabbed my arm and carefully tugged me along. I ran with him, and looked back once. Theresa had gone inside, and I saw her blue eyes watching demonically from the kitchen window as we disappeared into the night.

R&R!!! :)