By ValerieRichards

Disclaimers: See chapter 1.

Author's note: I forgot to put DarryOC in the summary, but I'll do it later. I know the chapter title doesn't make sense, but it's cool.

Chapter 4: Between Here and Gone

I wondered if this is what dying was like. You're still in your body at first, then you see your deceased relatives, and finally they take you to heaven. I didn't have time to think about it much because a second later, Darry and Soda walked in.

"Pony" Darry gasped when he saw me. He and Soda ran over to me and embraced me as best as they could. I was attached to machines and IVs. They sat down on either side of me.

"I-We were worried about you. We could've lost you and we wouldn't e able to stand that" Soda told me. I realized that they didn't know that I was about to die. They began to talk to me, but I was thinking. I knew I had to tell them.

"Soda, Darry, I have to tell you something" I blurted out. Soda stopped talking and looked at me. Darry instantly looked at my face.

"What is it Pony" Darry asked. I took a couple of breaths and closed my eyes.

"I'm dying. The bullet hit my spleen and it's enough that the doctors can fix it, but I can die. I hate to tell you, but I'm dying" I told them sadly. I loved my brothers and didn't want to hurt them. I knew me dying would hurt them terribly. Darry and Soda turned white.

"We've got to get a doctor in here" Darry said. He began to get up, but I yanked him back down. He tried again and I did it again.

"Dar, mom and dad are here to bring me to heaven" I told him quietly. Darry froze and Soda looked around the room.

"No Pony, please don't leave. Please" Soda begged me. Tears were streaming freely down his face. Darry was also crying and his eyes were already red.

"You've got to stay awake kiddo" he told me. I smiled solemnly and closed my eyes slowly. Soda and Darry yelled at me, pleaded for me to stay awake and hold on. I was almost to my mom when Cherry came into the room.

"Ponyboy" she gasped. Soda and Darry hadn't heard her come into the room. They looked up from my body and turned to her. They glared at her. I'll never understand why they hate her so much. She didn't do anything to me, but talk nicely.

"What are you doing here" Darry growled. She glared at him and then she looked at Soda. I don't Soda hates Cherry, I think he just doesn't like her too much.

"Give the girl a break Darry. She obviously knows Pony and is a friend of his" Soda said. Now I don't think Soda hates Cherry at all. Cherry mouthed thanks to him and went over to my body.

"I…..I know you might not like me because I'm a Soc, but……but there's something I need to tell you. The reason I couldn't love Dallas Winston after Bob died, the real one" she said, Darry and Soda looked at each other and at Cherry.

"Dally and Cherry" they both said. They both knew Cherry and that she was a Soc. They knew she was Bob's girlfriend and that she wasn't one either side.

"I…I loved someone else. I loved another Greaser………..I loved you" she said. Darry and Soda froze. I even froze at what she said. I never thought she'd ever say that, a Soc likes me. I turned back to my parents and saw that they were smiling at me. I knew why. I had more things to live for on Earth, more to accomplish.

"Go ahead sweetheart. Tell your brothers we love them" my mom said. I was ready to start bawling my eyes out.

"Also, tell Darry vault 37 and 45-98-67. He'll know what I'm talking about" my dad said. I nodded and turned back towards my brothers and Cherry.


Uh oh! Please R&R!