*I don't own The Outsiders.
Hey everybody, thank you so much for your support, but this is it. My main purpose for this story has been accomplished and I don't know what else to do. Please go take my poll about what story you want me to do next, I have a few different choices. Also, if you haven't already, go read my other stories.
:-) Sunkissedchris
(PPOV)
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I was finally able to get my stitches out today. They'd been annoying and I was glad I wouldn't have to worry about pulling one or the cut getting infected or something any longer. Honestly, I was surprised I didn't have any complications, I just have bad luck.
I felt a lot better, if I did too much my side would start to smart and I'd make sure to rest a little bit. I was no longer sleeping a ridiculous amount of time, probably due to the fact I no longer required the pain medication.
Me and Darry had that heart to heat a week ago, fixing a lot of our problems. I could finally see where he was coming from and he was making an effort to see my perspective. We still had a few arguments, but that was inevitable. After all, he was the parent and I was the kid, there was bound to be a few bumps in the road.
The tension had left the both of us, meaning everything was going back to normal. The gang and Soda had noticed me and Darry were getting along a lot better, they didn't ask about it, but I'd seen their faces when they'd noticed the lack of tension. Me and Darry even fooled around together in a Poker game, he couldn't believe I whipped his butt. I can thank Johnny for my new improved skills, there hadn't been much to do the first couple weeks when I was still recuperating, and Johnny can play one hell of a game.
One of the most surprising things that had happened was when I got a written letter from Randy Anderson.
Dear Ponyboy Curtis, family, and friends
I don't know where to begin. I'm so sorry about the entire incident that took place that night at the park. You and your friend didn't deserve anything from us. I know you didn't do anything with Cherry and Marcia, even if you had, we should have never done that. I was drunk, but I won't use that as an excuse. There is no excuse for how we treated you, how I treated you.
I'm sorry that we caused all of you so much trouble. I know you're probably thinking this letter is stupid, that someone's standing over my shoulder watching me write it, whether it's the girls or my own parents. I swear I wrote this because I wanted to. I would have come and apologized to you and your friend face to face, but your brothers and friends probably wouldn't appreciate that very much. I doubt you'd even give me the time of day, I don't know if you'll even decide to read this or throw it away the moment you see who sent it.
Watch you and your friend's back because some of the guys are still pissed about your brothers and the others coming after us, and there are many guys still angry about how the rumble turned out. I can't tell you how sorry I am.
Sincerely, Randy Anderson
I believed that Randy was really sorry, I know that Cherry and Marcia had been really upset about the whole ordeal and both had come down to visit and apologize for their boyfriend's actions. The gang had all thought it was bullshit, but me and Johnny accepted the apology, though it doesn't really change our opinions about Socs too much. Randy, however, I think he's a decent guy.
Otherwise things are starting to go back to normal, something I'd been craving in the hospital, something I hadn't thought would be possible after everything. The gang is as tight as ever, Steve still acts like an ass to me, Dally is still as cold as ever, Soda can't sit still, Johnny's still real quiet all the time, and Darry works too much. Truthfully, me almost dying had scared us all shitless. We were all content to just sit around and talk, relax, and enjoy one another's company. All of us were reminded of what we had.
You would think after losing our parents not even a year ago, we wouldn't need a reminder about how much we have. I suppose we all just get caught up in our own lives and we forgot to slow down and smell the roses.
In a way I felt like I should thank the Socs for what happened that night, the experience has taught me a lot. I appreciate what I have and I don't know where me and Darry's relationship would be if this hadn't happend. Almost dying had given me a new perspective on things.
I also learned one other thing, and I hope I'll be able to get other people to realize it too:
We all stare at the same sunset.