Pony was sick for a couple of days and no one else was in a good mood. I spent most of the weekend at the Curtis house because Pony was so sick. I sat next to the couch where Pony lay and never left his side, not even to eat or drink or do anything really. I took care of him, filling his every need. He called for Soda a lot, sometimes Darry or his parents. If I did ever fall asleep, I would fall to the floor and someone would move me to the other couch. Two-Bit and Steve were there too. It was late Saturday night when Two-Bit confessed.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Pony had a fever before the rumble and he made me promise that I wouldn't tell anyone! It's all my fault that he got a concussion! I'm sorry!" Two-Bit cried. I was struck dumb when Two-Bit came out and said that. He just never felt sorry for anything, ever! We forgave him, though.

Pony never ate, drank, or moved for the time he was in bed. Everybody was so depressed and worried about Pony; we all practically lived in the Curtis house. When Monday came Steve, Two-Bit and I went to school. Both Darry and Soda stayed home with Pony, missing work. Right afterschool the three of us went right to the Curtis house, not even bothering to do our homework. I took my place right next to Pony on the floor again when I got to the house.

On Tuesday I had a math test I wasn't prepared for. I didn't bother to show any work, I just guessed on every single one. Afterschool was the same routine as Monday.

Pony stayed home and in bed for a week. In that same week, I was failing almost all the classes I was taking and lost interest in everything but Ponyboy. It was Monday and I was in Biology class. The teacher had been talking the whole period but I didn't comprehend any of it because I wasn't paying any attention. I raised my hand.

"Yes, Typhani, you have an answer?" Mr. Jones seemed excited to finally get something out of me.

"Oh, I was just wondering if I could go to the bathroom." I said; a little embarrassed.

"Yeah, go ahead." I walked out and didn't go to the bathroom; I just went out for some fresh air. When I came back in everybody was up and walking around. Two girls came up to me and asked, "Do you wanna be in our group?"

"Um, sure, for what, though?" I asked as they pulled me halfway across the room.

"It's for a project Mr. Jones assigned us while you were gone." Great more work.

It was finally the last class of the day. Though it's only history—and not that fun—it was near the end of the day. I sat in class with my book open, my mind off in another world, and my heart broken. He had passed out a test that I completely forgot about. I stared down at it. I read the first question. Then I thought to myself: Did we even learn about this guy? I don't remember any this. I got up from my desk and went to the teacher.

"I can't take this test. I don't know anything." I bit my lip and tried to escape but Mr. Connors had one thing to say, "Well, maybe if you had paid attention in class for the last two weeks, you would know. See me after class." I took my seat again.

The bell rang and school was over at last. Before leaving, I went to Mr. Connors desk to have a conversation with him about my test. I was ready to accept an F.

"Typhani, I don't understand why all of a sudden you just stopped doing homework and it's like you just gave up." He started. "You're one of my brightest students but you're falling apart. Is there something going on?"

I hesitated but I decided to finally speak about it, "Two of my best friends died last week." I held back tears that wanted to pour down my cheeks.

"Oh, my gosh, I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked.

"No, I'll be alright." That was probably the biggest lie I have ever told.

"Come back in a few days and review the material and you can take the test then. Okay?"

I nodded my head and I walked out, free to be alone. Today I didn't go right to see Pony, I went to my house. When I got home, my dad was sitting at my kitchen table. He didn't look that happy. He was playing with a piece of paper at the table.

"Hello, Typhani, I got this in the mail." He passed me the paper he was spinning around. I walked up to the table and looked at the paper. It was a letter explaining how bad I was doing in school. It read:

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Taylor,

Your daughter, Typhani Taylor, is not performing well in school. Lately, he grades have gone from high A's to low D's and F's. I would like to meet with the three of you for a private meeting to discuss the change in her performance at school. I do understand that she may be having problems at home, but I would just like to work them out and make sure she can graduate this year.

Sincerely,

Principal Robert Gordon

"What's going on Typhani? You normally do so well in school." Dad asked, concerned but still angry.

"It's Dallas, okay! Maybe if you didn't kill him, things might be a little better!" I shouted. I left my house, leaving my stuff on the floor by the door. Now I was headed to the Curtis house.

The next day afterschool I had that stupid meeting with the principal. He dismissed my parents for a moment to let me explain what might be going on.

"Now, Ms. Taylor, why don't you tell me what's going on." Mr. Gordon said.

I was so sick and tired of explaining to everyone what was wrong. I could probably heal faster if people would just leave me alone. "My friends, two of them died last week and it's just kinda tearing me apart." I thought about telling him about dad killing Dallas but decided to keep it to myself.

"Well, maybe it'd be best if you visited the guidance counselor. To help you work out some problems you may be having." He said calmly but I didn't take it well.

"I don't need to see a counselor! All I need to be is left alone!" I ran out of the room and into someone. This stranger held me closely. I didn't bother to find out who this stranger was because I felt strangely comfortable standing here between their arms. This person pulled me away from them and I recognized the face as Steve. So it wasn't a stranger at all, it was a dear friend that caught me to console me. I smiled when I found out who it was.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Steve asked, wiping tears off my face.

"Nothing, I just need some time alone. Can you drive me home?" I asked.

"Yeah, of course." Steve put his arm around my shoulder and I play punched him in the stomach. Steve was my best friend and he would always be there for me.

Over the weekend, I got a chance to make up work that I didn't thoroughly complete. It was a lot of work but it was worth getting credit for work I actually put thought into. I never did go back to take that test. I didn't mind the F.

I worked late that night, until ten o' clock or so. Steve came over late at night while I was asleep. He woke me up to tell me that the court hearing for Pony was tomorrow and since we weren't able to come, he asked me if I wanted to hang out with him and Two-Bit tomorrow. I told him, "Sure, but can you leave so I can sleep?" I didn't wait for him to answer; I just closed my eyes and slept until Steve woke me early the next morning.

Before going off on our own, Steve and I stopped by the Curtis house. The three of them looked so tensed up and nervous. On the plus side, Soda looked cute. I couldn't help but smile when I first saw him.

"Hey, relax, I highly doubt they are gonna separate you guys, they couldn't…" My thoughts drifted off into unpleasant ones. What would happen if they were separated? Soda and Pony would be put in a boys' home and we may never see them again. Then I got kinda stuck in a trance and couldn't think of anything but never seeing Pony and Soda again. Steve nudged me and got me back to reality.

"Sorry to wake you from la la land." Steve laughed.

"Time to go!" Darry yelled out to everyone, including Steve and I. We all walked out together but split off getting into different cars. Before saying good-bye we planned to meet after the court hearing at the pizza parlor. Steve started driving and he had no idea where he was going.

"Where do you wanna go?" Steve asked.

"I don't know; why don't we go get Two-Bit for now and maybe he'll have some idea where to go." I said.

"Alright, where is he?" Steve asked.

"His house, where else?" I said sarcastically.

"I don't know a bar." Steve joked. Steve listened to me though, going to Two-Bit's house. All of us were fond of Two-Bit's mother, Sherry, so both Steve and I went inside.

"Hello?" Steve and I said simultaneously. Sherry came out and excited to see us. The first thing she did was come and hug us. Then Two-Bit came out and got his mom to let go of us.

"Mom, get off of them! Give us some privacy, will ya?" Two-Bit yelled at his mom. "So what's up?"

"Soda, Pony, and Darry are at that court hearing and we had nothing better to do." Steve said taking a seat on the couch.

"Why don't we just go to the lot, I don't really feel like doing anything." Two-Bit suggested.

"Oh, why not." Steve said. Instead of taking the Steve's car, we just walked. Two-Bit was drinking a beer and Steve was smoking. They found the football lying around and picked it up and started playing. I didn't play today, just watched them and talked.

"So we're meeting the others for some pizza after the court hearing, you wanna come?" I asked Two-Bit.

"Sure I ain't got nothing better to do." Two-Bit said, throwing the football back to Steve. After a couple of hours we walked back to Two-Bit's house to get Steve's car. I sat in the front with Steve and Two-Bit was stuck in the back. We were the first ones there, so we took our seats at our regular table. Our regular waitress, Nancy, came over to take our orders. Nancy was the only adult that actually accepted us. She saw us as people, not delinquents and rebellious teenagers that some of us are.

"Just the three of you today?" Nancy asked.

"Ah, no, Darry, Soda, and Pony are meeting us here soon." I said.

"What about Johnny n' Dallas?" Whenever we came here it was normally the eight of us and Nancy always expected to take eight orders. But when she asked about Johnny and Dallas, my heart sank a little. I almost wanted to cry again, but of course I wouldn't cry here.

"Uh, Nance, they died a couple weeks ago." Two-Bit explained. He knew I wouldn't say it and Steve just didn't want to bring it up again. Two-Bit got over things quickly but I think losing Johnny and Dallas hit him hard, he was just able to talk about more than some of us were able to.

"Oh, my gosh, that's right, I'm so sorry!" Nancy brought her hands up to her face to cover her mouth, which dropped open the minute Two-Bit reminded her about Johnny and Dallas. "Well I'll come back when the other boys get here." She walked away with shame on her face for having to bring up Johnny and Dallas again. Fifteen minutes after Nancy left us, the other three showed up. They had big smiles on their faces and all I could predict was that something really good happened; either charges were dropped against Johnny and/or Pony and Soda can stay with Darry.

"Good news?" I asked them when they arrived.

"Great news; charges were dropped and these two knuckleheads can stay with me!" Darry cheered. Then we all cheered and Nancy came back.

"Well, it's nice to see you boys again! Have a seat, have a seat. What do guys want?" Nancy said. She was in such a happy mood whenever we came here.

"Two large pizzas and pitcher of beer." Two-Bit ordered.

"A pitcher of Coke." I changed what Two-Bit ordered.

"Sure thing, I'll put that order in now." Nancy said. We talked about the court hearing until Nancy came back with our food. Two-Bit practically swallowed whole ten slices of pizzas, Pony hardly had any at all (he has lost his appetite every since Johnny and Dallas died), and the rest of us ate like civilized people.

Even at school I continued to be reminded of Dallas and Johnny. I was sitting alone at lunch for a while when a boy and a girl approached me.

"You're Dallas Winston's friend, right?" The boy asked.

"Yeah, but I don't want to talk about him." I sighed.

"Well, that's okay, 'cause all I want to say is that he's a jerk and he deserves to be dead!" He shouted.

"Uh, Ricky, now you're the jerk, look, you made her cry!" The girl hit her friend with books. "I'm sorry for my boyfriend's behavior. Whether it's Dallas Winston or… the nicest person on earth, you still lost someone and I'm sorry for your loss and my boyfriend. You know, my aunt said to me, 'If that boy ever has real friends, it'll be a true miracle but if he ever has someone to love him, that's a true blessing.' She knows all about Dallas and how you're his only friend who's a girl. She's likes you Typhani. Well, it was nice meeting you; maybe I'll see you around. My name's Sarah."

"It's nice meeting you too. Oh, and thank you for understanding." I smiled.

"Yeah, any time and if you ever need some girl time, why don't you called me." She said and walked away.

A couple days went by and nothing changed. We were all still very quiet but outgoing and we still kept in touch with each other. Tonight I was going to the Curtis house for dinner. Soda was cooking and I was nervous to see what kind of concoction he was making tonight.

Soda opened the door. He wasn't happy to see me and said nothing when I said hi.

"Soda's been in a bad mood all day, don't take it personally." Pony said seeing the disappointment on my face.

"Hmm, so how was school today?" I checked up on Pony every once and awhile to make sure he was up to standards, Darry's standards that is. Plus, today was his first day back to school.

"It was alright, I saw Cherry and of course I got nothing out of her." Pony sighed.

"I'm sorry Pony, she does like you, she does." I reassured him.

Dinner was quiet because Soda wasn't talking and he wasn't eating like he normally does either. We ate in an awkward silence, staring at one another and eating.

"I'll be right back." I got up and walked to Soda and Pony's room. I sat on the bed and looked around. There were more pictures of Sandy than there were me. I've known Soda forever but he really loved Sandy. I heard faint voices in the background. Obviously, it was the three at the table; no one else was here but the four of us. I couldn't make out all of what they were saying but I could definitely tell that Darry was talking and he sounded angry. Darry was lecturing Pony about school (I heard the words grades and scholarship). I went back to looking at all the pictures. I didn't know if it really bugged me that most pictures of Soda were with Sandy but it did bug me that I had to look at so much Sandy. I jumped when I heard Soda scream. Then the door slammed. I ignored it for a second but then I heard loud footsteps, like people were running. I got up and ran back to the table. I found no one sitting at the table; the house was abandoned. They left me here. I sat back down at the table and finished eating. Next to Soda's plate was an envelope. I picked it up and read the address. It was addressed to someone in Florida. Sandy lives in Florida. This must have been a letter to Sandy but she returned it unopened. I didn't think Soda would mind if I read it.

Dear Sandy,

I know you think I'm upset with you but I'm willing to give you a second chance. I'll help you take care of the baby. I will forget the past and start over with you. I still love you and I really hope you feel the same way. Please don't let your past ruin what we can have now. So come back and forgive yourself. If you didn't hurt me you couldn't hurt yourself. I can wait to marry you. I'll let you finish school and I'll get a better job. We can go away together, just the two of us… no Typhani, I promise. (That one stung). Please come back. I love you Sandy. I'll wait for you. I'll be there for you.

Sodapop Curtis

Soda was always trying to please people, even if they hurt him. He doesn't have a bad bone in his body. When I was done, I went to the kitchen to clean my plate. I sat on the couch (I sat on the letter, I was planning to confront Soda about Sandy) and watched cartoons until they returned.

They came back inside with wide grins on their perfect faces. I gave them a strange face of what-the-heck-just-happened? Darry went to clean up the table, Pony went to his room and Soda sat right next to me.

"I'm sorry." I said.

"For what?" Soda asked; he was confused.

"Sandy, I'm sorry she did this to you but from what I can see, you love her very much and you're willing to forgive her," I pulled the envelope out from underneath me, "and I hope you forgive me for reading your letter to Sandy."

"Yeah, its fine, I just don't think I'm ready to move on yet." That was a downer. I guess that's longer for me to wait for Soda.

"She will come sometime in the near future or maybe she's right under your nose." Soda leaned in closer to me for a kiss. I leaned in too.

"What are you two doing?" Darry interrupted us, typical of him.

"Nothing." Soda and I said simultaneously. "I'm gonna go." I got up and left with the happiest smile… ever. Not only had I convinced Soda that we just might be meant to be, he also might get over Sandy faster than expected. Soda came out and grabbed my arm, "Typhani, you were right, she is right under my nose and I never saw it." He kissed my cheek and walked back to the house. I walked to my car and closed the door. I cheered for my chance with Soda. I saw that he was still standing in the doorway and he watched me drive away.