***************Sodapop's pov******************

I was very sad even though no tears left my eyes when Ponyboy cut his throat. He screamed in agony and pain and then collapsed dead on the floor with blood spilling everywhere…I didn't even want to think of how Darry would react when he got home, let alone Steve and Two-Bit.

When Pony arrived in heaven, he reacted the same way I did. Running to mom & dad, crying, crying harder after seeing Dally and Johnny, becoming friends with Bob and Randy (Randy came to heaven soon after I did) and soon he came to me.

By the look on his face he was sure to think I was just a statue, or a figment of his imagination. "Soda?" he whimpered. I beamed and opened my arms. "Pony." I said. My bottom lip trembled as he nearly tackled me running into my arms. Muffled words came out of his mouth like "It really is you!" or "I love you ever so much and I can't believe you're here." We were both crying until Dad interrupted and showed him the Earth thing like he showed me.

While my parents were over there talking to him, I was talking with Dally, Johnny, Bob, and Randy. "That was a stupid move by him." Dally said. "I know. Poor Dar lost all his brothers and parents now. I won't be surprised if he killed himself, too." Johnny said. We weren't gossiping about Ponyboy, just talking about things that he did that would probably hurt Darry, Steve, or Two-Bit.

"He had a whole life ahead of him." Randy said.

"I did too but not as much. He was only 14." Johnny said.

"Stupid kid." Dally said.

I laughed a little. Dally would say something like that.

After my parents talked to him, I approached him. "Hey, Pony." I said to him as he was sitting down on this pretty golden lawn chair. "Hey!" He said excitedly. "It reclines!" He demonstrated for me. I laughed and sat down on the chair next to him. "Yes. Beautiful place, isn't it?" "Well it's heaven right?" "Ah. Yes. This is true." We laughed a little bit. "Hey, listen, the reason why I came to give you company is because I wanted to ask you something."
"What?"

"Why did you do it?"

He was silent for awhile. "I…I guess I don't know."

"You know that Darry, Steve, and Two-Bit don't really have anyone but themselves left?"

His eyes widened. I guess he forgot.

"You had a whole life ahead of you but now you left it go to waste?"

"Well, Johnny did too?"

"He died from saving children, Pony. He died from a good cause."

"Well what about Dally?"

"He died for Johnny, didn't he?"

"Well, I died for you."

It was quiet. He proved me wrong. I rumpled his hair.

"Well, little buddy. All I'm saying is you didn't need to cut your throat."
We laughed awhile, then the others joined us.

"What are you guys talking about?" Dally asked.

"This little buddy here died for me." I answered.

There was a chorus of 'Awwwhhh's and then a chorus from me and Pony of 'Shut up!'s.

"Hey, we were gonna go take a walk. There's a whole lot of amazing stuff here, and you'll never believe this Pony but there's a drive-in that looks exactly like the one in Tulsa!" Pony beamed. He was remembering the memories from when he, Johnny, and Dally went and met Cherry Valance and her friend Marcia. I could tell. "Of course I want to go!" He said, standing up right away. I stood too, smiling as we started walking. I was used to the fact Dally, Johnny, Bob, and Randy were here. Ponyboy wasn't. When Johnny put his arm around Pony's shoulders Pony held back tears. "It's like a dream." I heard him say to Johnny. It would've been funny if Dally heard-he would make fun of him for all eternity…literally!

But I was still not used to Mom and Dad. Neither was Pony. When they came up behind us and took our hands, I felt a surge of excitement, love, and joyfulness shoot through me. Pony and I looked at each other and we both looked the same. Holding back tears but not frowning, we were smiling huge.

Our parents looked at each other and smiled, then we all joined the rest of the group.

The entire time we were walking, laughing, talking and having an amazing time…it was the best time ever-especially with everyone we thought were dead. Notice I said thought?

They are alive. Alive with us forever. When we arrive in heaven, we will reunite with the ones we loved and love them again. 'Being friends forever' can really be true if the friendship is great enough-just like us seven greasers.

Now all we have to do is wait for Two-Bit, Steve, and Darry.