Well everyone, I have no choice but to say that this is the FINAL chapter of Touched. I can't believe it, after three years, a two-year hiatus and twenty chapters I managed to pull through with the help of encouraging reviewers and fellow readers. I just want to take the time to say thank you everyone. Thank you for following, favorites, reviewing or simply just reading. Thank you all.

I'll have a bigger thank you at the end of the chapter, for now, enjoy the FINAL CHAPTER :)

Chapter 20

Monday morning brought blue skies and anxiety for Ponyboy. He stood at the bus stop with his bag on his back, books in his arms and he waited for the city bus. He gulped, but Soda patted his back, he was there for comfort.

"I could have given you a ride, Ponyboy." Soda pointed out.

"I know," Ponyboy sighed. "But I have to do this, Soda. Or I won't get over it."

Soda nodded, sadly smiling. "I know baby."

The bus would arrive in ten minutes, so the two had time to talk. Ponyboy hadn't forgotten about Curly, he had been charged with assault and sentenced to a week of house arrest and a month of community service following. Ponyboy wished Curly would be with him, not that he didn't mind Soda.

Soda bit his lip.

"Ponyboy, you love Curly. . . don't you?"

Ponyboy turned to look at Soda confused. He nodded. "Yeah, I like him a lot. I mean, he saved me."

Soda nodded. "Okay, just. . . "

Soda trailed off and Ponyboy gazed on at Soda. He didn't understand how he missed the signs of fear. Ponyboy felt guilty.

"Don't be sad, Soda. I still love you and Darry."

"I know, kiddo, I'm just a little sad you're growing up, ya' know?" Soda laughed, softly. "I guess I didn't want to admit my baby brother could be seen as a prized, I guess. Kind of why I was paranoid when we found out you had been-"

It was still a touchy subject.

"I understand," Ponyboy spoke. "I would be too if it happened to you."

Soda smiled sadly, kissing Ponyboy's forehead as the two saw the bus nearing. "Okay, baby. You have a good day at school. You got track practice?"

"Yeah, Darry said I have to take the bus then too."

"Alright, I'll be here, waiting." Soda smiled, waving goodbye as Ponyboy hopped on the bus. It wasn't as scary as Ponyboy felt it was. Best of all, no Socs. He smiled, sitting down in an empty seat. Before the bus took off though, his eyes glanced down the street and he could see someone leaning against the wall of the records store.

He squinted his eyes to get a better look, but the bus already drove past whoever was standing there.

Curly smiled, watching the bus drive towards The High School.

"I knew you could do it, baby." Curly smiled to himself. No house arrest ever kept a Shepard off the streets. He'd be there when Ponyboy got home from school too, he couldn't wait to see Soda's angry face.

Well that was it, short I know. But it was such a sweet ending I thought. Ponyboy finally conquered his fears! And Soda learned to let go too-

*Dallas pops his head out*

"Um. . . Hello."

"What in the hell is this crap?!"

"What's what?"

"This! You leave for nearly two years and when you finally finish the damn story, you leave them hanging with less than five-hundred words? That's a Soc move!"

"Well, I was going to write more, but I figured that this was enough-"

"And why the hell aren't Johnny and I, or even Steve or Two-bit in this more? You got something against us?"

"Wait-No, no! I don't I just-"

"Yeah, whatever. I get paid minimum wage to say maybe three lines in your stupid chapters. Where in the hell can I-

"I have you up for more appearances in my other stories-"

"Whatever."

*Johnny pops out*

"Hey, Dally, com'on, leave her alone."

"What'd you say? This better not be another Cherry Valance thing!"

"No-no, Dally. She just didn't have room for us so-"

"But look at all this! She's writing more in her goodbyes than her stories! Like I said: SOC MOVE!"

*Johnny and I roll our eyes*

"How about this: You hop on over to my other story, Pinkey Promise, and I'll guarantee you a spot there-"

"Oh, you going on a hiatus there too? Why isn't that updated?"

"I've been working on this-"

"Excuses."

*Curly and Ponyboy pop out*

"What's going on here?"

"Oh, hi boys, did you like the story."

*Ponyboy blushes* "Guess so."

"Touchin' my babe, who the hell-"

*Soda and Darry angerly hop out- followed by Two-bit and Steve*

"He's no yours!" *Soda screams*

*Dally rolls his eyes*

"You said he leaned a lesson?"

"That's it! All of you, back in the website, now, now, now!" *Pushes all but Johnny out back into your fanfiction world.*

"Well, Johnny. Wanna' help say goodbye?"

"Sure."

*Ponyboy pops out once more*

"Take it away, Ponyboy.

". . . Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.. . . . "

Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone. I couldn't have done this without all of you. Round of applause for the Greasers, but most of all you readers.

-Stay Gold, Kylelover101