Pony's POV
I couldn't believe it. She left and she's gone. Is this how Soda felt when Sandy left him? Would I ever seen her again? I would miss her; the way she always smelled like roses, her red lipstick, the way her eyes danced, how she tasted when we kissed . . .
"Pony? Ponyboy, are you okay?" Soda asks me.
"Huh? What?" I say.
Soda hands an envelope to me. "Here's the letter."
I open it and it reads:
'Dear Ponyboy,
I know that you're probably in shock about my departure. I want you to know that, this wasn't my choice. I'm just confused! I'm sixteen and I don't know what I want. I want to go and get somewhere, I know that, but . . . I don't know. All I know is that I want to be a teacher/therapist for teens, stay in Tulsa and be with you. Other than that, I don't know what I'm going to do. And, I feel like I owe Marie. She's gone to great lengths for me and Chevy, so I guess I owe her a lot. I don't know when I'll be back, and I don't know if I'll ever be back. It breaks my heart to say it, but don't you dare get depressed because of me, even if I'll be. So, in a way . . . I hate to write this, but I guess we're . . . no. I won't write it. It'll just break my heart and yours. And I honestly can't deal with another heartbreak, even it'll be the biggest one of my life and my fault as well. Life isn't fair! You don't know how much I want to run to your house and stay in Tulsa. But alas, I can't. So are we over? I don't know. I don't know. . . But if there's another girl that walks into your life . . . don't let me stand in the way. I know I don't have a right to beg God that it doesn't happen, but I can't help it. I'll miss you more than you know. God, I'm crying. But I NEED to pen these words. I love you Ponyboy Michael Curtis, and always will.
Love,
Ari Christine Carina
"Arizona? In New York?" Dally asks. "Well, if she's off to become famous, then she won't have to deal . . ."
"Pony, are you okay?" Soda asks me.
"Yeah," I reply softly. "I'm fine."
"Can I see?" Cherry asks. I hand her the letter and watch as she scans it. "Gosh, she was crying when she wrote these."
"How do you know?" Emily asks.
"Look at this." Cherry points to another part of the paper. "You can see the way it's kinda see through. That tells you that it's been wet."
I wasn't paying attention to what Cherry was saying. All I could think of was Arizona . . .
Back to Arizona's POV
I stare out my apartment room window. I close my eyes and picture the Eastside neighborhood. All the Greasers . . . it was home. I open my eyes, expecting to be home but all I see is the New York skyline with the sun setting. 'Sunsets . . .' I think wistfully. Tears fill my eyes. I've never been homesick . . . but then, the home I knew from age zero to thirteen wasn't worth much to me. I turn away from the window and sit down on my bed in a daze. The tears begin pouring. I walk over to my suitcase and dig for a picture of the gang. It has everyone. I touch the frame gingerly, full on sobbing. I silently curl up under my blanket, clutching the framed picture and fall asleep.
The next morning I try to force myself to awake after the sunrise. But my body decides to wake up before the sun. I walk into the bathroom and change into blue jeans, knee-high boots, a blue top and my brown leather jacket. I pull out my switchblade from my nightstand. A choking feeling clutches me as I slip it into my pocket. I open my door and tiptoe out to the hallway. I take the elevator down and walk through the slowly awakening streets. I pass old shops, dead alleys and apartments. As I walk a feel a box in my jacket pocket. I pull it out to see that it's a pack of cigarettes. I smoked, but only when I was bored or wanted to prove that I was pure Greaser. I light one continue walking.
"New in town?" a voice chills my spine.
I turn to see a teen around eighteen smoking a cigarette. "Maybe." I say, taking a drag.
"So, what do you say we get a room?" he walks over, smelling of smoke.
"No thanks." I reply, wrinkling my nose.
He grabs my wrist. "You sure about that doll?"
I force my wrist away. "Positive. Who are you trying to be? The old Dallas Winston?" The words are out before I think.
"So, you've heard of Dallas, eh?" he smirks. "How do you know him?"
"Why do you want to know?" I snap back.
"We used to run around. Buddy around. That's before he left . . ." his voice trails off.
"Great. Well, bye!" I say quickly and walk on.
When I arrive at the apartment a few hours later, Marie's standing with some guy.
"Arizona!" Marie calls as I walk in. "This is Mr. Darksme's son, Randy. He's . . ."
I'm ignoring her and sizing the guy up. 'Hmm, tuxedo, slicked hair, fancy shoes . . . clearly a Soc.'
"We're going to dinner with both of them tonight." Marie says.
"What?" I ask, cocking an eyebrow. Marie nods. "Can you umm . . . can you excuse me please?" I ask as politely as I can manage.
"Go . . . ahead." Marie says in confusion. I nod and try not to run to my room.
Once inside, I collapse upon my bed. I reach for the picture of the gang. I sigh and look at all the familiar faces. Cherry, Dally, Emily, Johnny, Piper, Steve, Evie, Victoria, Two-Bit, Marcia, Darry, Soda, Pony and me. I remember the day clearly.
It was just a low-key day, and everyone happened to be at the lot. Well, we went on a picnic suggested by your truly. Emily and Johnny were playing with Piper and Steve and Evie were watching Vicky pick flowers. Dally and Cherry were cuddling in their own world and Soda and Darry were talking as Two-Bit was making Marcia laugh. Pony and I were cloud-watching. We all turned our heads as we saw a black corvette show up. A man in a suit and tie came out.
"Well, this is a pretty picture." he said. "I'm Larry Bill, and I do these things where I find some people who seem to know each other pretty well, and take their pictures. And you seem to be a decent bunch."
"Finally." I said. "Someone who sees us as 'decent'. Everyone usually thinks the Socs are but some aren't. That's excepting Cherry and Marcia of course."
"Well, what do you say?" Larry asked.
We all glanced at each other.
"Can't hurt." Two-Bit said with a shrug.
"Sure, why not?" Pony said as we all get up. Soon, Larry has us positioned the way he wanted and set up the camera. He took a few shots and opened the back of his trunk.
"How many?" he asked.
"Eight." I said counting off quickly in my head. Larry hands us eight photos about eight by eleven and drove off before we could thank him.
I collapse on the grass and sigh. "Well, that was weird."
Pony sat next to me. "Yeah. I've seen worse."
"What are we going to do with these?" Two-Bit asked.
"I think each one of us gets one. Except the married couples get one." Cherry said, grabbing a picture.
"We should write our numbers on the back." I suggested. "I have a pen."
We pass all the pictures around and write out phone numbers on it.
I stare at the numbers and a lightbulb goes off in my head. I grab the handset from the phone in my room and dial in the DX number. 'Come on!' I plead. 'Soda, Steve, anyone pick up!'
"Hello?" It's Steve's voice.
"Hello? Have you all forgotten me already!?" I exclaim.
"Who is this?" Steve asks.
"Steve, you idiot! This is Arizona!" I say. In the background I hear:
"Steve who is that!?"
"Yeah, tell us?"
"Put the phone on speaker." I say. "Can they hear me?"
"Loud and clear." Soda says.
"Who else is there?" I ask.
"Well, Soda, Pony, Johnny and Dally are here." Steve says.
"How did you find the number to the DX?" Soda asks.
"Remember that picture we took in the lot? That's where I found it." I explain. "And am I glad I did. I can't stand New York! Marie introduced to this guy named Randy, and he's pure Soc! The bad kind. I was dying to say 'Oh, I know a guy named Randy, but he's dead. How you ask? Well a friend of mine slit his throat. I hope it doesn't happen to you.' How's Pony?"
"Fine." Pony replies.
I sigh. "Can I talk to you?" I hear Steve pass him the phone and put it off of speaker. "So . . . how are you really?" I ask.
"Okay, I guess." Pony replies. "I miss you though."
"I miss you too. Don't you start drinking because of me, okay?"
"I won't." Pony says. "Who's this guy named Randy?"
"No one." I say. "Don't tell me that you're not thinking what I know you're thinking, okay?"
"Okay." Pony sighs. "How's New York?"
"Let's see," I say. "If you call crying every time I see a sunrise or sunset, or a can of soda fine, then yeah."
"You really miss Tulsa, huh?"
"More than you know." I reply. "I just . . . I wish . . . I'll find a way out. I swear I will."
"Okay. I know you will." Pony assures me.
"I have to get ready for a dinner so, I'll try to get away early to call okay?" I say.
"Okay. I love you."
"I love you too. Talk to you later?" I ask.
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye." I say and set down the phone.
AN: Hope you enjoyed this! Reveiws are welcome! Stay Gold!