Is Arizona dead? Read to find out . . . .
"Dr. Michael, we need you in room 118. Dr. Michael, we need you in room 118."
The gang waits in the room worried. Marie, Mr. Darksme and Randy had been arrested. Aunt Alice is talking with a lawyer outside.
"Hey Dally," Soda says. "What did she mean about the note?"
"This note?" Cherry asks, holding up the paper.
"Can I read it?" Tiffany asks shakily. Cherry nods and hand it to her. Tiffany takes a deep breath and opens it. She reads;
"'To whom it may concern: I am dead. I have wanted to die. You don't know the hell I've gone through.
To Dally and Cherry: I have to admit, that you've always know that I wanted you two to be together ever since that day in the Nightly Double. Take care of each other. You don't know how valuable the other is . . . and what could've happened if fate wasn't set the way it was.
To Johnny and Emily: Emily and Johnny, you're great parents. I know that you'll give little Piper the love and care you never got as kids.
To Darry, Ivy and Two-Bit: Two-Bit, don't ever lose that sense of humor. There are lots of people who need it. Darry and Ivy, good luck with the new baby! I'll really regret that I wasn't there.
To Steve, Evie: Keep loving each other. Protect Victoria. Don't let her go through what we all had to go through. Trust me, this world is screwed up. I've said it over and over.
To Piper and Victoria: I want you both to know that you have wonderful parents and I hope that you never have to experience the conflict the rest of us had to go through.
To Soda: I know you're still heartbroken over Chevy. She'll be back. Famous perhaps. But she lost one the most valuable things in her life. You. In the meantime, don't worry and stress so much. I knew about Sandy. She didn't love you. I knew about her long before any of you did.
To Ponyboy: I'm sorry it had to end this way. I really wanted to protect you. I love you. If there's another girl, don't let me stand in the way." Tiffany pauses.
"To Tiffany," she continues. "Take care of the gang for me. And Alex. Thank you for being the best sister anyone could ever ask for.
But to you all, I have been keeping a great secret from you. I'm from the future. So is Tiffany." Tiffany drops the paper. "No." she says. "She never . . ."
Soda bends down and picks up the paper. "In the world we come from," he continues. "The Outsiders is a book with a movie accompanying it. And I hate to say it, but here's what happens:
Dally and Johnny: I hate to say it . . . but you die. You were supposed to. Remember the church fire in Windrixville? Well, Johnny you were supposed to be seriously injured and died. And you're the one thing Dally really cared about at that time, so Dally, you lost it."
Dally looks up. "What? What is she talking about?"
"You broke. I was right when I said you needed Johnny. Anyway, you broke and you went and robbed a store. You got wounded by the clerk and chased by the police. You wanted to die, so you raised that gun - it wasn't loaded - and you were seen as a threat to the police. So they shot you. They shot you. And you died. Because you wanted to be dead. And you always got what you wanted. I'm just grateful it didn't happen. So, now you know about me and the secret I've kept. Stay gold. Stay gold. Love, Arizona." Soda finishes the letter with wide eyes.
"You were supposed to die?" Cherry asks him. "How?" she turns to Tiffany. "And . . . is it true?"
"Yes." Tiffany says with a deep breath. "I'm from the 21st century. And yes, this is a book. And yes, Dally, you were supposed to die. So was Johnny. Arizona knew. And she tried to stop it."
"So Arizona knows the future?" Soda asks.
"No." Tiffany says. "She doesn't."
"Are you the family of Arizona Carina?" A doctor comes and asks them.
"Yes." Cherry replies.
"How is she?" Pony asks, getting up.
"She's in critical condition." the doctor says. "The bullet went through the side of her neck. She's going through surgery now. And there's the possibility that the bullet may have hit her spinal cord so we still don't know if she'll be in a coma or not."
"Okay, thanks." Soda says. "We can't figure this out unless Arizona wakes up. Until then . . . are you okay Tiffany?"
"What?" Tiffany blinks. "Oh, yeah. I just . . . I never . . ." She sits down and buries her face in her hands. "Why?" she sobs. "Arizona was never suicidal! She had too much to live for! I would imagine this two years ago, but not now!"
"Hey," Cherry sits next to her and rubs her back. "Arizona's going to be fine. Do you hear me!? She'll be fine."
"Don't we hope." Pony sighs sarcastically.
"Man! When did you lose hope!?" Dally scolds him. "She'll live! So relax!"
"Actually we don't know." Pony snaps. "She could be dead for we know."
"Relax Pony." Soda tells him. "We don't know that."
A FEW HOURS LATER . . .
"She's out of surgery." the doctor notifies them. "So you can see her now."
"Okay," Tiffany replies. "Thanks."
"Hey, Pony." Soda shakes his little brother gently. "Wake up."
"What?" Pony asks, sitting up.
"We can see her now." Cherry informs him.
"Okay." he yawns and they make their way to Arizona's room.
BACK TO ARIZONA'S POV
I'm alive. How am I not dead!? I flutter my eyelids weakly. I take a deep breath and open my eyes. They widen at the sight of the gang in my room. "What are you doing here?" I ask.
"Here to see you." Tiffany says.
"You've got some explaining to do." Dally smirks, holding up the note I had written.
I groan. "Now I regret writing that. What do you want to know?"
"Was I seriously supposed to die?" Dally asks me.
"Yes." I say. "And yes, everything in there is true."
"So, how are you feeling?" Soda asks me.
"Like I shot myself." I reply. "What happened to Marie and Mr. Darksme?"
"Jail." Cherry says.
"Really?" I ask. "Great. I'll testify if needed."
"I hope they don't get a trial." Dally says. "There's too much evidence."
"Trial or not." I sigh. "They'll go to jail anyway."
"Right." Tiffany confirms.
"Can I talk to her alone for a moment?" Pony asks them.
"Sure." Tiffany replies and ushers the gang outside.
Pony pulls up a chair and holds my hand. "What were you thinking?" he asks. "Shooting yourself!? You had something to live for!? So tell me, why did you try it!?" he demands.
"Okay." I say. "I did it because I was temporarily insane."
"Excuses, excuses." Pony sighs. "You were never suicidal. And people usually do self-harm or something like that before actually killing themselves."
"I don't know!" I cry. "Okay? I don't know."
"You know." Pony says gently. "You just want to forget."
"Of course I want to forget!" I exclaim. "I went through hell! Marie was constantly abusive and so was Mr. Darksme! Randy threatened to rape me if I didn't sing for them or give them the money I earned!"
"Those . . ." Pony calls them every bad name he can think of.
"You were never one to swear like that," I say wryly. "Since when?"
"Dunno." he replies. "How could they do that?"
"Because the could." I whisper. "They could because I didn't fight."
"Why did you fight?" Pony asks. "I've seen you fight! You can beat three Socs without batting an eyelash! So why didn't you fight?"
"To protect you." I reply softly.
Pony looks surprised. "What?"
I nod. "I did it to protect the gang. They threatened to go back to Tulsa, kidnap the whole gang including the kids and kill them in front of my eyes." I feel tears go to my eyes. "I couldn't let that happen. So I became their punching bag." I reach out to touch his face. "Please tell me you understand." He doesn't reply.
"You didn't have too." he says.
"No." I reply softly. "But I chose to."
"Okay." Pony says and kisses me. "Relax okay? And promise me you won't pull off a stunt like that again."
"I promise." I say with a small smile. "Has there been a lack of hair gel lately?"
"Why?" Pony asks.
"Your hair?" I say with a cocked eyebrow. "So there has been a drought of hair gel."