It didn't help that I was scared for my life. The car I drove was illegal, and I was the illegal runaway. Is this what Dally felt? Is this what he feels? My mind wandered everywhere, everywhere instead of where I actually was.

The car drove smoothly, the highway was familiar to most so no one drove there. Especially not at- 7AM. I continued to drive until there was a gas warning. Worry overtook me- would people notice the car? Would they notice me and take me back?

All those thoughts disappeared when I entered the gas station. "$12 on pump 6," My voice was timid. The cashier didn't care, they looked as greasy as I was. The money I stole was well over enough to probably make it to New York or something.

As I was walking out I saw a girl, she looked to be around my age. Brown matted hair and a somewhat suspicious look in her eyes. She had a red cardigan, black jeans, and a somehow white button-up shirt. In her hands she had a map, I could see the highways and more maps she had. Not wanting to be suspicious I tried to walk back to the car but she stopped me.

"Are you a runaway?" Her voice was meek but had a careless tone. I froze and she smiled. "Don't worry I'm running away too. Where are you going?" She had followed me to the gas pump and watched as I pumped the car. "I don't know where I'm going honestly," I had to admit it, the only plan I had was to get out.

She smirked, "I have a map. Tell me, hot or cold?" I pulled the pump out of the car, shaking every last drop of gasoline. "I don't know…"

"Are you hungry? Usually when I'm hungry I can't make decisions. There's a diner around here…" She rambled on. As if on cue, my stomach rumbled. She looked at me and seemed to shuffle around her maps. "You're in Cuba right now…"

"Cuba? No, I'm in the United States," I said genuinely concerned. She laughed so hard she doubled over. Trying to catch her breath she held up her map, "You're in a town called Cuba." I felt my face heat up as I got into the car. She just stood outside.

"Get in, you're going to help me find a place," I wouldn't talk to someone like this normally but she seemed casual about it. I drove and once in a while, she would tell me directions. Finally, when I parked I asked her, "What's your name?"

"Call me Kitty, since I don't have a name… what's your name?"

No name? Well, it isn't that unpopular here, my mind wondered for a bit but I answered her back. "Don't make fun of me for it," I warned. "My name is literally Kitty, what could be worse than that?" She asked. "It's Ponyboy." Instantly I could see her face contort, obviously trying not to laugh. Sighing I got out of the car with Kitty following close behind. "Sorry sorry!" She called out with a grin, "Just… do you like horses?"

I rolled my eyes. "My dad named me it, he was a very unique man."

"Unique…" She paused but continued to smile. I opened the door to the old diner, the door almost giving me splinters. The scent of the establishment seemed to assault my nostrils. I thought briefly if I was going to die from the amount of scents there were. First was a coffee scent, a sweet hazelnut scent. Then a heavy cigar scent, I could've killed for a cigarette but cigars?

I was thrown out of my thoughts when Kitty pushed me out of the way for a couple to get out. A waitress came over and I got a table for two. Unsurprisingly the diner was filled with old people trying to catch up over coffee. Maybe thats what made it smell worse? We ordered and sat in silence for a bit.

"Why did you run away?" Kitty asked after the waitress brought our drinks. I got chocolate milk and she got a water. I looked away and picked at my straw.

"My brother hit me… I couldn't stand him hollerin' and hittin' me at the same time," My voice shook as I recalled those moments. She sighed and put her elbows on the table. "At least we have one thing in common."

"Why did you run away?" I wasn't that curious but might as well get an answer. "Too much stuff. Although, beating and yelling were part of it." I nodded. Soon the food came and we dug in. After I finished my eggs and bacon I saw Kitty picking at her pancakes.

"Your names nice…" She spoke after eating a bite of her pancake. "Really? Even after you laughed about it?" I said in a playfully mean tone. She nodded, "At least you have a name ya know?" I paused, this was starting to feel awkward but she just laughed.

"Tell me, where are you from?"

"Tulsa, Oklahoma-"

Her eyes widened and she just about jumped up from her chair. "YOU CAME ALL THE WAY HERE FROM!-" She paused and quieted herself down. Some old people were now starting to stare. "You are 4 hours away from Tulsa- hell you're in Missouri!" I looked at her shocked.

I didn't know that I drove that far… The car didn't even give me a warning! Darry was right… I don't use my head enough-

"Ready for the check?" A waitress asked, throwing me out of my thoughts. Kitty nodded and asked for a to-go box. After I paid we left to the car. "So now that you ate, where to?" Kitty asked as she buckled her seatbelt.

I hummed as I started the car. I drove down the highway I used before. "Highway I-44?" Kitty asked. I didn't even realize what highway I came from, or which one I used. It didn't matter but to her, it seemed to. "If you want to go backward we can go to Texas-"

"Nah '' I didnt want to go to Texas, just somewhere… somewhere…?

She huffed and looked at her maps again. "Cold or hot?" I started to merge into traffic, "Colds nice, and hot gets too stuffy…" She looked around, "New York?" I paused and thought about Dally. Maybe I should see what the appeal is…

I nodded and instantly she started telling me when and where to go. It took a while and after 5 hours in the car we took a break. "So much happened in the span of a day. It's only 1 PM…" Kitty said as she stretched her legs. I followed suit, finally free of the stress of looking at the road.

"Wanna drive for me?" I asked jokingly. She sighed and thought about it, "Nah we'd both end up dead. I dont know how to drive!" She laughed and I just smiled. I had stopped at a gas station and I went inside and paid for gas. Spotting some cigarettes I buy enough to last me until next week (five packs). When I step outside, Kitty is talking to some tough men.

I used my head and just watched the interaction. Ready to step in just in case it got physical. She spotted me and waved goodbye before starting to fill up the car. I walk over and get into the driver's side. Soon, she follows in after me and I start the car.

"Want to get some food?" She asks, I shake my head. "I just wanna make it to New York as fast as I can…" She huffs but continues to guide me. I drive for another hour or two. The wheel seems to move on its own and I notice myself dozing off.

I want to ask if she can drive but after the gas station… Im not sure if I should trust her on the road. Before I realize it, Kitty is holding the wheel with her eyes big and wide. I don't care, I just wanted to sleep…

It doesn't take long for her to direct me to a motel. "Why are we here? We needa get to-"

"You're falling asleep. I had to hold the wheel three times for you," Kitty said angrily. Her eyes are still wide but I can't argue with going to the motel. It doesn't take long to get two rooms directly next to each other. "What's your size?" Kitty asked before I went to my room.

I was much too tired to question why she asked so I just answered, "Small in shirts and something like medium pants…" My voice was trailing off. I didn't notice that she switched the car keys for the motel keys. All I knew was happiness as I slumped into that bed. I was so tired that nightmares didnt even come to me

When I woke up it was 1 AM. In my room was a new set of clothes, shampoo, conditioner, and some hair oil. Damn, she knew to get everything. After showing and fixing my hair I step out of the room. I walked to her room and knocked on the door.

"Go to sleep, Ponyboy. It's too early to drive," Kitty whined before opening the door. "You think there's any stores open right now?" It was a dumb question for me to ask but there was something I needed to do. She sighed, "There's a Winn-Dixie down the road, what do you need to buy?"

"Paper- I need paper," I knew my voice was rough. I needed to tell Soda… I needed to tell him I wasn't angry or anything like that. I needed to tell him I was sorry that I wasn't coming home.

My mind filled with things that I needed to tell Soda. Maybe I could tell him that I was going to New York…

"Ponyboy?" Kitty's voice interrupted my thoughts. I look up at her and she repeats what she said, "I said, do you need me to drive you there? Turns out I'm a quick learner and only got into one drag race!" I want to question how but honestly my mind was just on Soda.

I shook my head, I was not trying to get into a drag race when just trying to get paper. She sighs and digs around for the car keys. "Here, I parked it in the corner. I'll wait for you at 4 AM in the same spot, unless you come back in earlier," Her voice sounded unsteady but I just grabbed the keys and started my way to the car.

The second I got into the car I could feel the way the seat was moved. It was uncomfortable but bearable enough that I could change it. Driving to Winn-Dixie was a breeze but the people that were outside of the Winn-Dixie looked like a drug alley. Quickly I made my way into the store and looked for paper.

It didn't take long to find what I needed and go back to the car. Well, it wouldn't have taken long if someone didn't stop me. "Hey kid… Where are you from? You a greaser?" The words seemed slurred and when I turned around there was a drunk man. Drunk or maybe on something else…

His eyes were bloodshot but I tried to make my way to the car. He started to run after me and I didnt have a pocket knife. Guess I'll have to use physical combat for now… I wish Dally or Darry taught me how to fight. The punches I threw were weak and the only way I could get him away from me was by kneeing his dick.

God if only this trip couldn't get worse. It turned out I forgot to get a pen. Sighing I prepared myself to go back in but stopped. The car was a socs… so maybe their school bag was in there? As I looked around I saw the crowd of drunks/drug addicts fill the streets even more. Guess I would have to just pray it was in there.

Taking a glance at the time I see it's 3 AM, almost time for me to get Kitty. As I drove by the motel I started to really think about what I was doing. While waiting I decide to go back into my motel room and start working on my letter. After a bit, someone knocked on my door.

I opened the door and saw Kitty. "Yo, ready to head out?" She asked, bags hung from her eyes but I just nodded, knowing I probably looked the same. We turned in our keys and started our way to the car. "Only 9 more hours to go!" Kitty called out as she got into the car.

After a bit we made it to a wide stretch of road. "We gotta continue straight for about two hours. Ooooh, what's this?" Kitty started messing around with the car, turning on an electric cigarette lighter. "Hey, you smoke right?"

I nodded my head and opened the glove box before getting back to the road. For 5 AM the roads were pretty empty so I wasn't worried. Kitty lit a cigarette and instantly I couldn't help but reach my hand over to get one. She opened a window as I smoked the cigarette.

The cigarette seemed to take all my worries away. Now all I knew was that I was going to mail the letter to Soda, get to New York, and start a new life, maybe I could get Kitty to help with my new life... "Jeez, cigarettes stink," Kitty coughed out. I laughed, the scent seemed to intoxicate me.

"I love the smell of cigarettes, especially Kools. Glory, they are my favorite," I ended up going on and on about kools. Kitty didn't seem to mind, she was too busy trying not to inhale the smoke. When I finished I put it in the ashtray and tried to air out the car.

Before I had realized it I was talking about my home life. I was talking about Paul Newman and just about anything that came to mind. She didnt seem to mind my mindless ramble, sometimes chiming in. After twenty minutes she sniffed the car.

"This car is going to smell forever," She complained but then her eyes got a spark, "Lets trade in this car! In the glovebox-" she dug around, "-there is all the paperwork for it! Hell, we don't even need a name! Here there's a car dealership-"

That's how we ended up trading the black Mustang for a convertible Chevrolet. Kitty turned out to have good bargaining skills, so we somehow got $200 extra for the Mustang. "Let's go get something to eat," She said as she fished out her day-old to-go box.

"Why? You have food right there."

"Not for me. You gotta eat to become big and strong or something," She laughed and ate her pancake. I was hungry though so I drove into a Dairy Queen. After ordering two Barbeque sandwiches, and devouring them, we were on our way. Without realizing it I was making Kitty light my cigarettes.

With the car being a convertible, the smoke didn't seem to get in the seats. I was thankful for that when I stopped smoking after a pack. The smell would have made me want more cigarettes then I would be out in a day! Soon we started to get closer to New York.

"Wanna go to a drive-in? I see it here on the map," Kitty pointed but after seeing I was busy on the road she just started directing me. It didnt take long to make it into the drive-in, with our car being a convertible it was pretty easy.

I left to get snacks and when I came back Kitty was talking to more tough men. I looked at her and lifted my eyebrow like Two-bit. She laughed and took some popcorn, "I'm getting some tips as to what to do in New York."

I nodded and watched the movie- Gone With The Wind. Turned out the theater was doing a throwback thing. Although I didnt mind watching the movie again; I just wished I had the book. After the movie, we started on our way again to New York.

Before we fully made it we took a stop at another motel. Turns out that only eating once and smoking a lot doesn't really fill you up with energy. Especially when you pair all of that with a movie and snacks. We got one room with two beds, it was all we could spare for then. I didn't sleep much, I was focused on writing a letter to Soda.

After all the time I had spent driving I had enough time to think. I wasn't angry anymore but after seeing most of the world I enjoyed it. It was bad for me to steal the stolen car but it was now "new", right? Mentally I fought with myself, unsure what was moral and immoral…

I took hours writing, Kitty left for a bit. I hadn't noticed but the sunsets were still as amazing as before. She had come back with a bag, more paper. Looking down I saw that all the paper I had was balled up. The words are too hard for me to speak.

"Just write what you wanna. Or better yet, there's a phone downstairs, you can use that." With that, she handed me a dime and I perked up. It would be late but not too late for them, that house never sleeps. "Want me to come with you?" Her voice seemed concerned.

She wasn't like Soda, couldn't comfort me, nor like Johnny, she didn't understand. Yet, she stayed, it didn't matter what I did. Though we had only spent a day or two together I could trust her. So, I nodded my head and she followed me to the phone booth.

She stood outside as I put the dime in and waited as the phone rang. I almost prayed that no one would answer until a familiar soft voice came through.

"-Hello?"

I listen to the background chatter. The voice I know sounds tired, raspy, and sad. I took a deep breath in, "S-soda… it's me. Pony…"

"PONYBOY?"