A Ride Home {COMPLETED}

Epilogue

|| Pony's POV ||

3 years later. . .

I walked down the hallways of Tulsa High School for the last and breathed in a deep sign. I glanced around at all the lockers and posters, taking in the little things I may never see again.

I made my way down the south C wing and navigated my way to locket 722. I smiled and dialed in the combination. I opened it to be blasted with the smell of her.

I sighed again and sifted through a few papers and pictures that were slowing falling apart in her locker. I picked out the book she had begged for for Christmas five years ago. I pulled her copy of Gone With the Wind out and opened it. She was the whole reason why I had started reading it.

I looked again and found some old, crinkled drawings in a beat up folder. I placed it on my stack of books and opened the folder as much as I could.

What I found was remarkable.

She had drawn pictures of all of us in her favorite moment of us. I opened to the one of the whole gang. In the picture, we were all smiling and laughing about something. I noticed that Dally's and Johnny's faces were especially drawn and popped out.

I placed the drawing back in its folder and begin placing all of her things into my bag. As I was pulling out some notebooks, a picture fluttered to the ground. I slowly bent down and examined it.

It was the first picture we had taken together. We were smiling from ear to ear and we had our arms slung around each other's shoulders. We both had Popsicle mustaches and she was missing her two front teeth. I remember that day so clearly. . .

|| Flashback ||

"Ponyboy!" she called out to me.

I smiled and waved my small, chubby hand at her and ran over to her.

"Come on inside, mom has a Popsicle for us!" I gleefully shouted and her face brightened.

"Are they cherry?" She asked.

"Of course! Now come on before they melt!" I whined and we skipped into the house.

We grabbed our popsicles and went outside to sit in the grass like we always did in the summer. She sat down on the ground next to me and licked her Popsicle.

"You know what, Ponyboy?" She asked.

"What?" I asked, taking a bite.

"You're my best friend," she smiled and the started pulling grass up from the lawn.

"Hey you two, let me get a picture of you two!" Mom yelled, walking out of the house, camera in hand.

I immediately slung my arm over her shoulder and she giggles and mimicked my actions.

"1...2...3... Cheese!"

I smiled at the memory and tucked the photo into my back pocket. Soon, her whole locker was cleaned out and I finished zipping up my backpack. I double checked nothing was left behind, then slowly closed the door. I turned around and nearly jumped out of my skin.

There she was.

"Ponyboy," she whispered, her voice like bells.

"Melody?" I asked, reaching out for her.

"Thank you, Pony, for not forgetting the happiness in your life. Forgetting what it was like to smile. Make sure you tell Dally," she said, reaching for my hand.

It was almost unbelievable, but I felt her caring, soft touch. Slowly, she began to fade away.

"No! Please don't leave me!" I shouted.

"I love you, Ponyboy. I promise to keep you safe."

I felt her touch soften and it broke my heart.

"I love you too," I whispered as her and her touch vanished.

I collapsed to my knees and ran my fingers through my hair.

After a short while I regained myself and stood, grabbing my backpack. And as I made my way out to the front of the school, I realized something.

Mel always told us that no matter where we were, would always be together. But I never understood it until now. No matter where she was, she would always be apart of us. And we weren't about to forget it.

~•~•~•~•~

That's it guys! I loved writing this book for you guys. I want to thank you all for sticking through this with me, because without you guys, I wouldn't be writing this. I am so happy I was able to share my first ever Outsiders story with you guys and hope I have inspired some of you. I love each and everyone of you.

Thank you all so so much again.

Please read my other stories and pass the word on this one!

Ilyasm❤️

Stay Gold!
~Cassie
❤️❤️❤️