˙˚∘⊹🦋⊹∘˚˙ Butterfly in the Moonlight

- CHAPTER 18 -

I sat in the crowd in the the room. My eyes narrowed at the judge, awaiting his statement.

Ponyboy had invited me to this, considering I was a friend in his eyes. It was the judge debating on allowing Darry to keep Ponyboy under his care.

I pursed my lips together, bouncing my leg up and down as I drummed my fingers against my crossed arms.

The judge called out, "I believe you, Darry Curtis, are a good and collected parental figure to Ponyboy Curtis. You may leave." He said with a slam of his tiny hammer.

I flinch at the sound, allowing a smile to draw from my lips as I stood up.

I wiped off my summer dress, and moving towards the section of boys.

Ponyboy was beaming with tears in his eyes, he ran up to me through the crowd. I squeak, and gently pat his back. "Rylee! I get to live with Darry!!" He gasped out, squeezing me.

I give a small laugh. "I heard. I'm glad about that."

"You know, it wouldn't kill you to hug properly." Ponyboy quipped, teasing me just like Dally did.

I wrapped both of my arms around him, and squeeze him. "Is that better?" I asked, setting my head on his shoulder.

"A lot better." Ponyboy nodded.
———
I sat alone at the graveyard.

I was on my knees, with four pots of flowers.

One pot, filled with red roses and small peonies, symbolizing love, or romance. Another filled with orange roses and a lavender rose, the orange meaning fascination, and the lavender meaning love at first sight. Those were for Johnny. I set them beside his grave, and shuffled towards Dallas's grave.

I had two pots for him. One filled with chrysanthemums, meaning for friendship and another one filled with hydrangeas, meaning for "thank you for understanding me". I never got to tell him that.

I stood up from the graves, taking one last look before wiping off my knees and heading to my own home.