It was a sunny June day, and my friend Pete and I were gliding down the street toward the book store using our Heelys.
"So, what are you gonna look for?" I asked Pete.
"Probably some poetry or something." He replied.
I nodded and swerved slightly to avoid running into a mother and her baby carriage. Classic Pete. When we arrived I pushed open the doors and smiled as I looked around at the rows of covers on the shelves. The air had that new book smell that I loved. Book stores were nice, comforting places. Pete and I walked around, picking up books here and there, until one caught my eye.
"Oh hey! They have The Outsiders! I love that book." I exclaimed.
"No way, me too! I'd give anything to meet Ponyboy!" Pete said.
I agreed and picked up the book. "I'm totally going to buy it." Then I walked over to the counter. Pete followed after me with a new copy of "200 Wacky Rhymes For Kids!" I placed the book on the counter and looked up at the cashier who was nodding in approval.
"The Outsiders, huh?" He asked. "Who's your favorite character?"
I smiled and said "Ummm Ponyboy obviously..."
He glanced between Pete and I and started grinning. "Well you're in luck, because I happen to know him."
Pete and I simultaneously scoffed. "Um yeah right, he's a fictional character." Pete said. "He's only a creation from the mind of S.E. Hinton, idiot. Just scan our books so we can leave."
The cashier shook his head. "I am Ponyboy." He said. "And I can prove it." The man who claimed to be Ponyboy walked over to the phone and picked it up, then started dialing a number in. We heard it ringing until it stopped and we could faintly hear someone on the other end. The cashier smiled and said "Soda? Johnny? Could you come down to the bookstore? There are a couple people here I think would like to meet you." Then he paused and said "Okay, good. See you in a few." He hung up and looked at us. "My friends will be here soon. Johnny's nice, a little shy. Oh and he didn't actually die. I just added that to the story to spice it up a little. Soda's real nice, just kind of a joker."
Pete flipped his long black fringe out of his eyes and reapplied his eyeliner. "Are you kidding? You're saying you know Soda and Johnny too? You're crazy." He grabbed his book, threw $5 on the counter, then stormed out. I turned to the cashier.
"What's wrong with you, weirdo?" and I followed Pete out. "Wow that guy was a nutcase, right Pe-" I was cut off by the sound of tires screeching and a loud grunt. I rushed forward to see Pete lying on the ground in front of a truck, clutching his chest. Someone had ran him over!
"Ow." said Pete.
"Oh my god, Pete are you okay?" I looked around and saw that like 5 people were looking at him with worry. "IS ANYONE HERE A DOCTOR?" I shouted.
A tall brunette ran over and nodded. "I am! What seems to be the problem, mister?"
Pete groaned and choked out, "I g-got hit by a c-car."
The brunette doctor nodded. "How did this happen?"
Pete looked at her weakly. "I was gliding on my Heelys when I slipped and slid into the road."
She nodded once again and made a "Mmhmm" sound. "Let me feel your chest." Then she grabbed his ribcage and winced. "Looks like you broke 12 ribs."
"What?" I shouted, "Isn't that like all of them?"
The doctor said "He's probably going to die." Then walked away.
I looked at Pete who had his eyes closed and was breathing heavily. He opened his eyes and said quietly, almost whispering, "I'll keep you like an oath, may nothing but death do us part." And died.
My shoulders slumped and I shook my head. Of course he would make his last words a Fall Out Boy reference. Tears started streaming down my face as I held Pete in my arms. He was my best friend. Suddenly, the car door swung open and out stepped the people responsible for the death of my best (and only) friend.
"Hey Greasers! What did I miss?" A man who resembled Sodapop from my favorite book, landed on the ground and helped out a small dark haired boy who resembled Johnny. We all gaped at him. It seemed he was not aware of what he had done.
"YOU RAN OVER MY FRIEND AND KILLED HIM!" I screamed.
"Whoa, take a chill pill, little lady. I'm sure he'll be okay." The guy turned to the cashier, who had run out of the shop at the sound of commotion.
The cashier scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "No, Soda. You really killed him."
The boy he called Soda frowned. "Oh, sorry. Are you the people Ponyboy here wanted us to meet?" When I didn't reply he glanced at the cashier who nodded.
"Why did Pete have to die?" I asked rhetorically. It got really awkward and the three of them stood there looking uncomfortable.
Suddenly, the boy who looked like Johnny spoke up. "Hey, we did a pretty crappy thing, so how about we take you to dinner, anywhere you want?"
I shook my head and sniffed. "Will dinner bring Pete back?"
They looked at each other sadly. "No." they said in unision.
"Fine. But we're going to Olive Garden." I stood up dragged Pete to the side of the road. I gently laid him on his back and closed his eyes. Someone would find him later. "And I'm gonna eat all the breadsticks."
Soda grinned. "Great! Get in the truck and we can leave right now." I looked down at my Toy Story 2 watch. My mom didn't expect me home for another hour and a half, so I had plenty of time.
"SHOTGUN!" I screamed.
The cashier, or Ponyboy, groaned. "But it's our truck!"
Sodapop scolded him. "Ponyboy, manners! And we did kill her friend."
Ponyboy shrugged. I walked toward the car and opened the passenger door, then climbed inside. After I buckled my seatbelt, I made a face at the strong smell of sweat and cigarettes in the car. Oh well, I'm getting free breadsticks.
On the way there, I thought about a lot of things. I thought about Pete, and if anyone had found him yet. I thought about Olive Garden, and the golden breadsticks that I loved so much. Lastly, I thought about the boys in the car. Could they really be who they say they are? Am I going to dinner with the characters of The Outsiders? They do look like them.
When we reached the restaurant, Soda pulled into a parking space and turned around in his seat to face the boys. "Okay, when we get in there, we need to be cool. This place is a regular Soc hangout." The other two agreed. I unbuckled my seatbelt and followed Sodapop out of the car. At the entrance of the restaurant, he held the door open for me. "Ladies first." I rolled my eyes and entered. We approached the smiling host lady.
"Hello! Welcome to Olive Garden. For a table of four, they'll be about a five hour wait."
Ponyboy shook his head. "Socs..." he said under his breath. Suddenly out of nowhere, he pulled a beer bottle from out of his jacket and smashed the end of it on a table. "Are you sure about that?" He pointed the jagged end at the host.
The host's eyes widened. "Um.... you can sit wherever you want." She threw her menus at us and ran off into the kitchen.
We walked over to a nice table where a family of five was waiting for service. They looked at Ponyboy's broken bottle and ran off as well. Very convenient. Once we were sat down Sodapop looked at Ponyboy.
"You totally wouldn't have stabbed that woman." He said knowingly. Johnny nodded in agreement.
"It was good for getting us a table though."
"True."
After a few more minutes a bored waiter came over. His eyes scanned over my tearstained face and the boys' rough appearances, but he didn't seem fazed. I guess Olive Garden gets a lot of weirdos.
"Hello, do you know what you'd like to order, or would you like to start with drinks?"
The boys and I all looked at each other. "We'll order now please." I said. "I'll have the $24 spag-etay and meat-bales, and a raspberry iced tea." The waiter slowly nodded and wrote it down, then turned to the guys.
"Do you have chocolate cake?" asked Soda. Johnny and Ponyboy nodded vigorously.
The waiter smiled. "Yes, we do. What do you want for your meal?"
Soda frowned. "I just said. I want chocolate cake."
"Okay... I guess I can do that. What would you like?" He said, gesturing to Ponyboy and Johnny.
Ponyboy shrugged. "Just a coke."
Johnny quietly said "Same for me."
The waiter looked at us strangely before saying "Your food will be here soon." And walking away.
"DON'T FORGET THE BREADSTICKS!" I screamed at the back of his head. "Now," I turned to the three boys. "Down to business. Who are you? There's no way you're really the characters from The Outsiders. It just doesn't make sense. Even if you were, where did you come from, and why on earth would you come to Pennsylvania?"
Ponyboy stuck his hand out. "Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. I guess I'll do all the talking. I'm really Ponyboy, and this is really Soda and Johnny. We are real people, and time travel exists, so deal with it. I like it in Pennsylvania because of all the deer." He smiled at the thought. "Such majestic creatures."
"Give me some real proof that you're who you say you are." I urged.
"Isn't our appearances, vast knowledge of street fights, and that broken bottle trick enough?"
I sighed. "Okay, fine. I believe you." The characters from The Outsiders cheered. Then, right on time, a huge basket of breadsticks along with our drinks was sat down in front of us. I let out a squeal of happiness and started digging in. Except for Pete dying, this was turning out to be a great day.
We spent the rest of the meal chatting and having fun. I spilled raspberry iced tea down the front of me, and Sodapop gave Johnny a chocolate frosting mustache. All in all it was a good time. We had finished our food and were giggling about a joke Soda said, when the same waiter from the start of the evening came over.
"All finished? I'll bring over your bill." The waiter walked off.
Ponyboy suddenly tensed up. "Soda, do you have any cash?"
Soda shook his head. "Do you, Johnny?"
Johnny looked down. "No..."
"Let's get out of here." I said. We shot up out of our seats and ran out the door, ignoring the shouting waiters and waitresses. We jumped into the car. "DRIVE!" I shouted at Soda.
He put the key in and started it, then practically flew out of the parking lot. What a crazy day.
They dropped me off at my house and waved goodbye. I looked at them sadly. "Can we hang out again sometime?"
Johnny sighed. "We have to get back to our own time, sorry."
"It's okay, I understand." And the boys drove off. I opened the door to my house and trudged inside. I was lost in my own depressing thoughts until I heard my mother screaming.
"YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HOME AN HOUR AGO! WHERE WERE YOU? I HEARD SOMEONE FOUND PETE DEAD! I WAS SO WORRIED!"
I laughed. "Ah yes, what a strange day it has been indeed." I patted her on the shoulder and started up the steps to my room. My mother continued yelling at me, so I laid down and covered my ears with a pillow. I closed my eyes and thought of Pete once again. He was in a better place. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep and into dreams of chocolate cake and the smell of cigarettes.
THE END.
