The Outsiders: Ponyboy & Carolyn

.23.

Ponyboy's POV:

It was the day Carolyn was going back home when I found Johnny's letter.

I woke up early that morning. I was about to head to Two-Bit's to see her but she had showed up here instead before I was about to go.

I heard the door open. I rushed over and hugged her.

"Hey you, beautiful, didn't ya know I was comin'?" I said smiling happy she was here. I went right to the door and hugged her.I held her with my arms around her waist.

"Well I beat you so I'm here." She said folding her arms around my neck, hugging me back.

Whenever I hugged her I got her pleasant flower smell.I gently let go still holding her waist. I looked at her beautiful face. If a stranger walked by and saw this they would think it'd be my first time seeing her.

"So you all packed up?" I said with my smile going away. "Yeah." She answered quietly. "We'll see each other in less than two months. When school's over."

"Yeah, we will." I said realizing that wasn't too far away since we were half way through the month of May.

"Like I said we have the summer... but what about after?" She said looking into my eyes. "I can't be away from you after that." she shook her head.

"You won't be." I reassured her moving a blond piece of hair out of her face. "I won't let it happen, remember we got our promise. Anyway, I want you to have this." I took her by the hand to my room and gave her a copy of gone with the wind.

"But its -"

"No I got mine. This one's your own copy." I said interrupting her.

She took it from my hand and looked at it. "I love you." She kissed and hugged me still holding the book. "Man I love you too." I said with it sounding muffled because my face was buried in her hair.

I took my copy of Gone With the Wind that Johnny's nurse gave me. The original one Johnny got me was in the fire.

It was on my desk. I began thinkin' of him. I sat down on my chair and skimmed through the pages when in the middle of the book there was a folded sheet of yellow paper. I took it out putting the book down to unfold it. Carolyn looked confused and so was I until I realized it was a letter from Johnny.

"Carolyn, look at this."

She stepped beside me, putting her arm around me on my shoulder, standing, while we began reading the letter in our heads. I imagined Johnny's voice reading it.

Ponyboy, I asked the nurse to give you this book so you could finish it. It was worth saving those little kids. Their lives are worth more than mine. They have more to live for. Tell Dally I think it's worth it. I'm gonna miss you guys and Carolyn. I've been thinking about it, that poem, and that guy that wrote it. He mean't your'e gold when your'e a kid. Like green. When your'e a kid everything's new. Dawn. Like the way you dig sunsets Ponyboy, thats gold. Keep it that way it's a good way to be. That's how Carolyn fell in love with you. Keep her too your'e lucky to have her. I want you to ask Dally to look at a sunset I don't think he's seen one. There's still lots of good in the world. Tell Dally I don't think he knows. -Your'e buddy, Johnny.

Tears came to our eyes thinking about Johnny and Dally. Carolyn grabbed my hand and I folded the letter back up and put it down. I got up from the chair and we hugged.

"I really miss him." I sniffed.

"Me too." she said.

"It's too late. It's too late for Dal to see any sunsets." I said.

"No... he's already seen one..." she said and I looked up at her. "you." she finished saying. I pulled her closer to me and after a few minutes we left the room.

We went out for a walk and went back to my house a little while later. Two-Bit was there to get Carolyn because her parents had arrived at his house.