I wake up and eat breakfast. I get ready and pack everything. I pull on some gray sweats and a hoddie of Soda's I never have back. I pull my hair into a side braid. I put on very little make up because I'll just cry it off. I head for the door and put my stuff into the trunk of the cab. I give him the Curtis' adress and he drives there.
"I'll be 10 minutes." I say and get out.
I sigh as I walk up to the door and open it. Pony, Steve, Darry, Two-Bit, and Soda are sitting on the couch.
"I have 10 minutes." I say and walk over to them, "I'm leavin' to live in Texas with my aunt and uncle."
Two-Bit rises and walks over to me. I hug him and a tear rolls down his check.
"Now don't go crying on me. Imma miss you. Imma miss your stupid jokes. I love you smart ass." I say and hug him tighter.
"Imma miss ya too, Levi." He says, "I love you too."
He lets go and Steve hugs me.
"Imma miss ya Stevo. Lay off of the cake, fat ass. I love you." I say laughing threw the tears.
"Imma miss ya too. I love ya too. And I will never lay off the cake." He says laughing.
He lets go and Pony hugs me almost knocking me down. He sobs.
"Ponyboy, don't cry." I say hugging him back.
"But your leaving forever." He says.
"Ponyboy, I'll visit soon. I just need to get away for awhile. I love you Pony." I say and kiss his forehead.
"I love you too, Lev." He says.
He lets go and Darry hugs me.
"Darry, thank you for puttin' up with my shit for the past eleven years and for lettin' me bum around here when I needed to. I love you Darry. You were my like a father when mine wasn't." I say.
"Anytime kiddo. I love you too." He says.
He lets go. That leaves Soda. I look into his red puffy eyes. A tear slides down my face.
"Sodapop," I say and he hugs me tight. I hug back. "Sodapop Partrick Curtis. I love you more than anyone in my life. You have always been there for me when I needed someone. You were my shoulder to cry on. You are my older brother. I will never forget the times we have had together. And I can't tell you how thankful I am for all you have done for me. I love you so much Sodapop."
"I love you so much too, Levi Jean Taylor. Your my little sister, forever and always. I'm thankful for ya too. I'm always here for you when you need to talk to someone. You know the house number. Call it any time. I'll always be there for you, forever." He says and hugs me tighter.
He lets go and I walk toward the door. I turn around and see their hurt faces.
"Imma miss ya'll. I love you all so much. Never forget that." I say and reach for the door handel.
"Lev?" Soda croaks.
"Yeah?" I say and turn around.
"Will you do me a favor?"He says hurt in his eyes.
"Yeah. Anything for you, Soda." I say managing a real smile.
"Never forget me, okay?" He says and cries once more.
"Awe Sodapop." I say and walk back into his arms. I hug him tight. The tears won't stop coming. "I will never ever forget you."
He lets go and I walk out of the house. I don't turn back because I know I'll wanna go back. I get into the cab and he drives to the train station. I abord the train with my bags. The train takes off. This is it. I'm really leaving Tulsa. A new life. A new Levi Taylor.
