A New Perspective

6

I had woken up some time around 2:00 in the morning. I tried to sit up, only to find that Soda had wrapped his arms around my waist. I gently moved them off me and sat on the edge of the bed. I reached forward and opened up the blinds. Moonlight came pouring into the bedroom, illuminating everything in a blueish glow.

I sighed and stared outside. The moon was full and there were no more clouds in the sky. I stood up from the bed and walked out to the front porch. I sat on the steps, listening to the chirping crickets and the rustling wind. "Beautiful night out..." I heard from behind me. Soda had been standing there, looking up into the sky with me.

"Yeah," I smiled, "sure is." We sat there in silence again. "Hey Soda, you guys got a ladder?" He looked at me with a confused expression, "We do, why?" I stood up, "Go get it. I'll get some blankets and pillows." Sodapop stood up and grabbed the ladder from the back yard and I grabbed some fluffy blankets and pillows.

I carried out all the supplies and had Soda put the ladder on the side of the house. I climbed up and tossed all the stuff up. I climbed onto the roof and began to lay everything out.

"To watch the sunrise. I heard Ponyboy say something about sunsets. I figured this would be the next best bet, since we slept through the sunset." I said quietly to Soda. He smiled and climbed up with me. We both sat there, watching the sky glow orange and pink. The mist from last nights rain hung in a haze, glowing gold over the horizon.

I thought about what happened the other night. It was so bizarre that I thought it never really happened. "Sodapop, am I dreaming? All this seems too real to be true." He shrugged, "Check." I lifted up my hand and bit down on the back of it. I never pinched myself, I always thought it would've been too weak to wake you up from a dream. I felt the pain and realized it was all true. I didn't know what to really think. My best friend, Johnny Cade, was missing. For all I know he could be dead in a ditch covered in worms and maggots.

I could see the tiny dots of farms and churches on the hills on the end of town. We didn't live far off from the country. Ponyboy would've loved to go there. Start a better life. I would have too. "You ever think that Ponyboy might have just left for the country?" I looked over at Sodapop. He sighed, "I'm not sure. He never said anything about wanting to go. If he did we would've gone." I nodded and kept looking out on the horizon, the sun barely peeked over the hills. I could hear birds beginning to chirp and dogs barking from across the street.

I had been thinking about what I was going to do about finding Ponyboy and Johnny. They couldn't have gone very far, could they? I glanced over at Sodapop, his hair glistening gold in the morning sun. I looked out towards the horizon yet again, pondering about what I could do to find them. "Everything okay Pepsi?" I shook my head from my thoughts. "Yeah, everything's fine." I smiled over to Soda.

We both cleaned up the blankets and pillows and made our way back into the house. I'd been sitting on the couch for a while. I wanted to find them. I missed having Ponyboy around and playing football with Johnny.

I jolted up and ran over to the closet. I grabbed out a blanket, a pillow, and a towel. I went into the bathroom and scooped up my shampoo, toothbrush, and toothpaste. My backpack was soon full of all the necessities that I would need for a long trip. I looked at myself, my forehead had a scar on it, and so did my cheek. "Damn socs..." I muttered to myself. I packed up my backpack and left a note.

"Soda and Darry,

                 I can't take this much longer. Pony and Johnny are like family to me. I have to go find them. I've left Dally with all the information you'll need. I should be home at some point. I'm not sure when, but I will be, that I can promise you. If you need any information, call Buck Merrill's place. The number is (520)-837-2495. Ask for Dallas if you get a reply from the other line. I'll be spending most of my time there in a room, but some nights I'll be gone looking for the boys. Thank you for your love and support. I'll see you two soon.
                                       -Pepsi-Cola Richards"

I left that on the coffee table, and left the house. I would've said something in person, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

It was a pretty long walk, and a colder one at that. I wrapped my jacket around me tighter. I decided to take a shortcut through the park. As I walked, I thought back to the night I first left. Seeing Darry hit Ponyboy and finding that Soc. I sat down on the fountain rim and sighed heavily. I looked at the grass, and that's when I saw it. A patch of light blue denim. I walked over and picked it up. It was a piece of Johnny's jacket. I clutched it tightly, lightly crying.

"Damn it Johnny," I said, "god damn it. I just wish you'd come back." I shoved the fabric into my pocket and kept walking to Buck's. It was getting warmer, but it was still cold. The wind blew across my face, the top of my nose being hit by the icy breeze.

As I reached the front door, I rang the bell. Luckily, Dallas answered. "Dally, thank god. I need a place to stay." He looked confused, "Why? Did something happen?" I shook my head, "No. I'm gonna start looking for Pony and Johnny." He gave me a face that clearly said "what in the world do you think you're doing" but he hooked me up with a room nonetheless.

I unpacked my bag and set up what I needed to and what I was keeping with me for my journey. The doorbell rang again and Dally called upstairs, "Pepsi! It's Soda! He wants to talk with you!" "Coming!" I tossed my bag onto my bed and jogged downstairs.

As soon as I stepped outside, Soda hugged me tight. "You can't do this Pepsi. We need you. Please don't. I don't want you getting hurt." Sodapop said, clutching onto me like he'd never see me again. I pulled away and kissed his cheek. "I promise you Sodapop Curtis, I won't let anything happen to me. I swear on my life." He was worried, but he smiled through it, "Promise me. Promise me that if anything happens, you'll call us first." I looked him in the eyes. "I promise." He cupped my face and kissed me gently. "In case I won't see you again." I smiled at him, waved goodbye, and shut the door.

"Are you really sure you want to do this Pepsi? It's a big step for a girl like you." Dally said, as if he thought I wouldn't be able to find them. "If you think I'm going to stop looking for them after three days, you're wrong Dallas. I'd give up my life to find these boys. They're my family, and family sticks together." He raised his hands in defense as I went up to my room. I shut the door and locked it behind me, before laying down on my bed. Hopefully I'll get a good amount of sleep before I leave tomorrow to start my search, that is, if I'm searching for two living, breathing boys, and only god knows if they are.