The Outsider Experience

Kat's POV. Chapter 19

I suppose you know that Mack and I had to leave for home in Texas. I wasn't really sure how I would tell Soda. I mean, things were just starting to get on the right track again. Everybody was buddies, Mack and I had boyfriends, and school bullying had gone down a lot. I couldn't believe that now, after all this time, we had to go back. I decided to tell Sodapop the day after I found out. I walked over to the DX that next day and saw him standing there, handsome as ever. Man, I loved him. "Hey Kat!" he called as I walked up. He must have noticed the long look on my face. "What's the matter?" I told Sodapop everything and when I was finished he sat there for a minute in total shock, just as I had when I found out. "You have to tell the others," Soda said. I started to argue when he interuppted. "I know that I'm your boyfriend and that I'm the only one that LOVES you, but that doesn't mean the others don't care about you. We're all your friends and you everybody the explanation of where you're going to be disappearing to tomorrow." I nodded. Sodapop was right. I couldn't just tell him and leave him with the job to tell the others. Mack and I BOTH needed to tell the others.

So that night, we gathered everybody in the Curtis living room. "We have an announcement, you guys," I said first. "Mack and I have to go back to Texas tomorrow." Everybody gasped, except for Pony and Soda, which I figured already knew. "So, we're going to say our goodbyes personally to each and every one of you," Mack finished. Mack started with Darry. "Darry," she said. "You have always seemed like big brother to me, and I will never forget you. I didn't really spend a lot of time with you, but you will always be in my heart as my big bro." She moved on to the others. "Dallas, we've had our arguements. We've had our fights. I don't love you like I used to, but that doesn't mean you don't have a special place in my heart as well. You taught me how to deal with heartbreak. Two-Bit, you've always been the comedian around here. I'm definitely going to miss your funny personality and hilarious jokes. Steve, you are the real wild one. I'll miss you and I will have to find a replacement to yell at. Johnny, you have always been the sweetest. Me and you haven't bonded too much, but I will still miss you. You will always be that sweet dark eyed boy to me. Sodapop, I love how well you've taken care of my sister, and like Darry, you will always be a big brother to me. I will miss having you around my sister, a lot. Ponyboy..." she stopped and paused for a few moments. Tears started to run down her cheeks. "Pony, you're right. We are different, because I will never forget you. You will always be my boyfriend in my heart. Everytime I look at a sunset, I will remember you and your sweet smile. When I'm in Texas, I'll read that Gone with the Wind book you're always saying you want to read. I'll read it for you. I never knew true love existed until I met you, and I hope you always remember me." She finished with that and everyone's heads turned towards me.

I took a deep breath already on the verge of crying. "Darry, like Mack said, you will always be my big brother. Dallas, I still kind of hate your guts for what you did to Mack, but I will definitely miss hating your guts." Everybody laughed. "Two-Bit, sadly it looks like I will have to find somebody else to watch Mickey Mouse with. Johnny, I have deeply enjoyed our best friendship, Jazzy." He giggled at our inside joke. "Steve, you have become a close friend of mine because of Soda, and I am grateful I had you in my life. Ponyboy, I believe that someday you and my sister will find each other again. I know you too love each other, and you have been like my little brother. Soda," I stopped as well, as I started crying. "I love you. I can't process how much I love you. You are the Pepsi-Cola to my Kit Kat, you are the engine to my truck, you are the love of my life. I can't imagine how sad I will be without you. I know that everytime I see a DX or a Pepsi-Cola add, I will think of you. Time isn't long enough for me to tell you how much I love you. I hope that you will always remember me, and like Ponyboy is always Mack's boyfriend, you will always be mine. Forever, and ever.

With that we hugged and kissed and waved our goodbyes. Mack and I walked home tears rolling down our cheeks, tears of despair. But, I knew deep down in my heart, that our goodbyes were perfect. I also knew that they weren't just goodbyes, they were promises that we would keep forever.