Wishes Can Come True

Make a Wish

Erin walked down the hallway and to her next class. She was carrying her favorite book in her hands. She's read it at least five times. She can't put it down. She can't get over it. No matter how many times her parents told her to put it down. She sat down in her seat next to her best friend Rachel. "Again," She said when she seen Erin set the book down on her desk.

"What?" Erin asked.

"You're reading that dumb book again."

"So? It's not dumb. It doesn't matter if I'm reading it again," Erin stated.

Rachel shook her head. "You and Katlyn and your books."

Katlyn and Erin are both book nerds. Katlyn more then Erin. Erin has her own book obsessions though. The Outsiders is her favorite. That's why she's read it so many times. She can't stop. Sometimes she wants to change it. Who wouldn't? Who wouldn't want to make the book have a happy ending.

"Oh, hush up," Erin said.

"Hush up? Don't you mean shut up?" Rachel asked.

"Yeah. You know what I mean." Erin glanced down at the book. Rachel caught her drift and shook her head again. Erin couldn't help it. She couldn't help her obsession. Couldn't help that she's read it so many times. The book just consumes her. The characters are so relatable. They've gotten her through so much. She loves those boys like family. They are family. But no one seems to understand that. Sure her friends understand, but not enough. Even her friend at church who she got to read The Outsiders doesn't understand her fully. But she does understand what it's like to be obsessed with books. She is a book nerd like Erin and Katlyn. She even go Erin to read The Hunger Games. Erin, of course, like The Outsiders better.

Erin sighed, her friends understand but they just don't get it. She finally pushed the thought aside and resumed in her spot. She was reading chapter 7. The church fire already happened. She wished it didn't. Oh she wanted to change it so badly. But she knew that was impossible.

...

The day was finally over, Erin could finally leave school. Erin wasn't popular but she didn't get picked on. She liked school for the most part. She liked being able to see her friends. "Bye!" Katlyn called as Erin got on the bus. Erin hated riding the bus. The loud kids were so obnoxious. She just wanted the peace and quiet of her home. She was an only child and she adored it. Although there are occasional times when she wished she had someone to talk to.

When she finally got home she ran to her room. Her parents were still at work so she would alone for an hour or so. She didn't mind though. She wanted to read her book. She would probably have it finished by the time they get home. Erin is a fast reader.

She opened the book back up. She had now made it to chapter 9 when Ponyboy and Dally were arriving at the hospital.

"The pillow sank in a little and Johnny died. You hear about people looking peacefully asleep when they're dead. But they don't. Johnny just looks dead. Like a candle with the flame gone."

Erin felt tears run down her cheeks. Surprisingly, this is the first time she has ever cried when reading Johnny's death. Every time, though, she has always been close. The tears just finally decided to come now. Every time she reads she feels closer to the boys then the last. She guesses that's why she was crying now, but at the same time it didn't make sense. She decided to brush the thought aside and keep reading. But as she read her head began to hurt.

I need some fresh air, she thought. She stood up but nearly feel. She had to catch herself on her bedside. The room was spinning around her. She felt tired. Soon darkness consumed her.

When she awoke she was lying on the street. She rubbed her eyes and looked around, bewildered. This wasn't a town she'd seen before. It was a strange old town. She had no clue how she got there. She was so confused. She sat up but noticed something on the ground. It was her book. She just stared at it and then felt in her back pocket for her phone. She let out a sigh of relief when she touched it. She pulled it out and called her Mom.

The phone didn't even ring. Didn't go to voicemail. She then called her Dad. It didn't go through either. Okay, she thought. She was trying to rack her brain to figure out what to do but nothing was coming to mind. She was scared. She had no one with her. She was alone in a strange place.

She was staring to panic. She was so scared and it was making her have a panic attack. She's never had one before so it only added to her stress. Her hands moved to her neck as she was trying to catch her breath. Tears then began to prick at her eyes.

"Hey, clam down," She heard a voice say. She looked over to where the voice was. A boy was standing in front of her. "Breathe. In and out." He then put a hand on her shoulder. When her breathing was finally steady the boy spoke up again. "There you go. Better?"

Erin nodded even though things weren't better. She still had no clue where she was. "Thanks you," She chocked out.

He smiled. "No problem. What are you doing on the side of the street?"

She looked around and saw people walking around them. They weren't there before and now they were just walking by, not paying them any mind. That's when she noticed a sign in the back that had the words Paul Newman on them. It was a movie theater. "I-I uh..." She trailed off, not knowing what to say. She couldn't just say that she randomly ended up here. So she made something up. And she thought she did pretty good for making it up on the spot. "M-my parents dropped me off. They just left me here. I don't even know the name of this town."

"Oh...I'm so sorry. You're in Tulsa, Oklahoma," The boy said. "Do you have a place to stay?" She shook her head and he continued. "You could stay at my place," He offered.

"Oh, that's very nice of you, but I don't even know you. I don't even know your name."

"My names Ponyboy. Ponyboy Curtis."