Family Is Found (Sequel to Running Towards Home)

CHAPTER 8

PONY'S POV:

I've been looking for hours. Maybe she's already at home? I have to get back there or Darry will yell at me for being home later than curfew. I ran home. If I explain to the gang what happened, they'll help me look for her, I know they will.

I finally reach home, and I run through the door out of breath. "Guys, we have to look for Sam." I yell out. "No we don't." Two-Bit says. I look over at the couch, and see Sam sitting there with Darry. "Oh my God, Sam, I was so worried!" I go over to hug her, but Darry holds out his hand to stop me. Sam shrinks back. I see bandages on her arm. "What happened?" I ask her. She doesn't answer.

"Sam, go sit in my room, okay?" Darry says. Sam nods, and she heads to his room. But before she leaves, she stops and turns to me. Her eyes are so full of pain, of betrayal. I want to speak, but before I can, she turns around and leaves. My heart breaks a little.

"Pony, what the hell were you thinking?" Darry shouts at me. The whole gang looks angry. They all scowl at me, even Two-Bit. I've never seen him without a smile. It scares me. "Darry, let me explain," I start, but Darry cuts me off. "Pony, do you see how much you hurt her? Dally found her at the park. She was about to kill herself. Cherry put ideas in her head, made her depressed, and you abandoning her was the last straw. She might have killed herself because of you."

My breath leaves my body. How did I not know? How did I not notice she was depressed? I should have seen the signs, I should have known Cherry was hurting her. I can't believe she would hurt herself. She came so close. I don't know what I would have done if no one stopped her. I collapse onto the couch.

"Guys, you have to listen to me. Please. I didn't want to kiss Cherry. She came up behind me and kissed me right as I turned around. Before I could get away Sam saw us. I chased after and I've been looking for her for hours, but I couldn't find her. Please, you have to believe me. I would never hurt Sam. I... I love her." I say, and I feel a tear fall down my face. Darry's face softens.

"Pony, you have to talk to her. She needs to hear this from you." Soda says. The gang is no longer looking at me angrily. Instead, they look sad. I get up. "I'm going to talk to her. Just wait out here, please?" I ask. They all nod. I head to Darry's room. I hesitate outside the door. What if she doesn't want to see me? No. I have to talk to her.

I open the door. Sam doesn't face me. She's sitting on the bed, her back to me. "Sam, we need to talk." I say. She still doesn't face me. "Just go away. Leave." She says, quietly. I walk over and sit down next to her. She scoots away. "Sam, let me explain." I say. She's still silent.

"I didn't want Cherry to kiss me. She did it before I could react. I didn't mean for any of this to happen. Sam, I love you, more than I've ever loved anyone before. And the thought of losing you, it almost broke me. Cherry lied, she lied about it all. You are so important to me. I love you, so much." I'm crying now, and so is she. I hug her, and she doesn't pull away this time.

Sam looks at me. "Pony, how do I know you're telling the truth?" she asks. Her voice is so pained my heart cracks. "This is how." I say. I lean in and kiss her. She kisses back. I hold her close in a hug. "I was so scared. I almost lost you." I say, and she looks at me. "I'm so sorry, Pony." I look at her, and say this with all of my heart:

"Never feel sorry for that. It's not your fault. I wish you had told me sooner. I should have noticed something was wrong. I never want to lose you." I say. I help her up, and we walk back to the living room. The gang is whispering, but they stop when we come out. Sam shoots them a small smile. The gang comes over, and wraps us both in a hug. Even Dally joins us. We stay like that for a long time.