The next three months Soda and I did everything we could and spent every moment together. We were glued to each others side knowing our time together was gonna soon be coming to an end. Although as August came around we released this was it.

"Sodapop this is it," I whisper to him.

He nods his head as he pulls me into his chest, "I'll see you soon though, I love you."

I smile weakly, "I don't wanna leave you. I could always reapply to Oklahoma State next year and take a year off."

He shakes his head as he sits in front of me grabbing my hand, "you are not changing your dreams for me. I love you Lacey and that' not gonna change. We'll call each other everyday and our love has made it through so much, we can make it through that much more. It's only four years."

"I know, but I'm gonna miss ya so much," I mutter.
***
We stand at the train station the whole gang and I go down the line starting with Johnny, "Johnnycakes, we were never the closest in the gang, but we always had each other's back. I know life is pretty rough for you right now, but just have hope. I don't think of hope as the definition hope. I think it means Hang. On. Pain. Ends. I love ya Johnnycakes and that will never change. I'll be back again some day. Stay strong and find happiness. Find a girl who makes me smile despite everything that happens at home. Make her smile and laugh then one day escape this fucked up life and remember you graduated too this year. You are free, it might not seem like that right now, but you are free. I love ya kid."

He nods as he hugs me, "Lace go on and take the world by storm because, I believe in you. Thank you for that because, I am free. I'm gonna miss seeing your face even though we were never close. I'll see ya soon though."

I smile I move over to Ponyboy, "listen kid and yes you're still a kid to me. I met ya when you were thirteen and your fifteen now. It's crazy how much time flies considering you're taller than me now. I want ya to stay out of trouble and keep your grades up because, I know despite being a greaser, you can make something out of yourself. I know it doesn't feel like this right now, but I am gonna be your sister one day. I can promise you that much. I love ya kiddo and you're gonna be a man of honer at the wedding some day."

"Thanks sis," he smiles as he hugs me tightly."I'm gonna miss you. I love you too."

"Stop growing," I mumble into his chest.

He chuckles, "I'll try."

I walk over to Steve next and I smile slightly, "we've been in a fight or two over the years, stopped talking, said we were done with each other, yet we're still friends. Please somebody tell me how that freaking works because, it still makes no scene to me. When you marry Jilly just know I'll be the maid of honer and all the other brides maids make-up will be done by me, Jilly's too. You better watch out for my boy over there and remind him every once in a while he has a girl waiting for him in New York, make sure he stays in line and stays happy. I love you Stevie and I hate to say goodbye after these interesting two years, but it's time to say it...Goodbye."

"I'll make sure he stays in line," he smirks. "I'll see ya soon Lacey because, this is't goodbye."

"Dally, Dally, Dally," I shake my head chuckling. "What am I gonna do with you, Winston? I am gonna miss ya so much from your relentless trouble making qualities or the fact that you hate Holly Baker too. I am gonna be back for that wedding day of yours and that's a promise. Okay, now time for a serious moment. You've come so far from the time I met you. I remember you were this rough, tough, gruff guy who didn't give two shits about any one or anything. You were a true jail bird. Now you're a really good guy who loves so many people and who has a gorgeous fiance named Spencer and I am so happy for ya'll."

He hugs me tightly as he sniffles, "I love ya Lace."

"Are you crying?" I chuckle my voice cracking slightly.

He shakes his head sniffling, "there's just a lot of dust."

I push him jokingly, "you can't fool me Winston."

He smiles weakly, "I'm gonna miss ya Mathews."

I look over to see Two-bit, my brother and I smile as I hug him, "well there's not much of a goodbye here because, I'll see ya in like two weeks. So I'll see ya soon big bro. I love you, but I did prepare a little speech for you too. I want to thank you because, without you I don't know where the hell I'd be in life. I was so lost and so broken when you found me. I want to thank you for pushing me so hard until I was happy again."

"Anytime lil' sis," he smiles as he kisses my cheek. "I'm actually coming down next weekend because, NEW YORK CITY BABY! See ya in like ten days."

I look over and I see Spencer. A large smiles fills my face as I run into her arms. She wraps her arms tightly around my little waist and she lays her head on my shoulder, "I'm gonna miss you so much Spence."

"I"m gonna miss you more," she mutters making me laugh. 

"Now, it's onto your speech," I smile at her making her do a little smile shrug. "Spencer, I've known you the shortest yet your one of my closest friends. Whenever I need a good laugh or smile I come to you. I just know we're gonna have so many fun memories in New York City. This is not a goodbye just I'll see you soon and defiantly on your wedding day."

"We'll never say goodbye," she hugs me.

I turn to Jilly to see tears in her eyes making me start to tear up a little too, "now don't you start crying because, then I'll start crying and then it'll be a mess. Okay? Now from the time I met you we were girls and that never changes therefore I am not gonna let it change now because, I will call and call and call until you answer the stupid phone. I will see you on your wedding day after idiot proposes and just remember I'll see ya soon because, I'm gonna need a good memory soon to look back on and smile."

"I love you girl!" She squeals as she hugs me tightly.

I pick her up making her laugh loudly, "I love you too girl!"

I go to talk to Soda, but she calls out, "I'm going with Two in ten days."

I look back at her and smile before I turn to Sodapop and that's when the tears start, "Sodapop, I love your stupid face so damn much. I love the late nights when I can't sleep and the smiley faces when I see you. I love every little thing about you from your weird quirks like chewing blueberry and strawberry gum when you do math and I love your strongest aspects like your sense of happiness and love. I promise in four years after I'm done with school, we're gonna live together in that house you bought. We're gonna get married and have kids. Then we're gonna grow old together."

He walks over to me wiping away my tears as he whispers, "don't cry, I love you."

"I love you too," I mumble as I look up at him and try to smile. "I'm gonna miss you so much."

As I start to sob he pulls me into a tight whispering into my hair, "shhh, it's gonna be okay baby girl. I love you so much. We're gonna have a great life together. I love you baby."

I walk away from the gang waving to them in this bitter-sweet moment. Right before I walk into the train I turn around and scream, "I love you Sodapop forever and always."

Although I never get an answer as I get shoved into the train. 

Once again this is such a bitter sweet moment and this is seriously the last chapter before the five years forward/epilogue. Honestly, these two have made it so far and I love their relationship. I'm not sure when the epilogue will be up because, I have so work to do before that. Well Stay gold. Do it for Johnny!
-Beth