Sooner or later, we pulled up to a small house. The red truck from before was in the driveway.

I hesitated as Dally stepped out of the rusty old hunk-a-junk that we called a car, heading toward the house.

I quickly snapped myself out of it, following Dal up the driveway.

He opened the front door. It wasn't even locked, for some unknown reason.

We walked in to see Wi-... Two-bit lookin' at Ponyboy, sayin', "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw."

Then, Pony noticed me and elbowed Two-bit in the rib, clearly, to shut him up. He was blushin'.

Dallas didn't seem to notice. He sat down next to Johnny on the couch and started a conversation. Somethin' about a rumble...?

Bored already, I walked through a random door and ended up in the kitchen. I saw Darry cookin' dinner. I coughed getting his attention.

Darry turned around. "Oh. Hi, Ashley." He began presetting the oven. "What can I do ya for?"

I began lookin' through the fridge. "Got any beer?"

Darry frowned. "You drink?"

I chuckle, softly. "Nah. Just messin' with ya." I put a finger on my bottom lip. "Got any Pepsi?"

"Bottom shelf on the left." he said. "Help yourself."

I grinned, taking out a fresh can. I took a gulp from the can. "Hey, um, Darry? I have a question." I said.

Darry smiled. "Go ahead."

"What's wrong with your brother, Pony?" I asked. "He seems... On edge."

Darry smirked. "I don't know." he said. But he obviously knew. He just didn't wanna tell me. I can respect that... Wait... I'm actually respecting someone?

"Hm..." I said, leaving the room. I sat down on the couch, beside Pony. When I sat down, his back stiffened.

I raised an eyebrow. "You okay, kid?"

He quickly nodded his head, not looking me in the eye.

I shrugged, turning toward the TV. Mickey Mouse was on. But something was off. It felt... Like someone was watching me. But I ignored it, figuring that it was nothing.

The night was slow. It was a Friday night. At the house, all we really did was watch TV. Then, eat dinner.

After dinner, and a quick invite from Darrel for the group to stay over, seeing as it was late, to web give Dallas responded once again without my input or consent... Darry called out, "Alright, boys and girl. Y'all should get to bed."

Two-bit put his hands on his hips and said, "Darrel, it's rude to call Steve a girl. Not right in front of his face, at least."

Steve whacked Two-bit upside the head and Darry continued, "Dumb, dumber, and Dallas can stay in my room. Soda, Pony, Johnny, and Ashley can go in Pony and Soda's. Good?"

Dally narrowed his eyes at Darry. "Dar, ya think I'm gonna leave my sister in a room with 3 guys all night? That's about as likely as me bringin' y'all to a Soc's-Only blade convention. Or bringin' Ash to a party at Buck's."

I thought to myself, Who's Buck? But I ignored the thought. A party sounded pretty tuff though.

Darry nodded. "I guess you're right. You can switch with Sodapop so you can keep an eye on 'er. Okay?"

Dally nodded and we all went upstairs.

For bed, Dally, Pony, and I stayed on the bed and Johnny slept in the chair.

Dal wasn't happy that the three of us were together on the bed, so he decided to stay between us.

I was about to fall asleep when I heard an abrupt snore in my ear. It was Dally. I grunted, turning on my side. The snores began getting louder and more obnoxious. After a while, I'd had it.

I grabbed a pillow and an extra blanket and slept on the floor. I was, again, about to fall asleep, when I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. I groaned in annoyance. "What?!" I opened my eyes to see a nervous Pony. I sighed and asked, "What is it, Pony?"

"Why are you on the floor?"

"Meeting the queen." I retorted. "I'm tryin' to get some sleep, Pony."

Pony sat down beside me, handing me a book. One of two in his hand. "Here." he said. "This might help."

I took the book. "Um... Thanks." I said. I said it as more of a question, though.

The book was called, "Gone with the Wind" and looked very long. Would've probably taken me a week to read it.

As I opened to the first page, Pony got up and went back to his side of the bed.

I was about to put down the book when a piece of paper fell out. It read:

"Nothing Gold Can Stay
By Robert Frost

Natures first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay."

I smiled. It was a beautiful poem. But I didn't know what it meant.
(In real life, I knew what it meant from the start. In your face, Pony!!!... Sorry...)

Then, another note fell out. It read:

"Ponyboy, I asked the nurse to give you this book so you could finish it. The doctor came in a while ago, but I already knew it, anyway. I keep getting tired and tired. Listen, I don't mind dying now. It was worth it. It was worth saving those little kids. Their lives are worth more than mine. They have more to live for. Some of their parents came by to thank me and it was worth it. Tell Dal-"

I stopped reading, tears welling up in my eyes. I had to try to comprehend the situation.

-Something's wrong with Johnny.
-It had something to do with saving kids.
-Johnny wants Dally to know that "it was worth it", whatever that means.
-Johnny is some sorta hero.
-...And, worst of all... Johnny's dying...

I looked over at Johnny in the chair. He was peacefully asleep, a grin spread across his face.

I felt a tear run down my own face, but I quickly brushed it away.

I hopped back into bed, closing the book and setting it aside. I put Dally's arm around me. He stirred, but didn't wake up.

I tried to fall asleep.