Why he wakes up is a mystery. Maybe it was the ocean calling him, or the beach breeze whispering in his ear. Or perhaps it was the upcoming change in his life that woke him from a deep sleep. Pony opens his eyes slowly, tiredly, and stares up at the dim morning sun. There is not a single cloud in the sky, just a pale pinks and oranges, radiating off of the rising sun. The water reflects this light beautifully, shining like a diamond decorated chandelier.
Quietly, Pony stands from where he slept, his back covered in sand. Looking around, Pony finds his friends and family scattered around him, snoring quietly. He takes in each detail indefinitely. The hand slung over Dallas's chest that belongs to non other thank Skyler, whose short black hair is throws across heir eyes. Chris's body curled into his brothers. Lena and Steve's clasped hands even in sleep, along with their tangled feet. Darry sleeping quite close to where Pony himself slept, as if to protect Pony from the dangers of the night. Pony notices Two-But sleeping in the bed of Darry's truck with the kids. And of course, Pony's best mate, sleeping next to where Pony did. Ponyboy smiles slightly before slowly trudging to the waters edge. Casually, Pony whips out a cigarette and lighter. In a ritual motion, he lights the stick and takes a drag. The smoke flies around his head. Pony, unlike the rest of his friends, couldn't seem to give up smoking. He knows that Steve and Lena and even Two-Bit had started smoking Pot instead, but everyone else had just quit because of what happened with Skyler. Yet, still Pony placed the cancer stick between his lips and felt no remorse. If anything it calmed him down more. Maybe it was the typical cliche writer in him. He had just recently started writing a novel. It wasn't much, but maybe it had potential.

As Pony stares out at the rising sun and the glistening waves, he begins to think about life without his friends. A life that is only a few hours away. A life where there is Nightly Double, or DX, or Dingo. The life with college work and brother living hours away. He was excited of course, but also scared, really scared. But in the moment with his cigarette smoke and endless waves, everything seemed OK.

A hand lands softly on Pony's shoulder. He doesn't have to look to see who it is. It's obvious to him that the hand belongs to his best friend who is trying to get one last moment alone with Pony. A smile pals on Pony's lips. "I'll write every week, okay Johnny Cakes?" Johnny nods slowly.

"Ya man, good deal," he replies, trying to sound happy.

"It was a good summer," Pony claims hopefully. Johnny sighs lightly and smiles slightly.

"It really was, life ain't gonna be the same without you Pone, you're my best buddy, and your going to college without me. It's not that I'm sad that I can't go to college, I have no desire to, but I wish I could just be with you," Johnny explains. Pony nods and blows a puff of smoke from his mouth.

"I get you Johnny, I'll visit, I promise," Pony reassures him. Johnny looks at he ground for a moment before stating deeply at the horizon.

"You really should shave, you've got ample scruff," Johnny jokes, trying to lighten the mood. Pony chuckles.

"Ya, sure John."
__________________________

Skyler watches through the rear view mirrors of Buck's car as they drive quickly away from the beach, in the same seating arrangement as when they came on their one night vacation. Now it was just a little more dull. The music plays quietly through the stereo as they follow Darry's truck to the airport, to drop of Pony. The drive is long, but it feels all to short. Upon their arrival at the airport, they work and walk all of them together to the entrance of the building. All the little kids are being held protectively. Only Soda, Darry, and Johnny are going all the way to the gate with Pony, the rest of them have to stay at the entrance, seeing as going through security is too much trouble. Pony first looks to Chris and gives her a hug around Wesley, whom she is holding. He kisses Wesley's head and smiles at Chris who smiles back with tears in her eyes. She helped raise this boy after their parents died, now he was going to school far far away. Pony moves on to Dally who gives himself a hardy hug and mumbles words of encouragement into his ear as they do so. Tibby laughs in Dallas's arms as they do this. Pony looks up at Tibby and pinches her cheek gently, recalling the day she was born. It feels like ages ago. Next, Pony says goodbye to Two-Bit, who of course, cracks a joke. Even so, there are tears sliding down Kieth's face. Pony rubs Henry's cheek lovingly before moving on to Steve and Lena. He hugs Lena and goes to shake Steve's hand. Steve, who was biting down hard on his lip, rolls his eyes in defeat, " for Gods sake Pony, c'mere!" Steve exclaims, pulling Pony into a tight hug. Pony isn't sure whether to hug back or not. He and Steve had never been as close, but Pony does appreciate the hug. Pulling away slowly, Pony smiles awkwardly. "Good luck kid," Lena tells Pony as he goes to say goodbye to Skyler.

Its unclear why, but for some reason, Skyler and Piny have always ha a special bond. She treated him as a kid, but never doubted that he could do anything. Where as Chris was like a mom to him, Skyler was like a fun sister. Both valuable, but both very different. Skyler hands the twins to Steve and Lena so that she can really hug Pony properly. With tears streaming down her face, she throws her arms around Pony.

"I'm so proud of you bud, so fucking proud," Skyler exclaims. He squeezes her back and closes his eyes tightly.

"Thanks Sky, for everything, I love you," Pony admits as they embrace each other. Skyler lets out a sob and pulls away from the hug. He grabs his shoulders and rubs his arms soothingly.

"I love you too, behave and don't hurt yourself, oh god, just, ugh... just enjoy it Pony," Skyler tells him. Pony nods and hugs her quickly one last time. She covers her mouth and snuggles before taking back the twins who pony also says goodbye to. Taking one last glance at the gang, Pony's heart drops in his chest. This is it for a few months. He walks with his brothers and Johnny through security and to the gate. It's tedious, but hey eventually make it to the gate, just in the nick of time. The plane is already being loaded so Pony begins his goodbyes. He looks to Darry first.

"Thanks so much Darry, for supporting me, in sorry that we always used to fight," Pony states. Darry smiles proudly.

"You amazing kid brother, don't screw this up, you've worked to hard to screw this up," Darry says before pulling Pony into a tight hug. Pony reluctantly pulls away after a while and moves into Soda.

"Hey Ponyboy, finish college for me will ya? It would make me feel good to know I was the only screw up int the family," Soda exclaims. Pony rolls his eyes playfully .

"You are not a screw up Soda, you're my brother and I love you, I'm going to miss you so damn much," Pony tells Soda before they embrace tightly. Soda crushes Pony's bones with the hug, not wanting to let go. But eventually, he must. Pony turns to Johnny and throws his arms around his best friend. "Thanks for being my best friend for all these years, you're the reason I made it this far. I'm going to miss you so bad John, really I am, you mean everything to me, don't go missing me to much okay?" Pony says quickly in Johnny's ear. Johnny begins to cry as they hug.

"I'll try Pone, stay outta trouble okay?" Pony nods and pulls away one last time.

He grabs his suit case and takes one last glance at the three people waving goodbye to him.
--------------------------------------------
The plane seat is pretty comfortable and the plane is just starting to move. It follows oddly shaped tracks and gradually begins to speed up. Pony watches the wings of the plane as he waits for take off.

Their faces flash through his mind. The accomplished smile of Chris, with her bright eyes, and chuckle causing joke that Two-But told. The willing hug from Steve and encouraging words from Lena. The big brother talk from Darry. Dally's sincere hug that continue to prove that he does have soft spots. The modest words from his amazing brother who never ceases to amaze him regardless of his education related abilities. The last words he will hear from his best friend for a few months. Oh how life without Johnny will tear Pony apart. Then the words from Skyler as she tried to not break down from the tears that consumed her. "Just enjoy it." She had told him. That was probably the best advice that he received. Enjoy it for his brothers who couldn't go to college, along with his friends. Enjoy it so he can tell his nephews and friends children about his college experience when the future approaches him finally. Enjoy it so he can write letters about to it Chris who helped him fill out the scholarships. Enjoy is for Johnny, who couldn't come with him. Enjoy it for himself. Enjoy it, because his life hasn't been perfect. Because his parents died and he has cried. Because of the lies he has been told and the toys he sold to pay rent. Enjoy is because after a shitty life being taped together messily by good friends, Ponyboy Curtis deserves to have the very best college experience without having I worry about anything else. He deserves to be happy.

So as the plane's wheels leave the ground and it takes flight, Pony wipes the tears from his eyes and focuses on that flying feeling. The feeling of a well deserved freedom.

A/N awe baby pony is off to college! yes hi I am still not dead! this is so unedited, cause I'm tired and need to sleep asap.

Stay gold💛

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