Epilogue
No one's POV
Disclaimer: (Last one *SOB*) I do not own them.
WHOO HOO! TWICE IN THE SAME DAY! THIS IS A RECORD FOR ME!!!!!!!!!
It didn't seem as if anything had changed after the whole ordeal with Ponyboy Curtis and Steve Randle. If you looked at both boys, you'd still see the same greasers as you saw before they left. But if you looked closely enough, there would be something else there. A spark in each of them. A change. Eventually, both boys were released from the hospital, Ponyboy before Steve. And eventually, both boys made their way back to school each having to play catch-up with all their work. But for once the teachers were sympathetic towards both boys. If it was because they felt guilty that they hadn't looked after the boys more closely on the trip up in the mountains or because they had a true change of heart, one couldn't tell you. Mostly likely, it wasn't the latter. Still, Ponyboy got excused from the two history tests he'd missed and the few essays and labs in the other classes. All he had to do was learn the material and now it for the final at the end of the year. As for Steve, he had to make up an important essay for his mid-term. And that was all.
Ponyboy hobbled down the hallway on his third day back at school, Jake Perrimont trailing him with his back-pack. Pony had found a new dependency on his school friends and they gladly helped him, knowing that he'd always been there for them when they needed help as well. Jake and Ponyboy didn't talk much since they were focused on getting to their next class before the bell rang and the downpour of students intervened with their destination. Pony saw a familiar figure in the distance, knowing all too well that it was Steve. It would be the first time since they came back to school that the two had seen each other in school in front of other people. A few Socs who knew very well the existence of hatred each greaser once had (or still had) towards the other stood against lockers waiting to watch the scene unfold.
"You did it, Pony! You did it! I told you that you could do it!" Johnny's voice rang through Ponyboy's head.
"I'm proud of you kid. I told you not to let Steve get to you and you did! But you pulled yourself out good. It ain't everyday you see that." Dally's harder voice tinted with softness at the edges told him.
"Steve, you dumb fuck. I'm proud of you!" Steve heard Dally's voice sound through his head as soon as he saw Ponyboy in the distance with his friend lugging along behind him. Steve had his lunch period and was roaming the halls, wanting to get away from it all.
"You worked together and you did it. Remember that forever." Johnny's voice faded away and Steve almost lunged out to preserve his friends' voices in his mind forever. But he didn't have to because they were already there.
The handful of students that were in the hall at the time froze in their spots, waiting to see if there would be an explosion. They were sorely disappointed.
"Hey," Pony nodded at Steve as he passed.
"Hey," Steve waved at the younger boy, careful not to knock him over. Ponyboy Curtis and Steve Randle would never be good friends; they just weren't meant to be. But they wouldn't hate each other anymore either. They'd been through too much together.
~The End~
I'd like to thank EVERYONE for reading this and reviewing this and encouraging me that I could do it. No Safety Zone was my second fanfic ever and if I look back at my first one (which was for another TV show), I've improved a lot. Now I'm writing for other fandoms as well as this one and I'm loving it. Thanks so much for sticking with me no matter how frustration or slow I became. You guys are the best!!! See you in another story soon!
~*Crazy4nc128*~