In Another Life

Chapter 1

A/N: I don't really know how exchanging schools goes so if I get something wrong please don't be too hard on me but you can say if i mess up so maybe I can fix it. Thanks. Please enjoy
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I'm walking home from school excited to open the letter of where I'm going to go. Me and Darry decided that it would be good for me to get out of Tulsa for a little bit, so we signed me up to be an exchange student. We all agreed I wasn't going to leave the country just like change states. Soda isn't happy about the idea of me leaving without them. He said to Darry "Why should we let our kid brother go out into the world to god knows where without the gang to protect him. Darry, he's only 15!" That was the first time I heard Soda and Darry argue.

I get in the house and both Darry and Soda are home. "Hey guys" I say walking through the door.

"Hey Pony," Soda says, smiling.

"Hey Pony, how was school?" Darry asks, coming out of the kitchen.

"Good, I got the letter saying where I'm going. Mr Symes said that I get a week to pack, so I don't have to be there until next week," I say.

"Well, let's open the letter," Darry says sitting on the couch by Soda.

"Ok," I say excitedly, sitting between them. I open the letter. "It says that I'm going to Los Angeles, California" I say getting really excited. I can't believe I'm actually leaving Tulsa for a year! I've been having nightmares more often since Johnny and Dally's deaths. Also everytime I go to places we would hang out I would start having a breakdown. "I'll be staying with Johnny Lawerance," I say quietly.

"Oh, Ponyboy" Darry says pulling me into a big hug, Soda then also hugs me. I feel the tears welling up in my eyes.

"I-I-I'll be ok," I say, my voice cracking.

"We'll call you every night," Soda says.

"Yeah and you can tell us everything," Darry adds softley. 

"Anyone home?" Two-Bit asks barging in. "Hey, Pony, what's wrong?" he asks, kneeling in front of me.

"He just got news of where he's going for his exchange," Soda says, handing him the letter. Two-Bit and Steve already knew I was exchanging schools for the year.

"Well then you should be excited" Two-Bit says, opening the letter. His eyes go over the page until he gets to the last sentence. "What's so bad about this kid, is he like a criminal or something?"

Soda and Darry just look at him. "What?" Two asks genuinely confused.

"Look at his name," Soda says.

"Johnny Lawrence, oh" Two says looking ashamed. "Oops," he says.

"It's fine" I say sitting up.

"I'm hungry" Two says standing up and heading into the kitchen. I hear the fridge open and close. Two-Bit then comes out with a huge slice of chocolate cake and a beer. He turns the TV on and sits on the floor to watch Mickey Mouse.

"Hey Two-Bit, where's Steve?" Soda asks

"I don't know, last I heard he was heading over to Evies," Two-Bit says, his eyes never leaving the screen.

"Ok," he says.

"I'm going to go start packing my bags," I say standing up and heading to my and Soda's room.

"Want some help?" Darry asks.

"No I'll be ok," I say entering our room.

In our room I take a look around. This is going to be one of the last times I look around this room. I wonder what it's going to be like looking around another room. I've slept in here for as long as I can remember. This has always been my room, even before Mom and Dad died. I remember the times Johnny would come over because his parents were arguing and it was too cold to stay outside. I feel the tears start to roll down my cheeks as I try not to remember. But there's too many memories to block them all out.

"Hey Pony, calm down," Soda says walking in as I fall to the ground crying. I hate crying, especially in front of people, even if they are my own brothers. Soda just pulls me close.

"Thanks," I say, hugging him back. I stand up. "I-I'm o-ok now," I say, wiping the tears from my eyes.

"You sure?" he asks.

"Ya " I say nodding my head.

I grab my bag and start grabbing my clothes. I leave out about a week's worth of clothes because we aren't leaving until Friday after Darry and Soda get off work. I grab a photo of me and the gang from last Christmas, Dally and Johnny are in the photo, I put it in my bag.  

I finish packing and head back out into the living, where Soda and Steve are wrestling and Two-Bit is on the couch watching Mickey Mouse. Darry is nowhere to be seen, I think he's in the kitchen getting stuff ready for dinner.

"Guys can you move I can't see the TV," Two-Bit complains

"Hold up," Steve shouts as Soda pins him.

"Ha! I win," Soda says standing up.

"Because I let you," Steve whines.

"Guys shut up I'm trying to watch Mickey," Two yells at them. Steve just sticks his tongue out at him, and I start laughing. Man, I'm going to miss these guys.

"Who wants chicken?" Darry yells from the kitchen.

Steve and Soda both run to the kitchen in a race and Two-Bit jumps up and takes off so fast he trips and falls into me. We both fall to the ground laughing and then get up and take off running to get some food.

After we eat, Two-Bit and Steve head home. Me and Soda head up to bed. I get changed and get into bed next to Soda. I snuggle up next to him because if I'm going to be gone for a year I better make the most of what time I have left with my brothers.