<Soda's POV>

I wake up with a sad heart. Today is the day Steve and I leave. Looking to my right, I see Chris is awake and there are tears in her eyes. I brush them away and bring her close to me. She nuzzles her head naturally into the crook of my neck and starts to cry harder. My arms wrap around the small of her back soothingly. Next thing I know Pony walks into the doorway with tears running down his cheeks and his hands in tight fists. I wave him over and he quickly lays by me and I wrap an arm around his shoulder. My little brother bawls his eyes out with my wife as I try my hardest not to cry.

"Guys please stop crying, we'll be okay," I beg. They quiet down a little, but tears still drip silently down their faces. We stand up and walk downstairs where everyone else is waiting with solemn faces. Darry comes over to Chris, Pony, and I. He rubs Pony's back and for this first time in a while, Pony voluntarily hugs Darry. Chris leads me to the couch where we sit between Steve and Dally. We all just become frozen in our places. None of us know what to make of the situation.

"I don't know what to say," I say suddenly. Johnny looks at Steve and I.

"How about you start with goodbye," Johnny suggests. I shake my head.

"Not to be cliche, but no goodbyes, just see ya laters, okay Johnny," I tell Johnny, who nods his head and then heads to Ponyboy who is still glued to Darry's side.

"The bus that picks you up should be here soon," Darry informs us. Chris clings tighter to my arm when she hears this. Every one gathers in a circle.

"Well guys, I guess we're just going to have to see ya later," Steve says awkwardly.

"Oh Jesus guys, I can't hold it in any longer, I love you to so god damn much," Two-Bit bursts out. Never did the thought cross my mind that I would ever see Two cry, yet here he is with his cheeks drenched and his eyes red and puffy.

"Preach it," Dally mumbles quietly to himself. I grab Chris's waist and pull it even closer to mine.

"Good luck kid brother, and you to Steve," Darry says. I leave Chris's side for a moment to hug my big brother. Darry. My brother that has helped me and lead me through so many situations. Darry and I are truly a team. We taught Pony everything together. I don't know what I'm going to do without him guiding me. I don't want to let go but I've got six other people to speak to.

"See ya later," Johnny says in his naturally quiet voice. I smirk at him and Steve and I give him a hug. Johnny. The small, shy, boy that has such a large impact on my baby brother. Dallas approaches me and pulls me aside from the group.

"Soda, you need to promise me something, you need to come back for her, make it your mission, I don't want her to turn out like Skyler, and I don't mean lost, I mean cold, if you don't come back Chris is bound to a new life as a cruel and cold person like Skyler. Don't let that happen," Dallas says. When Skyer's name leaves his lips he cringes as if her name is a knife stabbing his heart.

"I will try," I mumble. Dally looks at me sternly.

"You aren't going to try, your going to do it because I told you to," Dally declares, "now good luck brother." I hug Dally quickly and then we rejoin the group. I drift naturally to Chris.

"I love you Soda."

"I know," I answer Chris, as I grab her waist and pull her close. "I'm going to miss you so so much Chris."

"Christina," she says.

"That's new," I whisper. She smirks.

"Trying something new," she informs me. I smile and kiss her softly, yet dragging out the kiss as long as possible. Steve joins us soon after.

"Hey guys," Steve says. Christina smiles a little and gives Steve a hug.

"Hey buddy," I answer. This is it. I am here with my friends and brothers and my wife. Soon I will leave all of this. Unfortunately, soon is sooner than I thought. A small bus pulls up outside and Steve readies our suitcases. I smile at everyone and kiss Chris one more time before walking next to Steve towards the dismal bus. Before I can even make it halfway to the bus I hear Ponyboy's cry and then his arms wrapping around my abdomen. I hold Pony and squeeze him in a tight hug.

"Hey buddy, stop crying, I'll be back," I tell him quietly.

"I'm gunna miss you Soda," Pony states with tears pouring from his eyes.

"I know Pony, but I gotta go," I say while Darry grabs Pony's shoulders and guides him away as Pony starts to scream. My instincts kick in and I start to walk fast to my brother who is calling my name, yet he is being held back by Darry and Dally. Before I can get far, Steve grabs my arms and guides me away from everyone so we walk onto the bus at that is taking us away from our family. Tears start to drop from my eyes as well as Steve.

As the two of us load onto the bus I realize something. Today was the day everyone could see who we are. Us greasers stripped naked from our tough masks. Now our true selves our shown because of tragedy. I look at all of us.

There are so many different personalities, yet we all get along so well.

A leader.
A tough guy.
A smart guy.
A shy guy.
A joker.
A self confident guy.
An automobile guy.
A girl in love.
A ghost from the past.

All of our names run through my head, like if I don't say the names I will forget them, even my own. My brain replays the names that belong to the people who have made an impact on my life.

Darry.
Dally.
Ponyboy.
Johnny.
Two-Bit.
Steve.
Christina.
Skyler.

I vow to never forget these names. The names of my family.

<Skyler's POV>

Today's the day. Today is the day that Soda and Steve are meant to leave for Vietnam. I wish I was there to say goodbye. Those two are truly good guys that just don't deserve this fate. I purposely took today off work so I could be alone and think about everything. As I lay on my bed my hand goes instinctively to my abdomen, feeling the non existent bump. It will be there just not yet. For some reason I always feel my stomach. I'm not keeping the baby so I don't know why I feel so protective over it. Right when I give birth the baby is going off to a better family. A better family that would be kind of like Soda and Chris. The image of them with a child is so clear. Of coarse this won't be for a while considering Soda is off at war with Steve, but a girl can dream.

I just want everything to be right in the world. Soda and Chris with a baby and Dally as an uncle. Steve would of coarse be a god father considering he's Soda and Chris's best friend. The gang would adore the baby and Darry would be so happy and be taking a bunch of photos cause he's Darry. Its what he does. Everyone would be in their rightful place. Even me, because I would be right where I belong. Six feet under ground, cold, stiff, and lifeless. Everything in that image is correct.

<Chris's POV>

As we all head back inside I realize how true this situation has become. Soda and Steve are gone, off to war. Our numbers are dropping quickly. Skyler, gone. Steve, gone. Soda, gone. It must be something with the S names. Either way, my heart longs for them to be back.

My husband and I barely got to spend two weeks together as a married couple. Everyone sits in the living room as I trudge sadly up to mine and Soda's room. As I flip down on to the bed, Soda's scent fills my nose. I start to cry hard. Soda is gone. I clutch the blankets and scream into them loudly. The blankets muffle my screams, yet they cannot completely cover up the loud shrills of my broken heart. As my cries of despair become louder, the sound of stomping comes from the hallway and reach the bed. Next thing I know, strong arms and enfolding around me and pulling me into their lap. The arms belong to my brother who had begun his quest to calm me down. His hands rub my hair and back soothingly.

"He's gone!" I shout into Dally's chest.

"Shh Christina, he's coming back, I promise," Dally mumbles. If only Dally knew. If only Dally knew that Soda told me the night before that he was to save Steve. If only Dally knew that Soda had told me whether Steve and I liked it or not he was to protect Steve at all costs. Soda was not coming back, he never was.

A/N Damn.

I hate myself. Literally this story is getting so hard to write because it's all so upsetting. I just wish I could be better at writing sad things, I don't know. I love you my little spoons.

Stay gold💛

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