A/N: Well, guys, this is it. We're finally here, almost two years later, at the end of this story. I loved writing it, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. Keep an eye out for the sequel, East of Eden, in the next couple days. Thanks for everything, y'all. And now, without further ado...

Chapter Twenty-Five: What A Wonderful World

At exactly half past six, there was a knock at the door.

Beth squealed. Nancy shoved her, but she was giggling too. I wanted to clobber Beth myself, but truth to be told, I kind of wanted to squeal too.

"Can y'all please behave?" I huffed as I collected my cigarettes and Soda's present.

"No promises," Beth giggled.

Nancy waved her hand, ushering me out the door. "Go on, now, don't make the boy wait!"

Still, I hesitated. Nancy and Beth sure looked pretty, all dolled up. "Y'all will be there soon?"

"We'll give y'all time to walk over, and then we'll be there," Nance assured me.

"Now go!" Beth insisted.

I took a deep breath, nodded, and then left my bedroom. Thank god Two-Bit had already left; I couldn't handle his ribbing too. My heart was already working overtime, hammering so loudly, I could feel it in my throat. No fight, or date, for that matter, could compare to the panic and exhilaration that coursed through me, over and over, as I walked through my living room, and then opened the front door.

This time, it was Ponyboy Curtis on my doorstep.

Some greaser boys seemed to look even dirtier on dates. Curly would pick Jennifer up in a stained white t-shirt and beat up boots, and she'd go wild. Even Two-Bit usually wore his oldest pair of blue jeans the first time he took a real greasy girl out. That tough guy appeal, I guess.

Not Ponyboy. His mahogany hair had been cut since I'd seen him at school the day before. It fell to the side softly, just covering the scar on his temple. The navy sweater he had on must've been new, too. God, he was so gorgeous, he really did look like some kind of angel, in the middle of the Eastside.

It was funny, but as soon as I actually laid eyes upon him, my heartbeat slowed. A strange calm seemed to settle over me. Just the sight of him began to soothe the fear away. More than calm, though, was an overwhelming sense of certainty. Clarity.

There was not a doubt in my mind that Ponyboy was right for me.

I tossed my hair, long and straight, over my shoulder before giving him my very best grin. "Hey there. You look mighty handsome."

For a moment, he simply stared at me. His eyes traveled from my Mary Janes to my red dress to my face and then back down again. When his ears matched my dress, he cleared his throat.

"Thank you," Ponyboy said, soft and sweet and a little stupefied. "You look - I mean - God, you're so beautiful, Rosie."

Oh glory. It was my first to flush scarlet now.

Without another thought, I reached for his hand with my free one. "Come on, let's get out of here before my friends try to come see the show up close."

Pony laughed as he closed the door for me. "Is the whole girl gang watching through the window?"

"Minus Carla," I told him cheerfully. "She's on a date with Gerald Lowenthal, can you believe it?"

He slyly took the bag with Soda's present in it from me while I spoke; it was just like him to never let me carry anything, even a birthday gift. "Gerry's not a bad guy. He's on the track team."

"Do you always see the best in people?" I quipped.

"I just know good people," he said simply.

The walk to his house was only a few minutes, but like always, we dawdled, walking hand in hand. There were cars parked all up and down Chickasaw already. We were quiet, partly because you could hear the music pouring from his house, and partly because it was peaceful. Of all the mental preparation I'd done for this party, it turned out that just walking with Ponyboy was the most effective method. My anxieties melted away with our falling footsteps. I was nothing but excited by the time we got to his porch.

"Soda went all out," Pony warned me, his hand already in the doorknob.

"I'd expect nothing less," I replied solemnly.

When we entered the Curtis' living room, I almost didn't recognize it. Sodapop had covered the walls with multi-colored Christmas lights and helium balloons. It seemed like every single person I knew was in there, too. Terry Jones, Sylvia Barfield, Evie Singleton, Bryon Douglas, even the girl with the pink shift dress from Terry's party. The Rolling Stones were blaring out of the old, huge radio, and a lot of people were already dancing. I hadn't been exaggerating when I told Jennifer this would be the biggest party of the year.

Two-Bit waved brightly as soon as me and Pony walked in. Naturally, he was standing with Steve and Soda. Ponyboy tensed up a little, but I knew my brother. I squeezed Pony's hand gently, and then led us over to the rest of the gang.

"Happy birthday, Sodapop!" I separated from Ponyboy, but only to throw my arms around his brother. Then I took the bag from Pony, and presented it to Soda excitedly.

"Aw, Rose, you didn't have to get me anything," the handsome blonde grinned ruefully.

"Shut your mouth and open my gift, Sodapop."

Like all of the Curtises, he did what I told him to. Inside the bag was a tuff brown leather jacket that matched the wallet Pony had given him. Soda's brown eyes lit up brighter than the strung bulbs everywhere as he slipped the jacket on.

"Rosalie, this is great. Thank you!" He gushed. There was something a little too dazzling in his smile that made me wonder just what he was celebrating with tonight.

"How'd you get a fine jacket like that?" My brother drawled, grinning like he already knew the answer, because he did.

I put a hand on my hip and cocked an eyebrow playfully. "Ain't I a Matthews?"

The boys howled with laughter, even Steve. Two-Bit said to Ponyboy, "Lordy, you've got yourself a handful with this one, don't ya, kid?"

The mahogany haired boy looked much more at ease as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and beamed at me. "That's alright. I got two hands."

My brother was certainly crocked, but his eyes were still good-natured. "Ain't y'all cute."

I grinned at Ponyboy. "I certainly think so."

Evie Singleton had never so much as looked at me before, but she winked at me now. "You're just jealous 'cause you don't got a date."

"Wanda Idelmann shoot you down?" I asked my big brother, with no attempt at hiding my glee.

"She's here with Mark Jennings," he replied dryly.

"Better luck next time," I said. "Do y'all have anything to drink that isn't booze?"

"What kind of party do you think this is?" Soda asked in mock-offense.

"Your party, Curtis!" I giggled.

"C'mon, let's get away from these hoods before they start acting up," Pony told me. He was wearing that same face he always did when he was trying not to laugh at me, red faced and eye rolling.

"You can't be embarrassed of your friends with your date is related to one of them," Two-Bit cackled.

The boys really were getting pickled. This time, Ponyboy led the way to the kitchen.

Kitchens were always a strangely safe zone during parties. Benny and Edgar Alonso, two of Tim Shepard's boys, were smoking a joint, but they dipped when we walked in. Probably for the best, considering the way Pony's eyes narrowed at the smell of sweet smoke.

"High on life, huh?" I asked wryly.

He snorted. "I wish."

I let go of his hand, but only so I could stand in front of him. His hair looked so soft. I couldn't resist the urge to run my hand through it, like I had at the grocery store a few weeks ago. This time, though, I was a bit more gentle.

"Don't be grumpy," I told him softly. "Growing up has some benefits."

The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. "That it does. Speakin' of which, let me be a good date and get you that drink."

I leaned against the counter, watching him as he opened the fridge. This was already the best date I'd ever been on, but I'd tell him that later.

After sharing a cigarette, we went back out to the party. Steve and Evie were dancing, and so were Two-Bit and Kathy Mercer, despite his complaints about Wanda. Me and Pony settled somewhere in the middle of everybody. I liked to dance, and Ponyboy was actually pretty good, especially for how clumsy he really was. (Eddie Washington had stepped all over my feet.)

Somehow, the throng of people seemed to fade away. Mama's romance novels had always seemed cheesy before, but I got it now. All I could see was Ponyboy; the angle of his jawline, the way his mouth stayed curved into a smile. Those electric green eyes. The music was still loud enough to thrum in my chest, but I felt light as air as Pony twirled me around and pulled me close.

Do You Believe in Magic? may have been a little soft for some greaser crowds, but Soda had always liked all kinds of music. With the slower tempo, Ponyboy wrapped his arms around my waist, pressing his body against mine. I toyed with the hair at the nape of his neck while we swayed.

"This is real nice," he said, leaning down to speak directly in my ear. A tingle went all the way down my spine when his warm breath hit my skin.

"You're nice," I replied simply.

"After this song, do you want to go outside for a smoke?" He asked. There was a hint of nerves in his voice that even the music couldn't drown out.

"Of course, honey." With my lips that close to him, I couldn't resist pressing them to his cheek softly.

We stayed close, moving slower than anybody else in the crowd. It was amazing to me how much different dancing felt with someone that I adored, as opposed to someone like Frank Sullivan.

When the song ended, Pony and I pushed through the crowd till we reached the front door. Despite all the jostling and bumping, he never let go of my hand.

There was a few people grouped around the porch. We didn't discuss it, but Ponyboy and I both kept walking, out of the yard and back onto the sidewalk. Aimlessly, we turned down towards Forrester, away from the cars and the noise.

Yet again, I was forced to think about the parallels between Sodapop's party and Terry Jones'. When Ponyboy and I had taken a walk under the moonlight then, I was drunk and scared and out of sorts. Now, I was stone cold sober, and it felt better than any party I'd gone to with Jennifer. Soda may not have gotten high off of life, but I certainly felt it.

"I'm glad you asked me to come with you tonight," I told Pony.

He smiled at me. "I am too. This is the best night I've had in a long time. Maybe ever."

"Maybe this was how things were supposed to be all along," I admitted shyly.

"Maybe this is how things are always supposed to be," he said.

We were on Forrester now, underneath the biggest oak tree in the entire neighborhood. Nothing could stop my heart from pounding as I led him off of the sidewalk. I leaned my back against the tree, so we were face to face.

"I really like you, Ponyboy," I murmured, reaching up the wrap my arms around his neck again.

"I really like you, Rosalie," he replied, putting his hands on my back, always pulling me closer. It felt like we were dancing with no music.

His face was awfully close to mine. I closed my eyes and breathed in deep, surrounded by the smell of smoke and chocolate, and then -

Ponyboy kissed me.

Soft and light as a feather, his warm lips merely brushed mine at first. When I shivered against him, he pressed his mouth down more firmly.

His kiss was so gentle. Nobody had ever kissed me sweet like that. Then again, nobody else was like him.

He pulled away just long enough to look into my eyes. His were glowing, that light green burned into my brain so I'd never forget the way he looked that night.

I stood on tip-toe to reach him again. I couldn't get close enough to him. My hands in his hair, those smooth lips against me - yes, this was how thing were always supposed to be. I understood now.

It felt like I understood everything now.

-

Before we could go back to the party, I had to wipe all of my scarlet lipstick off Pony's face. He was still a little red, but that may have been from the kissing.

I had no idea how long we'd been standing there under the oak tree, kissing and whispering and giggling. Almost of the cars were gone from Chickasaw Street, and the full moon was high in the sky.

Darry looked up sharply when the front door opened. The crowd was gone now, leaving behind nothing more than empty bottles, cigarette butts, and a half-haze of smoke. He had a trash bag in his hand, and a hard look in his eye.

Before he could say a word, though, the pretty girl from Horne's touched his arm. So she did come, after all.

The oldest Curtis glanced at his date, then back at Ponyboy and I, still holding hands. And surprisingly, he smiled.

"Y'all have fun?"

"Yeah, we did," I said, taking in stock of the mess that had been left, and Darry and Elaine, alone, trying to clean it up. Even in my happy daze, my heart broke a little for him. "Where's everybody else?"

"Soda passed out, Steve got into a fight, and then everybody went to Terry's," Darry explained curtly.

"D'you want some help?" Ponyboy asked. He took the words out of my mouth.

When he smiled at his brother, some of the ice melted behind his eyes. "That'd be real nice."

So me, Ponyboy, Darry, and Elaine picked up all the trash, the left behind jackets that people would be back for tomorrow or next week or maybe never. Darry put back up the picture of his parents after we'd taken the Christmas lights down.

Maybe it was a strange end to a magical first date, but it felt oddly fitting. Greasers may not have always been born into the best homes, but we certainly made up for it by the family we chose. We took care of each other. We loved each other. It was the best part of being from Chickasaw Street.

Ponyboy smiled at me every time he caught my eye, filling my whole body with warmth. It was nearly two o'clock by the time he walked me home, and I still felt electric, even if sleepiness had started to settle over us both.

When we got to my yard, I turned to Ponyboy, just like I always did. This time, though, I really could lean forward and kiss his tired grin.

"I had the time of my life tonight," I said.

"Just wait till we go on dates where our brothers aren't there," he teased.

I grinned. "Say the word, and I'll be ready."

"Next Saturday?"

"Sounds like a date."

He kissed me again. I'd known this late night glow of streetlights and moonlight my entire life, but it seemed to fill my entire body now.

This was my life. Here on Chickasaw Street, on the wrong side of town, in a discounted dress. With a beautiful boy, underneath a beautiful moon. We may have had a dozen heartbreaking stories between the two of us, but now, we had this story, too.

And it was a pretty good one, if I do say so myself.