Ponyboy’s body shivered with nerves as he watched his classmates walk across the gym’s makeshift stage, receiving a carefully decorated diploma and a firm handshake from the principal. He tried not to bob his leg but it was proving to be very difficult as he felt his name creep closer and closer. He had actually graduated High School. Ponyboy was actually about to receive his diploma. His mind flashed to everything that had happened four years ago. The night the socs chased them, the days spent in the old church, His best friend. He didn’t think he would’ve ever been able to go on and move on, and now he was about to leave the only people he’d ever known and go off to college. Part of him didn’t want anything to change; He hadn’t made many friends ever since Dally and Johnny—Partly because people shunned him after the whole incident. But the other part of him knew he couldn’t stay stuck on his friends forever. He had to go out and get the life Darry sacrificed his entire one for. “Ponyboy Curtis,” The principal called out through the microphone. He looked up as his legs carried him towards the stage where he received the paper he had been working towards his entire life. Looking out to the huge crowd, one person stuck out to him more than the rest. It was Darry, who was sitting looking directly at him. Even from that distance Pony could make out his tired eyes.