The lads spend the following week hiding out at the church, reading Gone with the Wind, smoking, and eating sandwiches. The lads adore the southern gentlemen in Gone with the Wind, and Johnny compares them to Dally. Ponyboy is not convinced. He thinks the guys are just like all other jerks before they go and get themselves killed. Eventually, the girls leave the church to go visit their parents, who have now moved to California. Before they go, they give the boys some advice about how to behave when they meet women. Then, the girls ride off into the sunset. That's all there is to the story. It's a classic love story that you've probably seen many times before. However, what makes The Outsiders unique is its focus on four high school students from different backgrounds who become friends despite their differences. Although the main characters are Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dennis, the book also includes stories about several other people including Steve and his family, Otto and his family, and Stacey. Ponyboy, for example, comes from a poor family. He has no interest in going to college or getting a job. Instead, he plans to join up with the mob and earn money by stealing cars. Despite this "bad" behavior, Ponyboy does have a good heart.