Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns The Outsiders and Brian Fallon owns "Honey Magnolia."
Sorry guys. We're really not trying to leave you hanging. When we say it's been nuts over here, it's been nuts. One of us was finishing up school (yay) and the other just started a new job (also, yay)!
Also, there is only one more chapter after this one. I know you guys all expect 40+chapters out of us, but we really wanted this to mostly focus on Dallas and Ellie this time around. That last chapter should be posted by Monday. I promise you won't have to wait an age for it this time around.
I'll be the one to let you know when the sweet taste is gone,
And it's over, Honey Magnolia
July 1970
Dear Sodapop,
You're right, the world is big and there is so much to see. I'm going to New York. Dallas and I are done for every reason I ever wrote to you and then some more (I'm sure that by now someone else has written you, so I'm going to leave this as a happy letter). I feel close to the best I have ever felt in my life, and I'm excited. You should be coming home soon if everything works out like it should, and my heart breaks that I'll miss your homecoming. I have so many things I want to able to talk to you about, in person, but letters and phone calls will have to do it for now.
I'm going in a week and I can hardly contain myself, even though I am also scared to death. Pony is there so I don't really know what I am worried about. It's going to be an adventure of sorts I never imagined for myself.
Please continue to stay safe and hurry home, everyone here can't wait to see you again.
Love,
Ellie
The plans came together quickly and within a couple of days Ellie had a bus ticket and was packing up her room. Darry and Allison bought the ticket, which she insisted they didn't, but accepted nevertheless. They also told her whatever she couldn't bring with her on the bus to leave with them and they would send it on for her. Two-Bit and Carolyn gave her store credit for the department store they worked for to buy some new clothes, and Steve kept her company while she packed.
"You're going to miss it when Soda comes home, you know?"
She dropped a load of junk into a box she was packing and sat cross legged on her bed beside him.
"I know," she said, feeling the weight of her disappointment.
He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a little object. Holding it in his hand he opened it and showed her the compass inside. Steve handed it to her.
"You know, he wrote me a little while ago and told me how you were thinking about going, but to not push you," he gave her a bit of side eye and she smiled to herself knowing that it probably took everything inside of him to keep his mouth shut. "I really wish you would have just decided to go instead of how things turned out, but I'm still really happy for you."
She held up the compass and looked at him, waiting on him to explain.
"It's mine," he said. "I thought maybe you needed something to keep you on the straight and narrow if I'm not going to be around to keep you in line."
That made her laugh and want to cry all at the same time. She ran her thumb over the glass and thought about all the times he had been there for her. Looking at him now she smiled and said, "I'll definitely need it. Thank you."
"Anything for you, kid," he said. "Soda swears he's going to head out and visit Pony when he gets home, maybe I'll go along, too."
The false hope in his tone made her believe otherwise, but she pretended that he meant it.
"You're going to be ok?" she asked him, wanting to ask him about all the things he never talked about.
"I'll be fine," he said, determined. "I am fine."
"You promise?"
"I promise. Stop worrying about me and get yourself the hell away from here for awhile," he said, shoving her a little. "Get packing."
Getting to her feet she looked him over and let it be. If anything, when Soda got home, and it was going to be when, maybe he would perk up and be ok. Even though she knew it wouldn't be that simple, it was the hope she held on to.
XXX
The papers had been signed and all of the parties involved had been notified. Dallas was in holding and waiting to board a bus to take him to where he would be spending the next several months or years of his life. His public defender joked that Dally had saved him weeks worth of paperwork because he took the plea deal.
He had thought about writing her a letter to apologize since he knew she wouldn't come see him, but then he thought the better of it. Ellie had poured herself into him for years now and he had given her nothing in return. The best thing, he had come to realize, was just to leave her be, as hard as that was for him to do. He would do all of the time asked of him and he would give her space. He hoped and prayed that when everything was said and done that she wouldn't just slam a door in his face.
The time was going to be long, but he felt a change coming in him. He was aware that it was probably too little, too late, but it was worth a shot. She was worth the time and the effort.
Dallas Winston went to prison for the second time in his life, and he went there hoping it was his last.
XXX
Bright and early in the morning when Dallas was getting on a bus, Steve and Two-Bit waited outside Ellie's house to take a drive with her. Ellie drove Dallas' truck to Lane's place in Windrixville with Steve while Two-Bit followed behind. There was a box wrapped in brown paper with Dallas' name written across it. Steve asked her about it, and she told him it wasn't any of his business.
Both vehicles drove up Lane's dusty driveway and Ellie parked beside the newer truck by the house. By the time she was walking up the front steps, the door opened. He met her with the same look of horror she had become accustomed to since Dallas hit her. She gave him the short version of what happened and then told him that Dally was going back to jail. The old man's face set, and he clenched his jaw like Dally.
"That boy, I tell you," he said, setting a gnarled hand on her shoulder.
"When he gets out, he's going to come here."
Lane looked like he didn't believe her. "What makes you think that?"
"Because I think he might have finally heard me." She looked down at the box and handed it to him. "Will you see that he gets this?"
He took it from her and looked it over. "I'll certainly hold it for him."
"And these," she said, holding up the truck keys. "He should have this when he gets out."
When he took them, he looked across at the old hunk of junk Steve was leaning against. "I gave it to him so he could get to you. I thought I was helping him. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It didn't end up how it should have, but I guess now I know it wasn't meant to be," she said. "He really tried, he just couldn't. It was too hard for him to let go of everything he's always been so angry about and move on."
"He's just like his father," Lane said, a catch in his voice.
"He's not. He just needs a chance," she said. Leaning in she gave the old man a hug and said, "He'll come here. Thank you for everything."
Stepping off of the porch she looked around and tried to remember every detail of the night he brought her to this house. It had been a perfect night that eventually turned everything into rot. Thinking back on it she knew she still wouldn't have changed anything because even knowing what she knew now, she had loved him enough to try. That love was different now and she backed away and waved at Lane one last time, leaving as much behind as she could.
Two-Bit started up his car and drove back the way they came. Everyone was quiet for a long time.
After a while, Two-Bit said, "He wasn't like how I pictured."
"I think he might be the only decent person Dally's family," she said. "I'm glad he has him."
From the back seat Steve asked, "You really think Dally will go there when he gets out?"
There were fewer things in her life she fully believed in, and she nodded. Whenever Dallas got out of prison, he would be alone and he would need someone who would give him a chance. He wouldn't assume Darry or Two-Bit or Steve would have anything to do with him, but Lane had been there for him before. And Ellie knew Dally would go there because it was what she wanted for him.
XXX
The going away party was as fun and bittersweet as she could have imagined. All of her friends who could gather had come together and even her mom stopped by for a little while. The Danny stayed over and ran around, playing with Lizzie until they both passed out asleep on the couch. The house still felt empty and their party incomplete without Soda and Pony. She would see Pony so soon she didn't miss him as hard, but she felt that sting of Sodapop not being there. Soon, though, she kept telling herself. She would see him again soon.
There was only one moment she briefly forgot and looked around for Dallas. It was quick and fleeting and she tried to forget about it. There was a part of her that remained hopeful that he could come back and be welcomed home again. It would start with her, she knew that, but thinking about her sore face and the unforgettable imagine of Wade lying on the pavement made her put away the idea for the time being. She needed time as much as she knew he needed it to figure out his life.
"What's got you thinking so hard?" Darry asked, leaning in close to whisper to over the party noise.
"I kind of feel like I'm running away," she told him.
"You're not running from anything. You're running to something," he said.
That made her smile and she said, "Thanks, Darry."
XXX
When morning came, and she stood with her circle of friends and family at the same bus depot she sent Sodapop off of to find Sandy, the same one he and Steve shipped off from, and the one where Pony left for New York. Now it was her turn and Ellie was surprised at herself for not crying. Allison gave her a bag full of travel necessities, mostly candy and peanuts and hugged her tight. Darry and Two-Bit both gave her rib crushing hugs and kissed her cheek. Going down the line, Ellie told everyone goodbye, holding Danny extra long and kissing on the cheek.
"I'll miss you, buddy," she said, crouching down to his level.
"I love you, Ellie," he said, wrapping his tiny, but strong arms around her neck. It nearly broke her, but there was another hand on her shoulder.
Ellie stood up and hugged Steve who held her tightly, even with just one good arm.
"I'm proud of you. I really mean it," he said. "Don't get into any trouble out there, you hear me?"
Tears really in her eyes now and Ellie could only nod and he released her.
"I'll be good," she told him. She placed her hand on his bad arm. "You take care of yourself."
"Get out of here, kiddo," he said with a wink and kiss on the cheek.
She hugged her mom tight and promised to write about everything she was doing. Abigail released her and handed her an envelope.
"Just a little extra," she said.
"Thank you," Ellie said, hugging her one last time. "I love you."
"Love you, too, baby."
Blinking back tears, Ellie picked up her bag for the ride and looked once more at all of her friends. Turning around, she stepped onto the bus and quickly sat in a seat by the window and waved. She had watched so many of her friend get on buses, leaving her and Tulsa behind. Now it was her turn - something she never thought she would do. As the bus driver got on and shut the door, her stomach started doing flips, and she waved at her friends again. Darry put Danny on up on his shoulders and carried him up to the bus. Danny set his tiny hand on the window and Ellie laid hers over it. He blew her a kiss and Darry stepped back.
The wheels started to roll and she waved and waved until she couldn't see anyone anymore. Sitting back and trying to replace her nervousness with excitement, she watched the scenery fly by and change for thousands of miles.
XXX
Dally walked into the room filled with visitors like he was walking to the electric chair. When he heard someone was there to see him, his chest felt like it was about to burst at the thought of facing Ellie again. When he found out it wasn't her, he was as pleased as he was disappointed. When he found out who it was, though, he almost told the CO he wasn't interested. But he was. He couldn't help himself.
He shuffled slowly toward the table he knew was his, keeping his eyes on the ground. It wasn't until he sat down that he finally looked up at the kid across the table from him.
Wade sat tall across from him and held his gaze. It surprised Dally in a way, but the kid held all the power here. He wasn't the one in the jumpsuit even if he was the one sitting there with sickly, near-healed yellow bruises all over his face.
"What do you want?" Dally finally asked, breaking down and looking at his own hands folded on the table.
"I don't know."
Dallas glanced back up at him, and Wade shrugged.
"I know you don't know me, but my dad's a pastor. And he didn't even know why I wanted to come out here."
"Then why?"
"I don't know what Ellie ever told you about me," Wade said, his tone even, but just maybe just a little high like he was nervous, "but I'd be willing to bet it's about as much as what she told me about you which was next to nothing. I didn't know anything about you for a long time."
Dally set his jaw, studying his hands and not knowing why he was sitting here listening to this.
"I guess I came here to tell you I forgive you," Wade continued.
"Great, I can finally get some sleep tonight," Dally replied, dryly.
Wade considered that for a moment before he actually smiled. It was maybe a little bitter, but it was genuine enough. "You really messed everything up, didn't you? Besides my face, I mean."
"It's what I'm good at."
"I'm gonna believe that it was the first time you ever laid hands on her," Wade said. "I'd like to believe she would have been smart enough to forget about you if you had done that to her before."
"Hey," Dally hissed, his voice low and harsh, "I fucked up, but I didn't ever hurt her before."
"You may not have hit her before that, but you always hurt her."
There was nothing mean or accusatory in the way Wade said it. The truth of it was so simple, so plain, and it felt like a sucker punch to the gut. Dally sat back and stared at the kid. Before, he only saw everything he couldn't be for Ellie, and now he was looking at everything he took away from her by ever coming back in her life.
"Look," Wade continued, "I didn't come here to tell you that. I don't really know why I came here. Other than the fact that I figured this was the only place I could ever talk to you with a guarantee you wouldn't be able to kill me."
Dally didn't miss the way Wade looked over Dally's shoulder at the guards watching over the prisoners, and that elicited a smirk of his own. He just didn't understand this kid.
Wade stood up and actually stuck his hand out. Dally hesitantly shook the hand of the kid he had almost beat to death and realized a lot of things about himself. Mostly that he wasn't good enough to lick the dirt off the kid's cowboy boots.
"You know, I thought I loved her," Wade said, standing there, looking down at Dally. "I was pretty sure of it. But she never felt that way about me. I gave her all the chances in the world. I tried everything I could, but I think I realized at some point that she was never going to love me back. I don't know why I was so surprised when she cut out at Prom with you. She did everything but tell me she only had space enough for you. You were lucky, you know?"
"Yeah," Dally said quietly. "I coulda been."
Wade nodded and started toward the exit.
"Hey," Dally called after him, standing up. "Thanks."
Thanks for what? Forgiving him? For making him feel like shit at the same time? Dally figured it was probably both.
Wade just gave him another nod. He seemed to understand what Dally meant.
XXX
The New York City skyline was nothing that could be justified by a picture on a postcard. As the bus drove into the outskirts of the city, Ellie craned her neck to see the tops of the buildings and still couldn't. There were more people out walking around than she ever saw in Tulsa, and even the most mundane things struck her in awe.
When the bus pulled to a stop at the depot, Ellie grabbed up her belongings and stepped out into a city she never dreamed she would step foot in. Ponyboy was standing twenty feet away. A grin a mile wide was plastered on his face, and they met each other halfway in a crushing hug.
"You made it!" he said.
"Never thought I would, huh?"
"I always knew you would," he said. "Eventually."
Looking around again, she smiled and said, "I'm glad I did."
They waited for her suitcase to be set out from the undercarriage, and Pony started talking about all the things they could see and do. He was so excited and it radiated. Ellie caught a hold of that excitement and felt all the bruises and all the hurt heal. She let it all go and was ready to face whatever New York threw her way.
When her bag was finally set on the pavement, Pony picked it up. "Want to see where home is now?"
"I'd love to," she said, threading her arm through his.
See I don't dig those kind of blues anymore, she said,
So what if I did?