One Last Sad Song Chapter 3: Let Love In, an outsiders fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own the outsiders or the song Let Love In.

Let Love In

By The Goo Goo Dolls.

You wait, wanting this world
To let you in
And you stand there
A frozen light
In dark and empty streets

The rain was falling hard outside Cherry's bedroom window. She'd always loved the rain, but today it just seemed depressing. She was all alone in her huge mansion-like house, and the downstairs television was set on mute. Cherry sat on her bed, wrapped in a purple knitted blanket. Cherry's hands were shaking and tears streaked her beautiful face. She was holding on to a little black puppy stuffed animal that her grandmother had gotten her for her second birthday. In Cherry's mind, it was the only thing in the world that could make her feel better.

The wind began to pick up outside causing Cherry let out a quick sob. Her parents had gone out of town for the weekend, leaving the house silent and cold. The lights remained turned off in every room, the only source of light being the windows and the moving picture on the t.v. screen. The faint roar of a car was heard outside her window. As Cherry parted her curtains, she saw Dallas Winston get out of an old beat-up car.

Cherry's bedroom mirror was covered in pictures of her and her friends. Some were from the beach, others from the park, and others from school events. She examined them carefully before glancing at herself in the mirror. She was a mess, he hair was pulled up in a lose ponytail and she was wearing a pair of jeans. She hadn't bothered to apply any make-up that morning, so for once it wasn't running with her tears down her cheeks. Cherry licked her lips and wiped away the last few tears that fell.

"Cherry, are you here?" Dally's loud voice was heard from the doorway downstairs. Cherry opened her bedroom door and began padding down the steps to the living room. She folded her arms over her chest to shield herself from the cold wind coming in from the opened door. Dally smiled when he saw her delicately walking down the stairs. "There you are." When he noticed her expression, his smile faded, too.

Cherry leaned against the banister and looked at him. "Dallas." She said without any emphasis. Dally looked at the rug he was standing on and then back up at Cherry whose beautiful green eyes now looked gray.

"What's wrong?" He asked closing the door behind him and walking toward her. He looked past the stairway to the kitchen. "There isn't anyone here is there?" The cautiousness of his voice made Cherry feel uneasy. He looked back up at her as she shook her head 'no'. He tilted his head to one side as he looked up at her. "What's wrong?" This time his voice was softer, more sympathetic.

The corners of Cherry's mouth tilted up into a small smile and she shrugged. "I'm okay, don't worry about it." She walked the rest of the way down the stairs and flicked on the corridor light. Dally glanced at the television set and then back at Cherry.

"Why's it on mute?" He walked to the kitchen and opened the freezer to see a half eaten pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream. "And whose been eating the ice cream?" He shut the freezer door and walked to Cherry again. She looked up at him, tears threatening to be set free, and began to explain. But before she could even get one word out, Dally wrapped her in a tight hug and held her like that. "You don't have to tell me," he said quietly. A single tear fell from her eye and landed on Dally's already soaked leather jacket.

Dally only let his soft side show around two people; Cherry Valance and Johnny Cade. With Cherry, he'd act like a completely different person, not because he didn't want her to know his tough side, but because he cared about her. He wouldn't smoke, or swear, or even talk dirty around her. She was something special. When she needed him, he was always there. She'd like to think she'd changed him, but really, he changed himself. Of course, he'd never let the guys know that Cherry made him so crazy for fear of losing a reputation, but Johnny knew. He wasn't supposed to, and Dally didn't even know he did, but Johnny knew that when Dally loved someone, he'd let them know, not through words, but actions.

You smile hiding behind
A God-given face
But I know you're so much more
Everything they ignore
Is all that I need to believe

Dally led Cherry to the sofa and turned off the T.V. She smiled and folded her legs underneath her so that she could face Dally completely. Dally sat down beside her and ran his hand through his hair. "So, what'd you come here for?" Cherry didn't realize how hoarse her voice sounded and Dally turned away when she spoke. She just looked at the checkered pattern on the sofa.

"You mean I have to have a reason?" Dally grinned and Cherry playfully hit him on the arm. "Okay, okay, I wanted to see if you wanted to go somewhere, but it's raining and I can tell you're not up for it—" Cherry laughed, cutting him off.

"I'm up for it," she said looking out the window. Dally smiled.

"And I thought since you're parents are out of town, we could have a special night." He winked and Cherry stood up and went to open the door. Dally always played around like that, not that he'd ever push Cherry to do something she didn't want to, but he loved joking about it. See, he wanted to do what Cherry wanted, he wanted to please her. It had taken him so long to finally get what he wanted, and now he didn't want to lose it. If it had been any other girl, he'd make the move instead of joking about it.

A cold gust of wind blew in as soon as the door opened. Cherry covered her arms and shivered, still holding the door opened. "Would you like to leave, Mr. Winston?" Cherry's eyes sparkled, and Dally stood up. He ran to the doorway, slammed the door and pushed Cherry up against it. He began tickling her, holding her back against the door, and he wasn't about to let her get free.

"Stop it!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Dally didn't ease up, Cherry wriggled and screamed and laughed. Finally, Dally stopped and looked at the clock and then at Cherry. She was still smiling and breathing heavily. Dally laughed and backed away, leaving a small gap between the two. Cherry looked up at him and then turned toward the sofa. "Well, uh, where do you want to go?" She hated it when moments got serious like that, she felt awkward and pressured. She wanted to kiss him, but was afraid of what it'd lead to.

Dally walked up behind her, "I was thinking of this place, but I can't tell you, you just have to come with me. It's a surprise." Cherry loved surprises. She turned around and smiled. She nodded with delight and slowly began walking up the stairs. Dally leaned against the banister Cherry had leaned on before. "Okay, it's a date then." The laughter in Dally's voice was still able to be heard and he began following her up the steps.

Cherry opened the door to her bedroom, revealing the white walls lined in pink border. Dally sighed and sat down on her bed while she began rummaging through her closet. "Woah, you don't have to get all dressed up for me, I don't care." Cherry turned around and let out a little laugh.

"Well maybe I want to," was all she said before she walked into her bathroom. Dally fell back against the plush pillows. Cherry's room was surrounded in posters and photos. Dally especially liked the one that sat in a frame on her nightstand. It was of Cherry, Dally, Ponyboy, Johnny, Two-Bit, and Marcia a few months ago. They had all gone to the state fair together. It was the first time that Socs and greasers really did anything together. They were sitting against a large concrete fountain eating cotton candy and candy apples. It was the only picture Cherry had framed, Dally noticed. It must be her favorite one, too.

"Okay, now I'm ready," Cherry opened the bathroom door and Dally sat up to look at her. She was wearing a pink skirt that went to her knees, a white button up blouse and a pink scarf around her neck. She spun around, pretending to be a model. Dally nodded and hopped off the bed.

"You look beautiful," his voice sounded weak and he kicked himself for being so taken aback by her looks. She looked so different than she did just a few minutes ago. Her hair was now down and fell in loose waves to her neck. She had applied enough make-up to accent her already lovely face, and she was wearing some kind of perfume that Dally could smell all the way across the room. It was wonderful.

Cherry walked out of the bathroom and toward her door, flicking off the light switch. Dally followed her down the stairs and to the main door. "I'll be right back," she said as she walked to the closet under the staircase. She came back holding an umbrella and a blanket. "It's wet and cold," was all she said before opening the door and walking to Dally's car.

You're the only one I ever believed in
The answer that could never be found
The moment you decided to let love in
Now I'm banging on the door of an angel
The end of fear is where we begin
The moment we decided to let love in

The rain drops pounded hard on the hood of Dally's car as they drove. Everything outside of the car seemed blurry and unclear. Cherry yawned and reached to the radio. She needed music. She turned the radio to her favorite channel. Dally smiled and rolled his eyes, not looking up from the road. Cherry began singing with the songs as they played, causing Dally to laugh. "I love surprises," Cherry said suddenly when a song ended. Dally looked over at her and smiled.

"I love surprises, too." Cherry laughed and started singing the next song. It was hard for Dally to believe that this was the same girl he had seen only hours before with tears staining her cheeks. She was so hyper, so energetic. Cherry hit him playfully on the arm, knocking him out of his daze.

"Sing with me," she said between verses. He laughed and shook his head.

"Nah, I'm not a very good singer." Dally's eyes were laughing even though his voice sounded serious. Cherry giggled and then looked at him again.

"So, neither am I, come on!" Her eyes were sparkling as she pleaded. Dally laughed again and then picked up at the chorus. Cherry laughed and looked out the window. She noticed how the buildings became less, and the trees became more. She smiled to herself as Dally slowed the car down.

The car came to a complete stop in a wooded area. The raindrops were now falling in a light sprinkle as Dally got out of the car. He walked casually around to Cherry's side and opened her door. "Why, thank you, kind sir." At this comment they both laughed. It was rather hard to picture Dallas as a 'kind sir'.

Cherry opened up the umbrella and Dally took the blanket from her. He then took her hand in his and began to lead her through the thick trees. Cherry froze at his touch, but then followed him. She thought of the two of them as very close friends, and it was hard to think of Dally as anything but. However, she felt herself grow closer and closer to him everyday, and he always seemed to be there when she needed him. They were 'dating', but Cherry was afraid to let it get that far.

Dally stopped at a clearing and squeezed Cherry's hand. As Cherry saw what Dally was also looking at, she took in a deep breath. They were standing on a ledge, high above the city, overlooking all the tall buildings. You could see everything. Cherry let go of Dally's hand and walked closer to the edge. "Oh, my goodness!" she exclaimed. The thrill in her voice was enough for Dally to know that she was surprised. Dally walked up behind her after a while. "How'd you know about this place?" Dally shrugged.

"Ponyboy told me it would be a great place to read. I figured that you would want to see it." Cherry shivered from the cold and the raindrops dampened her hair, but she didn't care. She was overlooking the city, it was beautiful. Cherry ran back toward Dally and wrapped her arms around him.

"It's beautiful!" Her heart beat fast and she pulled away just enough to place her lips on his. She relaxed a bit before pulling away completely and turning back toward the amazing view. She took Dally's hand and led him to the very edge. "Look," she said softly, "You can see both sides of town, almost like they were equal." Dally looked down at Cherry and then back at the city. He smiled and ran his hand through her hair.

"Maybe they are." Dally's voice was quiet and Cherry looked up at him. She smiled and leaned against his shoulder. She was standing on a mountain somewhere in the middle of nowhere, with Dallas Winston, the toughest greaser. Maybe there really wasn't a difference. If there was, Cherry had just proven there didn't have to be.

I wish
Wishing for you to find your way
And I'll hold on for all you need
That's all we need to say

The rain had come out completely now as the sun began to set. Cherry and Dally were cuddled together, wrapped in Cherry's blanket. Cherry felt like an angel, high above the world, with the most unexpected person, the only person she wanted to be with. Dally cleared his throat, "So, I was thinking, this fall we should come up here and check out the leaves. I'll bet the colors are amazing that time of year." Cherry tucked a lose piece of hair behind her ear and looked at Dally. Her expression was solemn and when she spoke, she could feel her own heart break.

"Dally," she said softly. Dally looked straight ahead, over the ridge. "Dallas." Cherry wanted him to look at her, she needed his attention. He turned his head and stared at her, searching her eyes for anything, but all he found was hurt. "I won't be here in the fall." Cherry felt the a lump form in her throat and she struggled to keep it from bursting.

"What?" Dally's eyes looked puzzled and Cherry bit her lip, debating how to tell him.

"I won't be here, I'm moving." Her eyes began to water and she looked away, she looked at the trees surrounding them, the city below them, she looked anywhere but at Dallas. He was quiet for a while, taking it in.

"What?" His voice was so quiet Cherry had a hard time hearing him. He closed his eyes as she turned back to look at him. "You're just kidding, right?" He laughed a little as if expecting Cherry to admit to the joke. She shook her head.

"My dad got a job in Florida. He said it will be a good change, since we've never moved. And my mom thinks it's for the best…" she trailed off. She really didn't want to tell Dally part of the reason they were moving was because she was with him most of the time. Her parents really didn't approve, and it hurt Cherry to know that she was doing something they disliked.

"Wait, Florida? Like Disney, Florida?" Cherry nodded. "Well, what am I supposed to do?" He stood up and began pacing back and forth. Cherry looked at the town below again. Everything looked so peaceful, so real. And yet, her world seemed to be falling into pieces right now. "Cherry, how can you just move? I…I've done everything for you." He wasn't yelling and his voice wasn't angry, but frustrated. Cherry stood up and walked to him.

"It's not my choice. It will only be for a year, then maybe I'll come to college here or something." Dally's eyes blazed.

"Maybe? So you mean I'm not even worth coming back for?" Cherry shook her head as tears started to fall. Dally whipped around and started pacing again. "This is terrific!"

"Dallas!" Cherry's voice was weak, and she held back sobs. "How am I supposed to know where I'm going to go to college? There are tons of choices, like Yale, places I could get into."

"You mean places you could afford?" Dally's smart remark made Cherry hold her breath, he was mad, and when Dally got mad, he got really mad.

"I don't want to move, if it makes a difference. I want to stay here with Johnny and Two-Bit and Ponyboy and you." She paused before the 'you' part and she swore she saw a tear slide down Dally's cheek.

"Cherry," he walked toward her and forced a smile, "I'm sorry." Cherry smiled and took a deep breath. The sun was almost completely over the mountains and the moon was now visible.

I'll take my chances while
You take your time with
This game you play
But I can't control your soul
You need to let me know
You leaving or you gonna stay

"Do you believe in miracles?" Cherry's voice interrupted the silence the pair had been sitting in for a half hour. Dally pulled Cherry closer to him and shrugged. The clouds were completely gone and the stars were shining brightly overhead.

"It depends," he said looking at the sky.

"I believe." Cherry rested her head on Dally's shoulder and sighed. "Sometimes I think that if you believe, they'll happen." Dally smiled, Cherry sounded like a little girl explaining to her father about Christmas. He nodded in agreement.

"Maybe I have to witness one to believe," Dally said slowly running his hand over her arm.

"I've witnessed one." Cherry picked her head up and looked at him. Dally cocked his head to one side and smiled.

"Oh, yeah? What's that?"

"You," she said smiling, but her tone was serious. Dally smiled and kissed her forehead. Cherry placed her head back on his shoulder and closed her eyes. "Do you think a miracle could keep me here?"

Dally's heartbeat was fast and he sighed. "I don't think so, Cherry." She sighed, too and then the silence overcame the two again.

"I love you," Dally said suddenly. Cherry sat up straight.

"Excuse me?" Her eyes were confused and her voice sounded shocked.

"I love you," he said again. Cherry smiled.

"Are you serious?" Dally laughed.

"Yes, I'm serious." Cherry resumed her position next to Dally and sighed.

"I love you, too." Dally smiled to himself and listened to Cherry's steady heartbeat. The quiet was peaceful and it made Dally feel good, like this is where he was supposed to be. Cherry sat up suddenly, and looked at Dally. She studied him carefully and then laughed. "Really?"

"Yes," Dally laughed at Cherry's constant questions. She enjoyed being one of the only things Dallas loved. It made her feel special, important. She smiled and then leaned in to kiss him. She paused just before she placed her lips to his and whispered something he couldn't make out. For the first time, Cherry let herself love someone. She didn't expect it, and she was still unsure, but she was sure that she loved him. She'd never felt this way about anyone, and that had to be something. Dally wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Cherry let him guide her, and then he pulled away, still smiling. Cherry laughed and then leaned back to lay down in the grass.

Cherry and Dally had stayed in the mountains until five o'clock in the morning. The two had jumped in the car to make it home before Cherry's parents did, but they were too late. By the time they'd reached her house, it was seven-thirty and her mother was waiting impatiently by the door.

"Where the hell have you been?" Cherry's mother said in anger as Cherry entered the room. Her mother never used swear words unless she was furious. Cherry's hair was soaked from lying in the grass all night and her skirt and shirt were muddy. Cherry cautiously closed the door behind her and walked into the living room.

"I was in the mountains with Dally." She added the 'with Dally' part quickly and looked at her feet.

"Dally? You mean that hood who you always hang around?" Cherry looked up, her eyes filled with fury.

"Mom, don't you ever call him a 'hood'! He's not like that, well I mean he can be, but he's not to me. He cares about me, probably more than you do!" Cherry turned and ran up the steps, her mother following her.

"Sherry, that boy is bad news, I was in high school once, I should know." Cherry glared at her mother before slamming her bedroom door and flopping down on her bed.

"You aren't in high school now, mom. And you don't know the first thing about loving someone!" Cherry felt hot tears roll down her cheek as she hugged her pillow.

"Oh, you do not love this boy!" her mother screamed to her door. Cherry sobbed into her pillow.

"Yes I do, and there's nothing you can do to change that. And FYI, just because we're moving doesn't mean I won't come back to see him, you can't control me forever, you know." Cherry picked up her stuffed animal dog from the floor and held it tight against her.

"You are way too young to be in love," her mother said knocking on Cherry's door rapidly.

"How would you know, you've never been in love." Cherry's sobs came regularly now and her pillow was now stained with black mascara.

"What?" Her mother's voice was barely audible over the closed door. Cherry opened her door and looked her mother in the eyes.

"Oh, please, you and daddy fight all the time. And…and you always spend time apart. That isn't love."

Cherry's mother looked at her daughter with tears in her eyes. "Don't you ever talk like that." Cherry rolled her eyes and closed the door in her mothers face. She walked back to her bed and sat on the edge. The reality of the whole thing hit her. Cherry was moving away from the labeling, from her friends, from Dally. But her parents were going to be there forever. Her sobs came harder and she buried her head in her hands.

"It's not fair!" she screamed. She didn't care what her mother said, she didn't care if she hurt her feelings. All she cared about was staying here, in Tulsa, with Dallas and her friends.

There's nothing we can do about
The things we have to do without
The only way to feel again
Is let love in

Cherry walked slowly out her door, carrying a box filled with old records. She placed the box at the bottom of the steps and stood there for a while. Her mom came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her. Cherry shrugged it off and turned back to go into the house. She stared as she opened the door. Everything was empty, the walls were blank, and the rooms looked exaggerated without furniture. Cherry walked up the wooden steps to her room. There was one last box to be taken down to the driveway, this one was labeled 'pictures'. Cherry picked it up and began walking downstairs.

As she put the box down, she noticed the top picture. It was at taken at the fair a few months back. It was of her and Ponyboy, Two-Bit, Marcia, Johnny, and Dally. It was her favorite picture, and one of her best memories. She'd miss this place. She folded the flaps of the box over and then picked it up to carry it to the moving van. She felt a hand on her shoulder and spun around.

"You might want to find enough room for one last picture," Dally said holding out a black envelope. Cherry smiled and took the envelope from him, holding it like it was a piece of china. She opened it up, revealing a photograph of the two of them taken only a week before. They were holding each other under a tree, it looked like one of those yearbook photos professionals took. Ponyboy had taken it, he said he wanted to remember. Cherry figured he probably wanted to remember Dally's softer side.

"Thanks," Cherry said hoarsely as she picked the box up again. She had a new picture to frame, now. Once the box was placed in the van, she walked back to Dally. The two stood in silence for what seemed like forever before Cherry finally spoke.

"I'm uh, I'm gonna miss you." Dally nodded and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "I'll be back over Christmas break, you know, to visit you." Dally nodded again and Cherry looked away. It was so hard to say goodbye. A yellow Corvair drove into the driveway and Marcia got out. Cherry turned her attention to her friend.

"Oh, I just wanted to say goodbye!" Marcia said hugging her friend. Cherry smiled and patted Marcia on the back.

"I'll miss you." Cherry said softly, then turned back to Dally. "Let's not say goodbye, sometimes goodbyes mean forever." Dally nodded again and Cherry kissed his cheek. He cleared his throat and then took her hand.

"I love you, Cherry." This time Cherry nodded before managing a weak 'I love you, too'. Marcia slowly walked back to her car to leave the two of them alone, and Cherry's mother was now walking out of the house.

"Cherry, we're leaving now." Her mother's strict voice made Cherry shudder and she leaned in toward Dally, he carefully twisted her hair around his finger. "NOW!" Cherry's mother slammed the door of their car and Cherry pulled away.

"I'll see you at Christmas," she said as she backed toward her car. "Don't forget about me." Dally smiled and nodded. He stood to watch the moving van and Cherry's car leave, then sat on the front steps of their porch. She really moved, she was gone, and Dally's heart was broken for the first time. Ever.

There's nothing we can do about
The things we have to live without
The only way to see again
Is let love in

Cherry looked out the window at the passing trees and sighed. It was all she could do to hold in her tears and her mother wasn't making it any easier. "I don't know what you saw in that boy," was all she said for over an hour. Finally, Cherry leaned against the seat and closed her eyes.

"You know, mom, if you loved anyone in your life, you would know just why it is I didn't want to leave." Her mother gave her a look so threatening it would have caused Cherry to break into tears if she'd seen it.

"Are you saying we shouldn't move because you think you love this boy?"

"Nope, I'm saying we shouldn't move because I know I love him. And I know I have the best friends in the world, and I know that you don't really want to move either." Cherry reached over to turn on the radio, hoping to drown out any thoughts of Dallas she was carrying with her at the moment. No luck, the song that was playing was the same song Dally and her had been singing to the night they'd escaped to the mountains. "Sometimes when you care about someone, you have to think of them before yourself," she mumbled as her mom turned onto the highway.

Cherry slammed the car door and sighed. Her smile was so wide, you could've seen it a mile away. She ran up the steps to the door and opened it, revealing the white interior. She raced up the steps and dialed the Curtis' number. She waited impatiently as the rings continued.

"Hello?" A voice was heard at the other end.

"Dally?" Cherry asked, surprised. She hadn't expected him to answer.

"Yeah, Cherry? Is that you? Did you get there already?" Cherry smiled. She twirled a piece of hair around her finger.

"Can you go to the park and watch a sunset for me tonight?" It was a stupid question, but she needed to get him to the park.

"Sure." He sounded confused, and Cherry couldn't help but laugh.

"Thank you." She hung up the phone and ran back down the steps and out the door. Her mother and father were unpacking boxes, but Cherry just ran past them. She ran as fast as she could, her skirt flowing in the wind, and the cold flying past her.

Cherry sat on a swing and twirled around like a little girl, impatiently. She turned to look around and saw him walking toward her. He had a cigarette in his mouth and he was kicking a stone. She leaped up and ran. "Dally!" she screamed before throwing her arms around him and kissing him. He pulled away quickly and smiled.

"I thought you left." He threw his cigarette in the dirt and stomped on it. Cherry laughed. She began to explain the story as they walked through the street. "So I guess it was a miracle," Dally said as he took her hand. Cherry shook her head.

"Nah, it was love." The two of them continued to walk into the sunset, just like an old fashioned movie.

Phew, okay so that one was long, and Dally's character wasn't exactly Dally. But I really like the ending, it's sweet. And I always wondered what'd be like if Dally loved someone other than Johnny. Anyway, the next one will be shorter and I'll stick to the characters more.