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Chapter 12

Strumming my guitar, I make a quick note of the lyrics I'd just come up with. I'd been staying at Dally's trailer for two weeks. Work came and went, the money's good. I've got a bit over three hundred dollars saved up counting paycheck and tip money. It wasn't a bad job, but I missed the gang. The morning after I dang to Dally, he'd showed up with Johnny in tow. We talked and got everything out. I have my little brother back. I'd made them both promise me that they wouldn't breathe a word to the rest of the guys about me still being in town. I wasn't ready to face them yet. They met me in the middle, promising not to let them know where I am, but Dally would say only he would know where I was so no one would be upset with Johnny not saying. He'd been by every day since with Dally. I'd started writing numerous songs, but can never make them sound right. So that's what my day consist of. Work, eating, spending time with Dally and Johnny, and writing music. I'm good with the music, not so much with the lyrics.

"Thought you could get away didn't you bitch?" I look up startled. Standing in front of me in Dally's yard is Johnny's dad. He looks like I'd never touched him, and he looks pissed. He stomps over to me, grasping my shirt front and holding me face level with him. My feet dangling from the ground. "You won't get away with what you did too me little girl."

I scoff. "There isn't anything you can do to me. I beat you once, I can do it again."

He scowls and then there is a burning pain in my abdomen. I open my mouth on a silent scream as he smirks, twisting the knife embedded just under my belly button. "Not so tough now are you. Filthy slut."

He pulls out the knife slowly, letting me feel the blade reclining my skin. Dropping me at the bottom on the steps he wipes the blood from the blade on to my shirt before kicking me and walking away. I can feel my life slipping away. Can see the darkness seeping into my vision. Ignoring the blood and the unbearable pain I reach for the pad and pen I'd had not moments ago leaving a quick message for whoever found me. I pray to god its Dally and not Johnny.

As I finish the last letter, darkness takes over and I collapse, the note floating to the ground by me.

'I'm so sorry. Tell Darry I love him.'

I take a deep breath and jerk into sitting position. My hands immediately go to my abdomen where Johnn'ys dad had just stabbed me moments ago, to find nothing. I also notice my clothes are gone, replaced with a shimmering white gown. A slight shimmering fog covers the ground and it's very bright. A chuckle catches my attention. "My face looked like that too when I first woke up."

I jerk around and stand, a shocked smile on my face as my dad smiles back at me. "Da…dad?"

He chuckles with a small smile, opening his arms to me. I rush into them, my arms going tightly around his waist as his go around my shoulders. He places a kiss on my head and pets my hair as I cry. "Hush baby, it's alright. Daddy's here. Shush."

I pull back and look up at him. His hair is back in dark waves, his blue eyes sparkling, face a nice even color. He seems to glow. "Am…am I dead?"

"No sweetheart. Not yet."

"Then how are you here?"

He takes my hand as we walk. Going no where in particular. "You are in the Between. This is where souls go when they die before their time. Where you make your diction."

"So I died…but I'm not dead?"

He nods. "If you want to stay here, if you feel your time on earth is done, you may pass over. If you want to go back, well that's bit harder to explain."

"Will I get to stay with you if I stay?"

His face looks troubled as he faces me, before he faces forwards again. "I don't know. I'd hope when you pass you will meet me at heavens golden gates, but I can't promise that's where you will go."

I nod. I hope that too, but I'd never worry my dad with what I've done after his passing. He much have seen a look or sensed something because he chuckles. "I've seen it all honey. I've been watching over you since I passed. Now…tell me a bit about your new friends."

So that's just what I did. I told him everything. From my bus ride to meeting Soda at the DX. From staying that first night at the Curtis house to my fight with Johnny's dad and everything before after and in between. When I was done, my dad pulls me to him and kisses my head. "I am so proud of you honey. You've done well for yourself."

I smile up at my dad, tears in my eyes. "I love you Daddy...but…I'm needed back at Tulsa…at home."

Tears run down his cheeks as he nods and hugs my tightly too him. "I love you sweetheart. Before you go…there are some people who'd like to ask something of you."

He turns me to a couple standing not far off. By their looks and their smiles I know they are the Curtis's. Mrs. Curtis steps forwards and places her hands on my shoulders. "I know you know who we are, and we've seen you with our boys. I just want to thank you for caring so much for them. Darry is like his father, hardheaded and won't admit to being wrong, but he loves you. Don't give up on him so easily honey." She kisses my forehead and hugs me before Mr. Curtis steps forwards with a smile.

"You're a very mature and caring young woman. I'm proud to call you family. You've cared for my boys and their friends, our family, like your own. Even as a total stranger, you broke Johnny's shell and protected him when no one else could. All those boys are our kids and you treat them as everyone should. The greaser and soc conflict has gone on for far long enough. It's taken its toll on all of them, but you treat them as equals and for that I thank you. My wife is right, be patient with Darrel. He'll come around."

Kissing my cheek the way he would have a daughter, he steps back and puts an arm around his wife. Slowly everything starts fading into a white light. I jerk to dad who is smiling supportive and lovingly. "This isn't goodbye Daddy."

He chuckles. "No honey, until next time."

With that, they fade away and an annoying beeping enters my ears. An ache starts to form all over my body as my eyelids get heavy and my body becomes sluggish. Somehow my eyes had closed, but it wasn't as dark as before. I open my eyes only to shut them with a loud groan. Why is it so bright?

"Al?"

"To bright."

I hear footsteps and then a click. The brightness on the other side of my eyelids dims. Catiously, I crack one eye open, then the other, before completely opening them. Ponyboy is sitting in the chair by my bed with a worried look on his face. Relieved, but worried. "How do you feel?"

I go to sit up, pain shots up my spin and I winch. Pony notices and helps me slowly sit up. I sigh when my back hits the pillow. "Would it be weird if I said happy?"

"A little bit."

I chuckle. "I'm alive."

He nods, knowing it was a statement and not a question. "Dally found you and sent Johnny to get us while he ran you here. You've been out for two days."

I nod slowly. It had been two days? It had only felt like an hour or two. "What did they doctor say?"

Ponyboy looks away winching. Before I can comment, the rest of the gang walks in. They all freeze at the sight of me awake before rushing to surround my bed. Johnny sits on the side and hugs me gently before pulling away with a scowl. "Don't ever fucking leave me like that again Esmeralda Hayes!"

I smile and kiss his cheek. "Cross my heart."

"How long have you been awake?" Dally appears next to my and kisses my cheek, placing his hand on top of my head. I smile up at him. "Only about five minutes. Ponyboy here was just about to tell me what the doctors said."

He looks scared shitless as everyone glares at him. "No I wasn't!"

I sigh. "Well someone is going to have to tell me."

They all look away, not meeting my eyes. Even Two-Bit looks upset. That alone scares me. "Gu…guys?" They all flinch. "What?"