Tough Love (An Outsiders Fanfiction)

Prologue

Hailey's POV

After sitting in the rain for an hour, I got up and started walking back to my house. The lights were still on so I figured everyone was playing cards or watching Mickey Mouse. I was wrong. When I walked through the door, everyone was either sitting on the couch or on the floor. Their eyes red and puffy while they looked into space, their own little worlds that they all get to escape to. No. If I'm stuck in reality so are they. I started to fake cough and they all looked towards me. "I told you that you would get sick if you stayed out there." Soda said before returning to daydream. "You know this affects me too! He's dead. I'm having his children. He was going to propose. My life is gone!" I said and stomped up to my room. Remember what you said Hailey. No longer a victim. Don't cry. Don't be innocent anymore. Change. You don't care. I fell asleep with those words spinning through my mind. You don't care. Change.
-
I awoke to someone shaking me. I turned my head to the side to look out my window, still pitch black. Who and why. Let me sleep. I turned to the person and saw a familiar outline. "Dally?" I asked in a whisper. God I'm going crazy. He's dead. I seen him die. He put his finger to his lips telling me to be quiet. He motioned for me to follow him. I did. Then a thought came to me. He's a ghost. Suddenly he grabbed my hand. Well there goes that idea. Ghosts can't touch people or any objects. That means he's actually here! He's not dead! We silently crept down the stairs and to the front porch. "You're beautiful." He said while smiling. "Well thanks but I haven't changed that much. You seen me a few hours ago." I said with a giggle. He gave me a confused look. "What?" I asked dumbfounded. "It's been over a year." He said with regret in his eyes. "What do you mean?" I said. I didn't understand what he meant. At all. "It's been over a year since I died." I stepped back. "What? But you're here? Dally, are you joking?" He looked to the ground then to the sky. "It's almost sunrise." He said and looked towards me. "Hailey I love you and I'll never stop loving you. Please take care of our children. I love you and them more than anything." He said with tears in his eyes. "I love you too Dally. But I still don't understand." He shook his head with a grin on his face. "You never do." The sun came up and everything was gone.
-
I woke up panting and sweaty. I touched my face and saw that I had tears streaming down. I looked over at my calendar. January 24th 1966. A year and 5 days since Dallas Winston died. Every night I have that same dream. Where I don't remember Dally dying and he tells me he loves me one last time before the sun rises. It never stops. My precious babies, Mason Johnny Winston and Madeline Jasmine Winston were born 4 months ago. I walked over to their cribs and gazed at them in their peaceful slumber. I wish it could be like that for them all the time. Not having to know what a cruel world this is. When Mason opened his icy blue eyes they reminded me of his father's. He started whimpering so I picked him up at walked around the room with him in my arms. I stopped in front of the mirror and looked at myself. I sighed. So much for the big change I had in mind. I didn't change much. I just cut my hair two inches shorter and got a nose piercing. Mason started crying so I checked on Madeline before I brought the little guy down stairs. When I walked into the kitchen I saw Sodapop and Isabella making out. "Kay ew. I have to make food in those counters." I said while laughing. Soda looked at me sheepishly. "Sorry little sis, didn't think you would be up yet." He said and reached to grab Mason. Once I handed him over, Soda went into the living room to watch Mickey. I turned towards Isabella who was still blushing a deep shade of red. I just laughed and started making Mason his baby food. "You know," Iz started. "There's a party tonight at Buck's?" She more so asked then said. "And?" I asked while looking at her. "Hailey you need a break! Every single day since they were born you've been looking after them. Soda said he could watch them tonight." She told me with a frown. "I can't leave them Iz. What if I leave and something happens to me? Or if something happens to one of my babies?" I asked. "I know what's going on. You're to scared to leave them 'cause of what happened to Dally." I slammed the metal spoon onto the counter. "What if I am? Is that so wrong?!" I asked in a slight yell. Iz looked taken aback but regained her composure. "Hailey this is different. And you know that." She tried comforting me. "Just think about it, okay?" I nodded and she walked into the living room. I don't need to think, I already know my answer.