Dear Ellie (A Steve Randle Love Story)

Chapter 14

I woke up and heard crying. My entire body hurt terribly, but I could still move. I opened my eyes to see the entire gang surrounding my bed crying. Darry was crying the most.

“El!” Darry said as he looked up and saw my eyes open. I smiled at Darry and sat up. The rest of the gang looked up from crying and smiled at me.

“Oh thank god you’re okay!” Soda said while getting up and hugging me.

I looked around at the gang smiling and then I saw Steve sitting there crying just like the rest of them.

“Get out” I said as I looked Steve dead in the eyes.

“El ple-” but I didn’t let him finish.

“I said get out!” I yelled at Steve, and then I felt a sharp pain in my side, then I fell back on to my pillow.

“I think you should leave,” Soda said while looking at Steve.

“Alright, please keep me updated on how she is doing.” Steve said with a sigh.

“Will do,” Soda responded. Then I heard the door close and I sat back up.

I just looked at everyone and then started crying into Darry’s chest.

“I’m sorry El, I didn’t mean to snap at you like that it was-” Darry started to say but I cut him off.

“It’s ok Darry I know you didn’t mean to” I said while hugging Darry.

Darry and I sat there hugging and crying for a while, and the entire gang wrapped me up in a hug and we all sat there crying.

“We thought you were gone, Doll,” Dally said while wiping his tears away with his sleeve.

“We thought you were gone forever Minnie,” Two-BIt said while giving me another hug.

“I might be out of place asking this El, but what happened with you and Steve.” Soda asked while giving me his soft smile.

“When I got to the DX I saw him kissing another girl.” I said, still crying.

“What, but he loves you Ellie,” Johnny said while giving me a confused look.

“Yeah, we all thought he was in love with you Ellie” Pony said while wiping his tears away.

“That’s what I thought too” I said, wiping the tears off my face.

“Awww, I’m sorry Ellie” Soda said while giving me another hug.

“Thanks Soda” I said with a slight smile. 

Later in the evening most of the boys left except for Darry. Soda tried to get Darry to go home and get some rest and said he would stay with me, but Darry wouldn't leave my side for anything.

I stayed in the hospital for a couple more days recovering but finally on the 5th day of being trapped there I got to go home. Darry pulled the truck around and then carried me to it. I told him I could walk just fine but he didn’t listen. In the car I sat in the front between Soda and Darry, Pony and Johnny sat in the back. 

I still had to be in bed for 2 more days after that and everyone waited on me hand and foot. Darry took off work the entire time he never wanted to leave my side. He told me it was to make sure I was okay, but I knew it was because he felt partially at fault for me wanting to take my life in the first place.

On the 3rd day of being home I was finally allowed to get up and move around the house whenever I wanted to, but Darry wouldn’t let me leave the house. Darry told me it was to make sure my health was ok, but if you ask my opinion I think it was because Darry was worried I might take another attempt on my life.

I was sitting on the couch sketching in my notebook and talking to Soda, when Darry handed me a letter.

“Who’s this from?” I asked Darry in a confused voice.

“I would just read it if I were you El,” Darry replied and gave me a soft smile. I opened the letter and it read:

Dear Ellie,

I’m sorry for what happened between us. Please give me a chance to at least explain myself. I am terribly worried about you and I just wanna know if you are okay. You know I don’t write much, but I want you to know how much you mean to me. So please give me a chance to talk.

Sincerely, Steve Randle.