The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

TWENTY SIX: I Could Never Run Out of Words to Describe How Much I Love You

After she'd hung up the phone, she slid down the wall, and cried. And cried. And cried. She cried until Two-Bit found her, and he dropped on the floor, without a word, and held her tightly. And they sat and cried together. And cried. And cried. They cried there, under the phone, until Darry walked inside, and found them there, and he dropped to the floor on the other side of Madeline, without a word, and held her tightly. And the pattern repeated. When Ponyboy found them. And when Sodapop and Steve came home and found them. And the pile of them sat there, on the floor, and cried. And none of them really knew much why, but they all did.

The heap of them sat there until every tear they had in them was dried. When they did, Sodapop pulled a chocolate cake out of the fridge, and they sat around the television and ate desert for dinner.

Madeline fell asleep on the couch that night, Darry carried her to their bed and tucked her in gently before climbing into bed himself. A strange feeling of serenity was settled over the house that night, they all felt like little kids that night. And really, that's all they were, kids. Kids who had lost parents, and friends, and now grandparents. They were terrified, without any way to know what was coming next. But through that terror, they were safe under that roof. Nobody had ever been lost while under that roof.

As they all drifted to sleep, Steve and Two-Bit still sprawled out in the living room, they thought about Mr. And Mrs Curtis. The kindness they'd shown a bunch of troubled young kids. And they thought about Johnny, with his big brown eyes, permanently expressing some sort of fear. They remembered his bravery, his gentle nature, despite the aggressive way he'd been treated. And they all thought about Dallas Winston, with the dangerous glint that always shined in his eye, his recklessness that brought him all sorts of trouble, which he welcomed. The fierce loyalty he showed the gang, and especially Johnny. And then they thought about Henry. The first soc to ever really see them as more than greasy hoods. He swung the door open for them, and complemented their greased up hair when he saw them. Who adopted kids he hardly knew, and showed them that all hope wasn't lost.

And in their safe home, with puffy eyes and chocolate still staining their cheeks or chins, they slept.

In the weeks following, everyone kept close to one another. Almost as if the fifth loss was the breaking point. They couldn't bear to lose anyone else, so they held tight and never went far.

Her grandmother was not kidding when she told her about leaving nearly everything to them. Though, it didn't change much. They were a little more lenient on weekly grocery runs, and Maddie was able to take a few less hours. But Madeline was not going to blow any of her grandfather's gift to her on frugal things. It would go to the twins, to their schooling. To allow them a better chance than she had. She wouldn't let soc-amounts of money make them soc-like.

But, after Ponyboy talking some sense into her, Madeline dipped into the money for the wedding. They had finally set a date, it was the earliest they could get and still leave time for planning.

Sodapop had offered to make the cake. Well, offered might be a strong word. He demanded it. He'd whip up a new cake nightly and force the gang to try it, asking if it should have more of this, or less of that.

They always tasted great, but they didn't really taste different from each other. But they let him make a new one every night anyways.

The twins sat with Ponyboy every night as he helped them write special speeches for their sister and Darry.

Everyone was buzzing daily for the months leading up to the wedding day. Invites had been sent, complete with intricate cursive on most of the envelopes, except for the few that were done by Two-Bit and Steve when they tried to learn from Madeline and Ponyboy.

Sodapop had finally calmed down a bit from his cake-craze, and now focused mostly on learning how to use piping tips to frost it.

Darry held Madeline close to him every night. She would snuggle into him and he would tell her how very much he loved her.

"Madeline, you are the most beautiful person I've ever laid eyes on. I fell in love with you for your kindness and beauty when we were just kids. And as you grew up, I only admired you more. I am so grateful to love you everyday."

She would blush, and kiss his wrists, which held her tightly. "Shh.." she would tell him, "You're going to run out of material for your vows."

And every night he would turn her face towards him and kiss her gently, "I could never run out of words to describe how much I love you."

All was calm.

All was well.

Author's note: Yeah... I'm so sorry for how long you're having to wait between chapters. BUT... the end is near for this book, and I'm already thinking about the next. I am so grateful to have so many people keeping up with Madeline, and being patient with me. You all are so kind. Thank you.