The Outsiders - Slow Down, Darrel (Darry Curtis)

TWENTY SEVEN: They Were Happy

Before any of them knew it, the wedding day had come. Nancy was at the house early that morning, and Madeline woke up alone in bed, with Nancy bustling around her vanity.

"Seriously Maddie, do you not have one shade of lipstick that isn't bland and boring?"

"Where's Darry?" She grumbled.

"Downstairs. Now get up!" She'd hopped up on the bed now, and was jumping around obnoxiously on a grumpy Madeline, "It's wedding day!"

Madeline pulled a pillow over her face, "Do you wanna live to attend the wedding?"

Nancy flopped down onto the bed, and Darry walked in with a tray, knocking gently on the doorframe.

"Get out Darrel!" Nancy screamed, lunging at Maddie to cover her eyes before marching over to Darry, "Are you crazy?"

He looked at her, confused, "Are you? What are you so angry about?"

She let out a dramatic groan, "Do none of you know anything about weddings? It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding!"

"Says who?" Madeline mumbled, still keeping her eyes closed, fearing Nancy's rage.

"Like, everyone!"

"Alright..." Darry said, confused. He set the tray he'd been holding onto the table and walked out.

It was an array of pancakes and strawberries, with a mound of whipped cream on the side. Maddie's favorite.

That was what got her out of bed, she jumped over to the tray and snuggled back into bed to eat.

Nancy let her, begrudgingly, and started to set up the nightstand with makeup and hair products. She hung Madeline's carefully picked and hand altered white dress on the back of the door.

The second Madeline's fork hit the plate, Nancy pounced. She sat her on the vanity stool and started to powder her face with makeup. When she looked at her friend in the mirror and found the look satisfactory, she moved on to her hair.

Madeline's hair fell around her shoulders and down her back. Nancy was combing it back and curling and braiding and twisting and spraying.

As she gave her hair one last spray, Nancy looked at Madeline wistfully, "Oh Maddie, I hope someday I get to look as beautiful as you on my wedding day."

"You're an absolute beauty right now, Nancy, you don't need anything fancy."

"No, no, that's not what I mean," She sighed heavily, "I just mean, well, the love just shows on your face," she started to get teary, "I hope someday I'll feel that love."

Madeline smiled, and tilted her head back so as not to ruin her makeup, "You will. I promise. Maybe even with one Two-Bit Mathews?"

"I think you might be right." Nancy grinned, as Maddie squealed, "Shhh. I don't know for certain. But, I love him a lot."

"I cannot wait to watch you marry Two-Bit. And to be right by your side as you do."

They shared a long hug, smiling through teary eyes.

"Ok! Enough!" Nancy declared, can't have our makeup ruined by some tears! Let's go get you married."

Nancy went downstairs after they'd both zipped their dresses, and rushed the boys out of the house before Maddie came downstairs.

"So, I almost forgot to ask," Nancy sing-songed, "Is your dad walking you down the aisle?"

Madeline sighed a short sigh, "No. I invited him, obviously. But I don't think I want to be walked down the aisle, or 'given away' like that. I'm glad to have connected with him, but I don't need to be given away, I guess. I've survived all my life without someone to hold my hand along the way, and now, the only person I want to hold my hand is Dar."