Lost in The Outsiders

Chapter 8: The Almighty S.E. Hinton

Maddy's POV

I ran down the stairs, footsteps following close behind me. I didn't have any better ideas on what to do, we were just exposed to the public because of a Smartass from our language arts class. How did I know I shouldn't have told them? Well, it would've been fine, because I didn't tell them how it happened, but now that someone knows and are blackmailing us, this is a really serious situation. We need help, and fast, before news reporters start banging on our doors.

I sat down in my computer room and turned on my computer. Everyone was breathing over my neck.

"Give me some space will ya." I shooed them back a little bit.

I opened up my email tab and waiting ages for it to load. When it finally did, I clicked on 'New Message'

In the 'To' blank, I typed 'sehinton@sehinton.com' - an email I've seen before. I can only hope that it is her real email, I don't have any other ideas. Hopefully she can give me some.

"Who's S. E. Hinton?" Ponyboy asked from behind me.

"She, is the author of The Outsiders. She is technically your mom, and you wouldn't exist without her." I replied, thinking of something to say.

Subject: The Outsiders and The 4 Missing Girls

I guess that was pretty straightforward.

Message:

"Good Evening, Susan. I hope you are doing well. I know you are probably burdened with emails, and I would hate to bother you, but there is something important I must tell you, people I must show you. I would prefer that I could see you in person to speak, for this is very serious and personal to us. I do not trust the internet, and I don't think you do either. If this is not possible, I understand, but I wish that you would email back if you can. I do not know if you have heard the news from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but if you have, you know what we are dealing with. We are, indeed, the 4 missing girls, who went inside of your book and back out. This is no hoax, and I feel as if you are a person to trust that we could have a serious conversation with. Thank you for your time, and I would look forward to speaking to you again.
~Madaline, One of the 4 Missing Girls"

I took a deep breath and hit send.

"What now?" Two-Bit asked.

I got out of the chair, "Now, we wait."
"I'll check in the morning."

"Can we stay here?" He asked

"Sure, just call your parents and what not." I continued up the stairs.

Several phone calls later, everyone was sitting around watching a movie. I got tired and laid down on my bed.
I had high hopes that Susan would email me back, and we would all come up with a solution for this madness. But who knows, maybe that is a fake email, maybe she won't ever reply back, and people will invade my house and take my boys away. I can only hope that she does.

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Maddy's POV

I woke up earlier than usual the next day. I guess I was just so nervous and anxious that I couldn't sleep very well.

I walked very quietly down the stairs, since everyone was in the dining room, asleep. I turned the computer back on from yesterday and opened up my mail box.

0 New

Calm down, it hasn't been 12 hours yet. She might not even be up.

I sat in front of the computer for what seemed like forever, just thinking about everything.
Then there was footsteps. I looked over and found, of course, Ponyboy.

"Hey Pony." I greeted him

"Hey Beautiful, how long have you been down here?" He replied

"A while."

"Why?"

"I barely slept."

"Ah. Did she reply?"

"No. That's why I've been waiting here."

He walked over and gave me a tight hug. "Are you at least gonna eat some breakfast? Darry's making it."

"I guess so," I said before getting up. I was about to leave the room when I heard a 'ping!'

I ran over the screen and looked closely at it.

'sehinton@sehinton.com - re: The Outsiders and The 4 Missing Girls'

"Pony! Go get everyone!" I urged him, and he ran upstairs.

Excitement ran through my veins, and I opened it up. I heard a bunch of footsteps and everyone appeared behind me, anxious to see what she said.

"Good Morning, Madaline, I've just received your email. I indeed, have seen that news broadcast on you girls. It has always dawned on me as a writer if characters could actually come to life, and this is a very exciting moment for me. I have been planning to find you all anyway, to have a word with you, but I'm glad you came to me first. I would not mind at all to visit you and speak to you all. If you do not mind, I can have a flight scheduled to Pittsburgh for next week. Just send me the information on where we will meet.
I hope to see you soon!

~ Susan Eloise (S. E.) Hinton"

I practically screamed. This is so unreal. The Almighty S. E. Hinton wants to fly to Pittsburgh to speak to me.

"OMG!" I squealed, and attempted to type a response, despite how much a was shaking.

I typed my address, some directions, and what time she should meet me.

I didn't have to wait for a reply, seeing that she was doing the exact same thing, sitting on her computer, waiting for an email. She replied almost instantly.

"Great, I look forward to seeing you all Sunday. Best wishes.

~ Susan E. Hinton"

"Oh my god I can't believe this is happening right now!" I said excitedly.

"Don't get too excited." Darry said, "remember the reason we need to talk to her."

"Yeah, Darry, I know. Way to ruin the moment." I scowled at him, and he smiled back.

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Maddy's POV

The week seemed like the longest one I ever had. I was just aching for the days to go by so I could see Susan. I felt like going back to Tulsa so bad. People would bug me and bug me to see the guys again, and they were all asking me if they were real or not. I just ignored them, and told the boys to stay home. Darry worked at some roofing place, Steve and Soda worked at an auto mechanics shop, Dally and Two-Bit worked with them. Ponyboy and Johnny just went around town or stayed at the house. I told them to be careful of who they talk to and everything, and especially that the world is dangerous now a days and you have to watch what you say. Not to mention staying as far away from the road as possible so you don't get hit by some drunk jackass or a person texting.

It wasn't gonna be long before news crews were going to show up at our doors. And I couldn't have said it any sooner, because there would be knocks, and I would open the blinds slightly to find cameras and anchors outside my house. One time, some guy got so relentless that he actually opened my door and walked inside when I forgot to lock it. He ran right back out, though, when I found a gun and pointed it at him, threatening to call the police.

So yeah, I wanted to see Suzie and get it all over with so I could just escape the press for a little bit.

Finally it was Saturday night, and I couldn't of been happier to wake up the next morning.