Lost in The Outsiders

Chapter 9: Everything's Getting Worse

(Yes, that is S.E. Hinton and Emilio Estevez. I absolutely love that picture <3)
Maddy's POV
I woke up unusually early today. Of course, who wouldn't? I was meeting a famous author. It was 5:00 in the morning. She wasn't coming until 12:00. Now I have to kill time. But what can I do?

I might as well clean the place. It's not a good impression on someone famous if your house is a mess.
I started speed cleaning like everywhere. I dusted the shelves, cleared off the table, fixed the couches, everything. There was just one thing left, to vacuum. But the boys were asleep and I couldn't possibly wake them up, could I? Suck it up buttercups.

I turned it on and swept the dining room and hallways. Everything else was fine. It was about 6:30 now, and I heard footsteps coming from the hallway. Surprisingly, it wasn't Ponyboy, but Steve.

He groaned. "Why are you sweepin at 6 in the mornin?"

"Because there is a famous author coming to my house and I need it to look good." I shot back.

"Yeah I get it but why so early in the mornin?" Steve yawned.

Ponyboy walked up behind him, rubbing his eyes. "Yea baby girl why are you up so early?"

"I'm too excited and nervous to sleep. Where's Darry?"

"He sleeps like a log, probably can't hear over all his snoring." Ponyboy sat down and opened a book.

That's my man.

I read with him, while Steve watched some stupid reality tv show. Darry finally got up around 9. Everyone else got here at about 10.

The girls were like freaking out that they were gonna meet Susan. The boys - not so much. Ponyboy and Johnny seemed like they were the only ones interested.

I'm glad that we came back, poor Johnny doesn't have to worry about the Socs or his parents from hell. Well, he probably worries about me with the secret services and all that. Somehow we have to prove it's a hoax. If I have to hide these guys like Anne Frank did, I will.

11:00

Time is ticking away. I'll finally get to see her. But maybe it's not her. Why didn't I realize it? Maybe it's the FBI in disguise. Did they know my plan? I better get some guns and get ready.
I found a pistol and brought it out to the most responsible person, Darry, of course.

"What's this for?" He examined it closely.

"Don't point it at me, it's loaded. Just incase that this isn't actually her, and some jag off, we'll be prepared."

He shrugged and put in his pocket.
15 minutes passed, then 30, and then, finally it was time. Why am I freaking out so much? Maybe it's because of the news that is on, talking about us, yet again.

The guy that invaded my house had said,
"We knocked on the door but got no answer."

Haha, what a douchebag.

Speaking of knocking on doors, there was one at my door. I raced to the window and looked outside. It wasn't news reporters, thank god. Just a normal car. So I went downstairs and opened the door. The one and only stood before me.

"Wow, Susan, it's such an honor. Please, come inside!" I gestured.

"Good afternoon. How are you?" She asked, walking inside.

"I'm doing great."

I led her upstairs, where there was a lot of whispers. Everyone just stared at us, so I decided to break the silence.

"These are my 3 friends, they went with me into your book, and of course, those are the guys that came back with us."

Two-but walked up to her and gave her a hug, pretending to be emotional. "Momma.."

"Hi there, Two-Bit, it's good to see you." She replied, rubbing his back.

"How did you know that was Two-Bit?" I asked.

"Honey, I know these things. He fits the description too."

She replied, pointing to everyone else.
"That's the hardworking Darrel, the handsome Sodapop, Steve, eating cake of course, with the muscles. Good old Ponyboy, reading a book. But weren't you blond? Huh. And Johnny, Dally didn't-" she stopped herself and shook her head. "My bad."

"We only read the first chapter, anything that happens after that doesn't exist." I added.

"I see. And I also see they never stop talking about you. Internet, television, the paper, everyone wants a glimpse of you boys."

"That's another reason why I wanted to talk to you, Suzie. We don't know what to do. We cant stay here forever. People are gonna find out how to get into books eventually, and the world is gonna go down."

She chuckled slightly, "The world isn't gonna end, do you know how many people have read books aloud, and nothing happened? There is something special about my book and you girls, that's all. But I do understand, people are gonna be crawling at your feet and invading your houses, including mine, and that's a problem."

I groaned, "What do we do? Go back, or stay here?"

"So, you actually know how you got to Tulsa in the first place?"

"Well, we just read it aloud, but I still don't see why the way we did it was any different."

"I think, in my opinion, if you can, we should go to Tulsa. I would love to come into my own book. Plus, we can keep our heads low there, no one could find us, and the news will have to give up."

"I guess that's the only thing we really can do. What do you guys think?" I turned to them.

They nodded slightly. I know they don't really want to go back, but they don't want to stay here either. Especially because-
My thoughts were interrupted by the tv.

"Another part of the story has been revealed. Here today, we have a fellow classmate, Chris. He has overheard a conversation between the girls and their former friend. Apparently, the girls know how they got into 'The Outsiders'. Please, Christopher, explain, how exactly did they do it?"

"Well, I heard that the girls read aloud a chapter in the book, causing them to go inside of it, somehow." He replied.
"Many of us have read aloud a book before, why is this situation any different?"

"That is one thing I don't know. It could be the book, or it could be the girls themselves."

"You heard it here folks, part of the mystery has been revealed. More tests, excuse me, investigations, will need to come into effect, until this is solved. The sales of the book have doubled in the past hours, and people have been reading it aloud nonstop since the story was revealed." She finished.

I looked straight a Suzie. "We need to go, like today."

"I agree."

"Guys, call your family. If they want to come, they have to come here as soon as possible." I said, dialing my own parents.

Everyone was going to meet at the house before we leave. I felt like ripping my hair out. Not only are we being chased by the media, people are trying to mess with the book and go into their own. Now that I have to leave my family so fast, I don't know if I'm going to be able to come back. If people manage to get in, we might not be able to get back out. Damn, I've always wanted my book characters to come to life, but I never realized the problems that came with them. They are worth it, though, I love them like my own family.

(Hey guys, I know this chapter sucks, but the next one is going to be the end of part II. It's going to get pretty interesting in Part III, so don't get upset. And again, to those who have been reading from the beginning and are still reading, I love you, and your awesome. It's nice to know people still like to read it, and I thank you for your patience on chapters like this one.)