Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Today's the day we're preparing for Liz to come over for dinner. I'm so excited! It'll actually be nice to have another girl over here for once. I do have Baby and all, but she drools, and that's about it.

Two-Bit comes in the kitchen as I'm cooking and jumps on the countertop.

"Two-Bit! Down!" I scold.

"Why? What's the big deal?" he asks.

"We're having someone over tonight, and I need my space to cook." I push him off the counter.

"You're mean when you're cooking," he says.

"Yeah? Well if you go on, I'll save you some of these cookies." He raises an eyebrow.

"Three?"

"Two. Now go on!" I tell him. He comes around and pokes at something I made earlier and sticks his finger in his mouth.

"Whatever that is, it's good."

"Two-Bit!" He laughs as I hit him, and he goes into the living room. I shake my head.

I begin to think of last time I was this stressed over someone coming over. That was when Pony was just as nervous as me because my mother was coming. He had come in the kitchen, just freaking out. I told him to calm down and all. Then he had kissed me, and I scolded him for making me almost burn things. I smile.

"Hey, JT."

"Hey, babe. I- I mean Soda," I stutter.

"Are you alright?" he asks.

"Yeah. I just... I thought you were Pony."

"Aw, JT. Don't do that to yourself."

"Sorry. I don't know how I have time to think about him when there's so much to distract me here," I reply.

"Did we get anymore letters yet?"

"No. I wish we do soon though..."

"Yeah. I sure miss him," he says.

"Me too. I pray he comes home safe."

He starts walking out of the kitchen. "We all do, JT."

I check the time and realize Liz will be here in about an hour. I yell for everyone to start getting ready. Two-Bit goes home because he didn't want to have to sit down for a fancy dinner.

"How does this look?" I spin around and see Dallas in a nice button up shirt.

"Aw! You look so cute!" I squeal.

"I'll take that as a yes," he mumbles in return.

"Here. Let me fix it." I start fixing the collar and straightening the wrinkles out on his shirt.

"Thanks, JT."

"For what?"

"Everything. It'd be really hard to get by without your help," he says.

"I doubt that, Dal."

"I'm serious. Thanks."

"Your welcome. Did you tell her about Tucker?"

"Yeah. She didn't seem to mind."

"Good," I say with relief. "Now go finish getting ready." He smiles and goes back upstairs. I put everything away and run upstairs myself.

I change into a simple dress and pin my hair up. I put minimum makeup on to cover up the dark circles under my eyes. I look awful because of them.

Of course, I took up half an hour just getting ready. I rush to Baby's room and change her into a dress. We all herd downstairs at once. Tucker and Baby play on the quilt while Darry and Soda clean up the living room some. Dally helps me set the table. While I start putting plates down, I stop and stare at the sunset, being reminded of my family.

"C'mon, JT! She'll be here any second now," Dally snaps.

"Sorry." There's a knock at the door, and everyone freezes. The house goes silent. "Go, go, go!" I tell him. Dally runs in the living room, and Darry and Soda bring the kids in the kitchen. We put them in their seats and finish setting the table.

"Hi, Liz! Nice to see you again," I hear him say from the living room.

"Hurry!" I whisper-yell.

"We're trying!" Soda says in the same tone.

"Stupid, your pants are on backwards," Darry comments. I stifle my laugh. Soda curses under his breath and runs upstairs to change.

"Wow," I tell him. Baby and Tucker laugh as Baby pushes Tucker in the face. "Darry, what are they doing?"

"I don't know, but it's weird." Soda comes back.

"Better?"

"Much better," Darry says.

"... And the others should be in here..." Dally walks into the kitchen behind a stunningly beautiful girl. I'm almost blown away by her appearance.

He walks in with her, and she has the biggest smile on her face. She stands my height in her small red heels to match a white polka-dotted red dress. Her bright blue eyes compliment her well. She's so pretty...

Dally points to each of us as he introduces us. "This is Darry, Soda, and their sister-in-law JT." I hug her instead, and she gladly accepts.

"It's so good to finally meet you!" I tell her.

"Same! I've heard so much about all of you," she replies as we pull away.

"Really now?"

"Yeah! Dally has the habit of talking a lot."

"Looks like you got told on, huh, Dal?" Soda says. He blushes.

"We've heard a lot about you too," Darry adds. Her cheeks blush a light rosy pink.

"Well, you look absolutely beautiful, Elizabeth."

"Thanks! But please call me Liz. Everyone does," she says sweetly.

"Well, there's two more people you should meet," Dally says. "This is Babydoll, Baby for short, and JT's daughter."

"She's the cutest thing!"

"And this is Tucker. He's my son."

"He's cuter than you actually let on," she says. "Hi, Tucker!" He giggles. "Can I just take him home?" Everyone laughs.

"Well, let's eat! Liz, can I get you something to drink?"

"Water's fine. Thanks." Dally pulls her chair out for her, trying to be a gentleman. She laughs a little as I bring back her water.

Everyone begins to make their plates and talk. "So where are you from?" Darry asks.

"Illinois, surprising enough," Liz says. "I didn't want to go to a fancy school like my parents wanted. Besides, bigger cities ain't my thing. I like it down here better."

"Sounds good enough."

"I'm guessing Dally already told you our real names and stuff?" I ask. She nods.

"Yes, actually! When you work down at the stables, you do get a little bored after a while because you can't talk to horses and get an answer. So I started talking to Dallas, and I've heard a lot about everyone ever since," she explains.

"If you don't care, could you tell me your whole name? Just so I know."

"Elizabeth Michelle Anderson."

"That's a beautiful name," I tell her.

"Thanks, but it's not as beautiful as your daughter's name. Babydoll. I never would've thought of that."

"She's one of a kind too," Soda adds. Liz laughs lightly.

"Hey, you're married right?" she asks me. I nod. "I knew someone was missing. Where's your husband?"

"Oh... He's, uh... He's in Vietnam right now. He'll be there for a little over two more months."

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't know! I have a cousin there too. I hope they both come home safe." I nod slowly.

"So, Liz, what's your thoughts on cookies?" Dallas asks her to break the silence.

"I love them!" she answers happily. I smile a bring back the batch I made earlier.

We all begin laughing and talking about some embarrassing stories. We mostly tell on Dally since he's deserving of the spotlight tonight. He blushes the deepest red I've ever seen.

After another hour and having her help me put Baby and Tucker down, Liz decides she's gonna go back home. I hug her and thank her for coming.

"It was nice meeting you. If you ever need anything, don't be afraid to ask," I tell her.

"Same here. I know how it feels to have someone close so far away. So if you ever wanna get away from the boys for once, we can have a girls' day." I laugh.

"Thanks. I'll be sure to take you up on that."

"Bye, JT."

"Liz, I'll walk you out," Dallas tells her. She smiles and nods.

"Bye! Come back," Darry says.

Dally walks her outside, and I plop down on the couch.

"I forgot how hard it was having guests over. Now I've got a huge mess to clean up," I complain.

"Don't worry, JT. I'll get it," Soda says as he walks in the kitchen.

"I'll get-"

"I got it."

"Well okay then," I say quietly to myself.

"I'm going to bed. Thanks for dinner as usual," Darry says.

"Anytime."

"Night."

"Night, Darry."

I sit alone. The clock on the wall ticks loudly even though it's the quietest thing in the room. Soda says he's going to bed after a while, and I still sit. I wonder what's taking Dally so long...?

He walks in on thought, and he's smiling from ear to ear. The tips of his ears are bright red. I smile at him.

"So? What happened?" I ask. He shakes his head and looks down. "Oooh! Dally got kissed!"

"Shut up!"

"Oh I knew it! Dally and Liz kissed!" I tease. I point at him and laugh.

"Real mature, JT. Real mature," he mumbles. I stand up and walk towards him. I poke his side.

"You liked iiiiiit!"

"Fine. I kissed her goodnight. So what?" he admits. I smile but with less enthusiasm.

"Dallas, I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks."

"No really. It's not easy, ever. I think there's something more for you than you think. She could be the one."

"I don't know, JT," he says. "We'll see. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

After he goes upstairs, I finally decide to go to bed myself. I trek up the one billion stares, well it seems that way when you're tired, and change into a nightgown.

I stare at the pictures on my dresser. One sticks out in particular. Our wedding picture. I pick it up and wipe the dust previously collected on it. I smile as the moment plays over and over again in my head. I stare at Ponyboy's face that I've always told him I loved. Oh so many memories...

I sit on the edge of my bed and close my eyes. I pray silently that he'll come home safely because we all need him here. A tear slips and falls on the glass. I cling the picture frame tightly to my chest and pull my knees up, folding into a balled up position. My cheek rests on the soft, cold pillow Pony's head laid on.

"Please..." I whisper. "Please, please, please..."