I am just shaking my head in amazement of you. I read this chapter and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to post a review, I've been tying to articulate what this story and your writing means to me, without resorting to Steve (er, Tom Cruise) jumping on Oprah's couch and screaming YOU'RE INCREDIBLE!

This is truly a beautiful flawless piece and it's been an absolute journey the up and down ride, and now I'm thinking of Green Light of Ella and her frizzy hair and I just want to bawl,you allowed us to see these characters to watch them grow in real time, it's an incredible feat as an author, you are truly a monumental talent, I'm in awe of you. Everything you do, the way you build characters from the ground up, your innate knowledge of the canon characters, your plotting, dialogue; but it's so much more than that. It's the emotion, watching this relationship open up and go in ways I never would have expected in the beginning, but which are absolutely perfect. I can't say enough how much you make me want to be a better writer, how much I love your writing, and how deeply grateful I am FOR YOU for sharing your Ella and Dally and all the rest with us. Thank you Cat. :)

And now onto the show!

And Dally free from probation! Aww I'm so proud and happy for him, but the best part was that little perfect insight into WHY he behaved, maybe in the same way he misbehaved as an act of defiance. And Dally Winston with a job and out of jail is one hell of an act of defiance isn't it?

Ponyboy getting his book published! I'm so happy for him! I'm about ready to give him a crushing hug along with Soda. And of course Dally letting Pony use his name, and now I want to bawl (your writing makes me very emotional :) ) because I remember how difficult it was for Dally to even think about Johnny and what happened that night.

The Ponyboy & Ella scene, PERFECTION. I love these two from the beginning their friendship one of my all time favorites, and this scene, visiting Johnny's grave, how easy they can talk to each other and how much they can say in just a few words, but when they said I'll miss you, not with a lot of bells & whistles, just simple, unvarnished emotion, I was a goner. Beautiful.

So this this last line, "... and now that she was officially on her own she had that freedom all to herself." You are truly amazing, this last line is a gift. And this whole story about finding our own freedom and the pain and promise of that freedom.

And he waited until she was safe inside before pulling away, just like he did all those times he did before. I'm basically an incoherent mess now. I love your writing.

Terrific story and so wonderfully told. I suppose it was inevitable for Dally and Ella to go their separate ways, but the ending does leave lots of speculation. I do hope that you will continue something with them, or at least continue to write for this fandom. Your writing is superb! Well done!

*Clapping!* What a great ending for this story! I enjoyed reading it so much and I'm really happy that you decided to continue it! The writing was brilliant and just overall exciting!
I was surprised but also very...proud of Dally for staying out of trouble for that long! I feel like we have to partially thank Ella for that but I hope he keeps that up with her gone. He said he was going to do it and he did, so he can do it again! Good for Dallas! :D
I'm super excited and happy for Ponyboy and his book! That scene with he and Soda was so cute! I loved seeing more of the Curtis brothers in this story. I'm sure that book is going to help them out with money greatly ;) and I wonder if he will write another!
I also enjoyed the scene with Ella and Ponyboy at the cemetery. I'm glad that those two became friends because I think they are a great match and they are really good for each other. They have so much in common and kind of even think alike. I hope they see each other again some day :) Also, Ella's thoughts in that scene were kind of sad. She's not going to be seeing any of these people for a long time so it's only normal for her to wonder what's going to happen with everyone. I sure hope things will be good for all of them and good luck to Ella in New York!
And last but not least, the stars of the show...Ella and Dallas! That last scene was fantastic! I will definitely miss those two being together and their relationship in general, and I hope that we haven't seen the last of them. That was so sad with the ring! I had a feeling that Dally was going to tell her to keep it though, I'm glad she did :) And I have to say...I completely LOVE how you ended it with the summary of this story! That was awesome and really good storytelling! I applaud you for that!
I also must say that I love the character of Ella too. I like that you made her friends with Ponyboy, who was the main character of the book, and also that she was romantically involved with another from the gang. And her being friends with characters that we didn't see a lot of the book, like Evie and Angela! We got to learn more about those characters through your eyes. That was all very good.
So, great chapter and just fantastic story in general! Brilliant ending and just fabulous writing! I can just keep going on and on about it lol
Well, great job on this and hope to read more from you! :D

Oh Cat! What a beautiful and bittersweet ending. First of all, congratulations on completing a masterpiece. You're such a talented storyteller, and I marvel at how you've always been able to juggle 80,000 people and plot lines and weave them all together seamlessly. And here in this last chapter you tie up all the loose ends and for that alone, there's a feeling of satisfaction, at least for me as a reader. I imagine for you as the writer, there's that sense of sadness when you say goodbye to a completed story. But I as a reader take the endings of stories very emotionally and I'm standing here at this ending with you and have this deep ache as well. And that's thanks to your beautiful writing.

Okay, so onto the final chapter- I'm so so glad you chose to let Dally's probation end early. Of course I'm so excited for Pony's publishing and I celebrate with his brothers and all their excitement and pride for Pony. And I love the relationship between Pony and Ella that came out of this story. There's such a deep understanding and peace between them. So sweet he asked her to go with him to visit Johnny's grave. That's a very intimate thing he's let her in on. And I know that wasn't lost on Ella as we feel the extreme value she places on their friendship.

And I'm so thankful that Dally chose to show up at Ella's door, that he felt the need to say something, before they both take off on their personal journeys. And that's what I love about how you chose to end it. Not only is Ella off to NY to find her own way, Dally has the freedom too to travel the world and get out of Tulsa. There's so much they both want to say and do but don't, and that's such realism and because of that, makes it almost to the point of gut wrenching. Goodbyes are hard, and this one is so monumental, because they both gave something to each other. Something huge that changed who they are, though I'm not sure if Dallas is aware of that.

I'm so proud of Ella, her growth, her willingness to be open and allow herself to be changed. That isn't always very easy.

And the end was so sweet, that he waited for her to turn off the light. I've got tears. And chills. OH Cat you couldn't have had a better ending.

I'm so proud of you. Well done my friend. A gorgeous story on love and life and growing up.

A very incredible and inspirational story.

I’m so sad it’s over! It was so so so good though and you are super amazing! I love Dally and Ella! Super job with the entire story! I’m gonna miss it. But really good work! :) :)

Incredible story.
Hopeful for another one.

brilliant chapter, sad to hear that's it's the last chapter next but hoping for a reunion and happy ending for them.

Cat!
I loved seeing Cathy! OMG it was such a treat to see her! You did an amazing job with her!
I love everyone (even Angela helping out with the move). You do a beautiful job with the everyday aspects of grief, coming home to an empty house, packing up the boxes; all of those memories flooding through. And I LOVE the interactions between the girls, the whole Evie & Cathy exchange made me smile so much.
I'm so glad Ella is going to Berkley not only cause I think she'd do a great job there but I think it would good for her, but that doesn't mean that saying goodbye is easy and on top of losing her mother, her house she's now losing her boyfriend. That's so much for anyone.

The scene of Dally reading Pony's book is absolute PERFECTION. He's grown a lot too hasn't he? Dally's dry sob says everything. And maybe there's a symmetry here: Dally never thought he was worthy, he always thought it was Johnny who deserved to live, while Johnny thought that compared to the little kids his life wasn't worth it.

"You'll come back do you hear me?" I LOVE this couple, and I love how much Mary has blossomed and grown, she truly his rock.

I Love the talk about the different eye colors and the girls' personalities.

Oh the ending is so heartbreaking everyone Dally's ever cared for ends up leaving him. And Dally holding onto that mantra of staying tough, but we've seen in ways big and small how that wall has been broken down and try as he might Dally is not the same person he was before, the Dally of a few months ago probably wouldn't give his permission for Pony's book. Everyone in this story through both successes and pains have grown, it's not easy but it's a journey that I'm so grateful to share with these characters.

Wow! Really good chapter and phenomenal writing! I really liked the pace of this one. I can't believe that there is only one more left!
Those were really scenes with the girls at Ella's house with their girl's night! It seemed like they all had a good time and I'm glad they were able to get together! I'm sure Ella is going to miss all of them when she leaves for New York! And the part with her looking out the window and thinking about Dally was sad :(
Speaking of sad, the scene with Soda and Mary was rough! I mean...it was beautiful but it was just heartbreaking! I really hope Soda does come back to everyone! Mary and Soda's love for each other is so beautiful. I'm sad to see them part ways for a while :(
Yay! Dally finally finished Ponyboy's book and gave him the okay to publish it! I'm super excited for Pony and I was surprised that Dallas drove over there to see Mr. Franklin! I was so happy that he did though!
Well, fabulous chapter and writing! I enjoyed this one a lot! I'm super excited to see what happens next in the final chapter! :D

I'm glad Ella has her friends to gather round her, to play board games and take her mind off of things. Packing up your childhood home and seeing it empty like that-such a hard moment, and the girls were nice to come and spend her last night there with her. And with everything that Ella's leaving, it seems like Dally still has a pull on her, especially with this line: "It had taken her to lose him to fully realize that she was in love with him." Uh oh. This is gonna be tough.

And speaking of tough, poor Mary and Soda, being ripped apart from each other right when they've just fallen in deep love. I hope having Mary's heart will give Soda the strength he needs to get through the war and I sure hope you bring him back alive!

So cool that Dally didn't just finish the book, but he went to see Mr. Franklin himself to give the consent. Thank goodness! And I enjoyed that interaction between the two. How neat for Mr. Franklin to come face to face with the character he got to know in Pony's book. And I thought these lines said it all- when Mr. Franklin asked what he thought of the story, and Dally answered, what do you want me to think? I LIVED IT. And that's so true, to him it's no story. It's real life. That would be so surreal to have your story told to the world.

And while the girls are asleep, Ella's still holding onto Dallas with that photo, and Dally's out in the night at the same time, thinking on all he's lost/losing, and I love how you mention the moon in each of their scenes, symbolizing that connection between them.

I can't believe there's only one more chapter. This is going to be rough Cat! And I love rough :) Great job!

Cat this chapter is absolutely heartbreaking in the back of my head I dreaded that this moment might come but you made Ella so important to me that when it did come as much as I was prepared for it, I really wasn't and it it was so devastating.

I love Ella and Evie's friendship and here as Evie deals with her pregnancy (the cramping worries me) Ella is dealing with her mom's illness. Evie's worries that Steve wouldn't want her once she starts to show and I felt so much for her.

One of the absolute joys of your writing is seeing the characters grow up and mature in such a natural progression and watching Pony stand up to Dally, I LOVE this scene. Everything: the way his eyes narrow, his voice firmer and that calmness! I love this entire scene, Pony's speech his message is just perfect. One of my favorite moments EVER. Thank you so much!

SODA! OH God Aunt Vera is a villain for the ages isn't she? I'm so upset for Soda and Mary.

Oh God I'm crying thinking of Mrs. Mitchell telling Ella how proud she is of the woman she has become. And now Ella is an orphan. The everydayness of the scene, the way Ella gets her mom's belongings and signs the papers and leaves that made it so much more real to me. Her mom is dead but there's nothing she can do but go home.

And Dally & Ella, Dally not feeling comfortable with these emotions and relieved that Ella doesn't want to speak about it and yet Dally is there for her. "Will you still be here when I wake up?"

This chapter is a tour de force. You are amazing and such a gift to this site. Thank you.

Such a sad chapter. All these couples are either breaking up/having to leave each other. Good to see the Evie didn't claw Steve's face after his decision. I feel so sorry, for both of them, because I do believe Steve's sorry is so very genuine. I loved this line: "..because Evie was already dying inside." Oh, the angst. I'm feeling it!

Poor Pony, but I'm glad he found the letter, because Darry and Pony need to be told to prepare for this. I literally can't imagine living back in that time, and having your loved ones just taken away like that. I can't imagine the dread that filled the air.

I'm so glad Ella has a plan (I feel sorry for Angela who'll never find a way out) and though it hurts to tell Dally, their drift apart seems inevitable. And once Dally finally wraps his head around the fact she's going, even has a plan all worked up, he cuts her off and gets cold. Such a knee jerk reaction for him when he doesn't want to face something. Like maybe the pain or abandonment that might come with this. Even so, even if they can't work or were never meant to be, there was certainly a reason for them and Ella touches it on that here. That he's made her become something she might never have been without him. When we see how much she's come out of her shell since the beginning of this series, it's undeniable that Dally gave her confidence.

Beautiful writing :)

I just want everyone to be happy but I guess they will be on their own. I hope Dally goes with Ella somehow. I love this story so much! Oh and the song is great! :) :)

Really good!
Please update soon!