Author's notes and deleted scenes:

I would like to thank everyone again for the great reviews and your reading of this story. It is great having a captivated audience to write for. Truly, your reviews motivate me through every word of the story!

Here is a little babble about writing the story, coming up with ideas and a deleted scene: In the beginning I thought writing this part of the Scout Saga would be difficult. I did not look forward to writing "in between the lines" of The Outsiders. I found that task to be daunting and worried that Scout would not fit in well. Knowing this I worked hard to be sure to include her just enough so the reader could actually imagine her in the scenes from the book, while being sure she didn't drastically change the plot of The Outsiders. I have learned through so many reviews that I did well, thank you for your feedback on that one.

Landslide is an overly confusing and emotional time for Scout. She is dealing with the horror of being shot at, losing her closest friend (Casey moving back to NM) and then her most favorite person in the world runs away and vanishes in the middle of the night. These events, toppled with the absent parents, left her lost and alone even when she had plenty of people around her. I believe traumatic situations can often force a person into their own personal hiding and that is where Scout chose to go for her own protection. Now, the problem with that was pulling her back out of her solitude so she could become an active participant in the story again. This "hook" took some time to figure out, but once I decided to have her go look for Ponyboy in drives Owen Jasper.

At first he is just a minor character to the story. In his initial creation he was just a nice guy, helping Scout out when she needed it. In only a few days of writing I realized he would become one of the central stories in the next installment of my series. I am very excited with the direction I have chosen for Owen and his family.

In Landslide I also wanted an opportunity to tell the story of what happened back on the block while Ponyboy was gone. Telling this meant I had to weave many elements from the book into a short span of time; Soda and Sandy breaking up, Two-Bit getting jumped, Dallas getting arrested, and the growing tension between the social classes. Writing these parts required me to "walk along" with The Outsiders, so I had to give up a lot more of my artistic freedom.

The hardest plot point for me to come up with was deciding how to connect Scout and Ponyboy together again. Originally, I thought about having her reunite at the hospital, but I loved that scene in the movie so much that I didn't want her to be a part of that. Many days of thought went into how she could be at the hospital but not part of the brother reunion. Right before bed one night I came up with the idea that Scout would follow Dally to the hideout and be involved in the fire. Once this idea came to my head I knew it would be a good, and somewhat believable, scene. After that part the rest of the story flowed well.

Through out the whole story the only deleted scene I have is the one from Chapter Eighteen. During this scene I wrote about the funeral and I wanted to reintroduce Owen Jasper, but I didn't like the long drawn out chapter. The old draft is below.

Deleted Scene:

I leaned across the bed and kissed Ponyboy's hot cheek. I whispered that I loved him and I hope he would get well soon. I stood up and sighed just as a horn honked outside.

"That's Steve and Two-Bit. You and Soda better get going so you're not late." Darry directed. I walked out of the room and followed Sodapop out the front door. The two of us rode together in the backseat on the way to the cemetery.

Sadly, both boys would be given a direct funeral, or as it is sometimes known, a poor man's funeral. This meant the bodies would be simply buried with no visitation and no funeral service. Thankfully the funeral home director spoke with Johnny's parents, Dallas had no one for them to speak to, and convinced them to let the burials happen at the same time so the funeral home could do a small graveside service for free. Steve had told us he heard the funeral director wanted to do this as a thanks to Dallas and Johnny for saving the children from the burning church.

Quietly I began to cry, then my emotions grew stronger and I cried harder. I tried on several occasions to not be noisy, but it didn't work.

"Awe Damn it Scout!" Steve finally yelled. "Are you going to cry the whole way there?"

Immediately I held my breath still trying to quiet myself. Sodapop and Two-Bit didn't take to lightly to Steve losing his patience. Both of the boys told their friend to shut up.

"Don't you worry none Scout, you can cry if you need to." Sodapop comforted me and held me close. It was rare that he and Steve didn't agree, but this was one of those rare times.

"Sissy, I didn't mean it like it sounded." Steve looked at Two-Bit then to the backseat at the two of us. "I just aint been sleeping well and …look I'm sorry."

His apology was sincere and I worked hard on taking a few deep breaths to calm myself. We pulled into the cemetery and followed the winding roads until we found a line of old cars. Steve pulled off to the side of the road and parked. Sodapop and I climbed out of the backseat and waited for Steve to walk around from the other side of the car.

"Welcome," An older gentleman in a black suit approached us. "Are you here for the Cade and Winston burials?" The formality of the situation felt improper for the friends we were here to say goodbye to.

Two-Bit looked to the man. "Yes sir."

"Right this way," The man smiled politely and began to lead us up the hill. I took hold of Sodapop's hand and started across the lawn toward the area where two caskets were laid out, ready for burial.

"Scout!"

I heard my name called and turned to see who it was.

"Scout," Owen walked briskly towards me. He was dressed in a black suit to match all the others. "I have been waiting for you to arrive."

I looked at Owen with confusion. "Owen… aren't you suppose to be in school?"

Owen stopped in front of me. He looked even more handsome then before. "I begged my parents to let me help out with this l… I figured you would be here. I … I wanted to see you." I blushed a little and looked to Sodapop who was wearing a small smile. I looked back to Owen whose voice sounded a little nervous. "I have something for you … I figured you … I… there flowers for you to lay on the caskets. It's kind of customary for this type of funeral and I figured you wouldn't have brought any of your own. I hope you don't mind."

I grabbed Sodapop's hand again and smiled. "No I don't mind. Thanks." Owen seemed to breath a sigh of relief.

"Hey ah…." Two-Bit joined into the conversation. His voice was quiet. "I just wanted to be sure to thank you and your parents for putting together a nice burial for our friends. I know you are doing most of the fancy stuff here for free."

Owen gently smiled back. "I'll let me father know you appreciate the gesture. I know he was very impressed with your friends saving those children."

Owen turned and led us to the funeral. Owen pulled out two bundles of yellow roses tied together with a red ribbon. The flowers were just gorgeous and it had been a long time since I had seen or smelled a rose, we didn't have them for my parents funeral. Owen's father spoke kind words about Dallas and Johnny as if he had known them himself. When he was finished Owen and five other men from the cemetery collected the ropes from the ground and slowly lowered Dallas into the ground. When the first casket was steady below the men lowered Johnny to the ground as well. Watching the event pulled at my heart and I held my breath as often as I could to keep from sobbing.

When the caskets had reached the bottom Owen's father looked my way. "You may lay the flowers." Hesitantly I stepped forward and peered over the edge into the sun lit hole that Dally laid in. I closed my eyes, said a small prayer and tossed the first bouquet to the casket below. I then walked to the side of Johnny's grave and couldn't help but sob as I said a second small prayer and a brief goodbye before gently tossing the flowers to the bottom. Before I stepped back Owen's father spoke again. "Dust to dust and ashes to ashes, Dallas Winston and Jonathan Cade will be missed by many. At this time I would encourage those who loved this man to step forward to help in his burial."

Owen walked up to my side with a steel shovel in his hand. "Would you like to toss the first shovel of dirt?"

I looked at him and grabbed a hold of the shovel. I had read about funerals like this from days gone by, but never attended one. I took the lead and gathered a small pile of dirt on the scoop of the shovel then tossed it as gently as the roses on the caskets below. I stepped back from the graves and handed the shovel to Sodapop who followed suit. Then Steve, Two-Bit, Tim Sheppard, Buck Merrill, and many others did the same as they paid their last respects.

When the burials ended Buck Merrill called out. "First rounds on me at my place!"

"Sounds good to me!" Two-bit remarked solemnly.

"Evie and I are with you," Steve said then he looked to Sodapop hoping he would come and be with the boys.

My brother shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know." Sodapop never drank, but I wondered if he wanted to be around his friends.

"Scout?" Owen Jasper walked up to me. "I was wondering if… if you felt like it maybe going over to Rusty's for a Coke or something." Owen then looked toward the boys for approval.

I frowned a little. "I'm not sure. My brother, Ponyboy is still really sick and I should get home to take care of him."

Now it was Sodapop's turn to frown at me. "Nah Sissy. You go ahead, Pony'll be fine. Darry and I will be looking over him." I looked up to Sodapop and felt pressured a little, but Sodapop knew what was best for me.

"I don't know …" I whispered to Sodapop.

Sodapop let go of my hand. "Well I do and I think you need to go."

-End Deleted Scene-

Thanks again to all of my readers and reviewers. I am glad you have enjoyed the story. I plan to put up one more storyline for Scout. I hope you enjoy the last edition: Aftermath.

Sincerely,

Erinskie