for So You're Leaving7/6/2013 c53 
1RazMaster
THIS IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST FANFIC I'VE EVER READ. I LOVED IT SO MUCH I JUST CAN EVEN... AKDMDKDNVKDKW
1RazMasterTHIS IS SERIOUSLY THE BEST FANFIC I'VE EVER READ. I LOVED IT SO MUCH I JUST CAN EVEN... AKDMDKDNVKDKW
6/21/2013 c53 1939Sorry-Not-Sorry1945
This was one of the most wonderful things I've ever read- first off let me just say, that ending was AMAZING. I actually gasped when I read it.
The parts that affected me the most throughout the story was really the God and religion topic and Dally turning from a hardened street hoodlum, to a normal, happy teenager that he should've always been. Getting to know and accept yourself, and realizing that you're actually content for once, is such a real feeling- and it was depicted so well here. And loving and trusting people is especially hard for me- people have told me I need to be more open with them, and whenever Dally's "shell" was being "broken", I reminded myself that it's not always bad to let people in- and I need to soften up my own shell and let people through, more than I have been. It was also very characteristic of Dallas, even in the book, he had a barrier that only Johnny had managed to cross, so I really like how in character he was and how he got the character development that he never received in the book- development I had been hoping for (and denied, of course) when I first read the of being in character, Hinton's characters became even more real to me than they already were. They were very tailored to their descriptions, and all readers appreciate that.
The part where Dally is first on the train to Virginia is definitely one of my favorites- the ominous feeling of what would've happened when he spots the church (what DID happen in the book) almost makes this like an alternate universe that ended with tragedy, but finally happiness rather than in the book which was like tragedy, and then just simple, hard acceptance. And when he referenced how he had a feeling both he and Johnny would've died if they had stayed in Tulsa- it made it seem like a parallel universe, as if they had really dodged a bullet (no pun intended!) by the choice to let Johnny go.
Onto the religion, this is what struck me the most. The struggles Dally has with God mirror my own so well- I guess this is why this fanfic had such a HUGE impact on me. I had always said I don't believe in God- 'What kind of god would let so many people suffer so much? It's like life is a cruel joke' was always my reply whenever confronted on the topic. But I had these moments where- like Dally- I knew I did believe in God, but I didn't like him. I thought he was unfair. I hated him for a while. But, even though my moment of needing Him wasn't as dramatic and movie-screen perfect as Dally's was (lying in front of the church in the rain), I still felt like it was immensely similar. I didn't talk out loud or fall over or anything, but I felt that hopelessness and while I was sobbing, I thought about how I was at my breaking point- and I asked help, for the first time, from Him. My eyes teared up when I read that chapter, because it reminded me so much of my own battle to accept God.
Joe stuck out to me too- when he called Dally a guardian angel to Johnny, I smiled knowing HE was Dally's guardian angle. I usually never pick up on foreshadowing, but that struck me fast. I really admired Joe, he always was there for Dally whenever he was in some type of emotional turmoil. It made me really think that God sends us angels sometimes when we need them most- but we may not even realize it.
And can I just say I'm thankful there was no slash for once? I'm all for slash usually, but I do enjoy stories that make Johnny and Dallas seem like brothers- that's what the author had really intended for them, and I love how well you took the concept and kept it. The brotherly, unconditional love here was touching.
All in all, this was an amazingly powerful piece that really moved me-, and I'll probably re-read it someday, like I do all stories that impacted me so positively.
This was one of the most wonderful things I've ever read- first off let me just say, that ending was AMAZING. I actually gasped when I read it.
The parts that affected me the most throughout the story was really the God and religion topic and Dally turning from a hardened street hoodlum, to a normal, happy teenager that he should've always been. Getting to know and accept yourself, and realizing that you're actually content for once, is such a real feeling- and it was depicted so well here. And loving and trusting people is especially hard for me- people have told me I need to be more open with them, and whenever Dally's "shell" was being "broken", I reminded myself that it's not always bad to let people in- and I need to soften up my own shell and let people through, more than I have been. It was also very characteristic of Dallas, even in the book, he had a barrier that only Johnny had managed to cross, so I really like how in character he was and how he got the character development that he never received in the book- development I had been hoping for (and denied, of course) when I first read the of being in character, Hinton's characters became even more real to me than they already were. They were very tailored to their descriptions, and all readers appreciate that.
The part where Dally is first on the train to Virginia is definitely one of my favorites- the ominous feeling of what would've happened when he spots the church (what DID happen in the book) almost makes this like an alternate universe that ended with tragedy, but finally happiness rather than in the book which was like tragedy, and then just simple, hard acceptance. And when he referenced how he had a feeling both he and Johnny would've died if they had stayed in Tulsa- it made it seem like a parallel universe, as if they had really dodged a bullet (no pun intended!) by the choice to let Johnny go.
Onto the religion, this is what struck me the most. The struggles Dally has with God mirror my own so well- I guess this is why this fanfic had such a HUGE impact on me. I had always said I don't believe in God- 'What kind of god would let so many people suffer so much? It's like life is a cruel joke' was always my reply whenever confronted on the topic. But I had these moments where- like Dally- I knew I did believe in God, but I didn't like him. I thought he was unfair. I hated him for a while. But, even though my moment of needing Him wasn't as dramatic and movie-screen perfect as Dally's was (lying in front of the church in the rain), I still felt like it was immensely similar. I didn't talk out loud or fall over or anything, but I felt that hopelessness and while I was sobbing, I thought about how I was at my breaking point- and I asked help, for the first time, from Him. My eyes teared up when I read that chapter, because it reminded me so much of my own battle to accept God.
Joe stuck out to me too- when he called Dally a guardian angel to Johnny, I smiled knowing HE was Dally's guardian angle. I usually never pick up on foreshadowing, but that struck me fast. I really admired Joe, he always was there for Dally whenever he was in some type of emotional turmoil. It made me really think that God sends us angels sometimes when we need them most- but we may not even realize it.
And can I just say I'm thankful there was no slash for once? I'm all for slash usually, but I do enjoy stories that make Johnny and Dallas seem like brothers- that's what the author had really intended for them, and I love how well you took the concept and kept it. The brotherly, unconditional love here was touching.
All in all, this was an amazingly powerful piece that really moved me-, and I'll probably re-read it someday, like I do all stories that impacted me so positively.
6/11/2013 c53 Emily
Oh my gosh! I was gonna say something about how amazing this was, how it's the best I've ever read, how I liked it even more than the book, how you're a better author than the great S.E. Hinton herself, how this made me laugh and cry at the same time while the original book did neither, how my mother (ever famous with her bad timing) called me just as I read the last larger paragraph before the song lyrics and I was cracking up through the whole phone call and she probably thinks I'm a nutcase now (not that she didn't already), how that kitten thing was so cute, how Tim must have flipped when he heard about it, how I loved that Dally stayed, how cute and sweet and beautiful and sad and heart wrenching and lovely and amazing and cool and scary and nice and downright moving this was, how perfectly everything turned out, how I'm so glad this didn't turn into a slash, and so, so, so much more that I'll never be able to express! All of this isn't adequate to how much I feel I need to thank you! You are practically royalty in my eyes. I worship you. I love how you worked in stuff from the original book, and I wish S.E. Hinton could see this! I just cannot express how cool it was, what with the church and the ending, and you seem to love twists and all but blindsiding your readers! I! LOVE! THIS! I might show my friends, but I've tried with things that are similar but no of this magnitude. I just wish they could understand how I do! The world is a better place because of this! I love this, and, in extension, you! I know you'll never see this, considering, but I hope whatever you're doing now, you're very happy and you have the most beautiful life ever, full of love and happiness! Bye now!
Oh my gosh! I was gonna say something about how amazing this was, how it's the best I've ever read, how I liked it even more than the book, how you're a better author than the great S.E. Hinton herself, how this made me laugh and cry at the same time while the original book did neither, how my mother (ever famous with her bad timing) called me just as I read the last larger paragraph before the song lyrics and I was cracking up through the whole phone call and she probably thinks I'm a nutcase now (not that she didn't already), how that kitten thing was so cute, how Tim must have flipped when he heard about it, how I loved that Dally stayed, how cute and sweet and beautiful and sad and heart wrenching and lovely and amazing and cool and scary and nice and downright moving this was, how perfectly everything turned out, how I'm so glad this didn't turn into a slash, and so, so, so much more that I'll never be able to express! All of this isn't adequate to how much I feel I need to thank you! You are practically royalty in my eyes. I worship you. I love how you worked in stuff from the original book, and I wish S.E. Hinton could see this! I just cannot express how cool it was, what with the church and the ending, and you seem to love twists and all but blindsiding your readers! I! LOVE! THIS! I might show my friends, but I've tried with things that are similar but no of this magnitude. I just wish they could understand how I do! The world is a better place because of this! I love this, and, in extension, you! I know you'll never see this, considering, but I hope whatever you're doing now, you're very happy and you have the most beautiful life ever, full of love and happiness! Bye now!
6/11/2013 c49 Emily
Awww, that's so sweet! I'm sad it's almost over though. I'm glad there's so much. I'm sorta relieved that it's almost over, what with there being so much. All good things must come to an end. Sadly...
Awww, that's so sweet! I'm sad it's almost over though. I'm glad there's so much. I'm sorta relieved that it's almost over, what with there being so much. All good things must come to an end. Sadly...
6/11/2013 c44 Emily
I was listening to "Time of My Life" by David Cook while I read this. I've had random songs popping into my head all day... I just don't know... I hadn't heard it in years, and I've always loved it with a passion... I just really need a hug... I haven't hugged anyone for weeks, and then I was just goofing around with my friends from school... I love this story. Even though you finished this back in 2006, you need to be rewarded or something. I think you should have, like, a parade in your honor or something. Screw James Patterson, you're my new writing hero.
I was listening to "Time of My Life" by David Cook while I read this. I've had random songs popping into my head all day... I just don't know... I hadn't heard it in years, and I've always loved it with a passion... I just really need a hug... I haven't hugged anyone for weeks, and then I was just goofing around with my friends from school... I love this story. Even though you finished this back in 2006, you need to be rewarded or something. I think you should have, like, a parade in your honor or something. Screw James Patterson, you're my new writing hero.
6/11/2013 c40 Emily
Oh my God! Oh, NO!
Oh my God! Oh, NO!
6/11/2013 c37 Emily
Oh my God! I knew it!
Oh my God! I knew it!
6/11/2013 c34 Emily
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm so scared!
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! I'm so scared!
6/11/2013 c30 Emily
Alright, ghosts freak me out. This is freaking me out. I'm scared in my own house... Rationality and blind fear are having an intense battle for control of my brain at the moment. Rationality's winning, but the battle could turn...
Alright, ghosts freak me out. This is freaking me out. I'm scared in my own house... Rationality and blind fear are having an intense battle for control of my brain at the moment. Rationality's winning, but the battle could turn...
6/11/2013 c26 Emily
...O...M...G! The plot thickens!
...O...M...G! The plot thickens!
6/11/2013 c23 Emily
" Being married into the Cade family, he kind of stood out visually. He was rather tall with a sort of stocky, muscular build. He had sandy blonde hair and green eyes. Wendy, Will, Matt and Johnny all looked the same. Wendy was a dead-ringer for Jackie Kennedy, and Dally had joked with Johnny about this before. Wendy said she got that a lot from people. Matt definitely took after his mom and there was no doubt that Wendy and Will were siblings Small builds, dark hair, and big eyes. Johnny's eyes were much darker than everyone else's, he'd inherited that from his own mother. But there was something about the facial features that he'd obviously pulled from this side of the family. But Tom just stuck out like a sore thumb." This made me think of Tom Thumb!
" Being married into the Cade family, he kind of stood out visually. He was rather tall with a sort of stocky, muscular build. He had sandy blonde hair and green eyes. Wendy, Will, Matt and Johnny all looked the same. Wendy was a dead-ringer for Jackie Kennedy, and Dally had joked with Johnny about this before. Wendy said she got that a lot from people. Matt definitely took after his mom and there was no doubt that Wendy and Will were siblings Small builds, dark hair, and big eyes. Johnny's eyes were much darker than everyone else's, he'd inherited that from his own mother. But there was something about the facial features that he'd obviously pulled from this side of the family. But Tom just stuck out like a sore thumb." This made me think of Tom Thumb!
6/11/2013 c22 Emily
THIS IS BEGINING TO SCARE ME!
THIS IS BEGINING TO SCARE ME!
6/11/2013 c20 Emily
Ooooh, a cemetery!
Ooooh, a cemetery!
6/11/2013 c19 Emily
Hahahhaha that's the best! I have such a vivid mental picture of this whole chapter! You did the best job!
Hahahhaha that's the best! I have such a vivid mental picture of this whole chapter! You did the best job!
6/11/2013 c18 Emily
This chapter and Chapter 17 were without a doubt the funniest two so far! I was cracking up!
This chapter and Chapter 17 were without a doubt the funniest two so far! I was cracking up!