𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍, Dallas Winston

3

•~Ponyboy's P.O.V~•
"Hmm?" She asked. It was then I knew why she rolled down her sleeve. Johnny was staring at the purple and black ring around her wrist.

"That ring around your wrist." Johnny gingerly took her hand and pulled down her pastel pink sleeve. There were actually a couple more bruises under it. My head immediately went to abuse by her Dad, like Johnny.

"It's nothing really." She pulled away sheepishly.

"Who did that to you?" Johnny asked, I saw his eyes darken a bit. I knew he'd do anything in his power to make sure she was okay. Johnny didn't have a crush on her or anything, I asked him that already, but he wanted to protect her because she was a good Soc. You don't come across many of those.

"Was it your Dad?" I asked. She gasped.

"No of course not! My Dad would never." She sighed. "If I can trust you guys not to tell a single soul." We looked at each other.

I knew if it was bad enough, I would tell someone. To make sure it was safe. If it wasn't that bad, then I would tell nobody. Johnny would agree with me. The only reason we didn't tell anyone about Johnny's Dad, was because Johnny didn't have any family to go to and we knew the court wouldn't let him stay with us.

It was different with Michelle. Everyone knew, even the worst Greasers knew, that you don't hit or bruise a woman. We all respected that. I wasn't sure if it was the same for guys Soc but even Dallas Winston didn't lay a hand on a woman.

"You can trust us." Johnny nodded.

"It was Randy, he's a real violent drunk." Johnny looked at me and then back at Michelle. "It didn't really hurt or anything and he doesn't mean to hurt me, he's just drunk that's all." She glanced up at us as if she was pleading with us not to tell anyone.

"Do your parents know, that he hurts you?" I asked. Surely if they did know, they'd take some type of action against Randy.

"No, they'd beat Randy to death if they did." I saw Johnny's eyes soften from the dark color.

"You ought to tell someone. Anyone would keep you safe from him." She smiled.

"Thanks, Johnny. I'm sure many people would." She looked up at the both of us. "But he's family, I don't want someone to protect me from family." She sighed. I heard a fancy doorbell chime, and Michelle perked up.

"Do we need to leave?" I asked. Michelle looked at me confused.

"Of course not. I'll be right back."

•~Michelle's P.O.V~•
I walked down the steps, partly regretting that I told Ponyboy and Johnny about Randy. He never meant to hurt me. It was an accident. His heart broke every time he saw a bruise he made. He always made up for it too. He'd take me to the movies with him, and one time he bought me a car.

I opened the door and there stood Dallas Winston, smoking a cigarette.

"Dallas?" I asked, glancing behind me. I thought that maybe Ponyboy and Johnny had followed me because Dally was the one to pick them up. I didn't want them to leave, of course, but that was the only possible explanation.

"Doll, just call me Dally." He smirked and blew out a puff of smoke before putting it out and throwing it on the street.

"Uh, what are you doing here?" I asked politely as I could. I was still a bit pissed off by what he did. Sure, it did happen a lot but it shouldn't happen. He sighed.

"I came to apologize for what I did, You know that day you came to the Curtis House?" I chuckled.

"Yeah, I remember." He smiled, I guessed that he liked making me laugh. "And I accept your apology. Would you like to come in?" I asked.

"Yeah sure." He walked inside and follows me up to my bedroom.
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Word Count:681