𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍, Dallas Winston

11

•~Michelle's P.O.V~•
The judge asked for details, and Dally stayed true to his word. He ushered the gang, my parents, and himself out of the room. Once they left I told my story, which almost made me sick to my stomach.

Dally didn't know when to come back inside, so they stayed out there until the trial was over. So I had to tell them the verdict. I walked out of the courtroom, everyone rushing to my side.

"Well?" Mom asked, placing her hand on my shoulder. I always thought my mother's touch was comforting, even in the worst of situations.

"Well, he got twenty-six and a half years. Or three hundred and eighteen months." Mom smiled and pulled me into a hug.

"I would've given him more, but we can settle for that," Dad muttered to Dally, causing him to smile.

"Cherry was there." Mom slowly pulled away.

Cherry and I had been friends practically since birth. She was only a month older than me, and our parents were all friends because of their similar jobs. We met Marcia and Bob in kindergarten.

"Did she say anything to you?" I gulped, shaking my head.

She didn't have to, I knew she was angry with me. I told the whole school that she wanted to kiss me and now I'd thrown her boyfriend in jail. I'd never had anyone seriously angry at me before, and it hurt to know the person I angered was my good friend. Especially since her boyfriend was in the wrong.

Right?

I mean, it wasn't my fault, but it was. I got between my friends and Bob. I stood up for them. I put myself in that position to be hurt. But I didn't. I just thought they'd beat me up or something. I didn't think Bob would stoop that low.

Maybe it was my fault. I knew how Bob got when he was drunk and angry. I shouldn't have antagonized him. I should've listened to Randy, but then Ponyboy and Johnny would've gotten hurt.

I know that it was hard for my family and even Dally to understand why I'd put myself in harm's way. Dally said that Ponyboy and Johnny could handle themselves, so there was no real need for me to intervene. My parents said the same.

I don't know what it was about that night. Maybe it was the adrenaline of the situation, but it might've been the thought that if I didn't intervene then my best friends would get hurt.

I hadn't known Ponyboy and Johnny half as long as I did Cherry, but there was something about them. They were real, unlike many of my friends. They were honest, funny, and the greatest friends anyone could ask for.

I couldn't lose that.

I wouldn't.
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A/n: sorry for that late update due to school, but it's the weekend now! I might update tomorrow, I'm not sure.
Word Count:491