𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐁𝐈𝐃𝐃𝐄𝐍, Dallas Winston

12

•~Michelle's P.O.V~•
It was Saturday, the day after the trial. My parents started receiving calls and threats from Bob's parents, and because of that, my parents pulled me out of school. They wouldn't tell me what they said, but from my parent's actions, they must've not been good.

I sat in my room, sitting on my bed and reading a book that Ponyboy recommended. Reading was one of the only things that distracted my mind. Whether from my parents arguing, overthinking or from the constant flash of memories of that night.

The book started to get interesting when I heard Dally walk into my room. Dally usually came over with no warning at all, not that I minded.

"Watcha do'in?"

"Reading," I said flatly, trying to focus on the words on the page and the images of it in my mind, instead of Dally.

"What are ya reading?" Dally pressed on.

"Hatchet." I furrowed my eyebrows, biting down on my bottom lip a bit. That was something I did when I had a hard time focusing.

"I think Pony has that book." Dally hopped on my bed, sitting next to me. I nodded, staying silent beside him.

"Do you usually ignore people when you read?" Dally sighed. Dally was an easily bored person, so it wasn't surprising that he was already bored.

"Sometimes."

Dally pulled the book from my hands, in a fast but gentle manner.

"Dally!" I giggled a bit, wishing I sounded slightly more firm. His face was inches away from mine as if he wanted to kiss me.

I'd never kissed a boy before. Not even on that dreadful night. Dally found this surprising, and he was very respectful of the fact that I wasn't ready to kiss yet.

That surprised me. In the past, I would've never described Dallas Winston as respectful. If anything I used to think he was disrespectful from the stories I'd heard, but for some reason, he wasn't that way with me.

He was sweet and gentle unless he was with the gang. Although he hated it when I told him he was these things, it was true. If only he'd let more people see it, then they'd agree with me as well.

"What's wrong?" A smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Seriously? Please just give it back, Dal." I reached for it but he quickly pulled it back.

"I'm being serious this time, what's wrong?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Nothing's wrong, what are you talking about?" He raised an eyebrow.

"You never ignore me."

"I was reading!"

"You haven't even turned a page."

"Maybe I'm a slow reader." Dally scoffed.

"You read faster than Ponyboy does." I stayed silent.

Some people thought that because Dally was so rambunctious that he didn't notice things, but he noticed everything. Every small detail was noticed by him. He may not let you know it, but he noticed everything. Sometimes I loved that quality in him, other times, I hated it.

I sighed, knowing he wouldn't let up until I told him.

"It feels wrong. Putting away my cousin's best friend."

"The cousin that Ponyboy said bruised up your arms." I furrowed my eyebrows, wondering if I heard him right.

"Huh?"

"Pony said that Randy hits you, that he bruises up your arms." Dally stared into my eyes, looking for an answer. I opened and closed my mouth, looking for a good lie, a good explanation. "Ponyboy said that you told him that."

"It was before you and I were a thing, and Johnny noticed and thought it was my parents so I told them the truth." I was practically begging him not to be mad at me. I didn't know why I thought he'd be mad, I just did.

"Then there's no need to feel bad because Randy's a bad guy too." A part of me felt defensive because Randy was family, I'd always been taught to protect family, but Randy never treated me like family so I didn't have to treat him like family either.
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A/n: sorry for the late update I've been really busy with school, but today I go to my first high school dance!! (homecoming)
Word Count:699