Cover Up (continued!!)

Decorations

It was December 11, Johnny and Dallas were walking to the Curtis house about a week after the hospital incident. The walked in comfortable silence as they walked, feeling happy with each other's presence.

Dallas opened the door, holding it open for Johnny before walking in himself.

"DARRY!" He yelled through the house.

"What's up?" Darry asked, sticking his head out of the kitchen.

"When are y'all gonna set the tree up?" Dal asked, walking over to him while leaving Johnny on the couch.

"Tonight after dinner." Darry replied. "You mind helpin me with food?"

"Sure."

***

At dinner, Dally still got the smaller plate. He was happy, thinking about how he had only cut himself 5 more times a couple days before when him and Johnny got in a small fight.

As he ate about half of his plate he started to feel the nauseous feeling coming back to his head. He tried to fight through it but ran to the bathroom and hurled.

He came back in and slowly sat down at the table, although he lost his appetite.

"You alright?" Soda asked, finishing his food.

"Mhm.. I just can't seem to get rid of the nauseous feeling when I eat." Dallas said, keeping his eyes locked at his twiddling fingers.

"It's alright, Dal. That feeling will pass soon ya just gotta be patient." Soda encouraged.

Dallas nodded and stood up, rinsing off his plate in the sink.

"Pony, will you help me get the tree and ornaments from the shelf?" Darry asked, also standing up.

"Yea, when I'm done eating." Pony replied, shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes into his mouth.

Dallas finished with his plate and walked to the living room, sitting down on the couch. He watched Soda bring a medium sized box in and set it on the coffee table.

"What's that?" Two-bit asked.

"It's wood chippings and paint. We're gonna make ornaments with them." Soda replied happily, taking the supplies out with the help of Steve.

Johnny came in and sat next to Dallas on the couch. Next, Ponyboy and Darry with the tree and big box of ornaments.

Everyone settled down and started decorating a chip of wood.

"What're you gonna make, Johnnycakes?" Dallas asked, looking down at Johnnys empty wood.

"Oh, I dunnno. Maybe a sunset? Would that look pretty?" Johnny asked, looking up and Dallas.

"Sure, kid. Just don't fuck it up." Dally said laughing and nudging Johnny's shoulder.

Johnny smiled and grabbed some paint.

"What should I make?" He though. "I could make a dolphin? Or maybe a dog. I think I'll make the street dog I had back in New York. I think he was a corgi." Dallas started drawing out a fluffy lookin dog lightly with a pencil.

"Woah, Dal, that's really good." Johnny said admiring his work.

"Yours looks pretty cool, too." Dallas replied, smiling at the compliment.

"Quit flirting, it's making my head hurt." Steve stated playfully.

"Your just mad Sodapop isn't smothering you with kisses." Dallas snapped back, smirking at Steve's embarrassed face.

"Ooooo, you didn't even deny it!" Pony teased.

"Shut your trap, kid! Of course I wouldn't want Soda loving on me." Steve yelled back.

Dallas finished his sketch and grabbed some paint. "Alright I need a white, a yellow, black, and gray." He thought.

Dallas slowly painted on the layers to his dog. The normal scowl left his face and it was replaced with peacefulness.

He didn't notice the gang hover over him as he finished. As he signed his name he looked up and say all of them dating at him.

"Since when we're you an artist, Dal?" Ponyboy asked.

"When I was in the cooler I had a lot of time on my hands and I got bored so I painted and shit." He replied, sticking a ribbon through the already made hole.

They all got out of his hair and went to grab the old ornaments. Dallas sat the wood on the coffee table to dry and walked over to grab some ornaments also.

"Pony, how come Santa didn't come to my house when I didn't know you?" Johnny asked innocently.

Darry and Soda's faces went white as they looked at pony for an answer.

"Maybe your folks scared him? I mean all that yelling they make sure would scare me." Pony replied. You could see the relief in Soda and Darry's face with his answer.

Johnny nodded and hung another one of his ornaments up.

After they finished hanging all their ornaments on the tree Darry wrapped the lights around the tree. He plugged it in an outlet and it lit up the room, making it colorful and happy. They all looked at it in awe for a few moments.

"I'm heading to bed now, it's getting late." Darry announced, heading out of the room.

"I think it's time for me to check out too. Come on Pony, it's best you sleep also." Soda said, helping Pony up off the couch.

"Night, guys. See ya soon." Two-bit said, walking out the door beer in hand.

"I call the couch!" Steve yelled once Two shut the door.

"Alright, I'm sleeping in the spare room. You comin, man?" Dallas asked, looking at Johnny.

Johnny nodded and followed Dal as he started to the room.

Dallas shut the door and walked over to the dresser, grabbing sweats and a red hoodie. It was always cold in the Curtis house now that it was winter.

He laid down under the warm covers next to the wall and let himself zone out.

Johnny was always on the warmer side. When he was cold that meant it was really cold outside. When he was warm it was probably cold.

Johnny changed into navy blue short shorts and a white shirt with a couple holes in it.

Johnny laid facing away from him under the covers and Dallas instinctively wrapped and arm around him.

Johnny snuggled closer into his back and let himself relax in his hold.

Dallas smiled into Johnnys neck and hugged him tighter.

"Johnny?" Dallas asked shakily.

"Yeah, Dal, you alright?" Johnny asked.

Dallas took a deep breath in, "Will you go out with me?"

"Oh my gosh! Of course!" Johnny squealed, turning over and kissing Dallas passionately.

Dally was surprised but relaxed into the kiss after a second.

They broke apart and looked into each others eyes. The gateway to their soles had a broken window that would get patched up for anyone except each other.

Dallas closed his eyes and hugged his lover tighter and fell in love with the heat radiating off of Johnny's body.

The both drifted off to sleep, happy with their decisions.

This is kinda a filler chapter ig but it's sweet and I like it. I hope y'all do to! Might be a bit of a disappointment for two updates in a row though lmao.