Dream On Fire (Dallas Winston)

Chapter 8

"Where were you two?" Darry stopped us as we attempted to sneak by him and into our rooms."Pony I thought you left with Dal and Johnny?" He fastened his boots and leaned against his knees.

Pony looked at me for help, and spoke when I didn't respond, "well I did...but we ran into Darcy and Stella...swimmin with them sounded a lot more fun then gettin ice cream with Johnny and Dal.."

"I love it when you guys get along," Darry said with a smile. "You'll be best pals before you know it." Pony and I uneasily laughed, "you raised us too well." Pony wrapped his arm around my shoulder.  "Pushing it." I mumbled.

Darry asked, his eyebrows furrowed, "What did you do?" He groaned.

When I looked at Pony for help, he didn't say anything. "Nothing, Darry; we just..appreciate you." Darry sat back in his recliner, his arms crossed. "Fine, when we were down at the lake, Ponyboy accidentally threw a rock at someone's car window and shattered it, but they didn't see us." I lied.

"What?! Did not!" He was rebuffed.

Darry inhaled deeply, "As long as they didn't see you, it's okay. Why were you throwing pebbles so hard, Pony?" Darry raised himself, his arms still folded. Pony sagged, "I was hoping I'd hit Stella."

"I knew I spoke too soon. Get out, you two make my brain hurt," he replied, shaking his head. He sighed and slipped down the couch, his head resting on his hands. Pony shoved me as he left the living room. "Be careful, Stell," he grumbled. "Oh, you wouldn't dare." I muttered.

I fidgeted with the pillow threads once Darry and I were alone. "What do you want?" Darry asked through his fingers. "Since we're being honest, I-Well... I was just wondering...Your hair looks good today, by the way," I stumbled. "Stella.."

"Ok, right...since I'm gonna be eighteen and all soon, well.." I fumbled, "can I go on a date tonight? I'll clean the whole house-"

"That's fine."

"Darry! I promise. You're being so unreasonable!" I groaned. "Wait...did you say yes?"

"Mhm...You've been good, cookin, takin your brother to do things, keep up that attitude n I don't care what you do," he nodded. Darry's ease in saying yes startled me. I was used to debating and fighting back, I had mentally prepared my speech. Maybe sneaking about with Dally would be a lot easier than I had anticipated.

"But the next time you wanna go out with this boy, I wanna meet him."

And there was the catch. I wasn't sure why I didn't expect a good ole Darry catch, but there was always one. I wasn't sure how I was gonna get around that, but I had time, and in that moment all I cared about was getting ready to see Dal. "Deal." I agreed, "but..Darry?"

"Yeah?" He looked up again.

"Could you maybe...not tell Soda for awhile. He's always trynna get in my business. It's embarrassing."

"That's what brothers do," Darry grinned, "but I won't mention it. Be careful tonight." He got to his feet and drew me into a hug. Darry and I had had a rough relationship for the last few years, but he was slowly coming around. I felt bad for not giving him the whole truth, but we weren't even going with each other yet, and when the perfect moment came, I'd have to tell them all, including sodapop. "And remember...I know how to fight." I chuckled, tightening my grip on him.

*

I made my way hesitantly to Bucks. Tulsa was glowing as the sun sank. The only sound was my pumps clicking on the pavement with each step I took. It was an unusually quiet evening. I had elephants in my stomach, not butterflies. I began to wonder if my lipstick was too far off from my red shirt. Is that even something he'd notice? What if Ponyboy was correct? Perhaps I wasn't thinking clearly, because the closer I was to Bucks, the more wrong it felt. My intellect yelled at me to turn around as I approached my final street, but that day, my heart ruled my body, and my heart insisted that I keep walking. Dally was waiting against the wall when I arrived. In contrast to his normal black attire, he was dressed in a dark gray cotton t-shirt and a denim blue jacket. Despite the change, he still looked breathtaking.