Dally's Angel

2

"Mmmhmm...it smells so good in here.." Darry stepped in from the kitchen, rubbing his hands together. He had just come home from work. I gave him a quick smile before turning back to the sauce. 

"Is Soda home yet?" I turned off the heat and transferred the pasta onto the plates. 

"Yup, he's taking a shower." He helped me carry the plates to the table and he shouted for Ponyboy to come downstairs. The table was already neatly set. 

"Coming." Pony ran downstairs, and into the kitchen, almost toppling me over. He had a light smug look on his face, and I gave him a warning look to not talk about our conversation earlier. Darry'll have a stroke if he knew. 

"Oii, put some clothes on." I called when Soda emerged from the bathroom with only a towel. He grinned. 

"Alright, alright." he went upstairs to get a change of clothes. When I saw Darry take his first bite of food, I took my chance. It was now or never. 

"Can I go to the party at Buck's tonight?" I asked, and he almost spat everything back out. He spluttered, wiping his mouth with a napkin. 

"Y-you? At a party at Buck's?" He looked hesitant, and I gave him a pleading look. 

"Soda is also going." I begged, and Soda came at the perfect moment. 

"Sure am, I'll look after her." Out of all my brothers, Soda was always there for me when I wanted to do something crazy. He always convinced Darry to let me. 

"You sure? I'll beat you ass if something happens to her." Darry said quite seriously. I giggled. 

"Nothing'll happen to me, Darrel." When he said nothing, I knew that he was going to relent. 

***

At about half past nine, I hopped into Two Bits car with Soda and we headed towards Buck's. Soda was going to drop me off and go pick up Sandy, so I knew that I was on my own for at least a while. 

I had no idea why I was doing this. I tried to convince myself that I was doing this for myself, and not to make Dally jealous, not that he ever will. He picked up lots of girls at parties like this, and got drunk half of the time.

"Call home if anything goes wrong. I'll pick you up at twelve." Soda repeated when I got off the car. I knew he was worried too...because even though he wasn't as strict as Darry, I was still his baby sister. 

"I will, have fun!" They drove off and I knocked at Buck's, and a drunk guy opened the door. I slipped inside, almost rendered deaf with all the music and screaming. People were chugging down booze, and dancing. As usual, my eyes disobeyed my commands and started to scan the crowd for Dally. 

Even the loud metal music could not drown my thoughts about Dally. Nothing ever could, and nothing ever will. I felt out of place at this party. I was alone. 

I got myself some booze and downed it. 

"Dally?" I tugged at the sleeve of his jacket sleepily. It was a summer night before freshman year. We were at a drive in, the cool summer breeze blowing against my hair.

"yes, doll?" his hazel eyes were focused on the big screen, but I knew he was listening. 

"You'll always come back, right, no matter what?" My question came out of almost nowhere. But I wanted reassurance, reassurance that he'd never leave me for long. That he'd always come back to make me smile and to cheer me up. That I'd always know that he was close. He gave me a look that was close to a smile. 

"Of course." Those were the two words that I held onto till now. Because I believed that he'd always come back. That one day, he won't be so cold anymore. Because I knew that he wouldn't break promises. That he never lied to me. 

God, I was so stupid. 

"Hey there, sugar." A man slurred, approaching me. He wasn't too drunk, even though his speech was slightly unclear. He had a pair of deep blue eyes and dark blond hair. He gave me a lazy smile. 

"Hey." I smiled back, pushing Dally to the back of my thoughts. 

"You alone?" he asked. I nodded. He tilted his head to the side. 

"A pretty girl like you shouldn't be alone. Got a boyfriend?" He wasn't rude like some other guys, which I liked. My mind desperately tried to keep me thinking about good things about this stranger, but it wasn't working too while. No matter how hard I tried to keep away, the smile of a certain boy kept on floating back into my mind. 

"Not yet..." A spark of interest passed through his eyes. I knew I was being flirty with the wrong person, but I just wanted to be happy. To feel loved by a boy who was not my brother. To have something that Dallas Winston could never give to me. 

"What's your name?" 

"Angel, how about yours?" 

"Daniel, but people call me Danny." I nodded. I stared at him, trying to examine every hint he had with him. He was wearing a well-ironed shirt and a pair of nice jeans. He didn't have any bruises present. He looked like one of those middle class boys. 

"I know, I don't belong here." He looked amused. 

"I wanted to have a try, you know, all the booze and loud music." he nodded at some dancing peopled. I smiled, I understood him in a foreign and unexpected way. 

"What the fuck, doll, is that you?" a deep voice interrupted my thoughts and i saw Dally walking towards me. His brows were furrowed, and he did not look too happy to see me. 

"Listen here, you little piece of shit, you flirt with her again and I'll have you buried. Understood?" He lunged for Danny's collar, and almost lifted him off his feet. 

"Dallas! Stop it! We were just talking." I cried out, exasperated. He finally let go of Danny, and he ran off without looking back. I sighed. 

"Are you satisfied now?" He looked at me, surprised at my words. I never spoke him with a resentful tone. 

"Don't smart mouth me now, Angel. Tell me, what did that bastard want with you." he grabbed my arm, and pulled me towards him. I couldn't read the expression on his face. His jaw clenched when I said nothing. 

"We were talking, like civil people." I snapped, struggling below his grasp. I glared at him, and he still wouldn't let go. 

"And? Did he want to take you out?" He pressed, and I pulled my arm back. 

"It's none of your business. Dally. Go find Sylvia, Karen, or whatever." I tried to walk away but he caught me again. 

"You ain't going anywhere." he hissed. Maybe it was the effects of alcohol starting to get to me, because I burst into a fit of angry tears. 

"Stop it, Dallas, please....you can't just...just a-abandon me and d-decide t-to make decisions for me when you want to! You're so mean to me.." I half sobbed. I felt his grip soften, and a pair of eyes staring at me. 

"Are you drunk?" he asked quietly. I shook my head. 

"Why do you hate me? You used to be real nice with me..and now you don't even care..." He didn't reply me. So I continued. 

" You've got rid of me...successfully. But you still won't let me talk to other boys. Why can't you leave me in peace now you've got what you wanted." I whispered weakly, and I saw him take a heavy breath. 

"That, doll, was never what I wanted." My tear stained eyes met his. He looked at me just like the way he did all that time ago. 

Goodness, I missed that so, so much.