Stay - Dallas Winston

17

I slept there with Ponyboy that night.  

Though, I didn't get much sleep at all. 

I tossed and turned all night. 

I couldn't stop thinking about Dallas and what he said. 

I don't know why it hurt me so bad. 

I just couldn't shake that hurt feeling from my mind. 

And... Ponyboy was a blanket hog.  

I pulled myself out of bed around 8am. 

The smell of coffee brewing had bribed me to get up, and the fact I needed a cigarette bad.  

"Morning." Darry smiled, as I entered the kitchen. 

"Hey." I greeted, as I poured myself a cup of coffee. 

I dug around the living room for a cigarette, before going out on the porch. 

As I enjoyed my coffee and coffee, Johnny Cade approached the curtis house.  

"Where were you last night?" I asked him. 

"Went home, why?" He asked me. 

"Wanted to talk to you, but that's ok.  I talked with Ponyboy."

Johnny let out a deep, long sigh. 

"What happened?" He asked lighting up a cigarette as well. 

"Nothing." I replied, looking down. 

I was scared I was going to start crying again. 

"Hey, Johnny." Dallas spoke in a long, deep voice. 

Honestly, I didn't even hear or see him walk up.  

I couldn't bring myself to look up at him. 

I felt like I was frozen with fear. 

As I was looking down, I has realized that I was still wearing Dallas’s skull ring. 

I pulled it off, and set it on the railing of the porch, before walking away and down the street. 

I looked back, only for a split second.

Dallas was standing next to Johnny on the porch, looking down at the ring sitting in his hand. 

He stood sort of slumped over, with a defeated look on his face. 

...

I ran all the way home. 

The house was empty, thank God.  

I went and took a shower. 

And what I mean by that, is I sat on the floor in the tub. 

As the hot water poured over me, I cried.  

I just don't understand what I did to make Dallas say that to me. 

I couldn't get that word out of my head.  

It made my heart hurt, and my stomach feel sick.  

"Hey." Johnny said, peaking his head into the bathroom. 

"No one's home." I spoke quickly, as I swallowed my cries.  

"Then who am I talking to?" Johnny chuckled. 

"Yourself."

"It's time to get out of the shower, you've been in there for almost an hour." Johnny groaned.