The Unfortunate Love

Chapter 4: Not What I Expected

Darry does a double-take, not believing his eyes. "Tatum?!"

"In the flesh."

He brings me in for a hug.  A tight one. I pat him on the back. It's good to see all of my cousins in the same room. I mean, hell, after nine years of not seeing each other it almost feels bittersweet.

"Man it is so good seein' you! Look at you, you're all grown up!" He marvels at me. "How old are you now, kid?!"

"I just turned seventeen." I smile.

"Wow, seventeen. Last I saw you you were a tiny lil thing!" Darry laughs. "Are ya likin' it here so far? How's the gang treatin' you?" 

Before I could even respond I get interrupted by someone loudly clearing their throat. "Yeah, uh, hate to break up the family reunion but, uh, who the hell is this?" A man says from the shadows. 

I peer over Darry's shoulder to see what I think is the infamous Dallas Winston. I make my way over to him. I give him a once over, his hair isn't greased like the other guys in the gang. His brown eyes have no life to them. He's got his leather jacket slung over his shoulder like he's ready to throw down at any given minute. 

"I can only assume you're the Dallas Winston everybody's been talkin' about?" I ask.

He smirks, cocking his eyebrow. "Yeah?" He steps closer towards me. "Did I live up to your expectations, doll?"

Is he flirting with me right now? I ask myself. "I-uh." 

" What is it? Cat got your tongue?" He eyes me up and down, just how TwoBit did, but a little more sensually. He was undressing me with his eyes. 

"Dallas, that's enough. She just got here." Pony says sticking up for me.

He huffs, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'm goin' out for a smoke. Anyone wanna join?" Dally asks. Nobody says a word, all in shock from the interaction. "Fine, suit yourselves."

The door slams shut. I can't believe Dallas Winston was flirting with me. From what Soda told me in the car, he's a player, a man-whore, I should keep my distance. But something about that mysterious man makes me want to know more about him. He seems so captivating, but dangerous. I break my thoughts, the gang is expecting me to say something.

"Pony, you didn't have to do that!" I playfully smack his arm. 

"It was weird seeing Dally flirting with my cousin, so yes I did." 

I shrug. "But doesn't he flirt with everyone? What's the harm in us flirting." I nudge his side. 

"That's gross." He pretends to gag.

Darry chimes in. "And Tatum, you don't want to get caught up in that kind of mess Dally usually gets himself into. You're a good kid." 

"Yeah right, the day I fall in love is the day Hell freezes over!" I exclaim.

-

I got invited to the drive in with Pony and Johnny. Pony gave up his room for me to stay in since 'ladies need privacy'. I pull out some jeans almost the same as Pony's, these will have to do. I slide into my jeans with ease, putting on a black t-shirt, and my beat up Converse. I make my way downstairs to see Johnny and Pony waiting for me. 

"Hiya Tatum! You ready to go?" Johnny asks.

I nod. "Sure am!" 

Darry stops me before we could leave. "Now where do you think you're going without a jacket, missy?" 

"I don't have one, it was always warm in Texas around this time." I shrug. 

"Here, you can borrow one of mine!" Pony rummages through the hall closet. He tosses me a beat up jean jacket that looks two sizes too small for him. "You can keep it, it's way too small for me."