Stay - Dallas Winston

35

Dallas put my cigarette to his lips. 

He lit a match against his necklace, and lit the cigarette. 

He took a quick drag from it, before handing it back. 

"Thanks." I mumbled, as I put my cigarette to my lips. 

Dallas scratched at his collarbone and neck anxiously. 

"I was asking about you.  All week, man.  None of them would tell me nothing." Dallas spoke slowly, as he leaned his forearms against the railing.  

"Ok." I didn't know what else to say. 

Dallas ran his hand through his dirty hair. 

"Your face is all sunken in, like you haven't eaten in days.... and, you smell like straight liquor." Dallas mumbled out. 

I looked at him, and tightened my jaw. 

"So?" I growled at Dallas, "and you look dirty, like you rolled around in the alley way and wrestled a raccoon."

Dallas dragged his hand across his face, looking down at the ground for a second, before looking back up at me. 

His eyes were filled with tears. 

"I know I fucked up, but God damn it! Let me explain.  Give me another fucking chance. I've been a fucking wreck without you.  Can't you see that?" Dallas cried out

I hated to see him like this.  

I just don't know if I could keep doing this with him. 

"And seeing you kiss someone else, especially Johnny," tears streamed down Dallas face, "broke my fucking heart."

I could feel myself beginning to cry again. 

"I told you," I managed to choke out, "I'm done Dallas, at least for now.  I gave you chance after fucking chance."

I threw the rest of my cigarette off the porch, and walked back into the house. 

...

And just like that, Dallas and I didn't talk for over a month. 

Not a single fucking word.

Two people that knew so much about each other, did so much with each other... we're suddenly acting like strangers. 

We both hated it. 

The way we looked at each other with lost eyes. 

I think the gang knew it, but just didn't want to bring it up. 

They didn't want to add fuel to the fire. 

...

I slipped my shoes on, and walked out the front door. 

I was supposed to be at the Curtis house an hour ago to play cards with Ponyboy, but my father was home. 

Had to wait for him to leave so I could get out safely. 

It was dark out now, and kind of breezy. 

I didn't get far from my house, because a dark colored mustang pulled up in front me. 

Shit.

I didn't have my fucking knife or nothing with me. 

They threw the car in park, and three male socs jumped out. 

"Where you think you're going, grease?" One of them yelled, as they circles around me. 

There wasn't a rock or an old bottle I could pick up either. 

I was fucked.  

"I was heading to your mother's house." I spat out. 

One of them quickly tackled me to the ground, my head smacked against the pavement. 

One punched me in the face, while the other kicked me. 

I swear, I heard a knife flick open. 

Sharp pain shot through the side of my arm. 

I felt my ribs crack with every blow they did to my body. 

Blood flooded all over my face, and dripped all over my clothes. 

But in an instant, it was over.  

They all seemed to jump up and into their car, and drive away.  

"You alright, kid?" Someone said picking me up from the concrete. 

I couldn't stand, I fell right back down. 

"Do I look ok?" I moaned out, blood sprayed from my lips with every word. 

Everything fucking hurt. 

They picked me up again, and carried me in their arms. 

"Fuck no, you looks terrible.  I'm taking you to the curtis house, now." I could feel their pace quicken, as they walked down the street. 

"Who.... is.... this?....." I could feel my eyes roll back into my head a bit.  

I felt like I was going to black out. 

"Tim." He was running now. 

He seemed frantic. 

I got a glimpse of the porch light over my head, as Tim Shepard ran into the Curtis house and set me on the couch. 

"What happened?!" Darry yelled as everyone ran over to me. 

"I was walking by, socs were jumping her. " Tim sounded scared. 

His hands were covered in blood. 

Was that my blood?

I looked down at myself. 

I was covered head to toe, soaked in blood. 

Where were my shoes?

Did those fuckers take my God damn shoes?!

My vision and hearing were going in and out. 

Everyone was still circled around me.

"I think they stuck her in the arm. Call 911!" I think that was Johnny yelling. 

All of a sudden Dallas was besides me. 

His hand was gripping the side of my face. 

"Stay awake! You gotta stay awake, ok?! The ambulance is coming, man." Dallas’s voice was shaking, so we're his hands. 

I could hear the sirens in the distance. 

Why am I so cold all of a sudden?

"Dallas?" I said. 

"Yes." Dallas answered quickly, as his free hand took one of mine. 

"Don't leave me.... I'm scared." I pushed out. 

It was getting hard to talk. 

It was getting hard to breath. 

It was getting hard to stay awake. 

"I ain't gonna leave you.  I'm staying right with you.  I promise." Dallas told me, as the EMTs rushed into the house.