Stay - Dallas Winston

43

The car ride back, and the next few hours were a blur to me. 

I finally snapped back into reality when it got dark, and everyone was getting ready for the rumble. 

Dallas was no where to be seen, I hadn't seen him since I yelled at him.

Ponyboy was in the bathroom rambling on about shaving. 

Darry was running around trying to find a tight shirt that showed off his muscles. 

Soda and Steve were throwing cards at each other at the kitchen table, which then turned into them arm wrestling. 

Twobit was stacking his shoes on my beer cans that I had emptied in the last hour. 

"I'm going, if you like it or not." I told Darry. 

"I don't even know who told you about the rumble. You should be fixing my wall you cracked in the spare bedroom." Darry shook his head. 

"I'm sorry, I'll fix it." I apologized. 

I honestly didn't think we were doing it that hard. 

"Please don't be doing that in my house.  This is twice now." Darry huffed. 

"Ohhhhh it's been way more than twice. Is there a single place in this house where you and Dallas haven't banged?" Soda laughed loudly. 

"Yeah, Darry's bed.  Anywhere else in this house... I would be careful where you sit." I laughed as well. 

Darry didn't think it was as funny as me and Soda thought it was. 

"Let me fight too, Darry." Ponyboy pleaded, quickly changing the conversation back to the rumble.

"I don't know, you two both ain't looking too good." Darry contemplated.  

"I'll grab a hold of a little one." Ponyboy nudged him.

"Alright, Ponyboy." Darry caved in. 

"You promised me last time you would let me fight in this one.  And either way you gotta let me fight, for my sake, and Johnny's. It's skin on skin anyway, I ain't gonna get hurt." I begged. 

I was too drunk and numb to feel anything anyway. 

"Fine, you two need to stay close to me.  If it gets bad I want to be able to pull you two out of there." Darry told us. 

We both nodded in agreement. 

"How come you never bother soda with all these questions?" Ponyboy asked Darry. 

Darry cracked a wide smile, and wrapped his arm around Soda's neck playfully. 

"This kid can use his head for more than just growing hair!" Darry ruffled Soda's hair, before he ran out the front door. 

The rest of us followed, jumping around and hollering, as we grew closer to the park. 

"Ponyboy, Soda," Darry started speaking," if the fuzz show, you two better beat it out if there.  I can get jailed, but they would throw you two in a boys home."

"They won't call the cops in this neighborhood! Cuz they know better!" Steve cackled out. 

God, that bad feeling crawled back into my stomach again. 

As we got to the park, Tim Shepards gang and a few other random greasers were already there.

"Glad to see you're doing better, kid." Tim Shepard patted me on the back. 

"Thank you, Tim.   Thanks for not leaving me there on the street." I smiled. 

"No problem, doll." He smiled back. 

The socs cars circled around the block, as they all parked and walked over. 

As they all approached, Darry stepped forward, and greeted his old friend. 

Paul, I remember seeing him when I was young.  I think Darry used to play football with him.  

"Don't you know a rumble ain't a rumble without me!" A voice yelled out from behind. 

My head snapped back to see Dallas Winston running at full speed from behind us. 

He was wearing one of his older jean jackets. 

Where had he been all day?

And where was his shirt?

When my head was turned back, someone threw a hard right hook right into the side of my face.  

Someone did the same to Ponyboy. 

That started the rumble. 

It was dark outside, so it was hard to see to begin with. 

Then, it started raining. 

Ponyboy and I were getting the shit kicked out of us. 

It was muddy, and I was having a hard time staying up on my feet.  

People were getting thrown everywhere.  

Darry was right. 

I shouldn't be fighting.  

I'm not back to my normal strength to be doing this. 

I just started swinging as hard as I could. 

I finally got the soc off of me. 

I laid there in the mud, all bloody and bruised. 

I could see Ponyboy out of the corner of my eye getting kicked over, and over again.  

"Darry! Darry! Darry!" I yelled out.  

Darry ran over, and pushed away the guy that was knocking Ponyboy around. 

The socs started to retreat, running away back to their cars. 

I was being lifted off the ground, and dragged away. 

I was thrown into the front passenger seat of a car. 

A few moments later, Ponyboy was shoved in the same seat with me. 

I looked to the drivers seat of the car, and Dallas Winston hopped in. 

He started the car, and he seemed to floor it in the direction of the hospital.