Fold (Dallypop)

Chapter Seven: Angry Too

(Dally's POV)

I crashed into Buck Merril's place and slammed the door shut behind me. I stomped up the stairs, kicking all the drunks that were asleep on the floor. Buck wouldn't throw me out again (I'd like to see that old man fucking try).

I didn't give a shit what Two-bit had to say to me. This was his damn fault anyway, none of this would have happened if he wasn't a dumbass.

What in the hell was he thinking!? Bringing the stupid money collectors to the house. Was he insane? Someone could've gotten hurt. Soda could've gotten hurt. I hurt him...

I sighed and kicked the wall with the side of my shoe, causing a hole to form. Damnit, man.

Speak of the devil...

Two-Bit stumbled into the room, nursing a beer bottle, and gave me a crooked grin.

"Why're you here?" I said blankly, my hand gripping the corner of the wall tightly.

"I followed ya."

"Why?"

He shrugged. He shrugged. Sometimes he was annoying as hell.*

"Hey, Dallas, easy on the wall. We don't want Buck to get all worked up again," he laughed with that stupid grin.

I shot him a glare that could kill, "This ain't about Buck, you idiot. It's about you pulling that stunt today. You almost got us all caught!"

Two-Bit chuckled, "Relax, Dally. We didn't have to pay the cash, did we? And besides, you're always up for a good rumble."

I clenched my fists, trying to control the anger boiling inside me. "It ain't just about the rumble, Two-Bit. It's about Soda. You put him in danger, and I won't stand for that."

I hadn't realized what I said until Two-bit gave me this odd look. A weird look, maybe even a surprised one.

Two-Bit raised an eyebrow, a teasing smirk on his face. "You sound like you care more about Soda than the rest of us. Got a soft spot for the Curtis charm, Dallas?"

I shot him a menacing look, "Shut your mouth, Two-Bit. It ain't like that."

But deep down, I couldn't deny the truth. Soda had a way of getting under my skin, making my heart race in a way I couldn't quite comprehend. I turned away, my jaw clenching as I tried to hide the conflicting emotions.

Two-Bit, ever the provocateur, continued, "I saw the way you looked at him when we were scramblin' out of there. Like he's the only thing that matters."

I glared at him, "Keep your damn mouth shut, Two-Bit. It's none of your business."

But as I stormed out of the room, leaving Two-Bit's laughter behind, I couldn't shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, my tough exterior was cracking, revealing a secret I never thought I'd have.

***

The night air outside Buck's place was biting as I paced back and forth, wrestling with my own thoughts. I couldn't shake the image of Soda caught in the middle of the chaos,

I hurt him.

I hurt him.

I hurt him.

and it gnawed at me like a persistent ache. Two-Bit's words echoed in my mind, his teasing tone a constant reminder of the truth I was trying to bury.

I lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply as if the smoke could somehow clear the confusion in my head. I couldn't believe I was letting myself feel this way. Dallas Winston, the tough and unbreakable, caught up in some messed-up infatuation. The stars overhead seemed to mock me, their distant glow a reminder of the vastness of my own stupidity.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice Soda outside until he spoke, his voice breaking through the haze of my mind. "Dally, you okay?"

"Wha- you're here too!?" I asked a lot more loudly than I should've. If my face wasn't already red with rage it was red now, but with embarrassment.

Can you imagine, me, embarrassed!?

"You alright, Dal?" Soda repeated with a small smile.

I glanced at him, his concern cutting through the fog of my thoughts. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some air."

He joined me, leaning against the wall, still wearing my jacket. He looked cute, "You sure about that, Dally? You seemed pretty worked up back there."

I took a drag of my cigarette, avoiding his gaze. "It's nothing, Soda. Just pissed off about Two-Bit's stunt."

He studied me for a moment, as if trying to decipher the layers beneath my tough exterior. "You know, you don't always have to be the lone wolf, Dallas. We're a team, and we look out for each other."

I scoffed, masking the vulnerability creeping in, "Team or not, Two-Bit needs to learn when to shut his damn mouth."

Soda's expression softened, and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "You're not just mad at Two-Bit, are you?"

I tensed under his touch, the warmth of his hand seeping through the layers I'd carefully constructed. "Don't read too much into it, Curtis. Just hate seeing unnecessary trouble."

He sighed, a small smile playing on his lips. "Ya right, Mr. Rumble Man," he laughed, with that cute little smile on his face, "you're not fooling anyone, Dally. There's more to this than you're letting on."

I stubbed out the cigarette, meeting his gaze for a brief moment before turning away. "Let it go, Soda. It's nothing you need to worry about."

But as I walked back into the darkened house, the weight of my guilt settled in, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this mess was far from over.