Fold (Dallypop)

(Finale) Chapter Twenty-Three: Wish

(Dally's POV)

I woke up with a pounding headache, regret lingering from the night before. The room spun a bit as I stumbled to the living room, wondering if my brain would ever forgive me for the heavy drinking.

As I entered, I squinted against the sudden brightness, only to find the gang staring back at me with grins that seemed too wide for the morning. Confusion went across my face, I wondered what the heck was going on.

"Happy birthday, Dallas!" Soda shouted, clapping me on the back, almost making my head split in two.

I blinked, surprised. I thought they'd all forget, or maybe just not care. But there they were, a makeshift party in my honor. Ponyboy handed me a cup of coffee, a small grin on his face. "Figured you could use this."

I took a sip, the bitterness fighting with the lingering taste of last night's whiskey. Trying to shake off the hangover, I forced a smirk, "Thanks, kid."

The room buzzed with chatter, and Two-Bit pulled out a wrapped gift. "Open it, buddy!" he insisted.

As I tore into the wrapping, I couldn't help but smile a bit. Inside was a leather jacket, just like the one I'd been eyeing for weeks. They remembered.

Ponyboy grinned, "Thought you could use an upgrade."

The party continued, laughter and friendly banter filling the air. I tried my best to enjoy the moment, pushing aside the throbbing in my head.

"Hey Dallas, remember that time you got so wasted you tried to arm wrestle a mailbox?" Two-Bit chuckled, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

I rubbed my temples, "Yeah, yeah. Let's not relive my greatest hits."

Steve, leaning against the wall, tossed me a can of soda. "Need something to wash down the regret, buddy?"

I cracked a half-smile, popping the can open, "Regret's my middle name."

Ponyboy, sitting on the couch, looked up from a book, "At least you're alive to regret it."

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, taking a swig. "So, how'd you all remember my birthday anyway?"

Darry, standing by the makeshift cake, shrugged, "We might bicker, but we ain't forgettin' family, Dallas."

Two-Bit added, "Besides, Ponyboy's been planning this for weeks. Kid's like a birthday ninja."

Ponyboy went red from embarrassment, "Just wanted to do something nice, man."

The gang raised their cups, toasting, "To Dallas Winston, the one and only."

I raised an eyebrow, "You all sound like a bunch of saps."

Soda grinned, "Yeah, well, even tough guys deserve a birthday bash."

Two-Bit raised his cup again, "Here's to Dallas Winston, the toughest SOB with a soft spot for birthdays!"

Everyone cheered, and I couldn't help but chuckle. "Alright, alright. Thanks, guys."

Soda slapped me on the back again, "Don't act like you're not loving every minute of it, Dallas!"

I couldn't deny it. Despite the pounding in my head, the warmth of friendship filled the room. Darry clapped a hand on my shoulder, "You deserve it, man. We might give you a hard time, but we're still family."

Ponyboy chimed in, "And family doesn't let birthdays go unnoticed."

We spent the day hanging out, playing cards, and sharing stories. Even Steve managed to crack a joke that got a rare laugh out of me. As the day wore on, the hangover started to fade, replaced by a genuine appreciation for the gang.

Late in the evening, Darry brought out a cake with a single candle flickering on top. "Make a wish, Dallas!"

I closed my eyes, taking a moment to think. For the first time in a while, I found myself hoping for something more than the usual chaos that surrounded us.

Blowing out the candle, I looked at the gang. "Thanks, guys. It means more than you know."

Two-Bit smirked, "Don't get all sentimental on us now, Dally. We just wanted an excuse to party!"

Laughter erupted again, and as I glanced around at the faces of my makeshift family, I couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging. Maybe birthdays weren't so bad after all.

***

Soda and I found a quiet corner, away from the laughter and chatter. I scratched the back of my head, nervous as hell. "Hey, Soda, can we talk for a minute?"

He nodded, looking curious. "Sure, Dallas. What's on your mind?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Look, I... I wanted to say something. It's been on my mind for a while."

Soda raised an eyebrow, waiting for me to spill it out. I hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, "I love you, man."

His eyes widened, surprise and a hint of disbelief on his face. I felt a mix of fear and relief. For once, I wasn't hiding behind a tough exterior.

Soda took a moment, processing my words. A slow grin spread across his face, "Well, damn, Dallas. Took you long enough to say it."

I chuckled, the weight lifted off my chest. "Yeah, well, better late than never, right?"

He rested his hand on my shoulder, "You're a big softie, Winston. About time you showed it."

We rejoined the party, the revelation hanging in the air. But you know what? It didn't matter. I had the gang, I had Soda, and for the first time in a while, I felt like maybe, just maybe, I was on the right track.