˙˚∘⊹🦋⊹∘˚˙ Butterfly in the Moonlight

- CHAPTER 3 -

Rylee had gotten home, her bag laid askew on the island of her kitchen. Laying her head down on her bag, rubbing her hand through her hair.

She had work in about two hours, it was three in the afternoon now. It was still down pouring rain; she listened to the thunder boom across the dark sky. Rylee rubbed her face, flinching at the sound of thunder.

Rylee finally got up from leaning against the counter. She had two hours to just relax, or do some work. She decided on the latter option. Rylee pulled out her homework, and study guide; then sat down onto the couch, turning on the TV to some Godzilla movie that was on and she watched as she studied. Mainly focusing on the movie though.
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She had thirty minutes to get to work. Rylee had lost herself into the Godzilla movie, even though she has watched it a million times at least. She rushed as she started to fix her button up and her black pants, Rylee just put on converse with them instead of her usual black dress shoes.

Rylee quickly fixed up her hair, adding the black headband to her head and rushing down the stairs of her house. Her feet pounding against every step she took.

Grabbing an umbrella from the coat rack and her own jacket, then heading out the door into the freezing rain. She typically would drive..but since her parents weren't home, and she couldn't "borrow" their car, she had to walk. Which she hated. A lot.
———
Rylee rushed into the restaurant. She shook out her jacket outside, and shook her hair out with the few raindrops that laid in it. Rylee huffed out loud with a annoyed sigh, then went inside. She hung the umbrella and the jacket onto the rack.

As soon as Rylee walked in, she accidentally ran into a person in front of her. Her eyes squeeze shut before she moved by with a quick apology. She stopped in her tracks once she recognized the voice.

"Heyyyyy Ringer!" Dallas, Dallas Winston said as he gently nudged Ponyboy out of the way. She froze in her tracks as she turned, giving a nervous laugh and wave.

"Hi..hi Dallas." She waved with a nervous laugh. Dallas pulled her into a hug, which caused her to give a tiny squeak in response to the tight and unexpected hug. "I didn't expect you here." Rylee flinched when Dallas clapped a hand against her back.

"Called the gang and I had planned to come here for dinner." Dallas explained with his same confident smile. Rylee was going to faint. She did not want Ponyboy here, especially seeing her after Bob just had to torment her more.

Ponyboy faces her after talking with the lady who worked in the front. "Rylee!" He seemed so happy to see her, she laughed nervously and waved towards him too. "I didn't know you worked here." Ponyboy pointed out as he watched the lady lead Dallas and the others to a seat.

"Oh..yeah!-" Rylee laughed it off. "Yeah, I do. Surprise..?" She tried to joke, she wasn't used to seeing people she knew besides Two-Bit and Dallas here, and talking with her? That's a rare sight.

"Well, I have to get going!- maybe you'll waiter our table." Ponyboy joked with her before heading off to join the rest of the boys.

Rylee took a deep breath and let it out. She hated her anxiety so very much.

Rylee spun around the restaurant, since it was a Friday evening it was busy, but not overly busy like other times. She had to server and waiter Ponyboy and his gangs table, but she had a great (not really) way of hiding her anxiety.

After, she managed to just get herself a drink and sit up at the bar part of her section. Her legs bounced up and down on the bar stool. She sipped her strawberry milkshake as she listened to the jams coming from the record player.

Later on, Dallas stayed behind to talk with Rylee. He sat up at the bar on her break as well, joining her in conversation.

"I heard you and Pony chat a lot during class." Dallas starts off with a teasing grin. Rylee scoffed.

"Why does everyone think I like him? I don't like no one!" She explained with a sour look. "I don't like him. At all. I don't like any boys. At all." Rylee explained as she rolled her eyes.

"I'm just pickin' on ya Ringer. No need to take it to heart." Dallas lightly punched her in the shoulder. Rylee stared down at her shoulder than back at him with a blank stare. "I hope that didn't bruise ya."

"I've handled worse." Rylee ended that sentence with a long sip of her milkshake.

Dallas went silent for a few. He remembered some moments where she would end up on his doorstep with a busted lip and almost sobbing her eyes out. Dallas grimaced at the memory.

"Has anything, you know.." He started off. "Happened?"

"Mm.." Rylee hummed out. "No." Rylee lied as she avoided his gaze. His eyes burned into her soul, and she felt a surge of anxiety course through her body.

"You're lying. Jesus, what have I said about lying to me Rylee?" Dallas exclaimed as he sipped on the water, his arm loose on the back of the seat. "What happened with the bastard this time?"

Rylee thought to herself. "Just some minor stuff. Nothin like before." She still had some scars from some moments between her and Bob. "Just vocal, I guess."

"Ah." Dallas replied with a angry sip of his water. "If you want.." He was about to offer before Rylee punched him hard in the shoulder. "Ow! What the fuck?"

"I'm not taking that stupid offer Dallas!- I've told you so many times about that offer." Rylee hissed under her breath. "I ain't taking that offer."

Dallas stared at her before returning his gaze to his drink. "Still a good way to ask. You never know..however, another question for ya."

"What is it, Dallas?" Rylee replied with a somewhat irritated tone. Not at him exactly, just he kept bringing up that offer.

"Woah, chill there Ringer. It's just, well, you seem awfully lonely." That got him a very pissed off glare. "What? I'm not wrong. And I was saying why don't you come hang with me and the gang tomorrow, at Darry's place."

Rylee thought about it. Thought to herself as she finished the milkshake. She got off the stool and went behind the bar to start to clean it. "...Fine." Rylee said with a hesitant tone. "Fine. I'll come hang with you and the rest."

Dallas gave her a hopeful smile. "It's not a bad start, you know, to getting back with some friends." Dallas mentioned as he flashed her a toothy grin.

Rylee sighed and gave him a nervous smile. "We'll see if they like me."