𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 :: 𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

Twenty-four

DECEMBER 24, 1966

FELICITY WAS FINALLY MOVED TO CRUTCHES THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS, her mother crying after the doctor handed her the two walking sticks. Felicity was going to miss the feeling of being pushed around everywhere she went but it was just her Christmas miracle.

She and Rosemary had the whole day to themselves as her mother took off of work to take Felicity to her check up. Felicity's leg was healing well, they weren't sure if it'd heal back its normal self though. That was Felicity's worst fear— having a leg that's permanently damaged.

Things were changing but it didn't change the silence of Felicity and Dallas who had not talked to each other in so long. It had been nearly two weeks since they last spoke, it hurt Felicity a lot since she didn't know where they were anymore. Dallas had also gone missing when he had really been rotting in his room, not going to the bar or the Curtis'.

They were both hurting.

Felicity thought about it long and hard until she had to let it go by going back to the way she was— emotionless. All of her words that she and Rosemary exchanged had no meaning behind it, they were to fill the silence her mother did not want.

From the couch, she could see Rosemary getting ready to leave the house.

"Where are you going?" Felicity asks plainly, eyes still on the television.

"It's Christmas tomorrow, thought I'd stop by the mall to get some gifts." Rosemary explained. "Want anything?"

"A new leg."

"Food okay?"

Felicity hummed a 'yes' to her mother. Rosemary leans over to kiss her daughter's forehead but that kiss was dodged by Felicity.

The house became empty with only Felicity in it, who got bored quickly. It was nothing new to her except for the location she chose to rot in. It was hard for her to stay comfortable on the couch and do nothing, she was dragging herself and her leg onto her other side every few minutes.

Meanwhile, Dallas roamed the streets of Tulsa when no one came out during the end of sunset. He may have gotten a little drunk to reward himself for leaving his bedroom but it was just to fill the void that missed Felicity. Dallas stumbled onto the edges of the sidewalk, nearly falling onto the grass, and was flipping off the cars that drove past him.

He was so out of it that he had walked to Felicity's street, ending up at her house. His vision only caught the white light in her living room, the only source of light in the dark room.

Felicity heard the steps of the porch creak and got startled, holding her blanket against her chest in fear. She held her hand against her mouth to stop herself from screaming when loud banging on her door abruptly started.

She gathered her crutches to head to the door, cautiously looking into the peephole.

Dallas.

When the doorknob twists the rectangular piece of wood open, she could see him leaned against the frame.

"Doll." He smiled.

"You're drunk." Felicity stated, acknowledging the stench he let out.

"A few drinks maybe." He inquired. "Hey, you got crutches!"

"Tell me what you want and then leave because I have nothing to say to you." Felicity demanded.

"You baby, I want you." Dallas slurred.

Felicity struggles to catch him when noticing him falling into her house.

"I told you before that I hate it when you're drunk, why are you always doing this?!" She began to cry.

Dallas' eyes soften when he watches the tears of her fall, sobering up to her words.

"You almost got us killed because I wanted to make sure you were home safe, and now you become the same person that I wanted gone the night we crashed." Felicity broke. "Why can't you just do the one thing I ask you to do and be sober?"

"I'm sorry." He huffed.

"Are you sorry enough to change?" Felicity questions while falling into his hug.

"I'll change, I'll change just for you." Dallas promised at last.

She was too weak to argue, taking in his devotion as a way of backing down.

"I hate how I can't stop loving you, even after you hurt me." She spoke, her voice muffled.

Dallas' fingers brushed through her hair, "I know."

"I love you, I love you too much."

When the silence had taken over, all Felicity wanted to do was lay down and close her eyes. Dallas carries her to her room where she finally finds her peace on the mattress.

He lays down next to her with her head on his chest. Each minute was the alcohol wearing off on Dallas, he didn't feel as drunk as he did when he had arrived but it was being with Felicity that had sobered him up.

If she had asked him to change before then he would've. Dallas doesn't do what is asked or told unless they happened to be a 17 year old girl who he loved more than anything.

He loved her more than anything.

𝐀𝐍𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆