Escape

Chapter five

Now if you think I was going to waste my peaceful weekend away by moping around, you're wrong.

I dragged myself out of the house as soon as I collected myself and went to the Curtis place to see my brother.

It had been a while since we saw each other and although brothers can be annoying, they still are your brother in the end.

When I stepped through the door, Johnny immediately got off of the couch and hugged me tightly.

"Dal called, he told me about Dean." He told me and I squeezed him tighter while the realization hit me.

The entire world hated me as it seemed, but I had the one thing that protected me the most, the  one thing that took beating after beating just as I did except sometimes in my place, my brother and bestest friend, Johnny.

"Now don't you go on crying like that, I know how tough you are and Lord knows you're probably tougher than me. If that Dean guy decides to mess around with you anymore just tell me and the boys'll help you out." He assured me as the feeling of safety and stability, or rather the closest thing to it returned.

All I could do was listen to him speak before we both decided to eat something so we would have enough energy for the day.

Later on in the evening when I stepped out of the room full of greasers, all but Dally, everyone began acting differently.

"Hey kiddo, there's a drag race me and a few of the guys are going to later. You wanna come with?"  Two-Bit spoke in a soft voice, the type you'd use while talking to a young child.

My expression was quizzical, obviously since Soda pitched in.

"We can get food afterwards, our treat. Anywhere you wanna go?" He took charge over the conversation on Two-Bit's end.

I turned to Johnny who avoided eye contact with me.

To prove my suspicion my fantastic mind conjured up a question that would make me aware of what exactly they knew.

"Are there going to be any Socs?" I shifted my eyes into a sunken yet fearful droop and tuned my voice into a meek shell of my usual tone.

The room became frantic with assurance that I would be safe, saying it would be a no South side boys type of event.

Not kids, not teenagers, boys.

"Johnny, did you really have to?" I groaned as I plopped down onto the sofa while holding my head in my hands.

Johnny was a very quiet yet tough person, but he still had his meek moments.

"Look on the bright side, Y/n. We can all look out for you better now." Darry put a hand on my shoulder while I pouted.

The front door suddenly swung open and in walked the hoodlum of the neighbourhood, Dallas Winston.

He had obviously been in a fight, his eyes cold and alert, his face scathed but his opponent was most likely far worse, but his body seemed fine and remained strong.

"What happened to you?" Steve wondered aloud.

Dally shot his eyes at everyone in the room and huskily responded with "Fight."

His left cheekbone was bruised in almost a black eye kind of way was dripping blood while his bottom lip was slightly swollen with gore lightly dribbling down his chin.

He was panting ever so slightly and his hair was tousled and a mild sheen of sweat engulfed his body.

I had some medical training from treating myself and Johnny so naturally I just had to do something.

"Dally, come on. I'll patch you up." I stood up and led him into the bathroom and sat him onto the ledge of the bathtub.

Next I ran a clean cloth I found laying around under some water and began dabbing at Dally's cheek first.

"Who did you fight with?" I whispered gently.

His gaze softened and he shot me a half smile.

"No one you need to worry about." He rested his hand on my cheek.

I took note of his bloodied knuckles and slowly took his hand in mine and began cleaning the blood off.

"Dal, I'm serious. Who was it, Tim again?" I stared into his eyes, to pooling eyes of brown, so deep and so tough, yet so hurt.

He swallowed and turned away for a second, "I was walking around town and saw the guy you were talking about when I was hanging with some guy from Brumly. I went to give him a piece of my mind and he threw a punch and..."

"Oh Dallas, you shouldn't have." I bit my lip sheepishly.

He shook his head lightheartedly and sighed, "Oh boy, you really are one of the sweetest kids anyone has ever known, God I hope you keep that way. Don't get all rough, okay?"

I was taken aback by his statement but vowed to follow his directions and continued to tend to his wounds.

Afterwards he even said thank you, very subtly of course but still a thank you.

During dinner we sat beside each other and kept on raving in what seemed like a never ending conversation.

"Are you two okay?" Ponyboy asked me later that night.

My eyes looked up from my book and back at him sitting on the sofa.

It was just us home, everyone was hanging out, even Johnny had places to go, a little date actually.

"Me and who?" I put the book down after putting a makeshift bookmark on my page.

"Dally, that's who. You guys are like glue, the only reason why he's gone is because Two-Bit coaxed him into coming with him on a beer run." He twiddled his fingers aimlessly.

I shrugged and got up to grab some water, "Dally and I are fine. He's just...Looking out for me I guess."

It was true all in itself that he was looking after me but I wanted more.

When I was patching him up our faces were so close I had hoped he would kiss me as rampantly as he did to other girls.

Oh what I would do to be his girl.

My mind buzzed a few times, trying to decipher his secret code if there was any, pleading to all forces of the world and any God there may be that he would like me.

Then the negative thought that maybe he just did all he had done since I was Johnny's little sister.

But what if, what if he liked me?

"And so we have returned with beer from the conquest of liquor." Two-Bit announced in a mock British accent.

"Huzzah!" Ponyboy sassily said as he waved his hands.

Dally came through the front door and immediately sat beside me.

"Kid, never be in the same car as Two-Bit when he's driving. The guy drives like a maniac." He put his hand on my thigh and looked me dead in the eyes.

Oh my god oh my god stay calm stay calm.

"Coming from you? Wow." My voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Dally sneered, "what's that supposed to mean?"

Shit, shit, shit, say something!

"Awww I'm sorry I hurt your feelings I didn't mean it." I cooed while wrapping my arms around his neck.

Dally smiled and suddenly I realized what I was doing.

"Mmm I'll forgive you just this once if..."

He trailed off before pecking my nose and sprinting out of the room.

"You all saw nothing!" He called before making his grand exit and winking at me while I was flushed nearly scarlet red.

WHAT. THE. HELL.