The Unfortunate Love

Chapter 5: The Tension

I throw open the door to the Curtis's house. "I'm home!" I exclaim but nobody greets me. The house is eerily silent. Huh, I wonder where everyone else is at. I scour the house for a record player or something. The silence is killin' me. The search for a damn record player comes up empty handed. Damn, I was hopin' Darry had something music wise. I decide to turn the tv on for some background noise. I looked around the house, good god it's in disarray. In a house full of boys they sure do need a woman's touch. I decide to make myself useful and start to clean up.

After what felt like hours of cleaning, I finally got the house somewhat organized. Looks a bit better than it did before! My stomach growls at me, I'm in need of some food. I rummage through the cabinets but there's not a single morsel of food. Well looks like I'm gonna need to go do some shoppin'! I hear the door fly open and slam shut. Scares me half to damn death. Darry isn't supposed to be home for another couple hours. Who the hell could be here? I poke my head out from the kitchen and see Dally standing there. Great, just my luck.

"If you're lookin' for the rest of the gang, I ain't too sure where they are!" I call out to him. I could've swore I saw him jump at the sound of my voice. He shoots me a cold glare. He makes his way towards the kitchen shoving past me. Damn has this man ever heard of an 'excuse me'? He throws open the cabinets searching for food. I shake my head and chuckle. He turns over his shoulder to look at me.

"The hell you lookin' all smug for?" He snaps.

I'm taken aback by his abrupt rudeness. I frown. "I was just about to tell you we ain't got shit here to eat. So if you want something, good luck."

He blatantly ignores what I said to him and continues to be on the search for food. I wonder what the hell his damn deal is. Is it something I said at the drive in? Hell, who knows with him honestly. Pony did say that Dally is a moody bastard and not to take it personally but it's hard not to. I lean against the kitchen counters watching him intently. He catches me staring at him and gives me an annoyed look.

"Can I help you? You're starin'." He asks bluntly. I quickly avert my gaze. I see him straighten up from the corner of my eye. He makes his way over to me leaning against the kitchen table. We're standing inches apart. He's staring daggers in my cheek as I continue to avoid eye contact. The room is filled with a heavy and tense awkward silence. I clear my throat to break the silence, his eyes roaming all over my face and body.

"What's your problem with me?" I ask boldly. If I'm gonna be livin' here, it's better to go ahead and get this conflict outta the way before it bubbles over. I finally manage to look Dally in the eyes. I search his face for any expression at all, but his face is blank and unreadable. He composes himself before plastering a grin all across his lips.

"Ah you just actin' like a broad is all."

I stare blankly at him. His words finally hit me. So that's how he feels, okay, two can play at that game. I cock an eyebrow and cross my arms. "You serious?"

Dally nods with that same shit eatin' grin. "Serious as I can get, doll."

I scoff. "You're an asshole. I dunno what the hell I did-" Dally cuts me off by holding up a hand to silence me.

"You just waltzed in here expectin' me to be friends with you. I ain't one to be all buddy buddy. Especially with a broad like you." He spits out. His words are like daggers laced with venom.

"A broad like me?" I chuckle, that's rich comin' from him. "Last I checked, you were the one flirtin' and actin' all buddy buddy with me."

Dally's grin falters for a second, he knows I have a point but that damned grin returns once more. "Doll, I flirt with everyone. Don't take it so personally."

I roll my eyes. I refuse to respond to him at this point. I push myself off of the kitchen counter I was once leaned upon and head towards the living room. Dally follows me like a lost puppy.

"Why are you followin' me?" I snap.

Dally holds his hands up in mock defense. "Woah there, doll. No need to get all defensive."

I huff and sit on the couch, refusing to look at him. He sits in Darry's recliner across from me, putting his elbows on his knees, looking at me intently.

"For your goddamned information, I came here because I had to." I utter.

Dally scoffs and rolls his eyes leaning back in the recliner. "Not my fault your mommy didn't want you 'round."

I stare at him, anger courses through my veins, I feel as if I could punch him right now. "The hell you just say?" I ask him through clenched teeth.

Dally chuckles sarcastically. "You heard me."

I rise from the couch and march right up to him. I'm towering over him putting my finger in his face. "You don't know my momma or my story and you sure as hell don't know me. Keep your damn mouth shut."

I walk towards the front door and open it, slamming it with a force so mighty I'm almost certain I broke it. I decide to head to the grocery store to clear my head of the tension between Dally and I.

-

As I head towards the grocery store, I'm seething. If I was a cartoon character I'd have steam comin' out of the top of my head. Who does he think he is talkin' to me like that. My cousins were right, he is an asshole, not someone I wanna be associated with. I can feel myself getting closer and closer to the towns grocery. I see some fancy lookin' people on the way there, or as the gang calls em, Socs. I put my hands into my pockets and keep my head low. It's clear I'm stickin' out like a sore thumb because they're all lookin' at me like I'm a piece of meat. It sends a shiver down my spine. I hear heavy footsteps approaching me, my heart sinks into my chest. I'm prayin' to whatever holy God there is to not let me get jumped.

"Told ya this was Soc territory, doll." A low, husky voice whispers in my ear.