𝑫𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒊𝒏'//𝑫𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒂𝒔 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏×𝑶𝑪

💥|FOUR|💥

MY SHIFT AT the diner went by slowly. There weren't many people, which was surprising because Betty's Diner was known as the best. It definitely lived up to its expectations too.

"You sure you don't need a ride home?" Beatrice Lambery, my work friend, hell who am I kidding my only friend, questions. She was a Soc, but unlike most of them, she was a kind one, which you didn't find that often. She has blonde hair that falls in lush curls near her shoulders, with a pair of the brightest blue eyes. She had a small, petite build with an angelic face and voice to match. She was an "outcast" from the Socs simply because she hung out with me in school. Though it never seemed to bother her.

"Yeah, it's not that far and I've got my blade," I assure her as I wipe down the last table. I watch her shoulders tense and her lips thin at the mention of a pocket knife. Growing up, she was severely sheltered so the thought of a sharp blade tucked into my pocket probably wasn't a good thing in her eyes.

"Okay, well just be careful, please." She responds. I grin, bumping my hip with hers playfully.

"I'm always careful," I tell her, she snorts.

"Sure you are." She smiles, her pearly white teeth visible. We make our way out of the diner and Beatrice locks the door behind us, pulling it twice to make sure it is locked well.

"See you tomorrow, Angie." She says pulling me into a hug. Her blonde hair tickles my nose as I rest my head on her shoulder, patting her back.

"See ya, Bea," I respond as we pull away. She gives me a small grin, waving before turning on her heel to get to her car.

I turned the other way, stuffing my cold hands under my arms, I regretted not wearing a jacket. "Angela!"

My brows twist in confusion and I stop in my tracks looking around for the person who whispered my name. "Angela, over here." My eyes snap to an alley that I was near. I squint my eyes and see a familiar lean build.

Todd Moore takes a few steps into the dim light of the street lamp, his black eyes fixated on me. My body tenses and my face falls neutral of all expression. "What do you want?" I question, boredom clear in my tone.

"You haven't answered my calls." He states, his jaw clenched as he eyes me, sizing me up.

"So?" I drawl, already done with this conversation.

"Listen. It sucks with what happened and all but that doesn't mean we can't—" I cut him off, no longer cold but hot and angry.

"What exactly happened? Are you talking about my parents dying or you jumping my brother and I?" I question, a dangerous warning beneath my questioning tone.

Todd swallows before he sneers "Oh for Christ's sake Angela you can't seriously blame me for what happened to your parents, a-and I had to jump you! I promise we weren't gonna actually gonna hurt the boy." He rushes out, calming down halfway through his last sentence, his face softening again.

"I don't blame you for my parents. No, that was my fault, but I was out there because of you. And you didn't have to jump my brother and me, you could've walked away but no you helped!" I snarl, stomping towards him until I was in his face. I wasn't short, but even then he still had to look down at my 5,7 figure.

"Yeah? And what would have the other thought? You know I can't risk them knowing." Todd retaliated, he tried to stay calm, but I could see the anger creeping on his face.

"Knowing what? That you like fucking a greasy broad?" I hiss repeating the insult from his friend earlier that day.

"Keep your voice down, Angela!" Todd whisper-yells, glancing around before pulling me into the alley he was in a few minutes ago. "You know I don't think of you like that." He says his voice gentle. His eyes soften and he places his hands on either side of my face, my heart flutters against my will, and for just a second we're 15 again. Sneaking around, giggling, with secret dates and secret kisses. God I missed when things were simple. But we aren't 15 and things have changed. My parents are dead and it was because of me.

I put my hands over his and watch through the dim light as his eyes flicker down to my lips. "Todd..." I whisper shaking my head.

"Don't speak." He whispers back, he slowly tilts my head up and gently presses his soft lips to mine. I let him kiss me, but I didn't kiss back, because I felt nothing. Not hatred or resentment like I had these past few months, but not giddy or relieved like I had before my parents' car crash.

Todd pulls away when he realizes that I wasn't kissing back "There's another man, isn't there." Todd says, more stating than asking, he sounded disappointed and hurt.

"No, there isn't." I deny, and I was telling the truth, I hadn't touched another man since I broke it off with Todd 8 months ago. But for some reason, Dallas Winston pops into my mind as I speak and I feel guilty, like I was lying but I wasn't. There was nothing between Dallas and me except one-sided flirting from him.

God, I need to get laid.

"So then why don't you kiss me back?" Todd questions, searching my eyes for answers.

I gently push him away "I can't do this right now. Just stop. Stop calling. Stop waiting outside the diner for me. Stop trying to get in contact with me." I say sternly.

Todd stumbles back as if I'd struck him, his face was bland, then anger filled his calm face. He lets out a scoff "You've been saying that for months!" He hisses "I'm tired of fucking waiting just because you're too immature to suck it up and deal with your problems!"

"Then get a new fuck buddy, I don't know what else to tell you." I sneer back. I try to move past him when he grabs my arm roughly, I respond quickly, without thinking, and scratch his face. He jumps back, holding the side of his face. We both fall silent. His eyes flash with shock and I freeze, surprised with my own action. It doesn't take long for Todd's face to harden.  "You really are just a stupid, greasy, broad." He snarls.

"Stay away from me and my brothers or I swear to God, I'll make your life a living hell." I spit at him.

He lets out a humorous laugh "Are you threatening me?" He moves his hand from his face and I see a dark liquid seeping through his sliced face.

"No. I'm fucking promising you. Stay away from me." I sneer before storming off. My hands shook, not from fear but from anger. I was angry at Todd, myself, and mostly I was angry at Dally.

Even after all this bullshit, I still thought of him.