Abyssal Emotions (The Outsiders/Dallas Winston Fan-Fic)

Chapter Fifteen Dallas' POV

I walk down the stairs and hear Sophie's soft footsteps behind me with the creak of the old wood. Walking through the open gate I turn towards the truck and hop in the driver seat. I start the engine and Sophie jumps into the passenger seat. She leans forward and turns on the radio, scanning the channels.

"What are you doing?" I ask.

She looks at me like I'm an idiot, "Searching for a good song."

She lands on a channel and "Love, love me do..." blares out the speakers.

"Oh no, man. I ain't listening to no Beatles," I say and start to turn the wheel of the car to back up.

"Fine," she says. "What do you," she emphasizes the you, "want to listen to?"

I shake my head as we head down the road, Love Me Do still playing.

"I don't know, man. Just turn off this shit."

She makes a noise but when I look over she's changing the channel. We ride in silence for a while except for the buzz of the radio stations being switched back a forth. Finally she lands on a station.

"Now the bell hops tears keep flowin'. And the desk clerk's dressed in black..."

Sophie gasps and I giver her a look I guess she doesn't notice.

"I love this song," she exclaims and starts to sing along.

I laugh and smirk. Who would've thought. I shake my head.

"What?" She laughs.

"Nothing," I say and Sophie gives me a look before continuing to sing.

I just shake my head and look out the window. After the song ends a few more come on before we pull into Buck's place. I turn off the engine and look over at Sophie.

"I'll be right back," I say and open the truck door.

I slam it behind me and step up the wooden stairs. I knock on the door but nobody answers. I open the door and call out, "Buck? Man, anybody here?"

Nobody answers so I walk back to the room with the pool table and bar. I look around and see a half-finished pool game, balls still lying on the table, sticks on the floor and table. Beer bottles and glasses are left empty and varying in fullness. Shards of glass lie on the floor from last nights incidents and static plays from the record left on the player.

I smirk. "Jesus Christ. What a party, man." I chuckle.

One of Sophie's shoes lies beside the bar and I pick it up. I'm guessing it's her shoe since it looks too expensive for anyone on this side of town to own. I lean against the bar and see the other shoe lying behind where the bartender would standing. I snatch it up and lean back off.

I walk over to the record player and take the needle off the Hank William 33 spinning round in circles. Then I walk over to the chairs near the pool table and look around. My jean jacket is not where I left it.

"Shit," I mumble and start to search the other chairs.

I look all around. Under the pool table, around all the chairs behind and under the dingy brown couch in the corner. I head back over towards the bar and search each stool and all behind the counter. It's not there.

I run into the next room. A wide dance floor with surrounding chairs, where the Hank Williams record was playing. A man is passed out in the corner. He's using a charred denim jacket as a blanket, thrown over his chest and arms.

I run over to him and snatch off the jacket. My jacket. Johnny's jacket.

"Hey what's your problem?" he says sitting up groggily.

I snatch him up by the front of his shirt.

"What'd you say? What'd you say, asshole?" I growl.

He gives me a look. " I said, what's your problem," he slurs, his breath reeking of alcohol.

I drop the jacket and use my now free hand to punch him square in the jaw. I punch him again and again. I hear the door open and the someone is grabbing onto my shoulder.

"Stop! Stop, Dallas, Stop!" she screams.

I feel hands grab onto my face and I drop the guy, ready to punch the next person. I pull my fist back and look to see Sophie.

I drop my fist and pick up my jacket. I walk towards the door and down the stairs. I need air and time to think. I need to be alone.