Kid. || Dallas Winston

10

"You know, they've got chairs down in the lobby." Dallas spoke to Cherry.

Cherry was sitting on the cold, tiled floor in the hallway, still in her cheer uniform, with her knees hugged to her chest, and head rested against the wall behind her. She looked up at Dallas, who stood over her.
She was tear-stained, and exhausted. Dally noticed dark circles formed beneath her usual upbeat eyes. Her hair frizzed and stuck to her soaked face, and her lower lip stayed at a constant tremble. She turned away from him and closed her eyes. "Please, go away."

Dallas sat down beside her. "You know you can't get rid of me that easy. We've done this before." He smirked.

Angry, she snapped her head to face him, "My father had a stroke. I'm not in the mood to be harassed by anyone. Especially you." She narrowed her eyes, then turned away again.

"Damn, I was just comin' to see if you were okay..."

Cherry scoffed, "Oh please, don't even."

"What?" Dally tilted his head, giving a little smirk again.

"Don't act like you care." She looked him in the eye. "Let's face it, we all know you're heartless."

"Ouch."

"Just please go away."

"Let me think," Dallas rubbed his chin sarcastically quizzical. "Nope."

Cherry threw her hands to the ground in frustration. "What the hell do you want then?"

Dally's lips curled up devilishly. "Revenge, baby."

She frowned. "Revenge? For what? Don't tell me you're still mad that I threw a coke in your face."

"Strawberry," he raised a brow, "that's your name right?"

"Cherry." She crossed her arms.

"Okay Cherry," he emphasized her name in a harsh manner, "you see, I gotta problem."

"No shit." She cursed under her breath.

"What was that?" Dallas raised his eyebrows and gave her a frigid stare.
Fearful, she said nothing in response so Dally continued, "Anyway, my problem is: your boyfriend is the reason a friend of mine is dead-"

Cherry cut him off impulsively. "What? What are you talking about? Your friend is the reason my boyfriend is dead! Your friend killed my boyfriend!!"

Dallas chuckled, "Oh darlin', you're only seeing one side of the whole thing."

"What do you mean?"

He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Don't tell me your that shallow."

She frowned angrily. "I'm not shallow."

"Did you ever wonder why Johnny killed him?"

"Yes but-"

"But what?" Dallas broke in, "But he's a hood right? And all hoodlum kids are nothin' but trouble. So it's all Pony and Johnny's fault right? Cause they don't matter-"

"NO!!" Cherry almost shrieked. "IM NOT FUCKING SHALLOW." Her voice echoed through the empty hallway.
She pulled through her knotted hair in anger. "I know what happened!" She spoke in a harsh whisper now, "I know that Bob and his friends harassed them, and drowned Ponyboy in the fountain. And I know Johnny did what he had to! But that doesn't mean I can just simply forgive and forget!!" She exhaled with frustration. "Maybe you're the one seeing only one side of this."

"I'm not wasting my time seeing what a damn Soc has to say about it." he snarled.

"See! Exactly my point! You think I'm shallow? Look at you! Judging me based on my social class, rather than my actual opinion. There's a lot about me that you don't even know." She stood up and brushed herself off. "I'm done talking to you. For good." But before she was able to walk away, Dallas grabbed her hand and pulled her back down.

"I'm not done with you." He growled at her through clenched teeth.

She eyed him confidently. "What are you gonna do to me? We're in a hospital Dallas. If you do so as lay a single hand on me, I'll scream. And you can bet your ass someone's gonna come save me from your disgusting self."

Dallas said nothing, but simply stared at the red-headed girl. She stared back, her anger slowly depleting. His icy eyes wandered to her lips, and he leaned towards her a little closer. Cherry searched his face with slight confusion, but allowed the space between them to get smaller. She wanted this- she didn't know why, but there was a warmth inside her that urged to touch him. Her gaze then fell to his oddly soft-looking lips, filling her body with the sensation of lust.
Slowly, Dally lifted his hand, then gently traced her cheek. Cherry gasped a little at the touch, but then relaxed, her breathing changing paces.
Dallas tilted his head, then leaned in. Cherry closed her eyes, but he grazed past her face. She could feel his hot breath as his lips were only inches from her ear.

"I thought you said you'd scream." He spoke low, the vibrations of his deep voice in her eardrum made her shiver.
He then dropped his hand and pulled away. Cherry opened her eyes and made contact with his again.

Dallas lips formed a smug grin. "You're right. There's a lot about you I don't know." His eyes wandered her body, then back to her eyes again. "Maybe there's a lot you don't know either." And with that, he got up from the tiled floor and left, leaving Cherry completely lost.

* * * * * * * *
11:58pm

Later that night, Dallas sat on the edge of his hospital bed, thumbing through the pages of Gone With The Wind. "I don't know Johnny." He spoke to the empty air. "I'm not good at this kinda stuff." He bit his lip. "Look, I know I've asked this 'bout a million times, but you gotta give me another clue or somethin'.... Hell, I haven't seen you in over a month. You gotta say somethin' again." He looked around the empty room, then gazed at the floor sadly. "... Or just go haunt Pony or someone. I'm tired of this."
He got up from the bed and went to the window. Opening it, he stuck his head out and looked down to the ground from the second story floor he was on. He then sat himself on the ledge, and threw his legs over, his feet dangling.
Pulling out his lighter, he held out the paperback book, and lit it on fire. "I don't care 'bout this shit anymore." He said, then dropped the book. "I don't care about anyone." He reminded himself as he watched the burning book hit the ground.
Looking up at the sky, he saw the infinite glowing stars twinkling throughout the vast atmosphere. He leaned his head on the edge of the window and gazed, letting the emptiness consume him, until he felt free again.
When he did, he smiled to himself, knowing that being carless was the best way to live.