Greater Than (Dallas Winston)

17 // Ponyboy

     I wasn't in jail very long, it was only over night. They released me once Robert and Amy came to pick me up from there. I expected them to get angry for getting arrested, or at least, accused for doing something.

"We apologize for shooting you, Miss Monroe. You said you weren't helping Winston over here out. It was confirmed by a Ponyboy Curtis." An officer said.

"Yeah." I agreed.

"What's your relation with Winston? He's asking if you're okay."

"Ex girlfriend." I said "He's still my buddy, so I had to check on him. Tell him I'm fine."

"Ex girlfriend? At least you two are still close." The officer laughed

"Yeah..." I said as I limped away using my Dad as support.

"I'm glad you two are alright!" Amy exclaimed. "When we heard you got shot, we were terrified!"

"Thanks, guys." I sighed. "I'm just glad Dally didn't pull a heater on them."

I silently followed them into their car and told them to drop me off at the Curtis' home. I wanted to be watched by people I trusted. Of course, they offered to take me to their home but I refused.

I opened the door to see Darry just about to leave. Crap, Ponyboy, I forgot about him. Why am I so full of myself?

"Uh, hey!" I managed to choke out. "Bad timing?"

"I'm going to see Ponyboy." Darry said "We forgot something here, so I came to grab it. You're welcome to stay if you'd like."

"Can I come with you?" I asked "Sorry, I just... I normally wouldn't..." I always talked to Darry. This time I couldn't. It felt weird, he looked sorry for me but I was worried more about him and his family.

"I would let you, but you should probably rest." Darry thought for a bit. "You sit tight, I'll send Soda to come back here and watch you."

"I can't make you do that!" I exclaimed "You both have to watch Ponyboy, together!" My guilt started to grow. I realized what happened before he got so sick. Just before the rumble...

"Kid's asleep. It'll be fine, alright?" He gave me a reassuring pat on the shoulder, and it had to come out sometime.

"Darry," I took a deep breath. "Ponyboy... He was sick and I didn't tell you. I was watching him before the rumble, he's had a terrible fever. I should've told you but... It's my fault, I can't make Soda stay here with me."

"You're an idiot sometimes, Monroe." He chuckled. "Just sit there. Don't get up." He pushed me onto the couch and I sighed.

"Before you leave..." I helplessly

talked out. "What am I supposed to do with Dally?"

"I really don't know." Darry admitted. "I hope you do the right thing, because it hurts everyone to see you both like this. Especially you, you've been excited about dating Dally ever since."

"Whatever. I just have bad karma when it comes to guys, that's all."

"Bad things always happen to good people for some reason." Darry sighed and left me with just that.

I sat back and watched Soda enter. He kept asking if I was alright. I mean, I felt alright. But my thoughts were crazy. I kept thinking about Dally... And Johnny... And Ponyboy... Every single thing.

"I feel bad for the kid. He was the closest to Johnny, and he's sick." I sighed. This had to be one of the worst luck ever.

"How's everything with you and Dallas? You saved him back there, and that leg was the price for it." Soda changed the subject. Probably because he had no comment on it.

"I hate what Dal did and all, but watching him die wasn't something that was happening."

"You must've had a lot of guts and heart."

"Common sense. I didn't wanna see someone die." It was the truth. I completely hated Dally, but the thought of him dying... I don't know. I mean, I liked him for a while, I can't just randomly wish for him to die.

"Well, that was pretty brave of you." He laughed and we talked like this until we finally covered everything that happened in the past few days. I fell asleep on his lap after he finished a story about Sandy, which I don't remember because I was tired and unfocused. Weird, I never fell asleep during the day. I guess my lack of sleep got to me.

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