Big Boys Don't Cry - The Outsiders

Two

August, 1964

The same night.

After a close miss of a rumble, we ran to the park feeling woozy with the drink filtering through our systems. But we continued to consume the alcohol from the bottomless flask and hung from the rusting monkey-bars with our legs and arms. The park was silent except from the running water that still spouted from the fountain in the centre, it looked glittery in the eerie moonlight on this strange yet enchanting night.

Cindy and Vincent had taken to the shelter of the many trees and shrubberies surrounding us, fooling around like silly teenagers like us do. I could only hear her childish giggles and squeals that were masked by the various rustles in the trees. I sat by the fountain, my hand sloshing around in the water. I felt strangely content in the hypnotic moonlight, my head cocked to the side and slight smile on my lips. Frankie sat beside me, his heavy hands fiddling with my skirt.

"Doesn't it look pretty? The moon. It's so bright tonight." I said whilst Frankie stroked my exposed thighs. I fidgeted uncomfortably, trying to escape his caresses that were so full of booze.

"You're so drunk Val, god." He laughed now, his breath against my neck as I continued to try and shake him off. Picking up his hand from leg, I placed it back on his own and scooted an inch more away from him. His eyes burned with want and need, yet I could only smile awkwardly and try to escape the situation.

"No I'm not Frankie. I'm perfectly fine."

"Come on baby, you're tipsy."

He loomed his large frame over mine, pinning me down. His breath intoxicated with the stench of some other alcohol than the whiskey Cindy had stolen from her father's wine cabinet. The water glowed behind me, I wondered if I had the strength to push him in it.

In close proximity, tires sounded as though to be rolling against the grain of the dirt track that outlined the greenery. Sirens suddenly blared too, making both our heads whip around as I remained under Frank's overpowering body forcefully.

"Valerie, is that you?! What the hell do you think you're doing?" The car door slammed shut and my father appeared in his uniform, immediately dragging Frank off me and throwing him on the grass. "Poor choice Val, and Frank, to be honest I thought you would've had more respect for yourself than this." Grabbing me by my shirt's sleeve he dragged me to his work car as I glanced back at Frankie who sat on the floor with his head in his hands.

A huge feeling of relief washed over me as I was shut in the police car whilst my father mucked around at the car's trunk. Numerous sighs escaped my lips as I brushed the creases from my skirt and checked the wing mirror through the car's window to adjust myself.

"You look fine man, geez." I screamed and jumped from the cushiony seat in which I relaxed contently. The mistake in thinking I was alone was foolish as I snapped my head around and stared at the voice dead in the eyes. Proceeding to jump out of the car in my fright, I ran to the safety of my father who seemed to be still searching for something in the trunk of this police car.

"Get back in the car Valerie, don't try and grovel around me, I won't be a minu.."

"There's someone in the back of the car Dad! There is, there is." I sniffled anxiously and spoke in a throaty voice. But was only laughed at in reply. He stroked my back and we both re-entered the car.

"What took you so long Sir? Can we just get this whole arrest thing over and done with?" The same voice inquired as the engine started. I stared at the low voice's owner again to be greeted with a deep pair of gooey brown eyes and plump lips. His hair was the same shade as his eye colour, except darker and it fell naturally yet perfectly just beside his eyes. I couldn't help but stare, intrigued and hypnotised as he wet his lips and stared at my father with curiosity. He couldn't of been over eighteen.

"Dallas Winston, shut-up and make this easier for yourself. You'll be spending the night at the police station. Damn Greasers." The car was driving with a haste now, but I wanted to prolong these minutes with him, despite the fact my father wasn't easing up on me. "Valerie I just can't believe you've done this. Did you think you'd get away with it? It's not legal, do you understand that it's illegal to partake in sexu-"

"Okay, okay Dad. I get it, you don't actually have to finish that sentence." I almost begged, my embarrassment increasing as his lecture continued.

"And that ridiculous length skirt you're wearing, who're you trying to attract here Val? Have some respect for yourself."

"Well actually Sir, if you don't mind me saying, I like the ensemble your daughter is wearing on this evening. She looks quite the piece and I wouldn't mind taking her home for myself." I blushed heavily as he stated his opinion and leaned forward so that his head was next to my own in the front of the car. This was stopped immediately by my father who pushed him back with a free hand, the other stayed on the wheel and his eyes focused on the road.

"Well actually Dallas, I do mind. You see this Val? This is the exact kind of attention I'm talking about." The car suddenly stopped and I stared out the window to see the police station lit up by various, blinding, floodlights. To my disappointment, Dallas was quickly escorted from the car his hands in cuffs and a mischievous yet tired look played on his face. My father's remark about his role as Greaser was confirmed when he lept from the car sporting a brown leather jacket and busted jeans, his chuck taylors were untied and caked in mud.

Unknowingly, I gazed at him intensely from the closed window. He glanced back, just as I had done to Frank, and flashed a smile at me. It was the best smile I had ever seen, wide and pearly, full of life and action. Tingling sensations rumbled in my system, like butterflies fluttering in the cage that was my stomach. I couldn't help but return the smile, a shy and bashful one that creased my eyes and swelled my cheeks. It wasn't quite same as the one he had given to me...but it would do as I was most likely not to see him again to my heavy-heartedness.

I watched again, this time he did not look back but instead willingly let my father push him inside the police station and like it had never been there before, his shady frame disappeared into a prison cell for the night.