I woke up, but didn’t open my eyes. I heard faint talking.
“I need to get up.” A voice said, which I recognized as Dallas.
“Just move her.” Another voice said, which is Sodapop’s.
“But what if she wakes up?” Dallas said.
I heard Sodapop sigh. “You said you need to pee.” Soda said.
Dallas paused. “I can wait a few.”
I kept my eyes closed. I was trying to figure exactly where I was. I’m probably in the Curtis house. My lower half of my body was on something soft, and my upper half was also on something soft but… It feels like it moves.
I gave a fake groan, like I was about to wake up. I slowly opened my eyes and I saw a shirt, I looked up and saw Dally looking down at me. I then realized I was resting on his lap. I sat up and looked around feeling panicked. “How did I get here?” I asked.
Dally laughed. “The boys made me look for you, cause they were worried. I found you passed out at the park on a bench.” He said standing up. “So I brought you back here and we passed out on the couch. You got a bit too comfortable.” He said walking off to the bathroom.
Sodapop walked past the couch, saw me, and turned around. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.” Sodapop joked. He was in a towel…
I laughed and stretched my arms. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep out there. But thanks for getting Dally to look for me.” I said smiling at him.
He nodded. “Just lookin’ out for ya.”
I sat there and looked around. I wasn’t quite sure what to do next. I got up and went to the kitchen, Darry was cooking. “Hey, Kat. Got a piece of cake ready for you on the table.” He said turning over some eggs.
I thanked him and sat down at the table. I cut off a piece of cake with my fork and tasted the familiar cold chocolate. My back hurt a little bit. I tried to remember more of what happened last night, but all I can really remember is being carried and feeling Dally’s chest rising and falling in his sleep.
As I took my third bite of cake Dally walked in, acting all peachy. He walked up to the table and took out a hunk of cake and tossed it in his mouth. “I gotta bounce, got some things I need to take care of.” He said wiping off frosting from his bottom lip. “Later.” He said turning around, not even glancing at me.
I finished off my cake, and washed my plate. I went to the living room and picked up my bookbag. I went back to the kitchen. “Hey, Darry, I’m going to leave too. Got some homework and I need to let my parents know I’m alive.” I said giving a laugh at the end.
Darry nodded. “Alright, come back soon.” He said smiling at me.
I walked out the house and closed the door and the gate behind me. I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I had maybe an hour or two of freedom. I started to walk down the street, not really paying attention to where I was going. After a few minutes I found myself in front of Buck’s place. I looked into the window to see Buck on his sofa, with a beer in his hand.
I had this urge to go inside, but I held myself back. I can’t just barge into his house, the man barely knows me. I bit my lip and thought for a while. What harm can it do? I just have some questions to ask. I took a deep breath and walked up the stairs, and knocked on the door.
The door swung open a few seconds later, with Buck at the entrance. He smiled at me. “Kat! Right? Come in.” He said stepping back, holding out his arm as a greeting.
I was a little taken aback, but I walked in. Before I went to sit down, I stopped. “Hey, before I sit down, is… Is Dallas here?” I asked nervously.
Buck laughed. “Naw, he left a few minutes ago.” He said.
I nodded and sat down, followed by Buck sitting down. “I have some questions I want to ask.” I said confidently.
He nodded. “Sure.”
I licked my lips and took a deep breath. “I don’t know why it’s important, or why I’m even here but… Has Dallas ever talked about me?” I asked looking up at him.
Buck gave a thinking face. “You know, he’s mentioned you once or twice. But not really. He said you’re a tough person to understand, that you’re not like most broads he’s met. He says you’re more closed off, and you just aren’t like most girls. He is fascinated by you.” Buck said, slowly at the end.
I nodded, and tried not to smile. “I guess I am hard to get through to. I’ve never really had friends.” I said with a shrug. “Honestly, I want… I want to get to know Dallas. He’s a tough shell that I want to open and gaze inside of.” I said, losing my train of thought. “But I don’t think I can.” I finished. I slightly shook my head.
Buck gave an understanding nod. “No one has ever wanted to do that. He can be an asshole, though. But keep in mind that’s just what jail created.” He said.
I stood up. “That’s all I really needed to know.” I said walking to the door. I stopped. “Do me a favor, and don’t tell him I was here?” I asked, looking up at Buck.
Buck nodded. “Never.”
I smiled weakly, and left.
I made my way to my house, and stopped at the door. I really didn’t want to deal with my parents. I walked around the house, to the left side. I walked up to my window, and pushed up. It opened at ease. I hoisted myself up and crawled through, and landed on my bed. My heart was pounding with excitement.
I messed up my hair, and put my book bag down, and messed up my covers on my bed. I was satisfied with myself. I went to go to the door, but stopped. I threw my jacket on my bed, and walked out the door.
I made my way down the hallway, to see my father at his seat. He looked up from the paper. “Where have you been?” He asked ruffling his eyebrows.
I hesitated. “I was studying with some friends and came home late, I meant to call.” I said holding my breath.
My dad shook his head. “Fine.”
I let out all the air I was holding and rushed to the kitchen. I grabbed a grape soda, and opened it. I leaned against the counter and took a sip. I normally don’t drink soda so early, but I just felt like I needed it.
I walked back down the hallway, and opened my bedroom door. I nearly dropped my soda, and made a little squeaking noise. I hurriedly closed my door and turned around.
Dallas was sitting on my bed, smoking a cigarette. He blew the smoke out my window. “You really shouldn’t keep you window open, people could just break in.” Dallas said smirking.
My heart was racing. “Jesus Crist, Dally!” I said running my hands through my hair.
Dally threw something small at me. I grabbed it and put my soda down on my desk. I unfolded it, and my mouth dropped. It was my underwear form the night we met, when I was…
“I forgot I had it, I got it off of Bob when we rumbled. I had it in my room at Buck’s. A girl found it and thought I had a girlfriend. I thought you would probably want it back.” Dally said taking a drag from his cigarette.
I looked at it, it was purple and had lace at the rims. I nodded. “Well, thanks, Dally.”
Dally looked around my room. “Nice room you got here.” He said breathing out smoke. “I might see it again soon.”
I gave him a suspicious look. “Oh?” I tossed my underwear at a pile of clothes on the floor.
He nodded. “Sure. Hey, catch.” He tossed me something he had in his jacket.
I caught it, like my underwear, and noticed it was a tomato. I laughed and looked up to say something, but he was gone.
I ran to my window and stuck my head out, and saw he was walking away. I looked down at the tomato, and tossed it at his back.
It splattered on his jacket, he turned around and looked at me. He shook his head, and gave me a sly grin. “I’ll get you back, Waters!” He said, running off.
“I look forward to it!” I shouted back.
I meant it.
