Big Girls Don't Cry - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons
Dallas Winston was known for getting any girl he wanted at any time, on rare occasions he was rejected, but his pride had never been quite so damaged until Tatiana Franklin had put him in his place. He was known for being the tuffest greaser in town, picking fights and breaking hearts left right and centre. Yet, she made him feel like the smallest creature on the planet, and he was unable to rise back above her after taking that blow from her.
From that night on, he had avoided eye contact and conversation with her, only acknowledging her existence when he did all he possibly could to make her feel jealous, and his best attempt at doing so was three days after the initial confrontation. Dallas knew he had to make this count, in the hopes Tatiana would finally crack and beg for him.
All but Dallas sat in the living room, back to back episodes of Mickey Mouse keeping them somewhat entertained. Darry, Soda and Steve sat on the couch, Two-Bit sitting on the red chair and Johnny lounging in the green one, Ponyboy and Tatiana both laid on their stomachs beside each other next to the coffee table.
It became some sort of a tradition that all hell would break loose only when Dallas came barging through the front door, and this night wasn't any different.
Dallas did as he usually did to gain the attention from the other seven people in the room; slamming the door, stomping around with his heavy feet, throwing his jacket onto the wooden chair, and usually being the first to speak. He stood before the TV, blocking the view, which only particularly mattered to Two-Bit.
"Ey, listen, all o' ya..."
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Ponyboy and Tatiana used their arms to lift themselves from their stomachs and into a cross legged position, as they didn't really enjoy being met with the toes of Dallas' shoes. No one protested due to exhaustion, Two-Bit still peaking around Dallas' lanky legs.
"I've told Buck you're all comin' to his party with me on Saturday. Well, everyone but you now. Wouldn't want you to be all tipsy for your date." He faked a smile at Tatiana, the corners of his eyes scrunching up and his head tilting to a side.
"Oh, the movie starts at 3, and finishes at 5:30, so I think, if my teeny tiny minuscule little brain has worked it out properly, I'll be able to make it." She mocked him, referring to how condescending Dallas was her in a witty comeback.
The false apologetic expression dropped, leaving a sour appearance upon his visage. She couldn't help but allow a smirk tug at the corners of her lips.
"I've already told Buck you ain't comin, and I've already got a plus one, so-" he clicked his tongue and inhaled sharply through his teeth, as if to say a sarcastic "what a shame" using only facial expressions and an insignificant noise.
Tatiana already knew that there were no such things as invitations and plus ones when it came to one of Buck's parties; you came when you wanted and you left when you wanted, it was a bar for crying out loud. Actually, despite the fact she hadn't been to many parties in her lifetime, plus ones didn't exist unless it was a special event, such as a wedding.
"I'll take her as my plus one then." Sodapop shrugged a mirrored the same false smile towards Dallas, who squinted his eyes and bit the inside of his cheek. He didn't know what to say or do, although everyone could practically see the cogs rapidly turning in his mind and smoke puffing out of his ears.
"Yeah, and you can bring your date as my plus one." Steve offered kindly, however being genuine; he actually believed that Tatiana wasn't able to go due to the plus one situation, simply because he is naturally a little bit slow.
Steve could be very "dense" at times, however the large muscles he had reimbursed his lack of education. Steve was protective and kind, and he only wished for his friends to be happy, which he thought he had done for everyone.
"Why thank you very much, Steve and Soda." Tatiana thanked them and immediately averted her eyes back to Dallas, watching more of his childish actions unfold. He folded his arms and tapped his foot, squinting his eyes between Sodapop, Steve and Tatiana, not really knowing what to say to them next. Sodapop and Tatiana had nearly the same smug expression, Steve just displaying a cheesy grin.
"Fine, whatever." He stormed out of the room before he could do anything else to embarrass himself. He trudged down the hallway and up the stairs, residing in Pony's and Soda's room to be as far away from the gang as possible without having to leave the house.
"That kid is hurting his own pride more and more everyday, I swear." Darry had never seen Dallas act in such manner before; Dallas usually just threw away all the rejections and failed attempts and carried on with his life, however he was so determined to make Tatiana feel jealous, it became quite an obsession.
Darry was also content with Tatiana playing Dallas at his own game; he wanted Dallas to learn his lesson now before he started to fool around when he was married to someone he truly loved. Of course Dallas was a young and reckless, but sometimes he took his antics too far, resulting in someone innocent being hurt. Darry also thought about if Dallas did ever have kids, even though He allegedly hates them, they would grow up to be the same, or worse, they would only know Dallas as their dead beat dad who ran away as soon as he found out he knocked another broad up. Plus, Dallas could be a genuinely nice guy, but he didn't want anyone to know that.
"Has he not done this before?"
As mentioned previously, Tatiana was well aware of history with female companions, and she assumed many, if not all, of the others were treated in the same way. They all shook their heads, Two-Bit and Johnny also mumbling a "no" with the movement.
"Nope, just you." Ponyboy lifted himself from the ground and headed towards the bathroom, probably to readjust his hair in the mirror.
Tatiana rested her head on her fist, her elbow propped up on the arm of the sofa. She constantly repeated the same question over and over again in her own mind, the others failing to recognise that she was in deep thought.
"Then why?"
•••
"Hoped that she would call my bluff, when she said to my surprise "Big girls don't cry"."
