The stranger, who's name turned out to be Tommy, had to leave, as his best friend had drank one too many and got them both kicked out of the bar.
The night became less enjoyable for Tatiana that moment on; she had spotted Dallas leaning against the juke box talking flirtatiously to a brunette, Tatiana slumping beside Ponyboy once again.
"I just wanna go home." Ponyboy groaned, resting his head on Tatiana's shoulder. Johnny yawned, rubbing his eyes once he had done so.
"Why didn't you go earlier?" She questioned.
"Darry don't want us two walking by ourselves." Ponyboy sighed. Ponyboy was well aware that Darry was an amazing brother, and an even better father figure, but he could be very overprotective at times, however he knew Darry meant well.
"I'll walk with you both." She leant over Ponyboy and lightly tapped Soda's shoulder, who leaned closer to her.
"Would you tell Darry I'm walking Pony and Johnny back home? They're tired." She spoke into his ear, Soda nodding and giving her a thumbs up as his head bobbed to the sound of The Drifters in the background. He turned back to the stranger he was talking to, the three rising from their seats.
"C'mon, let's get you guys home." She patted their backs as they both walked out of the door, Tatiana walking in between them.
They didn't realise how loud the party was until they were three quarters up the road, the music and noise from the people still being heard by the three.
"You look exhausted." She knew as soon as their head landed on a pillow, they would be out for the count. Honestly, Tatiana was ready for the same. She was ready for a quiet, peaceful night.
Obviously, that was too much to ask for Tatiana, as the voice of Dallas Winston suddenly erupted.
"Ey! Where you all goin'?" Dallas' voice could be heard from the opposite end of the street. The three turned to see the other four coming their way, or in Steve's case, stumbling towards them with the aid of Soda and Two-Bit.
"We're tired and we wanna get home!" Tatiana shouted back, the three continuing to walk.
"Yeah, I'm sure that's why Little Miss Jealous!" Dallas teased, Tatiana rolling her eyes.
"This is why we all had to leave; you being jealous. Hope you like ruining our night!" Dallas attempted to guilt trip her.
"He wants a reaction, don't rise to it, Ti." Ponyboy advised her, in the hopes Dallas would tire himself out before long.
Dallas continued to yell profanities and childish comments her way, the three finally reaching the Curtis house after what felt like forever.
Ponyboy, Johnny and Tatiana walked up the path and into the house, immediately kicking their shoes off and sitting on the couch. Ponyboy and Johnny fell straight to sleep, Tatiana quite anxious for Dallas' arrival.
Eventually, the others came through the door, Dallas crouching down before her.
"Why you going all quiet around me, huh?-"
"-Why do you lead me on and then flirt with other girls?" She shot back instantly, the others watching from their seats as the scene unfolded.
He scoffed and stared at her, her eyes filling up with water as his smirk only grew wider.
"Lead you on? Don't flatter yourself." He chuckled. She stood up and pushed him over, Dallas quickly scrambling to his feet.
"Urgh! You just piss me off so much, D! One minute you're Prince Charming in a leather jacket and the next minute you're back to being the asshole that takes pride in flirting with anything with a pulse. And you're mad at me for going on one date?!" She pushed him away, Dallas stepping closer again.
"Maybe I am still mad at you; you're so naive and immature, you can't even handle what goes on outside our goddamn doorstep nevermind trying to get married to someone in it!" Dallas got surprisingly close to her face, the stench of alcohol fresh on his breath. She wasn't going to back down from her argument.
"Oh, I'm naive and immature? You do nothing but fight and flirt your way through life, at least I'm still in school and haven't seen the inside of jail at 17." She replied, Dallas clenching his jaw and shaking his head.
"I'd like to see you last ten seconds in a jail!" He nudged her shoulder, to which Darry stood up and pulled Dallas to the other side of the room.
"I bet you would! You get such a kick out of bringing me up and then pushing me back down again. I get it you're "mean" you're a "tuff nut to crack" but you don't have to be horrible towards every person you come across!" She was mainly referring to herself, no doubt he had treated other people badly in the past though. He just stopped talking for a few seconds, only the sound of his ragged breathing heard in the room.
"Jail did this to me!-"
"-Jail did Jack shit to you! I lost my dad and a brother and I don't treat people like toys to play with." She opened the door and walked out, Sodapop jumping up from his seat and catching the door before it slammed shut.
"Where you goin', Ti?" Two-Bit asked her from the door way, Tatiana not bothering to stop before replying.
"I'm going home." She continued to head towards home, the tears finally able to spill over her eyelids.
Two-Bit closed the door, all eyes back on Dallas once again.
"Are you happy now?" Ponyboy glared at Dallas, who clenched his jaw before speaking back.
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"You shut your mouth, Pony. You won't speak to me if you know what's good for ya." Dallas seethed, Darry pinning him up against the wall in a swift movement.
"Don't talk to ma brother like that." Darry warned him in a low voice, Dallas now clenching his fists.
"Get off me, man. I mean it." Dallas tried to push Darry away, however he didn't budge.
"You ain't sleepin' here tonight, not after what you've done."
•••
"If you see me walking down the street And I start to cry each time we meet Walk on by, walk on by."
