People Don't Change (Dally Winston)

Chapter 8

My footsteps were the only sound as I made my way home. The streets were deserted and dark. No one wanted to wander around this neighborhood so late in the evening. It was too dangerous.

Ahead of me, a person stepped out onto the sidewalk. I stopped for a second, momentarily scared, before I recognized them.

"Dally?" I asked, hesitantly stepping forward.

"Are you trying to get jumped?" he asked, lighting a cigarette, "You shouldn't be walking alone this late, man."

"I could say the same to you," I replied. He looked up at me, chuckling.

"Yeah, but I can defend myself," Dally said. I glared at him and crossed my arms, while he just smirked and continued, "Two will skin me if I don't make sure you get home safely."

"I can get home by myself," I hissed, while secretly wishing that he would walk me home. I began to walk away, in the direction of my house, and Dally followed me. We silently walked for a few minutes, before I stopped and looked directly at him.

"Dally, are we really going to keep doing this?" I asked.

"Doing what?"

"Avoiding having conversations with each other and acting like everything is fine. I miss the guy I used to be friends with, and I can't take being ignored by him," I answered, slumping against the wall. He stared at me for a second, and I worried that he would just walk away, but he didn't.

"Yeah, well sometimes people change. The boy you knew is gone and it's too late to save him," Dally said, somewhat angrily.

"I don't believe you. I know the real you still exists somewhere," I said, still trying to salvage something. I don't know why I even bothered. I could see in his eyes that I was fighting a losing battle.

"Jenny, the only place he exists is in your imagination. Why can't you just accept that and move on with your life?" he said as he turned to go. I could feel the tears in my eyes and my vision grew clouded.

"Dallas, please. You were the only real friend I ever had. I can't lose you. Please come back..." my voice trailed off. He hesitated, but then kept walking. With each step he took, another tear rolled down my cheek.