Snapshot // Sodapop and Dallas

Chapter 5

I have learned as much as I could about all of the boys. At first I believed it was Tulsa and the beauty in the simplicity of this town, but now I realized it was the people. These boys to be specific. They kept me here.

Its been a few weeks since Sodapop and I went on our first date. We continued going out but he hasn't made me his girlfriend officially nor have we even kissed yet. I'm still afraid he's in love with Sandy even thought she cheated and left him. I guess that's how love works. I wouldn't really know. I've been staying at the hotel by Bucks place. I got a job bartending at Bucks Bar last week. I was on my way to the Curtis house to see Sodapop and the boys before I head in to work.

"Hey you!" I said walking in and seeing Sodapop.

"Hey pretty girl. What time do you work?"

"8:00-12:00. So I got about an hour before I need to head in." Everyone was there except Dallas. Dally and I had gotten a little closer over the past few weeks. He was kind to me but still a man of few words. He still hadn't opened up to me much. But he listened and was always on his best behavior around me. Last week Steve pointed out how much kinder he was when he spoke to me versus the rest of the world. I thought it was sweet but Dally just said it's because I couldn't handle anyone hard and cold. Either way, I'll take it.

"You hungry? Darry just made some cake." Ponyboy informed me. I smiled at there southern hospitality but kindly refused.

"No thank you. I'm trying to cut out sweets."

"Why the hell would you ever do that?" Two-bit asked.

"Trying to lose a little bit of weight. I just want to be healthier as well as thinner." They all furrowed their eyebrows at me.

"Thinner? You're already smaller than you should be." Sodapop added.

"I want to be stronger too. Not just skinnier."

"Now, I agree with that." Darrel said coming around the corner. "You need to be able to defend yourself. Especially since you've been staying on that side of town. It's dangerous." I nodded and the other boys agreed.

"Ain't no better trainer than you Darrel. Why don't you take Henna to the gym tomorrow and work with her." Ponyboy recommended.

"I don't want to be a burden." I protested.

"You ain't been a burden yet Hendrix. I'd love to have some company since these scrawny boys never want to join me." I smiled and the guys all argued. But the fun stopped as soon as Dallas stormed in.

"Dally!" Ponyboy shouted and they all ran to him. I was standing closest to the door and I turned around to see a bloody and beaten up Dallas Winston. He collapsed and I caught him just before his head hit the ground.

"Dally. Can you hear me?" I asked calmly.

"Yeah." He muttered.

"Okay good. I need you to stay awake okay? Focus on my voice." I opened his shirt to see his wounds. "Ponyboy go get me the first aid kit. Darrel I need two wet rags. Johnny: a bag of ice. Sodapop grab me thread and a needle. Have Darry sterilize it first." They all followed my orders. Ponyboy came rushing in and I found gauze immediately. I pressed it to the knife wound on his chest.

"Here." Darrel handed me the rags and I removed the bow blood soaked gauze. "Darrel, I need you to use that muscle of yours and hold this rag down okay. Apply pressure." He gave the needle back to Ponyboy followed orders. I used the other rag to clean off his head.

"How are you doing Dally?" I asked while whipping his head off.

"I'm still here if that's what you mean." He replied sarcastically.

"I like the attitude Dallas. It's good to have a sense of humor in these situations." I smiled at him and if I didn't know any better I'd say he grinned at me too.

"His head has a few gashes and so does his cheek but he won't need any stitches up here." I turned my attention back to Darrel and the knife wound. "This however, will." I cleaned it up as well as I could. The blood had slowed down just enough for me to sew up the wound.

As soon as I finished I asked Johnny for the ice. He handed me a bag and I rapped cloth around it and laid it on Dally's stomach.

"There. Ponyboy would you grab me some pain killers and a bottle of water?" He nodded and went to fetch my request.

"Dally, do you think we could move you to the couch?" I asked. He had been laying in the floor this whole time. It was easier to stitch him up and care for his wounds that way. But now I wanted to make him as comfortable as possible.

"Yeah I think I can get up." He tried to stand and his legs gave out again. I held him as close as I could and for a moment we just stood there. Finally he gained control of his body and we moved to the couch.

"Better?" I asked.

"Yeah, kid, I'm alright. You're pretty good at all this stuff, aren't you?" He grinned at me and it made me happy. I wanted to get closer to Dally. I really enjoyed him but it always seemed like he didn't like me much.

"My aunt was a doctor. She was always teaching me how to act and what to do in situations like this." I replied kindly.

"You did good." He said grabbing my hand. I looked at my hand and then back at Dally. I smiled and before I knew it he had passed out. He needed some rest however so I was glad.

"He should wake up in a few hours. He'll be sore and probably really cranky. But you should be used to that." I informed the boys.

"You were great, Hendrix. Thank you." Darry said with pure gratitude in his eyes.

"I should probably get going. My shift starts soon. I'll see you tomorrow and I'll be ready to work, Darry." They all thanked me once again.

"Let me walk you." Sodapop insisted.

"Thanks." I smiled at his pretty face. It was hard to look at Sodapop and not just smile.

"So I was wondering if after you and Darry got finished at the gym if you'd be interested in going out again?" He asked.

"Yeah Soda of course. What did you have in mind?"

"Maybe dinner and a movie? Or if you have something better in mind I don't really care what we do. I just want to be with you." I blushed hard after his last statement and chuckled under my breath. Sodapop has that effect on me. He could just take my breath away without even trying.

"Dinner and a movie sounds great." I agreed. We had just reached Bucks. "Well I'll see you tomorrow Sodapop." And with that I turned around but not for very long. Sodapop turned me back around and before I knew what was happening he was kissing me.

And it was just like that.

Sodapop had something. Something I craved and something I wanted. Something i needed.