We're Outsiders Too {Complete}

{Part Eight ~ Heather's POV}

The movie was over and I was quick to regret walking here. At the time it seemed fine because of the nice weather but now that it was dark, I was afraid of being jumped while holding a sleeping baby.
I held Anne close to my chest and pulled out my switchblade. I kept the hand that held the closed blade in the folds of the blanket that was wrapped around Anne. I stuck to the main roads and stayed alert as we walked home. I had made it about halfway when a group of unfamiliar greasers started walking my way.
Their words blurred together as I focused on subtlety switching the blade out.
Once they were closer I pulled it out so they could see it, "Don't come any closer!"
They chuckled to themselves knowing they could take me, even if I had a blade. It didn't matter how well I could fight back when I was holding a baby and outnumbered three to one. They continued closing in on me as I backed up. When my back hit a wall, I started slashing the blade but only got a few cuts in before they hit it out of my hands.
I pulled Anne closer to me and prepared to put up the best fight I could until someone walked by to help, not that I expected anyone that hung around these parts to help. One came even closer and I yelled as loud as I could, "Help!"
I brought my leg up for a kick to the groin. While he was hunched over I held onto Anne with one arm and used the other to throw an elbow at the man who had come in when his friend was down. I tried to go in for a second hit when one of them took a handful of my hair and pulled me back. My eyes widened in horror and I gripped Anne and prepared for impact but it never came. I heard the sound of grunts but none of them came from me. When I opened my eyes, two men were on the ground and two more were fighting it out. With another punch, one of them fell.
I did my best to sneak away without turning my back to the new threat but failed when he looked up a second later.
"D-Dallas?" My voice was barely a whisper and I sounded terrified, even to my own ears.
"You alright?" He asked, stepping closer, shaking his hand.
I backed away.
He stopped and held his hands up in surrender, "I ain't gonna hurt you. Are you alright? Is Anne?"
I nodded slowly, deciding to trust him for now, "We're both fine. Th-thank you."
He looked me over, "Are you sure? You're shaking?"
I looked down and realized I was, "Sorry, that just scared me."
He nodded but his calm face turned to an angry one, "Care to tell me why you're walking home alone at night with a baby?"
I let out a shakey breath, "Poor judgement?"
He scoffed, "I'd say so."
By now Anne was squirming in my arms. I sat her up and pulled her to my chest. I almost lost her.
I closed my eyes and held onto her tightly. My breaths sounded more like quiet sobs and then I noticed I was crying.
I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and pull me towards the chest they belonged to.
"It's okay, you're safe. You're both safe," It was Dally. Under normal circumstances I would have pulled away. I'm blaming shock for the fact I stayed in his arms instead and denied any possibility that it was because he made me feel safe.
"I guess now's as good of time as any to apologize," He said softly.
I pulled back and looked at him, "Apologize?"
He looked down sheepishly, "For being rude our last few encounters. Especially about the little one."
I just nodded and leaned back into his chest. I finally realized what I was doing when he started rubbing a hand across my back. I quickly stepped back wiped my tears, "I'm sorry. Thank you again but we need to get home."
Dally stepped forward and grabbed my arm, "Where do you live? I'll walk you home."
I shook my head, "You really don't need to do that."
He scoffed, "Sure I don't. I hope you don't really think I'm going to let that happen."
"We don't need you. We don't need anyone. We'll get home just fine." I tried brushing him off but he was persistent.
He looked at me with exhaustion, probably at my stubborn behavior, "You almost got jumped and you've got a baby. I understand that you don't like me, and know that I deserve it, but just let me make sure you get home safely."
I sighed, "Fine."
We started walking towards my house. My breath was still quick and my heart rate was definitely up.
"You're still shaking," He said after a minute of walking.
I rolled my eyes, "Thank you for that valuable piece of information."
A few blocks from home, Anne started crying. I tried rocking her but it didn't do much.
"Can I try?" Dally asked quietly.
I turned to him.
He was quick to try and explain, "You can't calm her down if you ain't calm yourself. I've heard they can sense it." I nodded and slowly handed her over. She stopped crying when he started rocking her.
"Thank you, Dallas."
He smiled, "Anytime, doll."
I was still shaking when we were on my doorstep. Dallas handed Anne over. He turned to leave but I stopped him.
"Wait! I know we're not exactly friends but would you mind staying over? You can say no, it's just that I'm still a little shaken. We have a guest bedroom you could use."
He looked at me as if waiting for me to change my mind. When I didn't, he answered hesitantly, "If you're really that spooked, I guess I can." I nodded and opened the door for him. He slipped past me and into the house.
"Follow me, I'll show you the guest bedroom." He was right behind me up the entire flight of stairs. I propped open the door to my dads old bedroom. I had thrown out all his things and replaced as much of the room as I could.
"I'm right next door if you need anything. Seriously, just knock and I'll try to get you whatever you need. I'm really sorry about this but I do really appreciate it."
He gave me a small smile, "It's no problem."