diamond //sweet pea//

//twenty-three//

Dallas sat on the steps to the trailer, cigarette in one hand, coffee in the other. The air was crisp and a slight chill was in the air. It was the first time in weeks that she felt like she could breathe. It was almost 6:30, Sweet Pea would be up soon, as would Fallon. 

Fallon had slept over. Cindy had signed her up for school, and miraculously Weatherbee agreed. In preparation for her first day, Dallas took her in and took on the burden of getting her through the first day. She had warned Fallon that she'd need to go to bed early, however Dallas could hear her talking to someone on the phone all night. Giggling to be more specific. She had known Fallon for years but she had never heard her giggle. 

The door squeaked open behind Dallas. Sweet Pea plopped down beside her, making sure to kiss her. 

"Good morning," Dallas mumbled. 

"Good morning," he whispered back, his voice deep in the morning air. 

"I have such a bad feeling," she continued.

"I think we all do," he replied.

They sat in silence awhile longer, avoiding the sleeping beast that was on their couch. 

"I should go wake her up," Dallas sighed. 

She stood up, ruffling his hair, disappearing inside. Sweet Pea watched her walk away, a deep yearning in his stomach. She wasn't the same, she was hurting and stressed. It was clear she was struggling and he wanted nothing more than to help her. 

Inside Dallas shook Fallon awake. She was expecting a fight but Fallon happily awoke and seemed to be looking forward to school. 

Dallas went to get dressed, pulling black jeans and a KISS t-shirt out of her drawer. She slipped on both her boots and a jean jacket with the Serpent emblem on the back. She put on the same lipstick she had worn the first time she had met Sweet Pea. It was a deep wine color and she felt like she had found a piece of her that she had lost. 

"You look amazing."

Dallas jumped at the voice, but was a blushing mess when Sweet Pea walked into the room. Dallas skipped over to him and kissed the corner of his mouth. She laughed when she saw the dark lipstick smeared over his face. She swept her thumb over the mess, becoming hooked on his eyes. 

"I love you," she murmured sweetly. 

"I love you too," he said just as sweet. 

"Alright love birds, school awaits us." Fallon stood in the doorway, a scowl on her face, throwing an eyeball into the mix. 

"We're coming," Sweet Pea snapped. 

"Whatever, Fangs is outside. I'm gonna go meet him."

She stomped out of the doorway and they heard the door slam shut. 

"Let's go before she punches a mailbox," Dallas chuckled grabbing Sweet Pea's wrist and pulling him out. 

________________________

"Where to first?" Fallon asked as her, Cassidy, Dallas, Sweets and Fangs ascended the stairs to Riverdale High. 

"Swords and Serpents meeting," Fangs said.

"You guys are in a role playing game club? What kind of gang does FP run?" Fallon snickered. 

"No, thats not what it really is. It's a place where we can discuss Serpent business without getting suspended," Dallas explained. 

"Then why is she going?" Fallon snapped referring to Cassidy. 

"You don't get to show up here and be a bitch," Cassidy hissed.