People Don't Change (Dally Winston)

Chapter 21

I was awoken by the sound of someone knocking on my bedroom door. I groaned and sat up. My skin felt sore and painful.

"What do you want Keith?" I shouted.

"It's Dally."

"Oh. What do you want Dally?" I asked.

"Can I come in?" he asked.

"I guess." He opened the door and stepped into my room. I watched as he sat down at my desk chair and glanced around the room. I sat up on my bed and crossed my legs.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, showing genuine concern.

"Terrible," I answered, "and I don't even want to know how bad my face looks right now."

"You look great," he said, laughing slightly. I loved the way he laughed. For once, he would look like there wasn't anything to make him angry. Suddenly, his face turned serious.

"I'm gonna find those Socs and make them sorry they ever hurt my girl," Dally said. I smiled. He called me his girl.

He stood up and came to sit next to me on the bed. I leaned my head on his shoulder, while he put his arm around me.

"I love you, Dallas," I said quietly. He tensed up for a second before relaxing.

"I love you too," he whispered, lightly kissing the top of my head. I tilted my face up and kissed him on the lips. Of course, Two-Bit just had to ruin the moment.

"Hey, Jenny!" he said, opening the door, "The rest of the gang's going to the Dingo. Do you want to come?"

"Yeah, sure, just give me a second to change," I answered, looking down at my pajamas.

"Dally, get out," I said as I shoved him out the door.

~~~

"Jenny? Are you feeling better?" Ponyboy asked me as Dally and I squeezed into the booth at the Dingo.

"Yeah, a little bit."

"Who jumped you?" Soda asked from the other side of the table.

"I don't know their names, just some random Socs who had nothing better to do, I guess," I answered before opening my menu. The boys dropped the subject and started talking about other topics.

"The school dance is coming up," Pony said.

"School dances are stupid. I ain't going," Steve chimed in.

"Who are you going to ask, Pony?" Johnny quietly asked.

"I was thinking about asking this one girl in my English class, but I don't know yet," Pony answered, turning slightly pink.

"Does this girl have a name?" Soda asked curiously, leaning across the table.

"Nope," said Pony, obviously not wanting to answer the question. Two-Bit laughed and people in the other booths turned to stare at us.

"So are you two going?" Soda said, turning his attention to Dally and I.

"I don't know. Are we?" I asked Dally.

"I think we'll just stay in that night," he said, "School dances are stupid." Underneath the table, I lightly squeezed his hand.

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A/N

Comment a smiley face if you ship Jelly.