People Don't Change (Dally Winston)

Chapter 23

I opened my eyes to see natural light flooding in through cracks in the blinds. Dally's arms were still wrapped around me. I yawned, and he slowly woke up, blinking excessively as his eyes adjusted to the light.

"Did you dream of me?" I asked.

"Why would I need to dream of you when you're right here?" he asked back, chuckling.

"I probably have to get back soon," I said, "Then you'll have to dream of me."

"Okay, I'll walk you back. Give me a few minutes," Dally said. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out some everyday clothes. He had fallen asleep in his suit, and I assumed that he didn't want to walk around looking like that. Then he walked into the bathroom to change.

~~~

We walked down the cracked stretch of sidewalk holding hands. My house was only a few blocks away. Since I'm accident prone and clumsy, I tripped and fell.

Dally pulled me up and asked if I was okay before suddenly stopping. He stared at my neck for a second and looked shocked.

"You still have the locket?" he asked, lightly lifting it up and staring at it.

"Yeah. I always wear it. Did you just now notice?" I asked.

"Yes." he answered, "I assumed you had lost or forgotten about it years ago."

"Well I didn't think you even remembered giving it to me," I stated leaning closer to him. He pulled me to him and kissed me.

A screen door on the house next to us banged open and an old man shuffled out onto the porch. "Go somewhere else you filthy kids!" he shouted. Dally and I smirked at each other before I pulled him away from the house. Dally stopped in the middle of the street and kissed me.

Then, turning to the man, who was opening his mouth to yell at us again, he shouted, "You own your house and yard, but not the street!". The old man glared at us and shuffled back into his house muttering about 'kids these days.'