This Might Hurt A Little-A Dallas Winston Fanfiction

Hope For The Hopeless

I didn't have many friends besides the gang but, I still managed a few. Like my friends Riley and Sarah who were socs', like me. They were alright for the most part. Sarah was a little high strung sometimes, and always happy about something but, she was loyal. Riley was more mellow, like me, and nearly as bitter. They'd convinced themselves that since I was so worried about Ponyboy and Johnny they had to take me to a beer blast. I'd only been to two and they're exactly what they sound like. A bunch of soc's getting drunk.

"Isn't this fun?" Sarah shouted over the music at me.

I didn't answer. She's really sensitive about people not liking the things she likes. I just gave her a nod and took another sip from my drink. I felt an arm wrap around my shoulder and I spun, staring into the eyes of Jackson Montgomery. I hadn't talked to him since he jumped Ponyboy and I was hoping I would never have to.

"How's it going Scarlett?" He gave me a fake innocent smile.

"Alright." I replied, "Jumped any little kids lately?" I asked, tilting my head.

It didn't even phase him, "Not lately. I'll pay that Curtis kid a visit sometime. Not Ponyboy but... Sodapop right? I'm sure he'll be too distracted by the murder charges his kid brothers going to be facing to even get a good hit in."

I bit my lip hard, holding back all the words I could have said.

He just kept going, "Or how about that one with the dark hair? Johnny, I think his name is. He's bound to show up in Tulsa again."

I stalked off. I couldn't talk to him and not doing something rash. I walked up to Riley, who was sitting at the bar. She's got dark eyes and dark hair to match that shapes her face in soft wisps.

"You need this more than me." She laughed, handing me a plastic cup full of something.

I drank it greedily and stood there talking to her for nearly an hour until out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of a dark jacket. I knew that jacket anywhere.

I don't even get the time to check though before Riley spoke up.

"Trouble." She slurred, pointing to the end of the bar with her thin finger.

Jackson had Sarah pressed against the bar, her hands forced at her sides. Her young and innocent face was looking mighty terrified and he was giving her the weirdest smile I've ever seen. It's the same look he gave me after he jumped Ponyboy.

I didn't hesitate to run over, "Take your hands off her."

He just rolled his jade eyes at me, "This isn't your business."

"That's my friend so yes, it is my business."

"Shouldn't you be on the search party looking for Curtis and that other kid? You've got bigger worries." He growled at me, his faces only inches away from mine.

A boy that was in a couple of my classes came walking over, "Just let her go, Jackson."

He sounded like he'd seen this routine a million times. I vaguely remembered his name to be Max.

Jackson just gave another one of his smiles and I knew what was coming next before anyone else did. One of the boys at Jacksons side launched at Max before he even had time to defend himself. They tumbled to the ground almost immediately. A circle around us formed immediately, nobody in Tulsa could resist a fight. That was my chance to grab Sarah and I did, yanking her by the wrist. Max was nearly unconscious and Jackson didn't look like he was calling his guy off. It was right around then when I heard the unmistakable click of a gun, only inches away from me. Sarah grabbed my hand so tightly when she heard it I thought she had stopped all circulation. We slowly turned around and I was relieved when I saw who it was.

"Let him go or I swear to God I'll blast his brains out." Dallas's voice didn't waver as he stood there in his black leather jacket. 

Mark was standing next to him, his eyes looking more alive than ever. He winked at me with a mischievous smile, his way of telling me that the burner wasn't loaded. 

"You're not really going to shoot me, are you? Your gang already has some problems with murder." Jackson said, breathing heavily.

"Try me." Dallas tilted his head, smiling.

"You'd be locked up for life, jailbird."

Dallas took a step forward, only one hand on the gun now, pointing it at Jacksons head, execution style. I knew he was bluffing but, no one else did. That was all that mattered. Sarah was squeezing my hand so tightly it was getting painful but, I didn't pull my hand away. She didn't know what I knew.  Nearly everyone in the house had gathered around us but, no one was going to dare do anything when Dallas had that gun. Jackson's friend hopped off Max with his hands raised, looking like his heart was about to burst out his chest.

"Stupid greaser." The kid muttered and Dallas didn't miss it.

"What'd you say?"

"If I was you, I wouldn't insult the guy who's got the heater." Mark gave a taunting smile, almost daring the boy to say something else. It was the first time I was afraid of him.

"Now, nobody's going to give us any trouble,are they?" Dallas asks. He sounded like a ring leader and that was his circus.

Nearly everybody mumbled no and Mark walked over to us, moving us quickly along with Max. Dallas backed up and pointed the gun at the crowd. He was doing it for respect. He wasn't trying to save Max, I knew that. We all moved behind him and he kept the heater pointed at the house until the house faded into the distance. It was right around then that Sarah started bawling.

"Shut up, will ya?" Dallas groaned, putting the heater back in his jacket.

"Don't talk to her like that." I snapped back, and gave Sarah's hand a sympathetic squeeze.

Dallas glared at me hard but turned to Max, "Who are you?"

"Max Townsend." He wiped the blood off his face.

He was pretty bad off. He had gashes all across his face that looked like they could use some stitches but, I doubted he cared enough to get that done.

"Well, thanks for helping out our girls here." Mark gave him a pat on the back and pushed him a bit, his way of telling him that it was time for him to take off.

"What were you even doing here?" I asked Dallas, who was a few steps ahead of the rest of us, twitching his hands nervously.

"Nothing." He lit a cigarette but, only took one breath before throwing it on the ground.

"Aw Dally, just tell her, or else we came here for no reason." Mark laughed.

I've never seen Mark sad or even not happy in my entire life. Maybe he just doesn't have the time.

"Tell me what?" I asked, catching up to Dallas.

He gave me one of his small smiles, "I'm taking you to see Ponyboy and Johnny."