Tex (Dallas Winston)

Chapter Seven

A/N: Hey! Thank you guys so much for the great reception to this story! I'm getting a lot of reads and votes so keep it up! This is a pretty angsty chapter but it definitely helps progress the story. Leave a vote if you enjoyed!

"Are you kidding me? What could cause you to be that stupid?"

"Dallas Winston, I've already jumped out of one moving car, don't think I won't do it again."

The pair were driving to Buck's to retrieve lipstick left by Talia. Surely Dallas could've brought it to her, but Talia figured he wanted the time to yell at her for acting so dumb.

He inhaled sharply. "What would make you, someone who has heard about how horrible those damn Socs are, climb into their car WILLINGLY?"

Talia shrugged, rubbing her bandaged arm softly. "I had already walked a lot. I thought it would be a nice break."

She felt Dallas' eyes digging into her skin. She couldn't bear to look over at him again. The disappointment and anger hung heavily in the air.

Blistered and bloody feet sprinted across the pavement as Talia rounded the corner towards the Curtis house. Her shaking hands managed to get the gate latch undone and she jogged up the steps to the porch, slammed her entire body into the door as she fumbled with the doorknob.

"Holy shit! Talia, is that you?" Darry yelled in surprise, jumping up from his recliner. They must've thought somebody was trying to break in when Talia had accidentally ran into the door.

"I... The Socs, I..." She panted, collapsing onto the floor, trying to regain her breath.

Darry picked her up from the floor and set her gently on the couch, instructing the other two brothers to get a wet washcloth and the first-aid kit.

"Slow down your breathing, darlin'. You'll be fine. Tell me what happened." Darry said to her, rubbing her back softly.

Talia let her breathing settle down before she explained everything to Darry.

When she was done, she was surprised to see a disappointed look on his face. Sure, she had only known him for a week, but she still expected a small amount of compassion or empathy.

"You should've never gotten into the car with them, Tals. Them Socs are bad business."

A typical answer. She knew he didn't understand her situation.

Tears stung at the sides of her eyes as she looked away from him, not able to bear to let any words come out of her mouth.

"Don't cry, Talia. You're safe, and that's all that matters. You learned a valuable lesson. Now you won't go messin' with any Soc boy."

Darry was right. Talia let the tears run down her face as she looked back at him. He wrapped her road-burned arm gently, taking precaution to ensure it caused her the least amount of pain as possible.

That night, she let more tears fall down her cheek and onto the couch below as she lay, nestled between throw pillows and plush blankets. She regretted ever moving to this town, and mentally cursed her parents for the hardships they made her endure.

At the same time, she was comforted by the fact that the Curtis brothers jumped to her rescue. She had never fully experienced friends who treated her like family. Sure, she missed her friends back in Texas, and all the other cities she had lived in, but being older and more mature meant more developed relationships, and this was certainly proving good times ahead.

She just had to learn to take the advice of the locals.

"Why are you so mad about it?"

The car was stopped at a traffic light. The pedestrians that were crossing had almost reached the other side of the street before Dallas responded.

"Because I care about you."

His answer came as a shock to Talia, who's eyes grew wide as she slowly turned to look at him. The undertone of his cheeks were flushed pink, and he stared ahead at the road as he began to press on the accelerator.

From his conversation with Buck, Talia had figured she meant little to nothing to him. So either he was just saying that to make her feel better about herself, or he was actually being truthful and she had misinterpreted the entire conversation between the two men.

The pair of teenagers were silent for the entire rest of the way to Buck's Tavern. Even when they exited the vehicle, not a word was said.

Up the stairs and into the bedroom, Talia immediately spotted her container of lipstick on the bedside table.

She retrieved it, but was surprised to turn around and see Dallas leaning against the now closed door, lighting up a cigarette.

"We need to talk." He said, voice muffled from the cigarette sticking out from between his lips.

"There's nothing more to say." Talia replied bluntly, leaning her weight against the small, wooden side table.

"But there is though. I know you were eavesdropping on me yesterday."

Talia rolled her eyes. "So?"

Dallas chuckled. "So? I think you took that whole conversation out of context. I wasn't 'mad' at you for not sleeping with me."

Again, Talia rolled her eyes, interrupting him, "Seemed like you were."

Dallas inhaled sharply. "Okay, maybe at the time I was, but if I'm honest, it's because all of the girls I usually surround myself with like to have sex with me right away. But you're different, Tals. I like that about you."

She was silent for a few moments, pondering her decision.

"What about the 'after last night, I'm not so sure' thing you said to Buck? Huh?" She asked, looking up at him.

He shrugged. "I've had time to think."

A simple sentence. Talia exhaled deeply, wondering what she should do.

Dallas was wild. A hoodlum, so aptly named by the town. From what she had gathered from everyone she spoke to, Dallas was a womanizing alcoholic who didn't care about anyone or anything except the Greasers, booze, and petty crimes.

However, she was beginning to think that all the stories weren't so true.

On the other hand, she knew that Two-Bit had it big for her. His eyes practically turned into gigantic hearts whenever she was around. He was far more responsible than Dallas, and was probably all around better for her to date.

On only her second week in Tulsa, she was torn between two guys. More options than she's had in a while.

Pressure on the bed next to her brought her out of her thoughts. She turned her gaze from her lap up to meet Dallas' eyes, who were staring at her softly.

"Talia, you're good for me. You're responsible, smart, and pretty, and I need a girl like you to help me get by in life."

The sentence shocked her to her very core.

If there was one idea that had been cemented into her head from the very moment she had met the greasers, it was the fact that Dallas Winston never, ever showed emotion. Yet here he was, proving himself vulnerable to Talia. She thought nothing special of herself; there was no reason in her mind as to why he would reveal himself to her.

And she knew he couldn't want to get into her pants that bad.

So, with Dallas' words echoing through her mind, she sealed her decision with a kiss.