This Might Hurt A Little-A Dallas Winston Fanfiction

Sleeping Monster

Tears shed for another person are not a sign of weakness. They are a sign of a pure heart.-Jose N Harris, Mi Vida

Come on." I said gently, "We're sleeping at my place tonight. Come on." 

I grabbed his hands and pulled him to his feet. He wrapped his arms around me and I think it was more just to steady himself than anything. Two-Bit was peering out from behind the banister but scampered back up the stairs when I shot him a look. Darry was standing at the top of the stairs and gave me a nod, like it was okay for me to take Dallas. As if I needed permission. We walked quietly through the grass. Everything was quiet that night. Even the car ride.

I held Dallas's hand as we walked into my house, a display of affection I never would have dared to do on any other night. The lights flickered on and I could see my mother peering out from behind the window.

"If you think for one second, Scarlett..." My mom started up but, I motioned her to walk with me in the kitchen, leaving Dallas with my older brother, Ryder.

"It's just one night. Please." I begged her. I couldn't fight her. 

"No! Don't you have any idea about what this will do to your reputation?"

I stared at her, my words failing me, "I don't give a damn, mom! Johnny's dead."

This stopped her for a moment, "That young nervous one with the dark hair?"

I knew she had always had a soft spot for him.

"Yeah." I said, coughing to clear the lump in my throat.

"Just for one night, you hear?"  Her voice was monotone.

When I walked back into the living room Dallas was sitting on the floor, his knees brought up to his chest and his hands tight behind his head. Ryder was staring at him, not sure what to say.

"Come on, Dal." Leaning down to speak to him.

He nearly jumped out of his skin when I spoke. There was a calm in his eyes, like the peacefulness before all hell breaks loose in a storm. He followed me up the stairs like a lost child. When I was 9 Ryder got lost at a zoo and ended up being guided back by one of the workers to my family. The only reason I remember that day is because of how scared Ryder looked and how much he was relying on that worker to bring him back. That's how Dallas was with me that night, just relying on me to take him somewhere.

I pulled Dallas slowly by the wrist up to my bedroom. He laid down on my bed, facing the ceiling. He was starting at the ceiling with such intensity that I found myself checking just to see if something was there.

"Do you want to talk about it?"I asked softly, studying him as I put my head on his chest.

"No."

"Do you want to cry?"

"No."

"Do you want to scream?"

"No."

"Do you want me to leave you alone?"

"No."

I didn't know what to say. I never know what to say.

****AUTHORS NOTE****

Sorry about the sad chapter. Yet it was necessary.

FYI: the definition of zugzwang is a situation in which the obligation to make a move in one's turn is a serious, often decisive, disadvantage.