ʜᴇʀᴏ

triggers

i slowly stood up and peaked past Dallas.

I saw James standing in the doorway, taking his sunglasses off and putting them in the collar of his shirt.

"i'm here to check on the broad. she didn't show up to school... thought she might be sick"
he shrugged

"I'm sorry did you just call her a-."
I cut Dallas off.
"hey, James. what are you doing here?"

Dallas rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"just here to see ya, babe..."
he said, smiling a devilish smile.
"can i come in?"

"yeah of course."
i said, smiling slightly.

"absolutely not."
Dallas scoffed.

"what are you, her dad?"
James laughed, leaning against the door frame.
His dark eyes danced around, landing on me then Dallas... me then Dallas.

"no. her dads dead. get a move on. Fizz don't need no company right now..."

James looked Dallas up and down then put his sun glasses back on.
"alright. I know when i'm not wanted. I'll see ya later, Fizz..."
and with that James walked off our front porch.

Dallas slammed the front door shut.

He took out a weed then plopped down on the couch.
"I swear kid, you're gonna be the end of me..."

I looked at him,
"what the hell was that for?"
I asked, annoyance laced in my voice.

"I have direct instructions from superman himself. you're not allowed to have anyone over. no exceptions. you need resttttt."
he laughed.

"you're seriously irritating...."
I groaned, throwing my head back.

"ya know, Fizzle Rose Curtis... i'm staring to regret convincing Darry to let you date that hood. He's turning you into a punk."

I scoffed, looking offended even though I really wasn't. I just like messing with people.
"A punk? how dare you Dallas Winston."
I laughed slightly.

"Yeah... Yeah why don't you go cry me a river..."
He chuckled, lighting the weed and letting it hang loosely from his lips.

wow he looked hot.

"maybe I will..."
I crossed my arms then sat down next to him.

I put my hand out for the cancer stick but he laughed and shook his head.

"No way. you're fifteen and a girl... and Darry would kill me."

"so what? Pony started smoking when he was like 12..."
I said, putting my hand back in my lap.

"I don't care..."

We stayed silent for a moment.
"you should break up with your boyfriend, Fizz."

——————————

Later that night, I was sitting at the dining room table with my brothers, eating dinner.

It was mostly quiet except for Darry asking Ponyboy a question about his grades every once in a while.

Dallas' words were still ringing in my head
'you should break up with your boyfriend'

Does he really think he has the right to tell me what to do?
Then again it is Dallas Winston, he thinks he has the right to do anything.

All of a sudden I heard metal clanking.

Soda dropped his fork on the floor but it reminded me of the sound the fence made... the day I got attacked.

Pain.
Blood.
Bruises.
Yelling.
Fear.
Pure and utter fear is all I could feel.

I stood up from the table, my head feeling like it was about to explode and my stomach twisting into knots.
"uhm. I'm tired I'm going to go to my room. Thanks for dinner..."
I said before quickly pushing my chair in and heading up the stairs.

I walked into my room and closed my door behind me.

I breathed heavily and ran a hand through my brunette locks. I didn't know what the hell that was and I was really confused.

I sat on the edge of my bed, my chest rising and falling faster than my grades.
"What the hell..."

I heard a light knock on the door.

"I'm fine!"
I said, digging my nails deep into the skin on the palm of my hand.

I hadn't acted like this since mom and dad died.
I was weirding myself out because I didn't know why I was feeling like this.

It felt like someone was sitting on my chest, my hands were sweating, and i felt paralyzed.
I felt heavy... my mind was going a mile a minute and I didn't know where to look.

"No you're not. I'm coming in."
Darry's rough yet somehow comforting voice said through the door.

"Don't come in! I- I'm naked!"
i yelled, panicking.

"Ha! That doesn't scare me. I changed your goddamn diapers."
He said, walking into my room.

He saw me and sighed.
"What's wrong, princess?"

I shook my head.
"I dunno. I just have a lot going on in my head right now."
I shrugged.

"Like...?"
The giant that I called my brother asked, sitting next to me.

"I dunno. Mom and dad have been on my mind a lot lately. The nightmares. Those Socs attacking me the other day... James...school...it's all just a lot."

Darry nodded.
"I understand. Maybe Just try to sleep on it? You can sleep in my bed again if you want"

I nodded with a grin.
"Yeah. Sounds great muscles Mcgee."

He laughed.
"You knucklehead..."

------------------

I slept in Darry's bed that night and actually got some good sleep for once.

It was Saturday so that means the gang was coming over for breakfast.

I was greeted by Two-Bit, Steve, Johnny, Soda, Darry, and Dally sitting at the dining room table, eating pancakes and bacon.

"Hey, sleepy head."
Soda grinned, noticing me standing in the doorway still half asleep.

The gang then all looked up at me and smiled a bright grin. the whole gang looked too bright eyed and bushy tailed this early in the morning on a Saturday.

"get some food, huh?"
Darry asked, gesturing towards the kitchen.

"Yes, Captain"
I saluted him then walked into the kitchen.

Dallas laughed.
"I always knew she was my favorite Curtis"

I grabbed a pancake and some chocolate milk then walked back to the table.

I saw Dallas was sitting in my chair.
"Get out of my chair, Winston."

"Ya know... I'm good"
He laughed, taking a bite of his pancakes.

I rolled my eyes.

"Take my chair."
Johnny said, standing up.
"I'm done anyway."

I smiled at him then sat down in the now empty chair.
"Thanks Johnnycakes..."

"Look at Johnny Cade being a gentleman..."
Two-Bit said as I took a bite of my pancakes.

"More than Dallas can say"
Soda laughed and Johnny's cheeks turned a dark crimson.

Ya know... he was kinda cute when he blushed.