"No offense, Dallas, but I'm not into moody assholes," I fired at him with a smug smirk.
"Yeah, you're not my type either, Diana," he shot back. "Crazy, uptight chics are kind of a turnoff." I narrowed my eyes at him and growled angrily.
...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Dallas and I quickly walked hand in hand through the trees that led to a large opening, where the greasers and socs stood. It was like a scene out of a movie. The greasers stood on one side, while the socs stood on the other, each of them glaring at the other. The face off was intense and I could tell that the fight was about to break out any minute. I rolled my neck around, listening to the cracks as I limbered up. I wore a smirk on my lips as I spoke, "Alright, let's do this thing."
"You should sit this one out," Dally said. It sounded more like a command than a suggestion though.
I crossed my arms defensively. "Why?" I asked. This was my first official rumble and there was no way that I was going to sit this one out.
"It gets bad out there," Dallas said, nodding towards the socs and the greasers.
"All of a sudden, I can't take care of myself?" I asked sardonically. This was ridiculous. I've been in numerous fights before, most without Dally present, and he chooses now to tell me that I can't be apart of one. I've proven myself time after time, and I shouldn't have to sit and watch from the sideline.
"You know that's not what I meant," Dallas huffed as he rolled his eyes at me.
"Then, what did you mean?" I asked. I was growing impatient and frustrated now. "I don't need you to keep protecting me, Dal. I can handle a stupid fight-"
"Jesus, Diana, you don't think I know that?" Dallas exclaimed. "I just don't want you to get hurt. You just got out of the hospital."
I was quiet for a moment, silently debating on what I should say and do. I thought it was sweet that he didn't want me to fight in the rumble because he didn't want me to get hurt again, but I also really wanted to be apart of this. "Okay," I said. "I won't fight."
Dally's expression softened. If staying out of the rumble would make him happy, then that was what I was going to do.
"Be careful," I spoke softly. I pressed a kiss on his cheek. Dallas smiled and nodded before turning around and running towards the standoff.
I leaned on the tree that stood tall behind me, and watched Dally join the other greasers. "You know a rumble ain't a rumble without me!" He shouted, signaling the start of the fight. In the distance, I could see my friends standing side by side. When the first punch was thrown, it hit Ponyboy right in the face and sent him flying to the ground.
Almost immediately, the greasers and socs meshed into one, large group, punching and kicking anyone that was near. I watched with wide eyes as the rumble erupted into pure and utter chaos. The fight was filled with so much hatred and anger from the feud that had been boiling for years and had only gotten worse. The socs fought to avenge Bob Sheldon's death, while the greasers fought for Johnny Cade, the boy who had taken the other's life. I couldn't believe that this was the outcome of the different social classes in Tulsa. It was truly devastating that these people couldn't get along, and that a fight would be the only way to release their bottled up emotions.
