Starboy - DarLas -The Outsiders

Chapter 16

I propped myself up on my elbow and looked down at Sleeping Beauty beside me. The clock on the bedside table said it was only six in the morning, and the only light in the room came from the streetlights outside. The sun would be up in about an hour. A warm breeze came in through an open window and filled the room with a chilling humidity.

 I gently stroked Darry's hair, pushing it out of his eyes. I would love to say Darry was curled up peacefully beside me, but no. He obviously wasn't sleeping well. His hair was an absolute mess. He was sprawled out on the bed beside me, in some strange contortion of the human body, and he was snoring something awful. He whimpered and shivered in his sleep, tossing and turning every few seconds. I pulled him close and stroked his head, trying to calm him down. He tucked his head into my shoulder, and relaxed a little. He still muttered nervously, talking in his sleep. His eyes flew open and he startled awake.

He looked frantically around the room, and a sense of relief washed over his face when he realized he was in his bedroom, not the fiery pits of hell. He looked at me, and laughed awkwardly.

"Hey Dal," Darry yawned. A car passed by outside and Darry tensed up, scared by the noisy motor.

"Bad dream?" I asked.

He sat up, staring out into space. "Yeah."

I sat up next to him, and wrapped my arm around him, and pulled him close. We just sat there, and Darry relaxed into my embrace.

"Is there something that's bugging you, man?" I asked.

"Yeah," Darry sighed, "I forgot about work yesterday." He stood up. "I guess I'm working overtime this week," he groaned. He walked over to his dresser to change, taking his shirt off. I crept up behind him, and when his arms were in the air, I started tickling his underarms. Darry tensed up and collapsed.

"Stoppit, Dal!" He laughed. He kicked and squirmed to break free, and succeeded. He stood back up, catching his breath. He pulled a shirt over his head and helped me up. I wrapped my arms around his waist and hoisted him up into the air. 

"Alright, Dal," He chuckled. I set him down, and he opened the door and walked into the kitchen. I followed him proudly, strutting my wrinkled jeans and lack of a shirt. The sun was starting to rise, bathing Darry's muscles in a golden light. The sunlight highlighted his features, making him seem like an greek god.

I felt my cheeks get hot, and I welcomed the feeling. Darry was mine now, and I was his. I watched him as he started cooking breakfast. I admired his looks, and let my gaze slide down to focus on his lower half. Darry caught me staring at him, and raised an eyebrow.

"What?" He asked.

I smirked, "You got a nice ass, Starboy," I teased.

Darry's entire face went red, which wasn't much of a surprise, considering how easily flustered he is. He rolled his eyes and returned his attention to the carton of eggs on the counter. I smiled. This man is a national treasure.

"You really have no idea how hot you are," I said. Darry kept looking down at the counter, but I could see him fighting a smile. I leaned on my counter next to him. He looked back up at me once he had pulled himself together. I smiled genuinely, letting him know I wasn't joking. He smiled that beautiful, stunning, and real smile you could only ever get from a moment like this. I pulled him closer and gently kissed him on the cheek.

"Don't you two think it's a little early in the morning for...that?" Ponyboy stood in the doorway, rubbing his eyes.

"Ehh, we woke up at six, so not really," I wisecracked. Pony rolled his eyes. I almost gasped at how much he looked like Darry when he did that. I looked at Darry, who was cooking eggs. He walked over while waiting for the eggs to cook.

"The eye roll runs in the family," I said. Darry elbowed me and snickered. I raised an eyebrow at him, and in response he smiled at the ground and shoved his hands in his pockets. I messed up his ungreased hair.

Pony cleared his throat. We both looked at him, confused.

"What?" I asked.

"Is there something going on between you two that I need to know about?"

"You don't need to know anything," Darry retorted defensively. I couldn't help but chuckle. Classic Darry. Pony raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, going full-on 14-year-old on us. Darry pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed.

"Wait, so Dally's your boyfriend?!" Ponyboy asked. Darry nodded awkwardly.

"Relax, I ain't that bad," I sniggered.

Pony shot me a look. The room was silent for a moment.

"Soda, guess what!" Pony yelled in the direction of Pony and Soda's bedroom. Darry leaned back and groaned at the ceiling.

Pony and Soda were eating breakfast. Darry had served me some eggs, and I stood in the corner, happily devouring my breakfast. I looked over at Darry, who was starting to get his shoes on. I looked over at the clock above the icebox. 7:30 in the morning.

"Where you goin' this early, man?" I asked.

"Work. I told you, I'm working overtime this week," he responded.

"But Darry-" Pony started.

"Not now Pony. My mind is made up." He walked through the screen door and shut it behind him. I just stood there, paralyzed. I snapped to my senses and ran after him. I followed him and grabbed his arm just as he was about to get in the car.

"Dal, what are you doing?" He spun around to look at me. "I can't not work."

"I..." I hesitated, "I don't want you getting sick like you did earlier this month," I sighed.

Darry pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dal, that day I hadn't eaten anything and I slept about two hours the night before." He looked up at me. "You don't have to worry so much." Something clicked. I remember this conversation. I raised an eyebrow, and crossed my arms. Darry seemed to remember that stormy day too, because he groaned and looked up at the sky. 

"I'll be alright, Dal," He said reassuringly. He turned to open the car door, but before he could get in I spun him back around and kissed him, bringing my lips to his. Darry kissed me back, short and sweet, then smirked at me.

"Sneaky little bastard."

"What? You're a good kisser." Darry rolled his eyes, and got in the truck.

I watched him as he drove off, leaving me smiling wildly and my heart doing acrobatics in my chest.

I still didn't know what 'working overtime' meant.