Chapter Text
Sitting on a sidewalk, in the middle of the night with rainwater soaking into my hair and running down my back wasn't how I planned this night to end.
For context, I had just gone to my first high school party, only two years late as I was in my Junior year. So the idealized revision of how this night was supposed to go, left me even more dissatisfied.
I had sat alone until the boy who invited me decided he wanted to get with me. I politely rejected him but he wasn't taking no for an answer. I had experiences with pushy boys before but this was different. This was aggression disguised as lust and desire. He basically forced me to make out with him, pulling me back in when I tried to pull away.
After it was over I made my way out of the house, not wanting anything to escalate further. I walked away from that house until my legs were sore. Unfortunately, my best friend (and my ride) was at that party so I was now stranded.
I didn't have a plan on where to go, I figured I should maybe try to sleep and if I wasn't kidnapped take the bus home in the morning.
But before I tried to develop that plan any further a familiar car pulled up to the curb.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" a voice yelled out, rolling down the window.
It was Dallas Winston. A family friend was the best way to describe our relationship. He wouldn't go out of his way to hang out with me but he'd let me tag along sometimes if my brother was with him.
Dally came into our neighborhood when he was thirteen. So we didn't grow up together but he went through puberty with the support of my mother and father who unofficially took him in. Everyone would always say my mother was the only person who could get to Dally.
So maybe that's why he felt it was his responsibility to care about me stranded in the rain.
"Hi," I said awkwardly.
"Hi?" He asked, laughing sarcastically. "It's midnight and you're downtown all alone."
"I got lost." I tried to explain, pushing my soaking wet curls out of my face.
"How the hell do you—" he cut himself off. "I don't even care, just get in."
I reluctantly stood up, my whole body aching, and got into the passenger seat.
"Great, now the seats are going to be nice and wet," he said, gesturing obnoxiously to my white frilly dress, which was probably now see-through due to the rain.
I ignored it, letting him rant. I wanted to keep my ride. Even If it was at the expense of silent tears.
"You know you're just like your brother, no fucking thoughts in your head. What was your plan to get picked up by some pedophile?"
I didn't speak for a minute, trying to think of what to say. "You don't know what I just went through..." I said stuttering, my voice clear that I was now crying. "So please just back the fuck off."
Dally looked at me sympathetically. I wasn't aware that he was capable of pity.
"Fine," he said. "Where am I taking you?"
"Not home." I mumbled.
"Why not?"
"Darry thinks I'm at Jane's house."
"You're making this really hard for me." Dally muttered, making a left turn, ignoring the red light.
The silence was loud enough.
After a couple of sharp turns and potential speeding tickets we made it to Bucks.
No one was home probably because it was a Saturday night. Everyone who lived in that home, which was practically a fraternity without the college, was probably out dealing or fighting.
"Do you want water?" Dallas asked, walking into the kitchen.
"Sure," I said sitting on the counter. "I don't know if I trust that this cup was washed."
"It probably wasn't." He smirked. "You'll be fine princess."
After a couple of seconds of awkward silence Dally pulled out a cigarette. "Do you have an extra?"
"You don't smoke," his cold blue eyes filled with amusement and curiosity.
"You don't know me." I wasn't lying. I was a social smoker but I never did it on my own. But I don't know why I was trying to impress him.
"Bullshit," he reached back into his jeans and pulled another cigarette out. "I've known you since you were like ten."
"That doesn't mean anything." I said taking the cigarette and lighter.
For the first time inhaling it felt like loosening my nerves.
"So..." Dally said, trying to stop the inevitable awkward silence. "What were you doing downtown?"
I sighed and looked down at my saddle shoes. "You promise not to tell anyone."
"Mhm."
"I was at a socs party."
His eyes widen, "what the fuck." He wasn't mad, just curious. He laughed "who the fuck invited you to a party with those bastards."
"A boy on the football team." I said smiling, mostly out of relief Dally wasn't pissed.
"Ahh, I almost forgot you shake your ass so you can send those rich kids to free college." He joked. "Why would you even show to that?"
"Because the boy who invited me is nice."
"He's nice because he wants to get into your pants." He wasn't wrong but hearing him confirm my fear hurt.
"He's catholic."
"That doesn't mean shit, your family's religious." Dally smirked. His smile was so stupid, annoying, and insensitive but cute in some rough around the edges way.
"What does that mean?"
"It means you're no Mary." He said laughing, at his own joke.
"I am a virgin who the hell told you I wasn't?"
I was a virgin. I mean I wasn't totally innocent, I had done sexual things but never had actual sex.
"I have my sources. Trust me I don't judge doll." I got up to throw out my cigarette. "That doesn't really explain how you ended up a lost puppy."
"Drunk men are pushy and I wanted to get out before anything happened." I said downplaying the whole situation.
Dally took a minute to ponder, "did something like actually happen?"
"Just pushy guys." I lied, my tone sounding kind of annoyed at his questioning.
"What'd he do?"
"I don't want to talk about it." I stated bluntly.
"Another reason to hate those prissy bitches." Dally said, working himself up. "They make themselves seem like fucking gentlemen but really they're just wife beaters."
"Aren't greasers' wife beaters too?" I said cynically.
"Well at least we're upfront about who we are"
"You're upfront about being a wife-beater?" I laughed at his hypocrisy.
He slammed his fist down on the table. "I'm not a fucking wife-beater."
I wanted to make a joke about him beating the table but he was already visibly upset.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. Scared of his sudden mood switch. It reminded me of my Dad. "I didn't mean to get you mad. You're right the Socs are bitches but I already know that. I've grown up knowing that."
"It's whatever I don't care." He paused. "Look," he started, his tone immediately switching from angry and defensive to quiet and almost vulnerable. "I didn't mean to be a dick in the car, I was just worried."
"Is that an apology," I asked, building up the courage to look up at his towering figure.
"Call It whatever you want," he said, "just know I feel bad."
Eventually, we made our way upstairs to where Dally was staying. It was messy but I was in no place to be judgmental. Beggars can't be choosers.
He walked over to a closet that was covered with empty beer cans and other dishes. He pulled out a worn-out brown T-shirt and handed it to me.
I gave him a confused glance. "What? Do you want to sleep in that?" Dally gestured to my drenched dress.
"Oh sorry," I said, grabbing the shirt. "Thanks."
As I started to unbutton my dress Dally turned away. A surprising sign of respect for him. But turning back around I did realize the brief glance he gave me.
"Where should I put this?" I asked, holding up my dress.
"It doesn't matter."
"Oh okay," I said, turning around and walking over to his bed. Before he left I built up the courage to speak. "Uh, Dally."
"What?" He said, stopping in the doorway.
"I just wanted to say thank you." I smiled.
"Yeah, yeah, anytime." He said playing his kindness off. That weirdly kind of hurt until he cracked a small smile. I took note of the way it awkwardly looked on him, an emotion he didn't display often. "Goodnight." He said flicking off the light switch and shutting the door before I could respond.
As I fell asleep half my thoughts were about Dally. And the other half was beating myself up for my fantasies.