Notes: This is the first chapter in a story that will be somewhat long. I plan on finishing it through. I don't own any Outsiders characters, they all belong to S.E. Hinton.
Five days previous, Cherry Valance had told Ponyboy that she hoped she'd never see Dallas Winston again. In jest, she'd mumbled she'd probably even fall in love with him. But there she was, driving her cherry red sting ray right back into Greaser territory like she said she wouldn't. But Cherry couldn't help herself; she wanted to help Ponyboy and Johnny, and she thought the only way that she could was through that devil, Dallas Winston.
Cherry spotted the white blonde hair immediately because Dallas was sitting on top of a table right outside of the Dingo. He was deep in conversation with an older looking hood and she thought maybe she shouldn't even approach the two. At least it would give her an excuse to get out of there, she thought, doubting herself. But just as she was about to pull away, the other greaser went inside the food joint, leaving Dallas Winston alone, looking hard, and smoking a cigarette.
The soc girl parked in a vacant spot and locked her doors before she took a deep breath and walked over to Dally. He looked kind of deep in thought, looking out into the distance and seemed to be working out problems in his head. Cherry coughed a little as she stood a few feet away and he looked up.
"Just a few a days ago you're tellin' me to get lost and now you're comin' a lookin' for me? Crazy broad…" Dallas smirked, eyeing Cherry and then eyeing her tight sweater. "Not that I mind Red, is it getting' lonely on the West Side?"
Cherry shook her head and her red hair blew in the wind. "You know what Dallas Winston, I was coming to find out about Pony and Johnny! But I don't think I can even stand you for as long as it takes to find out!" She was shouting again. Everything about Dallas Winston made her want to shout but it also made her want to let him do whatever he wanted with her. Even when he was rude, the boy had a certain dangerous charm.
Dallas smiled a mean little smile before his face softened again. "So you want me to tell 'em that you hate 'em and all, for doing away with that soc bastard? He was gonna hurt 'em you know…you're kind ain't as sweet as you think."
Cherry nodded her head and looked down, ashamed. "I know; I know he probably deserved what he got…I'm willing to testify that Bob was drunk you know? To the police, I know that Pony and Johnny were only defending themselves." She was tearing up a little, thinking about how horrid an ordeal everyone had gotten into.
Now Dallas Winston was a bitter boy and all but he didn't like to see nice broads cry. He didn't like it one bit. "Look Red, you're helpin' us out now aintcha, don't get all misty-eyed on me." He suddenly jumped up off the table and with the hand that wasn't holding his smoke, went to rub a tear as gently as Dally knew how off of her face.
Cherry looked down at his hand skeptically, submitting to the harsh caress before shaking it off completely. She had to admit though, she felt some sparks, even in that swift contact.
"Look, can I getcha a coke or something'?" The greaser asked, rubbing his hands together, wishing he didn't come off as to hopeful. Dallas Winston didn't need girls to like him; he didn't even want to admit to himself that he may actually like Cherry more than the average pretty girl.
And just when she thought she might say yes, just when Cherry thought Dallas Winston could have a softer side to him; he had to ruin it. Thinking of his reputation, the towheaded boy just had to add, "You know, first cokes then who knows, I might talk you into coming back to old Buck's with me for some fun…" His eyes glinted slyly and he had meant it jokingly, but Cherry just scowled.
"Only place you're going is to hell!" The cheerleader huffed, folding her arms across her chest. "Look you know where to find me, but don't come looking unless you've got news on Pony or Johnny!" She warned, turning on her maryjane heel to walk right back off to her car.
All old Dallas could think about as he drove up to Jay Mountain was Cherry. He'd been thinking about Johnny and Ponyboy too much, and thinking about that girl was a much-needed escape. Cherry was the fieriest girl he'd ever laid his eyes on and every fiber of his being told him to welcome the challenge. Dallas wasn't one to back down, maybe rethink his approach, but definitely not back down.
He strode into the old abandoned church, looking very much like he'd self-proclaimed himself king of it. His rich laugh could be heard as he ruffled Pony's bleached hair, "Wake up Blondie! Johnny, get up pal!"
The younger boys were more than glad to see him, begging for news from Tulsa. And he told them everything, that is, after he'd quenched his hunger at the local drive through.
"You remember that broad from the movies?" Dally asked in between a mouthful of barbecue sandwich and a sip of coke. "The redhead?"
"Cherry!" Said Johnny. "Yeah Cherry Valance!" Exclaimed Pony.
"Well she said she'd testify for you, that the Socs were drunk, that it was self defense. You'd get off real easy…" Dallas explained, adding in the fact that he thought it took a lot of nerve from her to just approach him like that.
"That's it! I'll turn myself in," Said Johnny. "Look with their help we might not get into trouble at all, it was self defense after all." And Ponyboy agreed. Things were looking up, especially after Cherry had volunteered to support them.
"Man, that little broad sure does hate me though, I offered to buy her a coke and she told me to go to hell." Dallas's sly little grin dropped a little. "So do you think she might like me a little?" He asked uncharacteristically, and the younger boys just laughed.
As they sped back to Tulsa, with Dally driving like the true maniac that he was, the gloom and doom seemed to be lifting for them and in place of it, hope filled their hearts. Hope for different things of course, but hope all the same.