Here I go...

SUMMARY: Dallas Winston didn't always think the world was so bad- but he's thought it for a long time. A tale about Dally when he was in New York; not like the others. I hope.
NOTE: Dally is 10/11/and 12 years old in this story!
WARNINGS: Violence in later chapters; Child abuse (ish); Harsh Language; and OCs.
If any of the above offends please just don't read it. I'm not forcing you too and if you don't like it I'd rather avoid offending you.

I don't think I'm very good at capturing Dally- but I'm going to try. I have a theory that he got hard in New York so it won't be until around the end that he's hard like in the book. Okay? No flames please.

Chapter 1

The boys small forehead was pressed against the glass of the passenger side window and he stared out it blankly. The sky was a rolling grey hill of clouds coming from the west and pouring icy drops of rain down from the heavans, pelting the small car as it swerved through the mountain chain in Pennsylvania. Only another two days of driving and he could finally get out of that car for more than an hour! The rain beat down against the window and the trees began to blur together through the downpour. Their bright autumn leaves blending together almost like an oil painting. He didn't care for its beauty- the fact he'd been literally dragged from his home still weighed heavily in his mind.

In the drivers seat sat a young woman sat next to him, she had light auburn hair and bright green eyes, her make up was done flawlessly and he clothes hardly had a wrinkle. Her face was smooth and angular much like his but they looked nothing alike, and it wasn't just because of their differences in hair and eye color. There was something about her personality that the boy just didn't have. She continued to glance over at the boy, concern etched into every line on her thin face. Finally she spoke up.

"Dallas, honey, talk to me. Whats wrong?" her voice was soft and she smiled, but he didn't even bother lifting his eyes to see her reflection in the glass. She sighed heavily when she didn't even get a nod for an answer, "I know you're upset" she began, "I know you liked Tulsa and I know you had friends there but, baby, we had to move- daddy wasn't going to get better and--"

"And you wanted to come home. I know." Dallas said, his tone sharp as he passed a quick glare in her direction

She sighed and nodded, "That's right, baby, but just because we're here now doesn't mean we'll be here forever and--"

"Once you get a new boyfriend we'll pick up and move in with him, right?" he snapped, finally turning to lay his eyes, a sharp icy blue like his fathers, on her

"Dallas Arthur Winston!" she gasped, and slammed her foot onto the break and he jerked forward at the sudden stop, thank God it was a deserted road. She turned to him suddenly, "I will not tolerate that attitude from you! I am your mother and you will respect the decision I have made! I am not going to turn into some cheap whore! Your father ruined love for me and I never want to try it again! New York is the only home I know and if you think for a second pouting will make me turn this car around and go back to the hell of a city with a bastard just because of you well you're wrong, mister! And-- oh, honey!"

Dallas turned his face away and wiped at his eyes. "I get it. Drive."

She reached over and pulled the boy into her arms, "Baby, I'm sorry. Look, New York is going to be great! You'll make lots of friends and we've already got a nice apartment!"

He sighed and nodded, "Sure, mom, okay" he forced a smile onto his face and she kissed him on the forehead- a car honked behind them and she quickly started to go again.

--

The sun had long since been set when she pulled up into an alley behind a large brick building a day later. Dallas stepped out of the car and looked up- he realized, with dismay- he couldn't see the stars. His friend Tim had thrown some half-crocked line at him about the stars still being in the sky so he stopped complaining about the move. He hadn't meant to but he put a lot of faith into the sky, looking up and knowing the people he missed the most were under it as well- but there were no stars for him and he felt truly alone.

"Its a big building, huh?" his mother shattered the silence, mistaking what he was looking at. Slowly he tore his eyes from the empty sky to the harsh bricks of his new home- floors upon floors of residential housing, leaking sinks, cockroaches, and funny people that smelled like cats. Great. He kept the forced smile on his face for her and nodded.

"Peg!" a man shouted running from the rusty back door up to her- he had short brown hair a beard and they hugged tightly for a long time, "Oh, gosh, Peg its so great you came back! We thought we lost you to Ol' Farmer John!"

She covered her smile with her dainty hand and giggled, "Mikey, you don't have to worry about silly things like that! I could never love a man who don't appriciate O'Keif!"

"Ah! O'Keif!" the man threw his head back and laughed "She was from the country, Peg!"

"But she had the mind of a city-girl, what with how she paints and all!"

"I won't even say anything, dear. Now, who's this?" he pointed quite rudely to Dallas who stood awkwardly in his too-big jacket and sneakers waiting for them to stop. It wasn't just idle friendly chat, he knew that. This man loved his mother, and by the look of things she loved him.

She turned and her smile seemed to falter, "My son, Dallas."

"What?! When did he happen?!" the man gasped

Dallas looked down not liking the way he was being pointed at and spoken about like he was deaf. She quickly went to his side and slid her arms around his shoulders and smiled. "Ten years ago. We'll talk later, Mike- come on, honey, let's unpack!"

--

Dallas sighed. One week- one big, stupid, long week. He sank back into the cushions of the plush whit couch. He hated New York. His mother was "job-hunting" with Mike. Sure she was. Mike apparently was her old flame but after an argument she ran off half-cocked with Austin Winston and they left for Tulsa; now Mike had this nice building he was renting out to people except to his mother, the former Mrs. Winston, nope- she got a free apartment on one of the upper floors which were the big, nice ones. They weren't that nice, especially since he was ten years old and stepping out onto the landing outside his bedroom window he saw people and cars rushing below and his stomach churned for fear of falling. He figured if there was an earthquake he'd really be screwed because the building would collapse before he could escape.

He didn't know anyone yet either and that was always really terrible. He would wake up about seven and get to school around nine, then he'd get home about four-thirty and he'd crash on the couch. He hadn't done his homework yet but that was because he was waiting for his mother to ask about it and he could tell her he was rebelling against her then maybe she'd feel really bad and he could go home. He missed Tulsa, he had a lot going for him back in Tulsa! He was really tuff back in Tulsa but up here people didn't think he was tuff at all. He was just some kid up here.

He was currently sprawled out on his stomach staring aimlessly at the stitches in the sofa and counting them- he'd already gotten to one-hundred-and-seventeen, he made a note to boast to Tim about how high he could count when he got back to Tulsa. If he ever got back to Tulsa. He was rolling into the one-hundred-twenties when someone pounded on the door and he lost count and glared over his shoulder. What the heck would someone want with them? He was home all alone and unless it was Mike no one came to call. They didn't go away so he went and unlocked the door- they had three locks on the door because Mike had said it would keep him safe. Pah! He hated Mike.

"Wha'd'ya want?" he asked irritably swinging the door open and stopped staring up at three of the tuffest looking guys he'd ever layed eyes on

"Hey" grinned one, he had black hair slicked nicely back into a pompadour and two sleeves of tuff-looking tatoos up and down each arm, he wore the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up to his shoulders tucked into a pair of tight jeans that cuffed on the bottom and he completed his bad boy ensamble with a pair of scuffed boots. "My names Al Morgen, I live down the hall a ways.." he motioned with battered hand down the hall "..We was wonderin' who got Mike's favorite room. What's your name, little fella'?"

"Little fella'?" he squeaked, glaring up, "Its Dallas! Dallas Winston and I'm not a little fella'! I'm tall for my age, jerk!"

The second guy just laughed long, loud, and hard. His hair was copper and twisted and curled in crazy ways and Dallas wondered if he'd just woken up. He ws taller than Al and thinner too, but he was tough- Dallas could tell because his hands were just as messed up as Al's and his eyes were dark and empty like other guys back in Tulsa. Al held his hand up and abruptly he stopped laughing. Oh, Dally gulped, he was the big-guy around here.

"Tuff name- big, bad, tuff attitude too. Kiddo, you're alright" Al smiled patting his shoulder. "How old're you?"

The third guy was short and broad, he had mussels that were so big they made his shirt stretch hard across his barrel chest. His hair was thin brown hair cut into a tight flat top and small beady brown eyes. He was scary- like a bulldog that had been starved and was ready to pounce on the first bit of meat he could sink his sharp little teeth into. Dallas did not lke him.

"I'm ten" he said, avoiding the short guys little eyes, "I'm gonna be eleven in ten months too!"

Al grinned like that made all the difference in the world, "I like kids with moxy. Look pal, I'm the leader of the Mannix Street Monks!" he said, grinning like it was some big deal

Dally looked up at him cluelessly, "Mannix Street Monks..?" he repeated lamely "Thats long and boring"

The tall, lanky guy started laughing again! He seemed to have a problem controlling himself. Al held up his hand again and once more he stopped laughing. Then, Al turned to look down at Dallas, "Real tough fella'." he laughed hooking an arm around the boy's shoulder and dragging him down the hallway. The little buff guy shut the door to his apartment and they walked down the hall. "Got someone ya' gotta meet- she's real tough too."

Oh God- Dally paniced- now he'd never be able to write his letter to Tim about the starless sky and the stupid free room and how high he could count! The ten year old was sure he was going to die because of his sassy mouth.

Okay! I dunno how good it is- I like it. Of course I do. But I bet my Dally is just -gag- so.. please.. no flames? However i understand if you just hate it that bad.