Baby, I don't want to live here no more
Baby, though I tore your pictures off my walls
Darlin' this old room's falling in on me
You understand the truth now
I got to get away, got to get away

Got To Get Away –The Rolling Stones

Chapter Three

Houston Cassidy

At the Curtis home everything seemed to be back to normal. Or at least that's what people were playing it off as. I could tell Johnny was shaken up a bit and I felt bad for the kid. Also, I knew Sodapop was taking hard, harder than Ponyboy even. I think Ponyboy was almost over it now, tuff enough, he was. But Soda, knowing Soda was blaming himself. Thinking things like 'I should've been there' or 'I should've protected my kid brother'. I honestly couldn't comfort him though. I couldn't lie to him and say "Everything's gonna be okay!" because I didn't even believe that. We'd always be kicked around. That's just what it was to have the life of a Greaser.

I'd been jumped once I came out almost unharmed, it was the day I met Curly him and his brothers gang found me before anything really happened. I came out with a couple bruises. But that's not what's scary about being jumped. It's the feeling of being closed in and nowhere to go. They circle around you and you're out numbered. You just stand there—and wait—wait to be hurt, beaten, kicked. Whatever they want to do to hurt you. It's the feeling of feeling completely and utterly powerless.

That's the difference between a Greaser & those Soc's. We fight, yeah, but we do not go out of our way to fight those below us. We're more emotional and caring than those west siders. They beat us up to get a thrill, to feel power. We fight when provoked.

I must've zoned out, because the next thing I know Ponyboy was next to me.

"Why're you being all quiet for? I'm the one who got jumped; not you." He chuckled and I cracked a smile.

"I don't know Pony, things around here are just rough. I hate it." I sighed and leaned back into the chair. Seriously, was I supposed to have to fear getting beat up or killed just to walk to the corner store? No. That shouldn't be the way things are.

"Yeah, she wants to leave us, Pone. 'Said one day she's going to hop on that train and leave." Dallas butted into our conversation.

Ponyboy nodded, he'd love to leave too. But he'd never leave Sodapop—or even Darry. He loved them all too much. These boys, my friends, they were all I had here. It'd be easier for me just to leave, no baggage. Pony'd have a lot of guilt.

"If you do, you know, go.. take Johnny with ya? He talks about leaving all the time but he'd never to it alone. If you brought him somewhere.. new. I think he'd be happy."

I thought about that for a minute, if I was goin' to take off, Johnny would be the first person I' think of taking with me. Both of us share the same problem and if I was going to get out so was little Johnny.

"Damnit, Pony," Dallas started to talk; I had forgotten he was here. "If those two left, I'd be following right behind 'em."

There are just some things you don't expect to come from Dallas Winston, that was one of them. He'd never let it show but Dally cares. It makes you feel genuinely tuff when he compliments you, or just hints at that you care because apparently he's too 'tough' for all of that. I beamed up into his ice blue eyes. Today they looked more icy-grey. I had always been attracted to grey eyes.

I was lid on the couch at the Curtis's again tonight, half-heartedly listening to the conversation that was going on around me. So far Two-Bit was getting drunk on Friday (and every day before that), Steve and Soda had dates and Pony, Dally, Johnny were going to the Nightly Double , nothing interesting.

I hummed a song I heard earlier on the radio almost silently to myself hoping something interesting would just pop into the conversation.

"Sodapop, how do you know when you're in love?" I half expected that so come out of Ponyboy's mouth. But I knew it was Dallas. It didn't make sense. Dallas, love? What a strange thing.

I picture can Soda grinning widely right now, even though I'm not looking at him, I know that's exactly what he's doing.

"Well, you want to spend almost every moment with that person. They make you happier just by walkin' by. You like everything about them, even the bad stuff. Er, you don't have to like the bad stuff—but you accept it anyway. All in all you just really care about that person, deeply. Like I do, Sandy."

I mentally aw'd at Soda; that was really sweet. He and Sandy were damn cute.

Dally groaned. "Well fuck me, I'm in love."

The boys in the room looked at Dallas blankly. It was a huge shocker, but I thought it was great. I mean, Dally in love? My grin grew freakishly large. Maybe Dal wouldn't be all cold all the time now. But the thought of him with a girl made me feel weird. Dallas' image was that he was unattainable. Free of the fear of falling in love. How different would it be to see a broad cling to his arm as he stared at her love-struck? There were only two people in this gang I could imagine that image happening to. Neither were Dally, just dreamy Ponyboy and cheeky, caring Soda.

"Wow," muttered Two-Bit. "Never thought I'd see the day."

I sat up now, no longer tired. This was just too exciting.

"I know, Two!" I smiled, "Dally, what a surprise! This is so unlike you! We could double and—"

Dallas grunted and cut me off. "There's no way in hell I'ma be doubling with you and Curly. No way. 'Sides the girl already got a man. And I may be a JD but I ain't gonna steal a guy's girl. That just isn't right."

I pouted, my grin turned into a frown. Dallas always ruined my fun. "Well if you love this girl like you say, you go after her. Man or not. If you just wait around soon she'll be married and you'll just be more bitter than before! Go get her!"

Dally's glare on me softened, and his eyes focused on the floor and I'm 99% sure I heard him mutter "Maybe that's exactly what I have to do."

So my pout quickly turned back into a grin. But not that same excited grin—a smug grin took it's place.

I was in the right, and Dallas Winston was wrong.

AN:Okay so I'm not changing ANYTHING S.E. Hinton wrote except for the time frame. I need to space things out more but that's it so far. Also, could I get some reviews? I only have one so far! -Lee