Let me tell you 'bout a girl I know
I met her walking down an uptown street
She's so fine I wish she was mine
I get shook up every time we meet

Talkin' About You – The Rolling Stones

Chapter Four

Dallas Winston

Tonight was Tuesday and I somehow ended up at Buck's with a beer in my hand. Usually on weekdays, other than Friday, I stayed at the Curtis's. But tonight I came here. I was perfectly content I just sitting on this bar stool, silently drinking my beer and people watching but I heard her all too familiar giggle. Most of the time girls giggling annoyed me but somehow Houston's I found cute. But what did annoy be though, was she was giggling at Curly. Nothing that comes out of that bastard's mouth is ever funny so why is she laughing? –Oh.

She grabbed Curly's hand and he led her up the stairs to the third floor at Buck's, where all the rooms where placed. The grip I had on my beer bottle tightened and I tried to block them and Houston's cute laugh out.

Houston's words from last night replayed themselves in my head.

"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 bitter than before! Go get her!"

But how can I just 'go get her'? Houston and Curly have been an item since they were fourteen, now in a couple of months they'd both be seventeen. How could I just come in a break-up a three year relationship? Could I even break them up? She's always been so set on staying with him. I didn't get that little broad, if she wanted a Shepard she could've at least went for Tim. Curly was the irresponsible, weak link of the Shepard gang. Tim was my buddy and almost a partner in crime. Curly was just the guy who helped his brother out every now and then and hung 'round with Ponyboy.

What the hell did she even see in him? Uck.

A beer bottle that wasn't mine slammed down on the counter. I looked up to see Sylvia, or what I liked to call her, Slyvia; always sneaking off and two-timin' her men. She smirked and I let out a groan. Honestly, how much worse could this night get? Christ.

"Hey, baby." She slurred. I gave her a nod and turned away from her, focusing on the people dancing to the new records Buck had gotten a little while ago. Most were sloppily drunk couples attempting to dance and the tripped and fell all over the place. I would have been entertained, slightly, if it weren't for Sylvia who was still by my right, now stroking my arm. Though, it never gave the same effect it used to.

She pouted and I couldn't help but compare her to Houston. When Houston pouted it was cute, hot even. She could get you to do anything with that pout. But when 'Slyvia' did it, it made her make even more like the trampy skank she was.

"C'mon baby," more pouting. "One more time for old time sake?"

I opened my mouth to decline her degrading offer but I heard that little giggle and then a door slam shut. I knew I would regret this later on, but I was in a horrible mood and I needed something. And I sure wasn't gonna get what I wanted from Houston, she was all love sick over Shepard. I smirked up at Sylvia, grabbing her arm.

"C'mon, baby." I said mocking her. But she seemed too drunk to notice. I cringed; she was so easy. I wanted a challenge. All the girls here they jump at the chance to sleep with anything with legs. I'm known as a "womanizer" or a "player" but honestly it was getting really boring. All these parties are the same, same people and same girls. I wanted something different. But that something different was with someone different. Curse my luck, today.

Sylvia took the lead and dragged me up the stairs to my room. A room she knew far too well, and was proud of that fact.

I woke up and was greeted with just a empty space where Sylvia had been just hours before. I was relieved to see she had already left. I didn't plan on making her breakfast but she usually stays until I'm awake. I guess this time she got the hint we were actually done. 'Bout time that got into that tiny brain of hers.

I groggily made my way out of my room, down the stairs and into the kitchen, which was a major accomplishment with my head pounding like this.

"Dallas?"

I looked over to the little dinner table across the room, that's where Houston sat. She was sitting down in a wooden chair that was a totally different stain than the table, not that I was paying to that, I couldn't really, here Houston was only in an over-sized t-shirt and her knickers. I'd be lying if I said I didn't like this sight, but what bugged me was that was Curly's shirt she had thrown on and not mine. I think a small growl escaped my lips at that thought; but I wasn't really sure.

"How was your night Dallas?" Houston asked. I had just than realized I hadn't replied to her yet, so I grabbed the milk carton and a bowl and made my way to the table where she had already had the Corn Flakes.

"Eh," I shrugged. "My night was okay, it could have been better." I stared at her, knowing she never get that hint I had just easily lit off. She was so bright, but so naïve.

"Did you snag that girl you're in love with? Did you get her?" She wiggled her eyebrows, sexily. Everything she did was sexy to me. Just sitting in that chair in that attire, make me want to jump her. I opened my mouth to answer her but Curly came and grabbed her from behind making her smile up at him. I wanted to gag, how could she be so happy with someone just touching her? Why couldn't I have that effect on her?

Now Soda's voice came into my brain; "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." She couldn't love baby Shepard, could she? That wasn't even something I think could happen. She may belong to him now, but to me she's mine. Her giggle filled the room again and Curly leaned down to give her a peck on the lips.

I narrowed my eyes at the couple, "No, I didn't snag her. She's still smitten on that boy of hers. But it will happen." But there had been no point in replying she was no longer paying attention to lil 'ol me.

I threw my bowl into the sink and went to get my leather jacket. I think this was the first time Sylvia left and of course it'd be the time I wished she stayed. Maybe if she had stayed I wouldn't be the one feelin' jealous. Maybe that'd be Houston.

I wandered around the neighbourhood for a bit, kicking around small rocks and lighting up a few Kools. What could I do today? Nothing really came to mind. Tulsa defiantly wasn't the most exciting place. A few rumbles every now and then, jumping a couple Soc's when they decide to come to the wrong side, I think one time at the Dingo a girl was stabbed. Tulsa was nothing like New York. New York there were street fights, it wouldn't be a rare thing to be caught up in a murder rap, either. I needed something illegal to do. And when I walked up to the Shepard's place I knew exactly what to do.

Everyone knew Tim owned the pickup, but he was hardly ever the one to drive it. The most use it got was from Curly. And I overheard last night that Curly got some pretty tuff tires put on that afternoon. Well Curly, your tuff tires sure weren't tough enough to last. I flipped out my switchblade and crouched by the first wheel. Slashing tires wasn't that easy as it was sought out to be. First you had to get the blade to actually break the rubber. Then, saw through it. That was the harder part, tires weren't meant to be slashed and you had put some muscle into it especially if they were new and not goin' flat and these tires were the perfect example of new tires, just like Curly had boasted; they were tuff.

My knife finally ripped through the rubber and I began to pull the blade in a slightly jagged line all the way around. I used that method on the first three tires but when I reached the forth Tim decided that it would be a good time to come outside. I could see through the small window the door provided and I tried to rush this last tire. I had punctured the tire with my knife and hurriedly tried to rip through the rest. It wasn't easy though and I felt my switchblade start to give.

"C'mon." I muttered to myself, half way done slashing the tire. But it was no use. I knew the blade was going to give and it did. The metal blade snapped off.

"Fuck."

Tim was now opening the door and coming out. I got up from my crouch and tried to make a run for it unspotted. But I had no luck today because Tim saw me. God have mercy on me today.

"Dal, that you?" Tim walked off the porch, grinning. He obviously didn't notice his tire yet. "Dallas!"

I just gave him a side wave and kept running. Today was not going to be the day I die. I chuckled as Tim kept yellin' out to me. If he knew what I just did he'd be setting his gang out on me. I kept on running till I reached the gates of the Curtis's. I smiled; I had gotten away with that. For now anyway. I swung open the front door, and made myself at home. Two-Bit was lounging on the chair eating some cake. Ponyboy sprawled out on the floor doing what I think was math homework. Johnny was sitting in front of the TV. I think he was watching Mickey with Two. I scanned Johnny, Looking for any new bruises or cuts. But, thank god, the only thing I could see was that brutal scar. A Soc with rings did that to his face months ago, I swear if I ever find out who did it, I'd kill them on the spot. I wouldn't even care about the life sentence they'd give me. Johnny got it bad enough at home, he don't need to worry about getting' beaten outside of his house too.

"Hey, Dally." Johnny said, grinning up at me. I gave him a nod and flopped down on the couch.

"Have you seen Houston?" Ponyboy asked. "She's 'sposed to go to lunch with Johnny and me."

I shrugged and kicked my feet up onto the coffee table.

"I saw her this morning; she was with Curly at Buck's."

As soon as I finished my sentence you could hear the sound of her worn-out converse hitting the wooden floor. I think the quote 'speak of the devil and she shall appear' fit real nicely here.

Review please (:

: Dallys death is undecided. He may die he may not. I might change that part but not sure yet! I am not really fond of changing that book BUT I am not really fond of Dally dying either so its a lose-lose situation for me right now :( Killing off Dallas will be that hardest thing to right though, if I end up doing that oh god..