Chapter 4: First Date
I woke up suddenly, sitting up straight in the bed. I realized that the shriek I had heard in my dreams, well nightmares, was my own. Dallas rush into the room, I hadn't noticed that he'd left. "Rosie what's wrong?" He asked, worriedly searching my face for the answer. "Nightmare." I sighed, running a sweaty hand down my face. "Do you want to talk about it?" I shook my head; I wasn't ready to talk about it, even if it was with Dally. "What's going on?" Soda inquired from the doorway, Darry and Ponyboy were there too. "Nightmares, its nothing go back to bed, sorry for waking you." I said nonchalantly, waving off their worried looks. "Okay, if you need anything you know where we are." Darry told me and steered his brothers away from my room. "Come on, let's get you back to bed." Dal suggested, crawling back into the bed with me. "Dal, why did you leave?" I questioned, it hurt me to think that he just left me again. "I was hungry, so I went to the kitchen to get something and then I had to piss." He informed me, I giggled at the fact that he didn't try to make it sound pretty, like some do. "Oh. I was just wondering." I snuggled closer into his chest and went back to sleep.
The next time I woke up it was to a strong hand trying to be gentle as it woke me up. My eyes fluttered open, and I smiled at the shirtless Dally lying next to me. "Morning beautiful." He greeted, tucking a piece of my red hair behind my ear, trailing his fingers down my jaw, and stroking my cheekbones. "Morning." I sighed, pecking him on the lips before getting out of bed. Dally pulled me back into bed by our interlocked hands. He made a hot trail of fiery kisses down and back up my neck before reaching my lips. "Someone's happy." I giggled; it tickled slightly. "Only 'cause I'm with you." He replied, kissing me one more time, then pulling us both up, leaving the room so I could get changed.
Once I finished getting ready for work I grabbed a piece of chocolate cake from the fridge and went into the living room to find Dally. I smiled at the scene before me. Two-bit lying on the floor watching Mickey with his cake and beer, Steve and Soda having an arm wrestling contest… again, Johnny and Ponyboy sitting in front of the old couch that Dallas lounged. I walked over to Dal plopped myself down on his lap, smiling at him. "What are you doing today?" He asked as he snaked one of his arms around my small waist, pulling me closer to him. I looked down at my waitress outfit then back at him. "Oh, you know, I'm going to hunt elephants." Dallas chuckled and shook his head at me. "Seriously Dal, I'm in my work clothes and I'm up at seven- thirty in the morning. What do you think I'm doing today? I definitely wouldn't be up if I didn't have to work." I joked. "I know, what I meant was. What are you doing after work today?" Dally clarified. "I don't know." I answered before looking at the T.V. and silently laughing at Two-bit's commentary. "How 'bout you and me go to the nightly double, just us." He whispered in my ear. "Like a date?" I questioned, looking back at him. "Yeah sure you could call it that." Dal teased, leaning back with a smug look on his face. "Alright Winston, you're on." I challenged him; making it seem as though I thought he couldn't pull it off- which in all fairness I didn't. "I'll pick you up at six since you don't work the dinner shift tonight." I gave him a look showing him that I was impressed with his knowledge on my work schedule. "Wow, you actually pay attention to what times I'm working and not working." I mocked him, smiling sweetly as I did so. "Yeah, yeah." Dal chuckled. "Okay, six it is, but if you're late I'll let Johnny here take me out." I taunted him patting Johnny's shoulder. "Fair enough." He agreed and pulled me in for a passionate kiss.
"Rose! If you want a ride to work you better get you skinny ass out here before we leave!" I heard Steve holler from outside. "That's my cue." I mumbled pulling away and standing up. "By boys!" I called out to the remaining boys in the living room in a singsong style as I exited the house. Tonight is going to be very interesting, I think. I said to myself, hopping into Darry's truck.
*Skip to After Work*
As soon as I got back home I jumped in the shower and washed the feeling of the idiot customers' touch from my body. Today was just awful. It was like every single creep in town showed up and wanted to take me home. When I finished I quickly ran to my room and got ready for my date with Dally. It was about four- thirty in the afternoon. I still had two hours before Dallas would come to pick me up but I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to where so…
After about an hour of sorting through the little amount of clothes I had I picked a black dress with white poka-dots and red belt. I put on a pair of black ballet flats and put my now dry red hair into a simple ponytail that trailed down the side of my head. The locket my mother gave me for my sixteenth birthday, hung loosely around my neck and silver coloured, feather earrings, which Dylan had given me as a welcome present, dangled from my tiny earlobes. By the time I was done Soda knocked on my door and told me that Dally was waiting for me in the living room. When I stepped out of the room Soda was still on the other side of the door and his jaw nearly hit the floor as soon as he saw me. "Rose… Y-you… l-look…" He stammered. I laughed his rare speechlessness. "Close you mouth Soda you'll catch flies." I teased, putting a hand under his chin and pushed it lightly upward, closing his mouth for him. When he didn't say anything else I walked away and head for the living room.
Dally's POV:
I paced the length of the living room as I waited for Rosie to come out of her room. "Calm down Dal, I'm sure it won't be that bad." Johnny tried to reassure me, but nothing was helping. I have no clue why I was so nervous, I mean, I'm the Dallas Winston, I'm not scared or nervous or worried about anything, but when it came to Rosie, I turned from being the tuff bad ass that I am to a soft puppy that would follow her to the ends of the earth if she asked, I probably still would if she didn't ask me. "This is a sight I never thought I'd see. Is the Dallas Winston nervous about a date with little ol' me?" I whipped around so fast that I almost fell on my ass. Rosie was standing there trying to suppress a laugh as I straightened up. "What? No I-I was just getting impatient." I covered. She frowned, "Oh, well I guess we should get going then." I nodded and opening the front door for her. Rosie mumbled a thank you and headed in the direction of Buck's car, which I borrowed for tonight.
We sat in a semi-uncomfortable silence as we drove to the Dingo. "You know Dal, it's okay to be nervous." Rosie finally broke the silence. "I'm not nervous." I argued, refusing to look at her. "Whatever you say." She sighed and looked out the window. Great. I thought. Just great. She probably thinks I'm a douche now. Why can't I do anything right? What the Fuck is wrong with me? I questioned myself as I pulled the car into the drive in. The man in the booth told me to pay and what movies were playing and all that crap I didn't really pay attention though. I handed him the money and continued driving until I found a fairly good spot. Once parked I looked over at Rosie; she was staring at the movie screen, her pale face light up by the screen's light. I sighed and said, "Rosie, look, I'm sorry I'm being a dick… I just don't know what to do. I've never done this kind of thing before. You've probably been on hundreds of dates with various guys who are more deserving of you affection than I am. I'm s-" "Save it Dal, don't care. I just wanted you to say you're sorry which I know if hard for you. Thank you… and this is my first date too. I'm really nervous actually." She admitted turning her fragile frame to look at me. "Really?" I was shocked, how could this be her first date, she's so beautiful and she's smart too. Who wouldn't want to date her? "Yes really. Dally I never wanted to date anyone other than you and I guess that got in the way of other guys asking me out, that and my dad would probably kill them and then me." She shivered at the thought of her father. "O-kay." I shook my head smiling at her. I couldn't believe what I just heard and before I could wrap my head around it she puts her small hands on either side of my face and kisses me. I pull her closer and deepen the kiss. She pulled away first, needless to say I wasn't too happy about that. Rosie just smiled at me and turned back to watch the movie. "Tease." I whispered seductively in her ear causing her to shiver. I loved the effect I had on her.
Halfway through the movie I got up to go get us food, two hamburgers and a large fry. When I got back I saw Rosie quietly smiling to herself as she watched the film. I noticed that she hardly laughed aloud anymore. I guess that was just a side effect from being with her abusive father. "He we go." I said making her jump out of her seat slightly. "Thanks." She mumbled as I passed her a burger. We sat there and ate in a comfortable silence and honestly I couldn't ask for more. I was sitting in a car at the drive-in with the most beautiful girl in world and I didn't have to be anyone but myself. I mean come on tell me that isn't the most amazing thing in the world. I put an arm around Rosie's shoulder and she snuggled into my side. I had this weird fluttering sensation in my stomach. I never got those before with her, why would I get them now? I wondered. Oh well. I mentally sighed and tried to forget about it.
Rosie's POV
After the second movie ended Dallas and I went to one of Dallas' friends Buck's place where Dal said he crashed from time to time. Dal led me through the throng of people and up the stairs to a crappy looking bedroom. "Home sweet home… well sort of." Dallas said as we entered the room. I just stood there in the middle of the room. Dal came up from behind me and wrapped an arm around my waist while the other moved my hair off my neck. I leaned into him and closed my eyes as he began to plant short, rough kisses up and down my neck from my jaw line to where my collarbone indents. He spun me around and kissed me forcefully and passionately. I leaned forward and deepened the kiss. Dallas pushed me back until the back of my knees hit the bed and I fell. He moved on top of me sliding a hand up my left thigh. A gasp escaped my lips. "Dal." I said; he ignored me. "Dally!" He still didn't stop. "Dallas!" I yelled. Dally froze and looked up at me with a confused expression. "Stop." I croaked. His face softened and he let me sit up. "I'm sorry Dallas, I just… It's too soon, I can't. I'm really, really sorry." I couldn't bear to look at him. I could feel tears slip out of my eyes and drip down my cheeks. "Shit, no Rose, don't be sorry it was my fault. I shouldn't have… I'm the one who should be sorry." Dally cooed, sitting beside me and rubbing small circles on my back awkwardly. "How 'bout we just go back to the Curtis house and we can just watch T.V. or something." He suggested and I nodded. Dallas turned my head so that I could see him properly. "It's okay." He told me, kissing my tears away and finally my lips. "I. Love. You." Dal murmured in between each kiss. "I love you too tin man." I giggled, standing up pulling Dally along with me. Okay so crisis averted… he understood and didn't push. Gods I love this man. I thought as we left Buck's place and headed to the Curtis house.