We sat there for a while locking lips, then I pushed him to the ground. I slid off the couch to force my body upon his. He pulled my hair behind my ears, then pulled away to speak.

"Madi, you don't want to do this."

"Yes I do." Of all times, he's being skeptical now?

"No, you don't. Your just caught up in the moment."

"I thought you WANTED to do this Steve."

"I do, a lot. Trust me. We'll do it when you promised. I, I just don't want to...ruin anything for you if we don't end up together."

"No. don't you ever say that. Do you not want to get married Steve!?

"No! It ain't like that at all! I'm just sayin', if ya' change yer' mind. We both know that ya' got better options than me. I'm probably gonna end up workin' at the DX for the rest of my life, and never end up goin' to colledge. You'll be off learnin bout' art er' sometin' while im still stuck in Tulsa. I ain't smart, I can barley even do arithmatic. Hell, I can't even SPELL arithmatic! You deserve someone better than me. I'm a damned nobody!"

"I could never love anybody as much as I love you!" I hugged him tighter than I have ever hugged anybody in my entire life. "I can't love without you! You're my life Steve! I'd die without you!" His hands lowered to my waist. He moved upward slightly and met my gaze. I could tell we were thinking the same thing. He smoothly kissed me on my lips, then leaned back in to make it a real kiss. My eyes were closed, and I could tell his were too. His hands began to gradually move down my body. A few seconds later, he pushed me up by the shoulders.

"Babe, a promise is a promise." He lightheartedly snickered, then sat up.

"But I will ALWAYS love you Steve. I mean it."

"I know you did Baby. I ain't doin' it for me. I'm doin it for you. Plus, it'd really make me feel better if I knew you were sure." I chuckled.

"Now look at who's makin' who wait." I heard a light tapping on the door, so I got off Steve to answer it. When the door opened, I found it was Brooke.

"Ey, Madi, you know where Dally is?"

"No, sorry. He left here bout' fifteen minutes ago.

"Did he tell ya' where he was goin'? I sorrowfully shook my head.

"Sorry."

"It's fine. Thanks anyway." She trudged out of the doorway, towards the lot, I'm guessing.

"Since wen did Brooke start knockin'?" Steve said fulled with shock.

"See? What'd I tell you? I really do think they love each other a lot."

"Seems like it. Brooke was actually QUIET for once." He put a lot of emphasis on quiet.

"I told ya' ya' had nothin' to worry about, didn't I?"

"Yea, I guess. I'm still worried though. I don't want nothin' happeinin' to ya'.

"I can tell. You've made your point very clear, Steve." I paused and thought for a few seconds. "Maybe we should go and look for Dal. He seemed pretty upset."

"You go ahead. I don't think he's real' fond a' me right now."

"Sure?"

"Mhm." I looked back, trying to see if he'd changed his mind. When his expression didn't change, I walked out of the door. I didn't close it, figuring he could at least handle that. I walked on, shouting "Dally" as I went. It finally hit me. I changed my pace from leisurly walking to running as fast as a corvair. I knew as fast as I ran I wouldn't be able to stop him. I'm not sure why, but the thought made me run even faster. I went faster as the time ticked by. I was racing against the clock.

My running came to a hault. I skid across the pavement, reaching my destination. The local liquor store. The cashyear's face was drowning in rage and his eyes were simmering in anger. "He stole my best wine and two cases of beer! That damned hoodlem! I swear if I ever see his damned face again, I kill em'!" I sighed, then walked toward the door.

"Good luck with finding him sir." I said sympatheticly I walked out, hearing the chime of the door bell.

"Thank you. Have a good day young miss." What he said odly shocked me. Young miss. Nobody ever called me, a no good greaser young miss. I paused.

"You too." I said, still caught in a web of shock. I continued to walk. I kept my head down trying to blend in. This is the time when the socs usually start greaser jumpin. Dusk. It don't matter, guy or gal, you'll end up with a few bruises on ya'. If your a girl, maybe even worse. If you know what I mean.

As soon as I reached the lot, I found Dally ,laying on the ground, a bottle firmly grasped in his hand. "Awe Dal." I said, then shook my head.

"Ey, I'm fine man." He slurred. He was really,really, wasted. I rolled my eyes.

"Come on Dally, Let's get you home. Brookes worried to death." I put my hands around his waist in attempt to lift him up. "Jesus Dal, you need to lay off the burgers." I heaved him up, and put his arm around me so he could walk straight.

"I," He paused incoherently, "I swear man, I didn't touch a dropa' booze."

"Then what are all those empty bottles doing back there?" I asked, unexpectant of a good answer.

"Them-" He stopped again, "Them ain't mine. I swear." He stumbled, the poked my chest. "I, Dallas...Tucker...Winston solemnly swear, I am not drunk."

"You don't even know what half of those words mean, do you Dal?"

"Nope." He snorted a laugh. I sighed.

n.

"Come on." I started walking, hoping he could keep up. At first, it was like he had two left feet, but after a while, he seemed to get the hang of things. Although, he did stumble quite a bit.

"Ey I-" He made a fae that looked like he was gonna lose his lunch, but he kept it in, " I thought cha were sick er sometin"

"I was, but I got better-" I was interrupted by Dally falling backward. I gasped because of the weight pushing against my arm. I hurridly pushed him up.

"I don't need yer' help!" He toppled as he spoke.

"Ok, Dally, you caught me. Your just so damn sexy I needed an excuse to touch you."

"Oh well in that case." He seductivly chuckled. At least it finally shut him up.

It didn't take very long for me to get Dally home, maybe a half an hour or so. Well, it didn't take very long considering I had to carry a six-foot tall drunk about a block. I opened the door, being careful not to drop him as I did so. "Dally!" Brooke exlaimed. "Where was he?"

"He robbed the liquor store uptown. He didn't get hurt, but he's gonna' have a wicked hangover in the mornin'." Brooke sighed, then shook her head in disapproval.

"Dally, you've robbed so many stores, are ya' gonna' learn ya' lesson?"

"Hell no! I'm Dallas fuckin Winston, I-" He fell on the ground before he could say anything more.

"Look who's passed out now." I could hear Brooke slightly mumble. I decided not to ask. "Ey', thanks Madi. It'd taken me hours to find em'."

"Don't worry about it, it ain't no sweat. He'd probably do the same thing for me if I were drunk. But I'd probably outta be headin back. Steve's probably worried sick. See ya' round." I lightly waved.

"See ya' round Madi." She slowly shut the door behind me. Steve was gonna chew me out for bein' out so long, as sick as I am. I started to sprint, so I wouldn't make him anymore worried than I already had.