Number Ten!

Two days later, Daina was finally able to leave the hospital. Sodapop and Darry accompanied her and drove her back to their house. It seemed like a very long ride. Daina knew exactly what she was going to do when she got home. She was going to march right to the sheriff's office, explain her situation, and demand that she be allowed to see Dally.

Once they arrived at the Curtis' house, Daina said to Darry, "Thanks for driving me Dar, but I gotta go do something, I'll see y'all later."

"Wait, where are you going so quickly?" Darry asked.

"Never mind. Just something I gotta do."

Daina borrowed one of Soda's sweaters and left the house. On the way to the sheriff's office, Daina stopped at her house to tell her dad she was home. Inside, she found her father sleeping on the couch.

"Well I'll just come back later when it's more convenient for you," Daina said aloud, hoping to wake him, but he didn't move. She left the house, making sure to slam the door as she exited.

It took Daina quite awhile to get to the sheriff's office, because it was on the other side of the tracks, aka Soc territory. She was slightly nervous walking through here, but thankfully she didn't meet any rude people on the way.

Walking into the parking lot, Daina saw the sheriff just leaving the building.

"Sheriff Robertson!" she shouted, and ran towards him.

He smiled at her pleasantly and said, "How may I help you?"

"My name is Daina Hectors. I was just informed yesterday that a good friend of mine, Dallas Winston, started his prison sentence of five months yesterday. Do you know of who I'm talking about?" she asked.

"I certainly do. And, if you didn't know, he isn't permitted to have visitors."

"Yeah, I know. But, the thing is…I was in the hospital unconscious for like three days when he was sentenced and stuff, so I never got to see him. I didn't even know he beat up those people, but I hear I'm the cause of it."

"Wait," the sheriff said. "You're the one who those teens originally assaulted?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I'm sorry dear, yours is a difficult situation, but Mr. Winston isn't allowed visitors. You'll have to wait the five months."

"But…" Daina had to think quickly. She might as well tell him everything, but, she thought, it doesn't hurt to bend the truth a little bit. "Mr. Robertson, please. I'm two months pregnant with Dallas' child. He doesn't know it yet, and I really feel I need to tell him, just to give him hope and to make sure he doesn't do anything else stupid when he gets released."

The sheriff looked uneasy. "I don't know…It's a sin that you're pregnant and the father doesn't know…You know what? Fine. I'll bend the laws just this once, but you better be mighty grateful."

Daina grinned. "Thank you so much, Mr. Robertson!"

"You're welcome, dear. Listen, I'm heading over there now to check on things, I'll give you a drive over."

"What the hell were you thinking?!" Daina shouted at Dally. They were seated in the cafeteria of the prison. Daina was positive that her shouting could be heard at the other end of the prison, but she didn't care.

"Listen, babe-."

"Don't call me that! How the hell could you go and land yourself in jail when you know I'm carrying your child?"

"I was just mad, I wanted to get revenge for you."

"Revenge? That's pathetic. You didn't even stop to ask me first if I wanted revenge?" Daina asked.

"I didn't think about that. But you were unconscious anyway."

"You didn't know that. I was told that you didn't find out I was in the hospital unconscious until after you were arrested."

"That don't even matter, they hurt you and could have hurt the baby. They got what was coming to 'em."

"Yeah, and what did you get for your troubles? A five month prison sentence. You're ridiculous."

"C'mon Daina, calm down. You know I love you."

Daina looked disgusted. "No you don't, and you're just saying that because of the baby. Well listen to this. I'm going to raise this baby on my own, whether you like it or not. Once you get out of prison, I don't want you near me. Understand?"

"What?" Dally said shocked. "You can't do that!"

"I can and I will. Dallas Winston, I used to consider you one of my best friends. I am disgusted with you, and no longer do I consider you anything to me, not a friend, not anything."

Tears were forming in Daina's eyes, but she blinked them back and stood up. "Goodbye, Dallas." And with that, she walked past Dally, who was dumbfounded, and out the doors.