Disclaimer - I don't own 'The Outsiders'. Only the original characters.
Chapter 21
We drove for a bit, and I continued to laugh at Dally, who was still moaning and groaning. I wasn't really sure where we were headed until my stomach started to growl and I turned a corner and parked in front of Mel's Diner.
"Let's eat, Dallas," I said turning off the engine and stepping out of the car.
Dallas got out as well, walked around the car and stood beside me on the sidewalk, "Alright Katrina, but keep your hands too yourself, huh? I know it's hard around me an' all, but try to control yourself…" he started
"Ugh, you wish Dally," I said with a laugh, punching him as hard as I could in the arm. He just grinned at me. I rolled my eyes and walked into the diner, taking a seat at the counter. Dally followed and sat down beside me.
Sarah turned from the table she was serving at the other end of the room as we entered. Upon seeing me, she threw the coffee pot down that was in her hand, spilling some on the man seated at the table. She didn't seem to noticed though and she hurried over, pulling my up from my stool and drawing me into a warm, strong hug. After what seemed like hours, she pulled away and the questions started to pour out.
"Oh Kat, I read about your poor brother in the newspaper this morning. I tried to call you but there was no answer. I thought about coming over, but Tom said that I should probably give y'all your space. I'm so sorry. Are you alright? Is Ponyboy alright? Do you know where he is? The paper said there's a warrant out for his arrest. Did you know the boy that died? Is there anything I can do?" Sarah continued to ramble on. I looked over at Dally who was staring at Sarah with interest, not really sure what to make of her.
"Uh, Sarah," I tried to cut in. It took a few more tries, but finally she stopped and looked at me with sympathetic eyes. I almost laughed, she looked so anxious, "Sarah," I said again, "I'm okay really, and I'm pretty sure Ponyboy's okay too," I said turning to Dally and giving him a small smile, glad that I could now say that with confidence. I continued. "We're pretty upset and all, but we're just tryin' to stay cool about it ya know?" I was began to feel a bit uncomfortable when I realized that some of the customers, as well as Heather and another waitress Tammy, were starting to stare at us. I sat down and decided to change the subject, "Um, Sarah…you've never met Dallas have you? This is Dallas Winston," I pointed to Dally.
"Well, hello Dallas," Sarah turned to him and held out her hand. Dallas didn't offer his hand back, but nodded and grunted in acknowledgement. It was something my brothers and the whole gang did when they were trying to act tough, I guess it's a guy thing. I almost laughed, when Sarah literally took Dally's hand off the counter, placed it in her own, shook both their arms up and down dramatically and said "Nice to meet you Dallas Winston. I'm Sarah Talyor."
Dallas looked up at the older lady as if she were crazy, "Dally," was all he managed to mumble.
Sarah smiled brightly and began to walk around to the other side of the counter, "Well Dally, it's very nice to finally meet you," she grabbed two coffee cups, filled them and placed them in front of us, "I've heard a lot about you, and I've seen you come in a few times with Kat's brothers and some of her other friends. It's a shame we haven't met until now. But I guess today is as good a day as any, wouldn't ya say?" She smiled at Dally and handed him a menu, "So, what can I get for you two?"
Dally seemed dumbfounded, by Sarah and didn't saw anything, just stared back at her trying to take her in. I chuckled a little. Sarah liked to talk a lot and I guess it was a little bit of a shock if you didn't know her. And Dally didn't like people who talked a lot, he said he didn't trust people who felt the need to talk every minute of every day. Plus Dally wasn't used to adults talking to him without contempt or fear in their voices.
I watched Dally to see what he would do or say. I was hoping you wouldn't say something offensive or disrespectful in front of Sarah. Surprisingly, he didn't. He scanned the menu quickly, shut it and looked up at Sarah, "I'll have a cheeseburger and fries. And a chocolate shake," he said, "Please," he added, with only a bit of disdain.
Sarah's smile widened when Dally spoke and she turned to me, "And you, my dear?" she asked.
"Um, I'll have the same." Then thinking for a minute I added, "And could you ask Kevin to make two more burgers to go? Two more chocolate shakes, one strawberry shake, and a BLT sandwich?"
Dally turned to me and raised his eyebrows, "Hungry, Kat?"
"Funny, Dally," I said with a smirk, "I'm gonna take Darry, Steve and Soda some lunch."
"That's a nice thing to do, Kat," Sarah said with a smile as she turned and went into the kitchen to place our order.
"That's a nice thing to do, Kat," Dally repeated in a mocking tone, as Sarah walked away.
I glared at him, "Be nice Dally."
He just rolled his eyes, "She's sorta crazy, huh?"
"She is not," I snapped at him, "She's sweet, and I like her, so be nice."
"Nice…" Dally mumbled under his breath, "She wants me to be nice to the crazy lady…." I smacked him on the back of the head to shut him up as Sarah came back from the kitchen with our milkshakes.