As we all know, these boys do not belong to any of us fangirls/boys, but rather to Susie Hinton who doesn't seem to mind too much if we play around with them. Thank you so much Susie. Hoobastank was also cool enough to come up with a fitting song. "Running Away" belongs to them.
I don't want you to give it all up,
And I don't want you to feel sorry for me.
"Are you going home?" Pony asked.
"I'm thinking about it," she said, not moving from the edge of Darry's favorite chair.
She was staring blankly through the screen door, chewing on a fingernail, her coat resting on her lap. She stayed on their couch the last two nights and now Sunday morning was ticking away into Sunday afternoon, and she was still working up the courage to go home.
"Want someone to go with you?" he offered. "I'll go but maybe it'd be better if Steve or somebody went with you."
Snapping out of her trance, she turned and looked at him. She looked worried and he wished there was something he could do to help, but he was barely able to get the story out of her at all.
"No, that's not a good idea after what happened Friday night," she said, working her shoes on. "I'll go. I've got to go back sometime. They should both be working … hopefully."
"Darry'll be back from the store soon. He can drive you over," he offered. He really didn't want her to go over there alone, but he was under strict orders from Darry to not visit her house until things blew over. He didn't think she should be going over either.
"Don't worry about it. If he's there, I'll come back," she said, finally standing and pulling her coat on. Pushing the screen door open, she gave him a weak smile. "I'll be back in a little bit."
"Be careful, El," he said, standing and following her out to the porch.
Pushing the gate open, she turned back and nodded before heading across the street. Leaning against the post, Pony watched her head toward home. He knew she was upset and maybe even a little scared, but she wasn't talking to him- not that was a new development. Ever since she got jumped she'd been tight lipped. For a while, he thought it was just because of the person that jumped her and she didn't want anyone to know. But now there was something different. Whether it was just her that changed or if it was both of them, he wasn't sure. He just missed his friend.
"Hey Pony. Whatcha doin'?"
Pony looked down and saw Johnny coming through the gate Ellie just walked out of.
"Nothin'. Ellie just left for home," he told him, sitting on the top step.
"She okay?" he asked, sitting beside him.
"I don't know. She ain't really talking to anyone about anything," Pony replied, picking at his worn tennis shoes.
"Dally been around?" Johnny asked.
"No," he said.
"I'm sure he'll show up. He ain't one to let her down," he said.
Pony scoffed. "He sure seems to like making her mad. She said that she told him to not go back and mess with Jimmy, but he did anyway. I don't know why she's going out with him."
"I don't know, Pone. He's got a short fuse sometimes. That's why he went back. He just doesn't want to see her hurt, is all," Johnny said, defending their absent friend.
"If he doesn't wanna see her hurt, why's he going after her stepdad like he ain't gonna take it out on her?"
Johnny shrugged. "He's just stubborn. He don't like to be told what to do."
"I'll say," Pony replied.
And I don't need you to be by my side,
To tell me that everything's alright.
Jimmy's truck wasn't in the driveway and when she went inside there was no sign of either one of them. It was the first time she'd felt relieved in a couple of days. Daring to act on that relief, Ellie decided to take a quick shower and change out of the clothes she'd been wearing since Friday night.
With her wet hair braided, Ellie headed for the kitchen after her shower. Opening a cupboard, she frowned at the lack of food it contained. She assumed the fridge had as little and gave up. She hated mooching off of Darry when she knew he was already struggling to make ends meet as it was. There was nothing in her house she could offer, so she made a mental note to grab a few things the next time she worked. It was the best she could do for them letting her use the couch.
The front door creaked as it opened and Ellie held her breath. The sound of a flirty giggle surprised her more than that, though. The sight of Jimmy was enough to make her run for the hills right then, but it was the young lady on his arm that kept her frozen in place. That woman certainly wasn't her mother.
He had a hand firmly placed in the back pocket of her jeans and was whispering something into her ear, causing her to giggle and turn bright red. Her giggles stopped suddenly when she looked up and locked eyes with Ellie.
"Jimmy, who's that?" she asked, stopping just shy of turning down the hallway.
Ellie's stomach flipped and she thought about making a quick dash down the hallway, but she thought better of it. Jimmy was staring at her with a stony glare, his face puffy and bruised from just a few nights before.
"It ain't nothin'. Head on down the hall, I'll be right there," he told the girl, giving her a pat on the rear as she turned down the hallway.
The kitchen was small and Jimmy walked in, his steps falling heavy as he closed the distance.
Gripping the countertop behind her, Ellie asked quietly, "Who's she?"
"She ain't none of your business," he said. "And if you know what's good for you, you'll keep your mouth shut around your momma."
Ellie was silent for a moment, not willing to make a promise like that just yet.
"I'll make you a deal. I won't tell you mom that you're out fucking that guy if you keep my little secret," he offered, letting go of her arm.
Backing away as far as she could in the confines of the kitchen, Ellie stared at him in disbelief.
"You're married," she said simply, her voice small and confused.
"Just keep your damn mouth shut. You ain't gonna like it if I find out you said something to her," he threatened. He turned to leave and then turned back just as quick, pushing her back into the counter and grabbing her by the upper arms. "And if any of your fucking boyfriends tries to take a swing at me again or if you get yourself knocked up, you're out of this house. I'll kick you out on your ass so fast you won't know what happened. And stay the hell out of Buck Merril's place. If I catch you there again, I swear to God, Ellie … "
He let go again and backed away. He put a finger to his lips and walked down the hallway. The bedroom door opened and shut softly, and Ellie stood dumbstruck in the kitchen.
Jimmy was easily the fourth or fifth man her mother allowed to move into her house, and he was the first and only to offer a marriage proposal. Ellie remembered how she'd jumped at the chance to get married and now, barely a year into it, it was falling apart, only, Abby didn't have a clue. Ellie wanted nothing more in the world than to get Jimmy out of the house, but she was afraid that her mom wouldn't do anything about his little get-together with another woman. She never did anything but bow to his wishes and all because she wanted to be married so terribly.
With a heavy sigh, she left. She didn't want to hear anything that was about to go on, and she didn't want to think about it.
And when I get close you turn away,
There is nothing I can do or say.
"Dally," Sylvia was whispering sweetly into his ear. "Let's go upstairs."
He tipped the bottle back and let her hang on him, begging him to take her upstairs. Ellie certainly wasn't. She wouldn't even come. All she did was put her damn foot down and give him a look as though she thought he would actually stay over at Pony's and watch TV. Miss Priss had another thing coming.
Sylvia's hand was resting comfortably on his thigh. Every few seconds she'd claw him with her perfectly manicured nails. She was teasing him, and he was damned because it was working.
"Come on, Dal. She ain't here," she whispered in his ear, her tongue lighting flicking his earlobe. "I ain't gonna tell her."
Sylvia was right about one thing. Ellie sure as hell wasn't there. He was lucky to even get her to go to Jay's with him earlier that day.
"Come on, El. He ain't gonna be there again. It'll be fine," Dally told her. "He ain't gonna mess with you."
She set her Pepsi bottle on the table and stared at him with big, serious eyes.
"No, Dally. I told Pony and Johnny I'd stay home and hang out with them. You can come, too," she said, playing with the straw in the bottle.
He sat back and balled his fists on the table.
"Not gonna happen, Princess. I'm going to Buck's even if you're not," he said, grabbing his coat and standing up. He shoved the table, harder than he meant to, shifting the baskets of half eaten food and nearly knocking her Pepsi into her lap.
She stared at the bottle and said in a voice that got lost over the noise of Jay's, "I'm not going back. I told you that."
Ellie didn't know what she was missing. She'd been a damn tease since day one and now he was sitting at Buck's alone, drinking beer after beer with some first class broad groping his leg.
"You still have your room, don't you?" she asked.
"Who the fuck else would have it?" he snapped, grabbing her wrist but not removing it from his thigh.
"I bet you miss playin' it rough, don't you, Dal? I bet she ain't one to play the games you like," she sassed. "But I've always liked 'em."
She twisted her wrist free from his grasp and slid her hand further up his leg, her fingers drumming lightly, playing with the fly on his jeans.
He could feel a light sweat break out on his brow and he signaled for Buck.
"Another shot of vodka," he ordered. She made a low grab and he nearly yelped, "Give me another beer, too."
Taking the shot from him, Dally gulped the clear liquid and finally looked at Sylvia. She was damn gorgeous and he was damn horny and Ellie wasn't there. She wouldn't know because he wouldn't tell her.
He slid off the barstool, another bottle of beer in his hand, and followed her toward the stairs.
Is it me? Is it you?
Nothing that I can do to change your mind.
"What's he doin'?" Two-Bit muttered.
Dally slid off his barstool, Sylvia's hand clamped down on his and yanking him toward the stairs.
"That sonufabitch," he said, standing up.
"What's going on?" Kathy asked, grabbing his hand, trying to keep him seated. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be right back," he snapped.
Making long, quick strides, he caught Dally before he and Sylvia made it to the steps. Reaching out, he grabbed Dally by the upper arm and spun him around. He wobbled on uncertain feet but scowled at Two-Bit, nonetheless.
"What the fuck do you think you're doin', Two-Bit?" he asked, snaking an arm around Sylvia's neck.
Two-Bit didn't miss the triumphant grin on Sylvia's face.
"Where are you going with her?" he asked.
Dally shrugged and put the beer to his lips and took a gulp. He wiped his face with his sleeve and motioned upstairs.
"Looks to me like we're goin' upstairs," he said, slurring his speech.
"You blind or something, Dallas?"
"What the fuck are you talkin' about?" he asked.
Two-Bit was flabbergasted. His mouth fell agape as he looked between Dallas and Sylvia. He couldn't possibly be thinking straight.
"You better think again, man, 'cause that ain't Ellie," he said, pointing at Sylvia in disgust.
Dally cocked his head and squinted his eyes at the blonde he had his arm around. His lips curled into a smug smirk, and she winked at him.
"She certainly ain't Ellie, but Ellie ain't here, is she?" he said. "What she don't know won't hurt her. You dig, Two-Bit?"
Two-Bit stared at him in disbelief. Dallas was drunker than he'd seen him in awhile, but he seemed aware of what he was doing. Sylvia had dug her claws into him, and Dallas had crumpled like a paper bag.
"If you don't mind, we were in the middle of something," Sylvia said, grabbing Dally's arm and turning him back toward the stairs.
"Yeah, you're working your way into someone else's relationship. Dal, don't fucking do this to Ellie," he warned. "You'll do nothin' but hurt her."
"You know what they say about love and war, Two-Bit," Sylvia said with a wicked smile. "She shoulda been here to keep me offa her man. Come on, Dal."
As they headed upstairs, Dally tripped on a step and Sylvia nearly had to drag him up the last few steps. He was crocked and surely about to do something stupid.
"Hey, what the hell was that about?"
Two-Bit turned around and found Steve standing behind him.
"Tell me that ain't what I think I just saw," he said.
"It was," Two-Bit replied. "He … well, I guess it was more Sylvia took him upstairs. He's too soused to think straight, let alone walk straight."
"That asshole. I fucking knew it," Steve grumbled. "I knew he'd do something stupid and fuck with her mind."
"Break her heart's more like it," Two-Bit said.
"I told her so," Steve said, sticking a cigarette behind his ear.
"You gonna say that to her face when she finds out?" Two-Bit asked, heading back toward the table where he left Kathy. He paused for a second when he noticed Tim Shepard looking in his direction. He wore a rare smile and nodded in his direction before looking up the steps and turning back toward the bar.
"I told her Dally was bad news and here I am, right like usual," Steve said.
"She's going to be upset. You know, she really does like him," Two-Bit replied.
"Maybe, but he didn't like her the same way and that's her own fault. He just took advantage of her and she shoulda known better." Steve paused at Two-Bit's incredulous look. "I'm serious, Two-Bit, she wasn't talkin' to anyone after she got jumped. Then he rides in and suddenly they were dating? It's bullshit."
"Well then, Steve, you can tell her the bad news since you're so hell-bent on giving her a reason to be upset. Rub it in her face and maybe you can even make her cry about it," Two-Bit said, pushing past him.
He wondered if he was the only one who saw how much that kid liked Dallas. Even if they always fought, they had always been close, even when they were kids. He sighed as he sat back down. Staring blindly at the steps, he wondered how she would take the news.
So now I need you to tell me the truth,
You know I'd do that for you.
"That one," she said, pointing to the smooth silver casing of a new Zippo.
The retailer pulled it out for her to see, and Ellie smiled at her tiny reflection. Since Dally had given her his medal, he had nothing to light his cigarettes with and buying him a lighter seemed like a good idea. Even though she knew he wouldn't try and surprise her for Christmas, she didn't mind spending some of her meager savings on him. Maybe he wouldn't be so pissed at her.
"This the one?"
She nodded.
The cashier rang it up and Ellie left the store in good spirits. She knew she wasn't being fair to him, and despite the fact that he was mad at her, maybe a new lighter would raise his spirits too. At least, it couldn't make things worse between them.
Is it me? Is it you?
Is it a waste of time?
A/N: We promised some fic while we are on break and I hope we are delivering enough for you guys. Chapter 26 is in the works as is 27 and 28. There is a one shot planned to go along with this chapter, we're just not sure when that will come to be. A side fic is also planned, but we need to get a little bit ahead so we make sure it'll pan out the way we want.
As for this chapter ... Dally cheats on Ellie? What? Who's going to tell her, and how is she going to take it?