This chapter certainly took a while to write although I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I do not own the Outsiders.


The fingers of Dallas' left hand tapped as he focused on the cigarette that smoldered in his right hand.

Against his wishes, his eyes flicked toward Andy who sat on the other side of the room as she chatted with Pony who she was reading a book with.

Seconds later, Dallas went back to eyeing the cigarette before he felt Andy gaze rest on him. He took a drag on the cigarette before he looked disinterestedly at a nearby wall. The tapping of his fingers sped up in a way that edged on being irritating. There was no point in looking over at Andy to confirm his suspicions when he knew she's be the only person who'd look at him in such a way.

It had started shortly after Andy's birthday party. It hadn't been much at first. She'd gotten much more comfortable with greeting him, asking banal questions like how was he feeling. It was the the sort of thing that seemed normal. Ordinary.

Then things changed.

She'd begun seeking him out of everyone in the room. Andy would try to engage him, have a real conversation. Dallas didn't think much of it at first. He's talk with her for a while about ordinary things. Hell, he'd even enjoy one day he'd looked at her and froze.

That was the first time he noticed the earnest, hopeful light in her eyes. She'd looked at him with such sincerity and the beginnings of an emotion that Dallas refused to even name. At that moment, he'd realized how much of a mistake that kiss had been. On the day of her birthday, he'd merely intended to go along with Soda's plan so they'd stop bothering him. Just a single kiss and he'd move on with his life.

And then it happened.

Somehow he hadn't expected Andy to be good at kissing. Sure she was as innocent as he expected, but he didn't bet on wanting a second afterwards. More proof her ex was an idiot, he'd guessed.

At first he'd expected to forget it, but he didn't.

He felt Andy's gaze fall on him again as he smoked. There was the creak of a chair and the sound of approaching footsteps followed. Andy leaned against the wall next to Dallas and greeted him saw Andy's lips tug slightly upward before her expression smoothed over. Both leaned against the wall before Andy started, "So ..." Dallas looked at her for half a second before he looked forward again.

Andy was quiet for a while before she said, "Terrible weather today." Dallas grunted in response to the statement. Both teens were silent until Andy started to chuckle.

Dallas raised an eyebrow and Andy smiled sheepishly, exasperation tinged her voice as she said, "I can't believe i couldn't think of anything to talk about besides the weather!" Dallas' lips pulled into a smirk. Andy smiled back before she added, "Apparently it'll clear up by tonight though, and the drive in has a good selection of movies."

Dallas' hand froze on it's way to his mouth. He stared straight ahead as Andy kept looking at him.

Andy hadn't asked if he wanted to go with her, but her intent was clear. There was no point in mentioning the movies unless she was asking to go together. Smoke rose from his cigarette as he searched for an answer. He took a drag from the cigarette before he said, "Huh, I'll be busy tonight." Andy nodded and her smile wavered for a moment before she replied, "I see." She continued to lean against the wall as she absentmindedly fiddled with the book in her hands. Andy winced a moment later and nearly dropped the book she was holding. Dallas turned to look at her as he asked, "Alright there?"

Andy smiled sheepishly as she replied, "I'm fine. It's just a, um, paper cut."

Dallas glanced down at the small red line on her pointer finger as Andy grumbled, "I really need to stop doing that." Tiny drops of blood welled up from the cut and a sigh passed through Andy's lips before she said, "Looks like I have to take care of this."

Dallas nodded and Andy smiled before she left the room. Dallas stared at the remnant of his cigarette before he put it out and left.

Dallas jammed his hands into his pockets as he walked down the street. He knew Andy would look for him once she was done taking care of the cut, but he told himself he didn't care. He already had a girlfriend, so why would he care.

Dallas scoffed at the idea before he turned in the direction of Tim Shepard's house. It was still rather early, but he could count on Shepard's house being full of partiers and he needed a drink.

The door swung shut behind him, and Dallas made his way past other people to sit on a stool by the bar. He'd just taken a couple swigs of his beer when the seat next to him was pulled out.

Sylvia gave him a sultry smile as she purred, "Hey Dally, I didn't know you were here." Dallas smirked back and replied, "I just felt like comin'." Sylvia pouted as she asked, "You didn't come to see little old me?" Dallas swirled his can as he felt an edge of irritation. Sylvia huffed as she crossed her arms and grumbled, 'You're always busy doing this or that. Makes me worry that you're ignoring me."

Dallas could see Sylvia lean on her hand as she asked, "You're not seeing some other girl, are you Dally?" Dallas nearly chocked on his beer before he set it down and replied, "Of course not. I wouldn't cheat on you babe." Sylvia stared directly into his eyes as she asked, "Promise?' Dallas nodded briefly as he said, "Yeah."

Sylvia's lips pulled into another sultry smile as she whispered, "You better not." before she leaned forward and planted a slow kiss on his cheek.

She pressed closer still, her fingers ghosted over Dallas' leg as she whispered, "Why don't we go somewhere private. have a little fun for once." Dallas chuckled and took another swig of his drink before he said with a smirk on his face, "Why not?"

Sylvia's fingers dragged up his torso before she headed to one of the rooms. Dallas chugged the rest of his drink before he set the can down with a hollow thud. He stood, then hesitated. An unfamiliar emotion held him back before he scoffed and began walking. After all, Sylvia was his girlfriend, so there was no reason to hesitate. Not at all, he told himself.


Well, it looks like things won't be going so simply for Dallas. Next chapter will have an introduction between two characters and the beginnings of a rivalry.

Hopefully I'll get a new chapter up soon. I want another one done by my birthday.