Yay, I'm finally getting around to updating this! I kind like this one. Which is a big change because I never like anything I write. I can't wait to get to the big part of this story. It's driving me nuts. Oh well. Something may happen in this chapter, but I haven't decided about that yet. Probably not. Oh well. Now, enough of my babble that makes sense to only me. On with chapter three!
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Chapter 3-- Mysterious Savior
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I opened my eyes and met the ice-cold gaze of Dallas Winston. For a minute, I was shocked speechless. He was the last one I expected to see. But then again, I didn't really expect to see anyone lying there beside me.

"What the hell are you doing," I asked, my voice a whisper.

"What does it look like," he responded, letting my hair slip out of his fingers.

"Falling off of my bed."

He looked slightly confused for a moment, but then he got the meaning of my statement. I drew my legs up, put my stocking feet to his chest, and shoved with all of my might. He fell off the bed and I also succeded in pushing myself off also.

"What the hell was that for," yelled the outraged tow-headed greaser.

"Stay back," I yelled as bravely as I could, picking up the first thing I could and holding it like a weapon.

The object turned out to be an old broom handle. Dallas looked at it and then laughed. What was so funny? I knew how to use it if I had to.

"What is all the racket in here," Keith said, opening the door.

"That idiot was trying to rape me!"

Keith looked from Dallas to me and back again. He actually looked shocked. I looked at Dallas. He seemed to be calm, cool and collected. How could he just stand there like that?! God, was he just going to stand there and not deny it?

"I think Colleen should go stay over with the Curtis'," Keith said quietly, looking at Dallas. "You can stay over here tonight, Dallas."

"But--," I started to protest, flinging the broomstick around frantically.

"Colleen, just do it," Keith commanded.

I threw my make-shift weapon at a wall and started getting some clothes together. It was the weekend, so I didn't really need anything. I didn't understand why I had to leave.

I threw my favorite book, "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe, into a bag, along with a few trashy paperback romance novels that I had brought with me to pass some time. In went a skirt that had belonged to my mother. It was one of those poodle skirts, pink in color. In went a hair brush, some shampoo, some socks, and a few other needed items.

I stormed out of my room, then flopped down on the couch and shoved on my shoes. Keith's little sister, Lillian, came in about that time, rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"Ce-ce, what's happening," she asked, dragging her blankie behind her as she climbed up on the couch beside me.

"I'm going to go spend the night with a friend for a few nights, poppet," I said happily, patting her head lightly. "I'll see ya later, little one."

"Bye, Colleen," she yawned, slowly walking back to her room.

I smiled after her and then got up and left. The door kinda slammed behind me, but I guess it really didn't matter. No one really cared around here.

The night was calm still. It was warm and the streetlights were still on. The sky was starting to lighten slightly. God, I was never going to get to sleep today?

There was someone following me. I heard the car. But deciding to try to outrun them, I started walking faster. They were persistant, though, and the car just sped up. (By the way, my ankle wasn't broken. The pain had wore off by now. Someone had given me a few aspirin, so it helped, I guess.)

A few guys jumped out of the car and ran me down. One of them grabbed me by the hair and pulled my head back so I had to look up at them. I had to look up at them anyway....Stupid tall people....

"Hey, grease," he said. "Remember me?"

Oh yeah, I remembered this idiot. It was the same guy who'd knocked me out earlier. How could you forget something that ugly? His breath still smelled like scotch, but more so now than before.

"Just leave me alone," I sighed in a tired voice. "I don't have time to play with you silly little boys. I have places to go and people to see."

"You little slut," he growled under his breath. "Oh well, we still have time to fix you up really pretty like. Don't we, boys?"

I looked at all three of them. They were dead drunk and dead serious.

"Leave me alone," I said wearily. "Please, just let me go."

The one who had a hold of my hair smiled and then back-handed me. My lip split and he socked me in the stomach again. How much torture could my poor body take that night?

"Let's teach her a lesson," one of them said. I was shoved to the ground.

I wasn't a stupid girl and I knew what was coming now. I started screaming frantically, kicking and punching whatever I could. I assume someone heard me because the guys were jerked backwards and I was suddenly free.

There was the sound of punching, people yelling, car doors slamming, and then tires screeching as the car screamed away into the night. I was left lying on the ground, staring up into the sky.

"You all right, little girl," a masculine voice said.

I groaned and a hand was thrusted out to me.

"I'm not a little girl," I said in distress. "I'm fifteen years old, for crying out loud!"

"All right, all right," the voice said on a rich, deep laugh. Just the sound of it made my worries fade away. "Let me help you up then, young lady."

I sighed and then put my hand in the man's. He hauled me to my feet and then smiled down at me.

"Good lord," I whistled. "You're a giant!"

"No, only about 6 foot 3," he laughed. "I saw you were in trouble. How are you feeling now?"

"I guess I'm all right," I mummbled. "Who are you?"

"Just a passer-by," he said with a dazzling smile. "May I have the privilage of escorting a lovely lady to wherever she happens to be going?"

I looked around behind me then looked back at him.

"Me," I asked as I pointed at myself.

"I don't see anyone else around here, do you?" He laughed again. God, how I loved his wonderful laugh. I had to smile. I knew I was blushing; I couldn't help it. He just smiled at me, his white teeth glistening handsomely in the growing light, and offered me his arm.

I took it with pride and he escorted me down the street. He was so handsome that it was overwhelming. He even smelled handsome. He was wearing some kind of wonderful-smelling cologne and I loved his aftershave. It was the same kind that Solo used. Solo...

His black leather jacket was cool under my sweating hand. I was so nervous at that moment that I was scaring myself. He didn't really say much, but I doubt that if he had talked to me that I would have been able to answer him without embarrassing myself. I couldn't even look at him without my whole face burning.

"So, what's a lovely young woman doing walking around in the middle of the night all by herself," he asked. It wasn't an offhand question; he sounded really intrested in what I had to say.

"I was walking to my cousin's friends' house," I explained. "My cousin's other friend was trying to get me to sleep with him. I didn't want to, so I tried to fend him off with a broken broomstick. My cousin thought it would be better if I relocated. Simple as that."

"Oh, yes," he laughed. "Quite simple."

For the first time, I really looked at him. His hair was such a dark brown color that it could easily be mistaken for black. He had blue eyes and tanned skin. He was actually even more handsome than I had previously thought.

"Well, we're here," I said, stopping in front of the Curtis' house. There were only about three hours of darkness left. At least it was better than nothing, though. "Thank you so much. I can never repay you."

"How about we get together sometime," he said. "Give me your number and I'll call you and we'll set it up, okay?"

"All right," I agreed willingly.

He grabbed a pen out of his pocket and handed it to me. I wrote my name and number on his hand and gave him back the pen.

"Colleen," he said. "That's a beautiful name. Beautiful name for a beautiful girl."

I blushed then said good-bye. I was so reluctant to leave. From the front porch, I watched him walk away until he turned a corner and was out of sight. I simply sighed and knocked on the door.

It opened, revealing Johnny Cade, clad in only a pair of low cut tight blue jeans and some socks. He kinda smiled at me and opened the door.

"Hey, Johnny," I sighed, throwing my stuff down on the floor by the door.

"Hi, Colleen," he murmmred shyly, backing up to let me walk further inside.

"Keith told me to come down here," I explained. "Do you think it would be okay with Darry and the others if I crash here for tonight?"

Johnny nodded slowly. I liked Johnny. I had only known him for a while. Actually only a week and a half, since the day I arrived in Tulsa. But so far he seemed like a good guy to know. He was quiet and shy, and I hadn't really talked to him because he never really said much of anything to anyone, but he was nicer than most of the people I had met so far.

I flopped down on the couch and looked around slowly. Johnny was just kinda standing in the middle of the room, looking at me.

"What," I asked, looking at him confusedly.

"Nothing," he mummbled, lying down on the floor.

I smacked myself in the forehead. How could I be so dumb? Johnny had probably been lying on the couch! I quickly moved over.

"Here, Johnny," I said, patting the couch. "We can share it. Come on, I don't bite or anything."

He smiled at me shyly and sat down on the couch beside me. There was a blanket that had been sitting there, which Johnny threw over the both of us. I smiled at him before I closed my eyes and curled up at the arm of the sofa.

"You got enough room, Johnny," I asked, opening one eye to look at him.

"Yeah," he said. He slumped down and closed those big dark eyes of his. He was certianly a handsome boy.

I closed my eye again and before I knew it, I was asleep.
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That's it for chapter 3. What did you think about it? This time, I want five reviews before I update to chapter 4, please. Please? You guys are so awesome. I really mean that. Thank you for sticking it out with me. Later Days, Loyal Readers! Review!