Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders. I don't own the Dictionary either (see? I put in some definitions for my author's note which is very long and at the bottom) I don't own either books!

Gallant Gallant" (?; 277), a.

Polite and attentive to ladies; courteous to women;

Chivalrous.

Chapter Twelve

Death Takes Her Victim

Dally hurried through the park and he heard the cop yell, "Drop it!"

Dally pretended to aim the unloaded gun, "YOU'LL NEVER GET ME ALIVE!" The cops all shot at different times. Each of the five bullets ripped into him. One shot him directly in the chest. He crawled slowly to his friends.

"Pony?" he asked, everyone else was fuzzy.

That would be the last time Dallas Winston ever breathed. He had taken his last.

The last time he'd ever get his name in the police records.

The last time he'd ever laugh had been in Windrixville. No longer would he cry, laugh, or even joke. Dallas Winston had been desperate, and young…

He crumpled under the streetlight…but gallantly.

For Dallas Winston had been gallant until the end.

Dallas Winston was dead.

And no one, not even the police would smile. Even Death couldn't take her victim with a smile like all the rest of them.

The police officer took up Dally's gun and opened the chamber, curious to see why he'd never fired a single shot, though he had the gun.

He paid no attention to the boys screaming at him and the one that passed out. He turned to the other cops who were bagging up the body and searching it.

"It's not loaded," he said. Dallas Winston had died in vain.

Author's Note: I started this off with a definition. I had always known what 'gallant' meant, but I started to wonder exactly what the official definition was. I also wondered how it tied in with Dally's death. Well, it doesn't really seem to be that way with the definition that I found. 'Polite and attentive to women, courteous to women.' Well, I'm sorry Dally, but you were not paying any attention to the women when you decided to end your life! Some of us really liked you and look what you did! You got yourself killed! And then there's chivalrous. Just what does that mean exactly? I've used the term before but I don't know the exact definition: Chivalrous Chiv"alrous, a. OF. chevalerus, chevalereus, fr.

chevalier. See Chivalry.

Pertaining to chivalry or knight-errantry; warlike; heroic;

gallant; high-spirited; high-minded; magnanimous. Ok…yeah, I can see how that ties in. 'Warlike' I'd use 'heroic' as well. Ok, I see now how it is used to Dallas's death. And now I'm in tears. Come on, girl, get with the program! You knew when you started this you'd have to write the death scene. Ok, most of this chapter is my author's note. Pathetic! And I honestly can't say I hope you enjoyed this chapter because if you do…personally, I think you need help. I FEEL LIKE A MURDERER! I just killed Dallas Winston…(cries hysterically.)

Anyway, I've written a long story called 'Life Among the Outsiders' it's about a girl named Gaia Schultz and she and her two friends get sucked into The Outisders. I saw that someone else had written one like it today, but this one has been written since like…October. If you think I should post it, say so. Thanks for reviewing and reading this (and I'm sorry that Dallas Winston had to die!)