Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders.

Silent Storm 2000: Thanks, I will.
oOoRikku4EveroOo: He's supposed to be that way.
TWbasketcase: I hope you enjoy the Dally style blow-up, that's here just for you!
Tk421beth: I can't tell you. I want it to be a surprise.
MadisonMohawksJD: It will have a happy ending but I'm not saying anything else.
Babygurl33: Thank you. The big thing starts to happen at the end of this chapter.
Tikagem: Thanks, your review made my day!
Cute-Amiga: Your prize is knowing what's going to happen and how it's going to end ;)
Sokkazukofan: I'm glad you liked the first one. I think you'll like the end of this chapter very much.

Author's Note: I'm up to double digits! Sorry for the lack of updates on both my stories. Things have been pretty busy lately. I'm really missing writing fan fiction! I'll try to update more soon. This is the long awaited chapter with Dally's blow up (I don't know how good his blow up is...but whatever) and the start of the big thing! I know you are all super psyched. Can you guess what the big thing is?

Chapter Ten: Taking a Risk

Cleaning out all the junk in the attic had taken a long time. Now Dally and I were concentrating on scrubbing it, top to bottom. Dally was less than pleased with this of course, cleaning really wasn't his thing. But he grudgingly washed the floors and windows.

I sat back on my heels, admiring the work I had done on a particularly cobwebby corner. Brushing my bangs out of my eyes I turned my head to where Dally was swearing under his breath as he cleaned the window. I snickered under my breath as I stood up, brushing off my frayed jeans.

"What?" Dally asked looking up from the window. His eyebrows were raised, making his icy blue eyes look bigger.

"Nothing," I smirked, feeling like I was fifteen again. "Want to take a break?" I asked, stretching my arms up over my head and yawning. We had already taken a lunch break but for some reason I wasn't in a working mood. Dally shrugged and tossed the rag he was using onto the floor with the other cleaning supplies.

He followed me down the narrow and steep stairway to the second floor and down to the first floor. As I passed the picture window in the living room I noticed that the sky had darkened, a thunderstorm was brewing.

"Dally I don't know if you should go home…" I said, pushing back the net curtains to get a better look outside.

"Come on Roxie…I'll be fine," he said. I raised my eyebrows and turned on the TV to the local news station. The weather girl was explaining that there was a severe thunderstorm was coming. Dally rolled his eyes, "Those weather people are always wrong," as lightning light up the darkened Oklahoma sky and thunder boomed.

"Always wrong?" I asked, crossing my arms. He raked a hand through his hair.

"Okay I stand corrected. I'll hang out here until it blows over."

"Good. Now you can help me find some candles incase the power goes out." I said smiling.

"What do you remember most about that summer?" I asked, taking a bite of one of the hard chocolate chip cookies on the plate in front of me. Dally's face creased with concentration as the candlelight flickered over it. I could see the flame reflected in his eyes. The power had gone out an hour ago, at seven o'clock at night, just after we had finished dinner. The storm raged outside. The old oak tree in the side yard kept scratching the window while the rain pounded on the roof.

"Everything that we did together." Dally said. I rolled my eyes.

"I'm serious." I said throwing the rest of my cookie at him. He laughed. It was too early to go to bed so we were sitting on the floor of the living room with some candles and a plate of cookies in front of us. As always Dally and I never ran out of things to talk about. We soon started a game of Truth. It was like Truth or Dare but without the Dare. Olivia and Trisha had taught it to me that summer.

"I am too," he said seriously. I half smiled at him, as though I didn't believe him.

"Fine. It's your turn."

"Same question."

"Um…" I tucked my hair behind my ear as I thought. "Our kiss, right before the eclipse." I blushed even though Dally was well aware that he had been my first kiss.

"Your turn," he said, taking another cookie. I fiddled with the lid on my water bottle for a moment before speaking.

"What do you think of Daniel?" I asked. I don't know why I asked that. It just came out. Dally bit his lower lip, something that I did when I was nervous but I knew he only did it when he was trying to hold back his temper.

"I think…I think he's great. He's a great guy. Almost perfect. Just what you deserve Rox," he said, looking down at the candle and not at me.

"Dally…" I said, putting my hand on his arm. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing. I'm fine," he said bitterly, still not looking at me.

"Dallas Winston, I'm a girl. When we say we're fine, we're usually not. So tell me what's the matter." I said looking down so he would have to look me in the eye. He let out an exasperated sigh.

"God Roxie, you just don't get it do you?" he asked angrily throwing his empty water bottle across the room. He wasn't yelling exactly but he was very upset and his voice naturally rose. "How do you think I felt when I found out you were engaged? It fucking hurt, Roxie. And you didn't even realize it. You just happy little Roxie with your happy little Daniel. Did you really think I was over you? Just because I stopped writing you didn't mean I stopped loving you."

My jaw dropped open, I was speechless. "Dally did you just say…"

"Yea. I still love you," he grumbled, finally looking me right in the eye. I felt my breath intake, like it did right before the first time he kissed me. I bit my lip nervously as Dally brushed back my bangs, cupping his hand around my face. As he leaned towards me I felt my body tense up just like it did ten years ago. And as his lips touched mine I felt all the feelings I had for him back then come rushing back to me, making me feel light headed.