Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders.

Nycgal5490: I know not a lot of people are fans of cliffhangers but it seemed like a good place to end the chapter.
Cute-Amiga: You might like Daniel, because he does something kind of cool.
Miko Yamaguchi: How did you manage to kidnap Dallas Winston?
Babygurl33: I love Dally too. And so does Roxie, at least she does right now…
Miru Amai: You don't have to beg. She might end up with Dally. Or she might go back to Daniel. Only I know for sure.
Sokkazukofan: LOL, I know.
Silent Storm 2000: I'm like the Energizer Bunny…I'll keep going and going and going…
Turquoise Girl: It was a little shorter than usual with the word count, and also it was practically all dialogue so it seemed shorter because of that too. Getting reviews like yours make me want to update sooner.
TWbasketcase: Aw, thanks so much Kristen. Your review made me very proud of what I wrote. I still think you're the queen of angst, morbid psycho or not.
Tk421beth: Emilio likes me! He is damn handsome. If I ever met him I don't think I would be able to say anything, I would just stand there and stare. And then he would think I'm crazy.
The Dancing Egg: Great name! Your user name and your actual name. I love the name Claire; the main character in my other Outsiders fic (Black Roses Red) is named Claire. I was almost named Claire. You really didn't need to know that did you?

Author's Note: Two more chapters and an epilogue left! I know I've been neglecting Black Roses Red but it will be updated, I promise. And happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the United States.

Chapter Thirteen: Decisions

I bit the inside of my cheek in nervousness as Dally plowed his hands through his white-blond hair. He hadn't said anything for a few moments but I knew better than to say anything until he spoke.

"Roxie, I don't know if I can do this anymore," he said finally. I could hear the frustration in his voice.

"Do what?" I asked, already knowing the answer to my question.

"This…" he gestured at himself and then at me. "Us… Roxie what's going to happen when you go back home?"

"I…I don't know…" I said shaking my head. Dally sighed and rubbed his temples.

"You need to figure it out," he said, getting up of the sofa. He kissed my forehead before he grabbed his leather jacket off its coat hook and headed out the front door. He didn't say goodbye or where he was going or anything. But that was Dallas Winston.

The first thing I did after Dally left was run to Two-Bit and Trisha's house. I could have simply walked next door to talk to Olivia but I didn't. Although I loved Olivia like a big sister I knew already what she would tell me to do: follow my heart. I didn't really feel like hearing that advice at the moment so I sprinted to Trisha's with nothing but Aunt Candice's old fuzzy slippers on my feet.

I banged on the door as hard as I could while I was catching my breath. A moment later the door opened to reveal Trisha. She cocked her head to the side as she let me in. Norman the cat was curled up in the easy chair by the coffee table. I couldn't see or hear Two-Bit so I had caught Trisha home alone. Finally when I cooled down she spoke.

"You have to chose, don't you?" she asked sitting down on the worn plaid sofa in the living area of the tiny house. I nodded mutely. "And you don't know which one to pick so you came here to have me tell you what to do, right?"

"Well…yeah." I said. Trisha curled her legs up under her and pulled the elastic out of her hair. She sighed and looked at me sadly.

"Roxie I can't tell you what the right decision here is. Only you know that in your heart," she said. Maybe I would have been better off going to Olivia's house, I thought.

"But don't you have an opinion?" I prodded.

"Oh course I have an opinion Roxie! But I can't give it to you. Because what I think you should do doesn't matter. I can't make the choice for you, neither can Daniel, or Dally." Trisha didn't budge. There was no way I would get a straight forward answer out of her. I swallowed and sat in silence for a few moments before Trisha spoke again.

"Do you love Dally?" she asked, pulling her legs up to her chest and resting her chin on her knees. I nodded.

"Yes, very much." I said softly.

"Do you love Daniel?"

"Yes, I do." I admitted. "I love him dearly, but in a different way. I don't feel the same way with him as I do with Dally."

"No one can ever do that." Trisha said simply. "I can't make this decision for you Roxie. I want you to know that I love you and Two-Bit loves you and everybody else down here loves you very much. I know that it doesn't help much but it's all I can tell you."

After saying goodbye to Trisha, who gave me a hug and wished me luck,I walked home quickly, it was getting cold. When I finally reached the house I could see Dally sitting in the living room. I bit the inside of my cheek so hard I could faintly taste blood as I opened the unlocked front door.

Dally was sitting in the easy chair smoking a cigarette. As he exhaled he looked at me through the smoke with raised eyebrows. "Did you choose?" he asked.

"Yes." I said in a voice hardly above a whisper, sitting down on the couch. He put his cigarette out in a coffee cup I had given him to serve as an ashtray and then looked at me expectantly. This is it, I thought as I took a deep breath.