Don't own anything except for Dani. PreppyKrissy owns Serena

Chapter 4

Dally's POV

"Good mornin' Dal," Dani said, waking me from my dreamless sleep. I looked at the clock hanging on the wall, and it said 7:30.

"Shut up, Dani, and let me go back to sleep. It's too early," I said, closing my eyes again.

"C'mon Dally. Get up. You're gonna sleep the day away."

Dani has always been a morning person. And a night person, too, now that I think about it. Always the first one to wake and the last one to sleep.

I closed my eyes, again, and ignored her. After a few sighs, she gave up on me, and I heard her in the kitchen getting breakfast.

Dani and I had been staying at the Curtis's for the past two weeks. She's had the couch, and I had the chair. It wasn't all that comfortable, but as long as I had a place to sleep, I didn't care.

Dani and the guys have really been getting along. Well, probably because she's been flirting with all of them nonstop, except for Darry, who's too old, and Ponyboy, who's too young. She even flirts with Johnny. Not as much as she does with the other guys, but just enough to put a smile on his face and make him blush. It's nice to see him smiling so often, instead of being scared of everything.

Darry's become the father figure that she's never had. I can't tell if she likes finally having someone to lay down the rules, or if she gets pissed off at it. I think it's a little of both.

Ponyboy and Serena have become her best friends. She talks about almost everything with them. With Ponyboy, it's mostly the dreamy stuff, like sunsets and sunrises. And with Serena, it's the girl stuff, like boys, makeup, and clothes. She confides in both of them equally though.

After about fifteen minutes of these thoughts and not being able to fall back to sleep, I got up and joined Dani in the kitchen. She was eating a bowl of cereal and reading comics in the newspaper. I poured myself a bowl and started eating. Neither of us spoke for awhile.

Dani broke the silence first. "So, do you always sleep in the Curtis's living room?"

"No, mostly it's either here or Buck's, and every once in awhile I go home."

"Oh," she paused. "Is there any chance of me sleeping in a bed, instead of on the couch, anytime soon?"

"I dunno. I guess we could stay at Buck's, but you wouldn't have your own bed."

"Who cares, as long as I get to sleep in a bed." I laughed. So did she.

"So how come you came here? I can't take care of ya any better than mom did."

"Mom wasn't the problem. It was her boyfriend."

"What happened?"

"Whenever mom wasn't home, he was always hittin' on me and tryin' to get me in bed with him." I started getting mad. "And then he got abusive and started beatin' me, so I left."

"What the fuck! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" I was so pissed off at that moment.

"Dallas, calm down. I'm here, I'm fine. There's nothin' to worry about."

"What about mom?"

"She's fine. He would never beat on her."

"Yeah right," I said, sarcastically. "Now that you're gone, he's gonna start in on her."

"Hi Ponyboy," Dani said. I turned around, and there was Pony in the doorway. "Did we wake you?"

"Nah, I was already gettin' up when I heard you two yellin'."

"Sit down. Have some breakfast. It's your house and all."

"Well, I don't wanna interrupt."

"Nonsense Pony. We're through anyway," she said, and Pony joined us at the table.

I got up from the table and went back into the living room to put on my shoes and shirt. Then I went outside, on the porch, to smoke a cigarette. "Hey Dal."

"Hey Steve, what're ya doin' here?"

"Me and Soda got work."

"Oh. They're all inside."

"Thanks Dal. See ya."

"Bye."

About ten minutes later, I saw Johnny coming towards the house. "Hey Johnnycakes," I said.

"Hey Dal. What's goin' on man? You're up early."

"Yeah, Dani woke me up."

"Oh. So what're ya doin' today?"

"I dunno, Johnny. Probably go to the DX and the Dingo. Maybe the Nightly Double tonight."

"Tuff enough. Is Dani home?"

"Yeah, she's inside with Pony."

"Okay," he said and we both sat on the steps, smoking.

Dani's POV

"So Pony, how'd ya sleep?"

"Good. How 'bout you?" Pony replied.

"Okay. It'd be better if I had a bed to sleep in though."

"Why don't you ask Serena if she'll share her bed with you? I'm sure she would."

"Well if me and Dal don't sleep at Buck's tonight, maybe I'll ask her."

"Ask me what?" Serena asked, walking into the kitchen.

"If she could share your bed tonight if she and Dal don't stay at Buck's."

"Yeah, of course you can."

"Told you," Pony said.

"Shut up," I told Pony. "So it'd be okay? You wouldn't mind?" I asked, directing the questions at Serena.

"Not at all," she said, pouring herself a bowl of cereal and putting some bread in the toaster.

"Hurry up Soda, you're gonna be late! Again!" Darry yelled, walking into the kitchen. "Hey Danigirl, Pony, Serena. How'd y'all sleep?" Danigirl was the nickname he had given me.

"Hey Darry. Just fine," I replied.

I heard the door slam. "Anybody home?" Steve yelled.

"Kitchen," we all yelled back.

"Hey Dani," he said, walking into the kitchen and ignoring everyone else.

"Hi Steve," I said with a smile on my face.

After a few minutes of staring at me, he spoke again. "Where's Soda?"

"Still gettin' ready," Darry answered.

After this statement, Soda walked into the kitchen wearing only a towel. "Hey Sodapop. I think you're supposed to wear clothes to work," I said, smiling.

He looked down and blushed. "Have you seen my DX shirt?" he asked Darry.

"In your closet."

"Okay, how 'bout my pants?"

"Same place little buddy," Darry answered, and Soda walked out of the room. Steve joined Pony, Serena, and me at the table to wait.

I got up and went into the living room to pick up my blanket and pillow. As I was doing this, Johnny walked in. "Hey Johnnycakes," I said, giving him a kiss on the cheek.

"Hey Dani," he said and sat down on the chair. "What're your plans for the day?"

"Umm…I don't know. What're you doin'?"

"I don't know. Probably walkin' around with Pony."

"Cool. Maybe I'll join you then."

"That's tuff."

"Yup."

"So where is everyone?"

"Kitchen."

"Oh. Pretty crowded?"

"Yeah, everyone's in there except Dal, Soda, and Two-Bit."

Steve, Soda, and Darry walked into the living room on their way to the door. "Bye Danigirl. Don't get in too much trouble today," Darry said.

"I'll try not to."

"Bye Johnny."

"Bye," Johnny said and went into the kitchen.

"We'll meet you in the truck, Dar," Soda said.

"Okay, but don't take too long," he said and walked out of the house.

"So where's our kisses like the one you gave Johnny earlier?" Steve asked.

I rolled my eyes and gave Steve a kiss on the cheek. I went to do the same to Soda, but he grabbed me, dipped me, and kissed me full on the lips. When he stopped and lifted me back up, I smiled and hit him playfully on the arm.

"You two better get goin' or you're gonna be late for work again."

"Fine, we'll go. See ya later Dani," Soda said.

"Bye." The two boys walked out of the house. I watched them, from the door, get in the truck and drive away.

I walked back into the kitchen, and Pony, Johnny, and Serena were sitting at the table. I joined them. "Anyone seen Dal?"

"He was outside when I came in. Maybe he went for a walk," Johnny said.

"Oh."

"So are you guys ready to leave?" Pony asked us.

"Hell no," I said. "Do I look ready to you?" I still had to shower, get dressed, and do my hair and makeup.

"I'm not ready either," Serena said.

"Well go get ready then. Me and Johnny wanna go," Pony ordered us.

"Yes sir," I said, playfully.

"I'm serious. We'll leave without you," he threatened.

"Fine then, Ponyboy Curtis. I'll go get ready." I got up from the table, grabbed some clothes from my bag, and went into the bathroom. Forty-five minutes later, I went back into the kitchen, ready to go.

"Good, now that you're finally out, I can go in the shower," Serena said and left. Johnny, Pony, and I went into the living room to watch TV and found Dallas sitting in the chair.

"Hey bro, where ya been?"

"Shepard's. Supposed to keep an eye on Angela and Curly for Tim until he gets out."

"Oh."

After that, we watched some show on the television until Serena joined us. "You hangin' with us today?" Pony asked her.

"I think I'm gonna hang with Dal," she replied.

"Aww, c'mon. You'll have a lot more fun with us," Pony told her.

"I highly doubt that," I said, smirking. Dally hit me in the back of the head. I glared at him. "Well, how 'bout we meet ya at the Nightly Double 'round six. Okay?"

"Yeah, fine," Dal said, and he and Serena walked off, his arm around her.

"So boys, where to first?"

"I dunno. DX?"

"Sure, let's go," I said and we headed in that direction.

It didn't take us long to get there, and when we did, Soda was being hassled by a group of girls.

"Hey Dani," he yelled when he saw me. All the girls turned around and looked at me.

"Hey Sodapop," I said and made my way to him and gave him a kiss. The girls shot me loathing looks and dispersed.

"Thanks," he said, "They're always here."

"No problem. Where's Steve?"

"Workin' on a car."

"Oh. So shouldn't you be workin' too?"

"Yeah," he said and grinned. "You guys want a Pepsi?"

"Sure," we all said, and Soda went inside to get four of them. He came out and handed one to each of us.

"Thanks," Pony said.

I sat down on the hood of Steve's car and drank my Pepsi. Some guys drove by and honked the horn and yelled catcalls at me. I smiled and waved at them. I guess I was attracting some attention with my looks today. And I'm only wearing shorts and a black tank top. I looked over at the gang, who were all staring at me. "What?"

"Nothin'. Just can't believe how many different guys you can get. Those were Socs that just drove by."

"Who?"

"Socs the rich kids, west side socials. Don't tell you've never heard of the Socs."

"I think Dal might have mentioned them once or twice."

"Well anyways, Socs usually don't look at us unless they're jumpin' us. But it looks like they're makin' an exception for you."

"How'd I get so lucky?"

"You were cursed with good looks just like me," Soda said, and I laughed.

"Hey guys. When'd you get here?" Steve said, coming toward us.

"Hey Stevie," I said.

"A little while ago," Johnny said, answering his question.

"What're ya doin?"

"We're discussing how me and Soda were cursed with movie star good looks."

"You, I can see with movie star good looks, but Soda…Well he's a whole other story," Steve said. Soda pretended to be offended.

"Well, we should probably let you two strong, handsome men get back to work," I said, sliding off the car.

"Work? Who has to work?" Soda asked.

"You do. How else are ya gonna by me dinner at the Dingo? C'mon Pony, Johnny. Bye guys," I said, grinning flirtatiously at Soda and Steve.

It was already one when we left the DX, and I was getting hungry. I was about to mention this, but Johnny beat me to it. "Anyone wanna get some food? I'm hungry."

"Yeah. The Dingo?" They nodded.

We headed in that direction, and after a few minutes, we noticed a blue mustang trailing behind us. "It's that car, man," Johnny said.

"What car?" I asked.

"It's the same one the Socs who beat him up were driving," Pony answered.

"Oh. Just keep walking and don't look back." Johnny was looking scared, and Pony looked slightly nervous. And I have to admit, I was kind of frightened.

The car pulled ahead of us and stopped. Four guys got out and walked over to us. The leader of the group put his arm around me and said, "Hey babe. How come you're with these greasers?"

I didn't answer right away. I looked over at Johnny and Pony, and the other three Socs were surrounding them. I thought about what Soda had said about the Socs making an exception for me and figured the Socs wouldn't hurt them if I gave them what they wanted. "Hey yourself," I said, grinning and moved closer to him. Pony and Johnny looked confused. The main Soc leaned down and kissed me, and I kissed back. I broke away. "You only get more if they don't get hurt," I said, pointing to Pony and Johnny.

"They won't. I promise," he said and continued kissing me. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Socs move away from the two frightened boys.

"Hey Bob, we gotta get goin'. Cherry and Marcia will kill us if we're late," one of the other Socs said.

The one called Bob pulled away. "Yeah, okay. I'll catch you later," he said to me and they got back in their car.

When they were out of sight, Pony said, "What the hell did you kiss him for? You know what Dally would do to you if he saw that?"

"Shut up, Pony. If I hadn't done that, they would've hurt you. And remember what Soda said earlier. The Socs make an exception for me."

"Oh yeah," he paused, "I guess I should be thank--."

"Don't say it. I know," I interrupted, "Let's just go to the Dingo."

We reached the Dingo and ordered our food. It came, and we ate in silence. When we were done, we paid and left.

"Anyone know what time it is?" Johnny asked.

"Four. I checked the clock before we left."

"What're we supposed to do for two more hours?" Pony asked.

"Walk around I guess."

So that's what we did for the next two hours. Walked all over town. Well except for the West side.

When six o'clock came around, we headed to the Nightly Double. We went around back and climbed over the fence. We walked over to the seating area and met up with Dallas and Serena.

"What'd ya do today?" Dal asked us.

"Walked around, went to the DX and the Dingo," I answered.

"Anything exciting?"

"Nope. Same old, boring stuff."

After that, we watched the movie in silence, except when Pony went to get everyone popcorn.

The movie ended and we went back to the Curtis's to get some sleep. I guess we're not going to Buck's. I followed Serena to her room and shared her bed. The next morning I woke up feeling much more relaxed.