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Juliet

Chapter 6

Answers

Juliet took a step back and stared up at Dallas. The awkward tension was unbearable. She tried to say something, anything, but she couldn't seem to get the words out. So, she stared, completely expressionless, at his face. He looked back at her, dazed. They stood this way until a roll of thunder crashed around them, and they both jumped. Dallas muttered something Juliet couldn't quite hear and turned around, hurrying towards the street. She wanted to call out to him, but her mouth wasn't listening to what her brain was shouting. He reached Tim's car, hopped in, and turned the key. It roared to life, but he didn't switch gears to drive away. He just sat there, idling. Juliet could feel him staring back at her through the rain. Finally, Dallas switched on the headlights and backed up before pulling away from the curb and speeding down the street. Juliet took a few quick steps to the edge of the porch and watched him go, wishing she'd said something.

That night, after the rain had died down to a sprinkle, Juliet lay in her bed. All she could think about was the rain dripping onto her face from his hair…his dark eyes…his soft lips, and everything that had come out of them. Did that really happen? Was it a dream? She rolled over onto her stomach, and played the memory back, over and over. Her stomach filled with butterflies all over again, and she smiled. Then she frowned as she remembered him driving away. You're such an idiot, Jules! Why didn't you just say something? She closed her eyes and fell into a frustrated sleep, her dreams filled with Dallas Winston.

When Juliet woke up the next morning, she had bags under her eyes. She'd tossed and turned the whole night. After she'd sat down at the table with a bowl of cereal, Steve asked, "What's with you, Jules?" She shrugged and didn't answer. It was better if Steve just stayed out of the loop. When she'd finished her cereal, she put the bowl into the sink and said, "I'm going for a walk." She rushed out of the kitchen. Before she made it to the door, she felt a hand grab her arm. She turned and saw Steve staring down at her, worry painted all over his face. He asked again, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Steve. Don't worry about it."

"You're my sister, Julie. I'm going to worry about you. It's in the job description." She looked down at the floor and didn't answer. He continued, "Does this have anything to do with Dallas being here last night?"

She looked back up at him and quickly asked, "How did you know he was here?"

Steve shrugged and replied, "Dally's voice carries. And I'm not an idiot."

"Did you hear what we were talking about?"

Steve shook his head and answered, "I ain't no eavesdropper. Knew it wasn't any of my business. But I can guess." Juliet stared at him, waiting. He continued, "Look, Jules. We can all tell you guys have feelings for each other. Only God knows why you care about Dallas Winston, but there it is."

"Steve, I—"

"Julie, it's okay. You're like Johnny, you see something in him that the rest of us can't see." He laughed before saying, "Doesn't make me love you any less."

Juliet smiled at him for a minute before reaching out and wrapping her arms around him, whispering, "I love you, baby brother." He chuckled, wrapped his arms around her shoulders and replied, "I love you too, big sister."

They broke apart and Juliet said, "I am going for a walk, though. I have to clear my head."

"Do you want company?"

"No, that's okay. Thanks, though." She smiled at him, turned around, opened the door, and stepped out onto the front porch.

Juliet loved the smell of the outdoors after a good rain. Everything was so fresh, so clean. She set out on the sidewalk, no real destination in mind, playing the night before over in her head. She imagined all of the things she could've said, that she should've said, trying to figure out what was wrong with her, and why she just let him walk away. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Before she even realized it, she was at the lot. She strode over to a big oak tree and sank down to the ground beneath it, leaning against it. She could feel the wet mud through her jeans, but she just didn't care. She stared at the empty field in front of her, remembering all of the football games she'd played with the boys in her two months here. It was hard to believe that summer was going to be over in a little more than a month. She heard footsteps behind her and turned. There was Dallas Winston, stopped dead in his tracks.

She stared at him, and he stared back. Neither of them said a word or moved a muscle. Juliet's heart was racing, her stomach flying, her brain going nuts. After a few minutes she stood and walked towards him. After what seemed like an eternity, she was standing next to him, both of them looking out onto the lot. Neither said anything for a few minutes, and then Juliet said, "So, I guess it's my turn?" She could see his head turn towards her as he replied, "Your turn for what?"

"To spill."

"Juliet, about last night—"

"No, Dallas. You got your chance to speak last night. And unless you plan on telling me that you didn't mean a word of it, I want you to let me talk now." She looked over at him and he nodded. She gave a small sigh and looked back out at the lot before continuing, "I don't know what it is about you that makes my head spin…I've been trying to figure this out for weeks now, and the only thing that I can come up with is that I'm crazy for you."

She paused, expecting him to try and say something. Satisfied with the silence that meant he was doing as she asked, she went on, "This isn't like me…to lose face over a guy…" She sighed, "You know, we're a lot alike. We're not used to feeling, you and me. There's always been a wall around me…like you said, no one gets in, and nothing comes out. Somehow, you've…I don't know, you've climbed over my wall and are just sitting on top of it, making me feel uncomfortable with the idea that someone's figured out how to get in, but not actually being in…And, the thing is, this…discomfort, or whatever, really isn't that uncomfortable. I kind of like it."

She stopped again, trying to find her next words. She smiled slightly and said, "I guess what I'm really saying is that…I'm crazy for you, Dallas…I don't really know what I'm doing here, and I'm guessing you don't either…but I don't want you to stay away. I want you here, and my only hope is that you want me to be here, too…"

She fell silent, hoping he understood that she was finished with her monologue. They continued to look out onto the lot, silent, both lost in their thoughts of one another. And then, finally, without any warning, Dallas reached out and grabbed Juliet's hand and squeezed. She glanced at their hands, entwined together, then up at his face. He was looking at her, a smile in his eyes. She answered his dancing, shining eyes with a smile of her own. He then looked up at the sky and said, "You do have a beautiful smile, Juliet."

"Jules."

His eyes turned back to hers and he replied, "What?"

"You can call me Jules."

This time his lips joined his eyes in smiling at her. He reached over with his free hand, placing it on the small of her back and pulling her close. He looked down at her face and repeated, "You do have a beautiful smile, Jules." And then he kissed her.

"AWWWWW!"

Juliet broke apart from Dallas' lips as they both turned to see Sodapop, Steve, Two-Bit, Ponyboy, and Johnny standing in a line, staring at them, huge smiles plastered on each of their faces. Two-Bit yelled out, "Dallas and Julie, sittin' in a tree…" Steve, Soda, and Pony joined in, "K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"

Dallas called out, fighting to keep his face cold, "Get outta here, you nosy Greasers!"

The boys, with the exception of the grinning Johnny, continued to sing, "First comes love! Then comes marriage!"

A smile was pulling at the edge of Dallas' mouth, while Juliet laughed.

"Then comes a baby in a baby carriage!"

Juliet, still laughing, clapped as the guys took a bow. Dallas sighed and said, "You finished?"

Soda called back, "Just answer one thing, and we'll leave you two lovebirds alone."

Juliet answered, "Yeah?"

Two-Bit yelled, "Are you together or what?"

Juliet looked at Dallas, he looked back at her. He then called back, "None of your business!"

They all shouted in varying forms of protest, "Oh, come on! That isn't fair!"

Juliet called back, "And what if we are?"

Pony said, "Then we'll leave you alone."

"And if we aren't?"

"Then you better stop making out in the lot!"

Dallas and Juliet both laughed. He called over, "Would you please just go away?"

One by one, the guys rolled their eyes and headed in the direction of the Curtis house. Juliet reached out and grabbed Dallas' hand again. He squeezed it and said, "I figured we should probably figure this out by ourselves, without those idiots gawking at us."

"Probably a smart plan. But, you know there's a clear view of the lot from the Curtis' living room. I guarantee they're staring at us through the window."

Dallas nodded and said, "Good call." He pulled her hand and started walking across the lot, away from the Curtis house, and all of the eyes inside it.

Later that night, Juliet and Dallas walked into the Curtis living room, still holding hands. Everyone was sitting around the T.V. When the door shut behind them, they all turned in unison to look at them, knowing looks plastered on their faces. Two-Bit spoke up first, "Guess that's a yes, then!" He laughed, and Steve threw a cushion from the couch at him. Then Steve turned back to the couple and said, "Well? You guys finally make it official?"

Dallas and Juliet both smiled, but said nothing. Then, Dallas suddenly turned Juliet and pulled her into a dip before kissing her. He pulled her back up to stand in front of him. He put his arms around her shoulders and she put her hands on his arms, her face flushing. Dallas cocked an eyebrow and said, "Official enough for you, nosy?"

A/N:

Note #1: So…I'm sorry for not updating. I kind of fell out of my writing mood. And then I started writing again, and forgot that this story existed. I'm sorry. I'll try to keep updating.

Note #2: I considered ending here. But that seems short. So I plan on continuing for a little while.

Note #3: Officially the slowest I've ever let a romance blossom. Usually I have my characters jump right in, but I actually had some turmoil and some time pass here. Hope it was long enough of a jump?

Note #4: Please review! So I know I still have some readers!

Love Always,

DC