Best Times Of Our Lives

Chapter Two

Disclaimer- I do not own the Outsiders.

"So, you doin' anythin' tonight?" Dally asked as we sat out on the front porch of the Curtis house having a smoke.

"Nope," I replied and looked over at him. "But I bet I will."

He smiled at me. "Wanna get dinner at the Dingo?"

"Sure," I replied. Now, I know that the Dingo really isn't anything special, not exactly my dream date by any means, but I knew that Dally couldn't really afford to take me out on an expensive date to some high-class restaurant, and I was fine with that. I wasn't really sure if I would want that anyway.

"So, you want me to pick you up at six?" he questioned.

"I'd better meet you here," I replied and he gave me a questioning look. "My mom still doesn't want me around you."

He nodded his head. I could tell he wasn't happy about it, though. Neither was I. It had been almost a month and half since I was jumped and my mom still wouldn't listen to the truth and still thought that Dallas had had some hand in hurting me.

"I can't believe school starts in two weeks," Carrie groaned as she sat on my bed. "It still seems like summer only just began."

"Not really," I laughed. "Maybe to you, but, I dunno, a lot had happened this summer."

"Yeah, I guess," she sighed. "It's been a pretty good summer, come to think of it."

"Maybe for you," I laughed. "My parents are gettin' divorced."

"You don't need your old man," she assured me confidently. "Me and Two-bit ain't seen ours on ten years and we're doin' fine."

"I don't wanna see my old man anymore," I told her as I sat down next to her. "He's causin' nothin' but pain."

"That's the attitude!" she called happily, and I couldn't help but laugh at her optimism.

I found it amazing how optimistic the gang could be. You'd think that optimism and the east side wouldn't mix well and in most cases they don't, but the gang was just different. I guess it was kind of a miracle that we had all found each other. We would all be lost in the dark without one another. Andy and I would never get through our parents divorce or the sudden changes in my dad without them. All the guys and Carrie needed the gang to get through their own hardships aswell.

When Carrie and I arrived at the Curtis' that night I saw that the T-Bird belonging to Buck Merrill was in the driveway. Dally was already there. I went inside and smiled at the boys.

"Hey guys," I greeted as Carrie went and sat with Johnny. They all shouted their individual greetings, none of them looking away from their poker game.

Dally quickly finished his hand and we left. "We goin' to the Dingo then?" he questioned as we pulled out of the driveway.

"Yeah, sure," I replied, smiling.

We drove to the Dingo and had dinner, nothing spectacular, burger and fries, but it did the trick. After we ate, we drove around town for a while, not really wanting to go home. After a few minutes we came to a stop in front of the drug store. Dallas didn't say anything, just stared at his hands. He seemed nervous. I waited for him to say something. Finally he turned to me.

"Hey, Marie, I was -," he couldn't seem to get the words out. This was just weird, Dally was never like this. He sighed and regained his composure. He held his hand out to me and opened it, revealing his ring. "Will you be my girl?"

I felt a huge grin spread across my face. "Yes!" I said happily. He smiled too, relieved. I can't believe he thought I would actually say no to that. He placed the ring on my finger and I kissed him. "So you're mine, now," I smiled at him.

He smiled back. "Yup," was his reply. I kissed him, again.

We drove around for a while more, a smile not leaving either of our faces. Eventually, though, he took me home. We got out of the car and he walked me to my door.

"I'll see ya tomorrow, then, okay?" he said. I smiled and nodded. Before I went inside he kissed me again, and let me tell you, every since out first kiss, nothing had changed. Those incredible fire works still went off.

"Who was that?" my mom asked once I was inside.

"Dallas," I replied, feeling elated and not even realizing what I was saying.

"What?" my mother questioned angrily. "I thought I told you to stay away from that boy!"

This was when I realized my mistake. I desperately searched my brain for a way to get out of this, but I didn't find one. I decided to just tell the truth. "Mom, c'mon," I pleaded. "He's not a bad guy and I really like him!"

"After what he did to you? How could you? Don't you have any respect for yourself?" she screamed.

"He didn't do anything to me!" I yelled back. "He's never been anything but nice to me and, in fact, he saved me that day!"

"Lie to yourself all you want," she said harshly. "But don't lie to me."

I went into my room after that and threw myself down onto my bed. This was just so frustrating. I few seconds after I entered my room there was a knock on my door.

"What?" I called angrily thinking it was my mom coming to fight with me some more.

"Can I come in?" Andy's voice called.

"Yeah," I called back, a lot calmer now. He opened the door and sat down next to me on my bed.

"What happened?" he asked. I sighed.

"We got in this big fight because Dally brought me home," I replied, staring at his ring. Andy followed my gaze.

"You guys goin' steady now?" He questioned. I smiled.

"Yeah," I replied. "He really is a nice guy y'know, Andy."

"I know," Andy responded. "But mom doesn't. Just give her a break right now, okay? She's really high-strung 'cause of this stuff with dad and all."

"I know," I said softly.

Maybe my mom would feel differently in the morning. But there was that little voice in my head that was telling me that she wouldn't. She'd made up her mind about Dally, a person she'd never even met. And when my mom makes up her mind, it is nearly impossible to change it.