Chapter 20

Dally's POV

I arrived in New York around 3:00 in the afternoon, five days after hearing the news about the baby. I came here because this was where I grew up. It was my "home" away from "home," well if you can call the dump I lived in back in Oklahoma a home.

I had to get away from Tulsa for awhile. I needed time to think things over. I wasn't ready to be a father. I could just barely take care of myself. How was I supposed to support Halley and a kid?

I walked around the city for awhile, but then I decided I needed to find a place to stay. I had a feeling I was going to be here for awhile. I had some friends that lived around here, so I walked over to their house and knocked on the door.

A tall brunette with green eyes answered the door. "Dallas…what're you doin' here?" he asked, pulling me into a hug.

"Hey Jake. Needed some time away from Tulsa so I thought I'd come see what you two idiots were up to."

"Hey TJ, come look who's here," Jake yelled into the house. Soon a tall, muscular blonde with piercing blue eyes was standing in the doorway next to the brunette.

"Dallas Winston. Never expected to see you back here so soon."

"Neither did I," I said. TJ and Jake were tough, not tough like me, but a lot tougher than the greasers back in Tulsa. You had to be tough growing up on the streets of New York.

"Come in, man," TJ said, and moved out of the entrance. I walked in. The house looks just how it did the last time I was here. We all sat down in the living room and were quiet for a moment.

TJ broke the silence first. "So what brings you to the Big Apple, Dal?"

"Just thought I'd come check up on you two. See how you were doin'."

"Very thoughtful of ya, Dal Now what's the real reason you're here?" TJ always could tell when I was lying.

"I met a girl down in Tulsa, we dated, had sex. I did what I always do—cheated on her. She caught me. Then she told me she was pregnant."

"Wow, all that's happened since you went to see Soda?" I nodded. "So who's the chick?"

"She was Soda's girlfriend but she dumped him to date me."

"Why would she do a stupid thing like that?" TJ had Two-Bit's smart-ass comments. He was also almost as hard and cold as I was. Jake was different. He was kinda like Tim Shepard. Cold and mean when he had to be, otherwise he's a pretty compassionate guy.

"And then you screwed up and cheated on her?" Jake asked, "You're an idiot."

"Shut up!"

"So what're you plannin' to do here?"

"I need time to think about the whole situation. Think about what I'm gonna do. I just need somewhere to stay for awhile."

"Alright man. You can stay, but don't go getting' into any trouble. We don't have the money to bail you out again," TJ said.

"Thanks man," I said and leaned back on the couch.

"Yeah man, no problem."

Halley's POV

I have officially been pregnant for two months. I went to the doctors and that's what he told me. The morning sickness has been absolutely horrible. I really don't know why they call it "morning" sickness when it last all day.

Sodapop stayed true to his promise and has been helping me out as much as possible. He's been so sweet. He's great. If Dallas hadn't come around, we'd probably still be together.

I was standing in front of the mirror admiring my growing stomach. It really wasn't all that big, but you could tell it was growing. It was kinda hard to imagine that there was a human being growing inside of me. I wasn't showing much and that was kind of a good thing. I didn't want everyone at school to know, they'd just think that another Greaser whore got knocked up. I mean, they're gonna find out eventually, but I'm not ready for everyone to know. I'm actually kinda surprised they don't know. Two-Bit knows. It's kinda shocking that he hasn't told anyone.

Sodapop walked into my room and placed his hand on my stomach. "Hello baby. It's your Uncle Sodapop," he said, talking to my stomach. "Hey Hal," he said and kissed my forehead.

"Hey Sodapop. What're you doin' here at this time? I thought you had to work." I went and sat on the bed and he came and sat next to me.

"I did. I was told I didn't have to work all day. So I decided to come and check up on my niece. Oh, and I guess I came to check on you too since she is in your stomach." I hit him playfully in the stomach.

"How do you know it's a girl? Maybe it's a boy."

"Yeah, I guess it could be," he said looking disappointed. I just sighed and walked out into the kitchen, where I got myself some crackers and iced tea. Soda came in shortly with a smile on his face.

"You know I was kiddin', right?" he asked, "I'd be just as happy if it was a boy."

"I know, Sodapop. Don't worry about it. Now it you'll excuse me, I got some homework that I must finish," I said getting up from the table.

"Okay. I'll see ya later then. I'm gonna go find Two-Bit." He came over and kissed me on top of my head and walked out of the house.

I went into my room and sat on my bed, where I started doing my biology homework, which just so happens to be my worst subject. I wish Pony was here. He would've been able to help me, but he was out with Johnny.

I heard the door slam shut about twenty minutes later. Finally, a distraction. I really didn't want to do my homework.

"Halley," a female voice called from the living room. It was Emily. "In my room." She came in shortly after.

"So how is my niece or nephew?"

"He or she is fine. I'm fine. Thanks for asking," I said, saying the last part sarcastically.

"Sorry."

"It's okay. What brings you here? I thought you were hangin' out with Two-Bit today."

"Yeah, I was, until another blonde walks by and he couldn't control himself. Again. This is getting out of hand."

I laughed. "Sorry. It's Two-Bit. What do you expect? He likes four things—school, fights, Mickey Mouse, and blondes."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just once though, I wish he'd choose me over some dumb blonde." I ignored the comment.

"Love is a battlefield. You gotta fight for your man," I said and laughed silently to myself, "And if that doesn't work, you could always dye your hair blonde."

"I can't believe you're making fun of me," she complained and threw a pillow at me. "That's so not cool. You're supposed to be there for me when I need you."

"Sorry. So what can I help you with? I don't think I can give you much advice since my love life also sucks."

"You don't worry about your love life. Stress isn't good for the baby and, besides, Dallas will be back in your arms soon."

"Yeah sure. He's been gone for more than a month."

"He's in shock, that's all. He just needs time to think things over. He'll be back. And until then, you have Soda."

"Yeah, I guess," I said frowning. Thinking about Dallas always made me upset. I really missed him. And I just couldn't believe he left like he did. No goodbye. Nothing.

I assumed that she saw me get upset by the look on her face. "Let's go to the Dingo."

"Okay," I said and we walked out of the door, leaving my unfinished homework lying on my bed.