Author's Note: I don't own any of The Outsiders characters. I do own Tish and Mark.

"So, Dal, I heard you fucked up Tim Shepard last night," Steve said as Dallas walked into DX.

"What are you talking about?" Dal asked, trying not to sound phased.

"He came by the house this morning looking for you," Soda answered for Steve. "He said he was messing with a Soc and you hit 'im. Is that true?"

"No, he's full of it. The Soc probably hit him," Dallas brushed them off and lit up a cigarette. "What Soc was he messing with?" Soda asked.

"How the hell would I know? I wasn't there."

"Whoa," Steve said in a dreamy voice as he looked out the window. "Nice car." Dallas and Soda looked up as Cherry Valance parked her car outside the gas station. Dallas felt his stomach shrink a little as she got out and headed towards the door. He wanted to hide, but had no where to go.

Cherry pulled open the door and walked in. "Hello," Cherry smiled warily at Sodapop and nodded her head at Steve. Her face was red. She turned to Dallas. "Hi, Can I talk to you for a minute?" Cherry asked Dallas in a quiet voice. "Uh.. Yeah. I guess," Dallas breathed.

They walked into the DX garage to be alone. "I just wanted to thank you for what you did last night," Cherry said looking at the floor.

"Oh, uh, well-"

"I mean I know that Tim Shepard is kind of your friend and you don't know me that well. I am glad to know that you actually have a conscience despite what others might think. I'm really happy you were there," Cherry looked back up at Dallas. Her eyes were a beautiful green and Dallas would have been lost in them if her comments hadn't made him angry.

"Well, I wouldn't have helped but I had a score to settle with Tim anyways so," Dallas tried to sound mean even though part of him wanted Cherry to like him. Cherry smiled at him like she could read him. "Okay, Dallas, whatever." He felt surprised when he heard her say his name. It was like an angel was saying it. Cherry turned and walked out the door. And Dallas heaved a sigh of relief and walked back into the store.

"So, nothing happened with Tim last night, huh?" Soda asked, smirking.

"Well, Tim was being an asshole yesterday anyways. I didn't do it to help what's her name," Dallas defended.

"What did Tim do to tick you off yesterday?"

"I'll see you guys later," Dallas said as he walked out the front door.

Dallas walked outside and watched as Cherry drove away. She drove fast. Dallas figured it was probably because she wanted to get out of the Greasers territory as soon as possible.

"Hey, Dal." A voice woke Dallas from his staring and he turned to see Tish. Her brown and golden hair was lovely in the sunlight and her blue eyes pierced his own and eft him with a feeling that sunk straight ino his gut. Dallas realized he hadn't been breathing and inhaled.

"What's happening, Tish?" He leaned casually against the side of DX.

"Not much. You know you should have told me that you were into Socs. I wouldn't have gotten my hopes up about you."

"What?" Dallas looked at her and could see she was serious. He felt his heart breaking. How could he explain this to Tish without her thinking that he liked a Soc.

"I know what you did for Cherry Valannce last night. Why would you help her like that? You should have let her get what was coming to her." Dallas felt that familiar anger take hold of him again.

"What are you talking about? She didn't do anything to you!"

"She doesn't have to. She is a Soc, her boyfriend does plenty. Remember when he jumped that Johnny kid? He hasn't looked the same since! If they hit us we hit them right back. That's how it should be!"

"No! It's got to stop somewhere! What if it had been you?" Dallas couldn't believe what he was saying. It was as if he had felt this way forever but never had the guts to say anything.

"I wouldn't have been messing around in no Socs neighborhood! She was just asking for it Dal!" Dallas could see people were starting to notice their argument and rather than draw attention to himself,he decided to end the coversation.

"I have to go, Tish."

"Yeah, go! Maybe you can meet up with your new Socy girlfriend and go to the movies with a brand new Madras sweater and flood pants!"

Dallas felt his face burning as he swallowed his anger and pushed past Tish.