Dad was kind enough to let Dallas stay for breakfast. We explained to my parents why he was here. Dallas took all the blame but I was still going to get in trouble. After explaining, Mom called Jack to tell him about Dallas. Jack came by twenty minutes later to pick up Dallas. Jack was so mad he said nothing to us when he stood in the doorway. They left immediately. Travis took Max upstairs so Dad could talk to me… again. Now for sure they couldn't be my friends. I was furious, but I wasn't sure who at though.

"Now Typhani, once more, tell me why Dallas was in your room." Dad said.

"I'm telling the truth! I opened my window for some fresh air and Dallas came in. He only wanted to stay the night because he's tired of his parents fighting. Cut him some slack!" I shouted.

"Okay, but why would he come here?"

"I don't know. You have to do something though! Jack is going to kill Dallas! Hypothetically."

"Why would Jack do that?"

"Jack doesn't really care about Dallas! Dallas was an accident. Saying that was also an accident."

"What do you mean?" Dad was concerned now.

"Jack never really wanted kids. But he and Grace, well, they were in love and yeah." I paused to let Dad and Mom take it all in. "Dallas was an accident. So Jack never really gave much interest in him, only Grace and now that she's leaving them, Dallas doesn't know what he's going to do with his life and I'm the only one to help him plus the others."

"Well, I'm sorry, sweet pea, I didn't know."

"You weren't supposed to know that. Dad, please don't tell anyone, you promise?" I asked.

"I won't tell anyone, don't worry, sweetie." He reassured me. I trusted my dad not to tell anyone but being a police officer, he could still have Jack arrested for child abuse. That brought a memory back into my head I didn't want to see.

It was a Tuesday night two years ago and I had come home with Dallas after school. He asked me to come over and help him with his math homework. I knew I'd end up doing all the work for him, so I didn't know why I bothered to come to his house and help him. I could just go home and do his homework like I have been the past week.

I started looking over his math problems when his dad walked in. It was already seven o' clock and I was surprised to see Jack come home so late. Jack set his stuff on the table and that's when he realized I was there.

"Hi Jack." I said as friendly as possible.

"Dallas what is she doing here? I never gave you permission to let anyone in this house." He stated and then I got kind of scared.

"She's helping me with my homework." Dallas replied.

"If she's helping you, how come you're sitting on the couch?" He shouted.

"She's working on her homework!" Dallas shouted back.

"Well then I guess you've finished your homework?" He walked over to the table and picked up Dallas's homework. The page was blank. Then Jack's face turned tomato red. "Boy, if you don't raise you grades you're gonna flunk the sixth grade! And I know she's been doing your homework because guess who called me today at work? Your teacher! She told me that some other kid was doing your homework." He slapped the paper on the table and went over to Dallas and pushed him to the ground. Dallas almost hit his head on the couch arm rest. I shuddered at the thud of Dallas hitting the floor. Jack picked up Dallas from the floor and slapped him across the face. I couldn't stand seeing my best friend being abused for really no reason. So I ran out of there like the devil was after me. I didn't even take the time to take my homework. I was scared to death by what Jack was doing to Dallas.

The next day Dallas approached me and I knew it was about last night.

"Look, Typh, I'm sorry about last night. I didn't mean for that to happen." He explained.

"Um, it's okay. It just scared me. But shouldn't you tell someone?" I suggested.

"Yeah, I could but then he'd hit me even harder. Just don't tell anyone, alright?" I nodded in agreement.

Luckily, I didn't tell Dad about that time and how bad Jack abuses Dallas, especially when Jack's mad. He does it even if Dallas didn't do anything. I loved Dallas to death, as a friend, but there was nothing I could do to help him. I could talk to Sue. She always knew what to do.

I got up from the table and put my plate in the sink. I went upstairs to change and go to Soda's house. My Dad caught me coming downstairs and asked where I was going.

"I'm going to go walk the dog." I lied. He would kill me if he found out I was actually going to Soda's house. Well he did really like Sue and Darrel, but just because he liked them doesn't mean he would go easy on them. I called for our dog and she came and I left. My dog, Mink (named after the animal) literally read my mind and started running to Soda's house and I had to follow. Rufus, Travis' dumb dog, wanted to come too but I had to push him back inside the house. Mink was more like a girl's best friend.

Darry opened the door after I knocked a few times. I asked for his mom and he led me inside. I sat on the couch waiting for Sue. Sue and Darrel were like my second parents and this house was my getaway from all the stress at my house. Sue finally came over and sat on the couch beside me.

"What's the problem dear?" She asked rubbing my back, really concerned.

"I'm worried about Dallas. He came over last night and my dad caught me. Then I got in trouble." I explained.

"Maybe you should talk to Dallas and your father and try to work something out." She suggested.

"I can say whatever I want to my dad and he will never change his mind." I argued against her idea.

"Just try and you might be surprised with what happens." I got up and ran into Darry. He looked at me, concerned.

"What's wrong with Dally?" He asked with the same concerned face.

"Nothing, Dallas and I are just having some difficulties." I explained without giving away to much information.

"You make it sound like the two of you are married." Darry joked still with the concerned look.

"We are not married! For Pete sake's butt out of our business!" I shouted. I stomped away in a grudge. His concerned face turned into a shocked face.

I went home upset. Then Mink came running after me because I forgot to get her. I opened the front door of my house and my parents were standing there waiting for me.

"You were not walking the dog." Dad said holding the dog leash.

"Sorry, I went to Sue's house to talk to her! I didn't say anything to Soda, Pony, or Darry! I don't care if you don't want me to be their friend! I like them and plan to be their best friend for the rest of my life!" It was silent for a moment. "I want to make things better for Dallas! I feel bad for him. Can I at least be his friend and Soda's?" I begged.

"Soda? What's wrong with him?" Mom asked.

"Nothing, I just… um…" I LIKE SODA! That's what, but I couldn't tell them that. They would strangle me. But really that was the only reason I wanted to be his friend was because I liked him. Well he did have more qualities that I liked. He was kind, understanding and had a job. Tomorrow I planned to go riding with him. But with what my parents were saying I don't think that's going to happen anymore.

"You like him don't you sweet heart?" Mom asked. She took me to the living room to talk about all that weird girl stuff. We sat on the couch and she hesitated before speaking.

"So about Sodapop, you really like him, don't you? How badly do you like him?" She asked.

"Mom, it's nothing. He's just my friend. And besides I only like him a little, I don't love him." I kinda lied; I mean I'm only ten. I shouldn't even know what love is but I couldn't help myself. And somehow, just somehow I kinda felt the same way about Dallas, but I wasn't positive I liked him. How could I ever love someone like him? Maybe because he needed me and I'm the only one to help him.

Mom interrupted my thought when she said, "Honey, its okay to… like someone but remember you're young and I don't want you to do anything stupid. I think it's adorable that you have a little crush on one of your best guy friends."

"I don't think it's adorable. Ann, she's ten and I don't want her falling in love! Please do not give her any ideas." Dad demanded.

"Well, then it's a good thing I'm not falling in love and Mom it's not adorable." I proclaimed. I stomped upstairs ignoring the welcoming arm my mom offered out to me.

I went up to my room and found Dallas in there again. We stared at each other for a while.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. "You have to get out before you're seen."

"I know; I just came to apologize." His answer shocked me. Was I hearing right? Dallas Winston was actually apologizing? It couldn't be true.

"You're apologizing to me? Are you okay?" I put my hand to his forehead to make sure he wasn't sick. He pushed my hand away and said, "I'm not sick. I'm serious, I really want to apologize. I would never mean to hurt you. So, I'm sorry for causing so much trouble last night."

"It's okay. I was just helping out a good friend." I smiled.

"Well then I better go before I get caught again." Dallas said. He climbed out the window. I watched him carefully but quickly climb down the side of my house. When he got to the bottom we waved good-bye. He ran silently back to his house.