Ch 4:

"I can be your hero baby. I can kiss away the pain. I will stand by you forever. You can take my breath away."

~Enrique Iglesias

Dally's P.O.V

I was glad to get out of Tulsa for a while honestly. I was under a lot of pressure, and Two-Bit was a good buddy to be with. He let me have a laugh without feeling guilty for once.

At eight in the morning, Two-Bit and I got into his car and headed to Texas. He was bleary eyed, even though it wasn't that early. He probably got wasted last night, like he does every night. I used to be like that, getting so drunk that everything looks like the inside of a kaleidoscope and I couldn't remember my own name in the morning. But now I try to refrain from doing just that, because I usually end up in jail after I get hold of some booze. I don't really want anything else on my already mile long record.

"You seem tired." Two-Bit said as we got onto the main highway that would lead us to Texas. The town that his cousin lived in was in the very north of Texas, so we only had to drive for about two hours. Good thing to, even though I liked Two-Bit he could get annoying ninety percent of the time.

"I'm fine." I said stonily. Truth was, I was far from fine. Last night I had been way to flirty with Cherry, and the problem was that I was starting to really like her. I didn't want to fall for her. And I knew that she didn't want to fall for me. And now I was being the idiot trying to act cool around her. How I was talking to her, bought her a hot dog, how I put my arm around her, how I kissed her cheek: all of it was very obvious behavior. I couldn't do this to her (or myself) since it would only make us closer. And if my plan came through, then it would only hurt her.

Two-Bit was looking at me with a worried expression on his face. I bet I looked terrible, with the little sleep I had gotten. Also I hadn't been eating much. I think I'm getting depression. I can tell that the rest of the gang has noticed too.

"Put your eyes back on the road, Matthews." I rolled my eyes at him, but he only crinkled his eyebrows together in concern. I raised mine back at him until he looked away. I really wished the gang would get off of my back about everything. Who cares if I'm going to kill myself? They would be better off without me.

I sighed at my negative thought. The rest of the ride was silent, since Two-Bit had the radio up real loud to keep him from falling asleep. Even if I had wanted to, it would be hard to make conversation over that racket.

We stopped in a small town on the outskirts of Texas for lunch. We went through a burger drive through, and parked while we ate. Two-Bit turned off the radio and instead drank a large Coke for caffeine. I messed with my hamburger, ripping it in half, then in half again, and so on. After Two-Bit finished his, he looked at me.

"You need to eat Dally." I shook my head, smiling fakely.

"Nah I'm fine." I really wasn't hungry. Every time I thought of eating my insides squirmed and I felt like shit. So I stopped eating, and thinking about it.

"You're going to get sick if you don't eat." He persuaded.

"Lay off." I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest moodily. He cracked a smirk, and starting acting more like the Two-Bit I know.

"Someone's on their period." He chuckled. I had to grin. He was such a dope sometimes.

"You know I could beat the snot out of you, hell you've learned. And yet again, you still go around wisecracking like that." I shook my head in dismay. He smiled cockily.

Two-Bit ended up eating the rest of my hamburger, since I insisted that I wasn't hungry. I drank my Coke, sipping it in slow measured sips. Then I tossed it in the trash and we drove into the town and into Two-Bit's cousin's rundown neighborhood.

She was a hood like us, of course. So she didn't live anywhere fancy. It seemed like an almost exact replica of Two-Bit owns house actually. Small world.

Ponyboy's P.O.V

I was sitting close to the phone incase Two-Bit called. Okay, maybe I was acting a little paranoid, but Dallas was unpredictable. And Two-Bit was pretty scatterbrained, if he saw Dallas walking out the door with a knife in his hand then it probably wouldn't register that he was going to commit suicide. So I was pretty worried.

Also I was home alone. Soda and Steve were at work, and so was Darry. Usually Two-Bit would have stayed with me, but he and Dal were in Texas. This left me.

I sat in Darry's armchair and tried to focus on my homework. I had to answer all these comprehension questions. They were pretty easy, but I kept finding myself thinking off topic. Like at one point, Cherry Valance crept into my head and I started thinking about her.

The night of the rodeo she and Dallas ran off and I went searching for them. When I found them, I saw Dally's arm around her and Cherry leaning her head against his chest. I could easily recall the choking feeling in my throat, and I had to turn away quickly. I sprinted back to the group, but the image was still fresh in my head. It hurt, surprisingly a lot. I felt sort of… jealous.

That's stupid. I thought. I mean, Dallas wouldn't want a girlfriend right now; he's still all upset because of Johnny. Not that I wasn't, but Dally was definitely beating himself up over it a lot more than the rest of us.

I inwardly cursed myself for getting so off topic, and went back to work on my homework. I got a good portion done before I went into a trance. Before I knew it, I fell asleep.

I dreamed that Johnny, Mom, and Dad were still alive. We were living in the country with the entire gang, and everything was perfect. Darry loosened up, and Dally got out of his depression. Soda had Sandy back, and Cherry was mine…

I awoke from my nap to the sound of the phone ringing. I picked it up instantly, worry filling through me. How long had I been asleep?

"Hello?"

"Is this Ponyboy?" Came a husky voice from the other end. I didn't recognize it.

"Yeah, who is this?" I balanced the phone between my shoulder and ear, and put my textbook and unfinished homework on the side table. I would have to finish it later.

"Your secret admirer." Scoffed the voice from the other end. "It's Two-Bit you idiot." I could hear him chuckling.

"Oh hey Matthews. What's up?" My heart pounded. Was Dally okay?

"Nothing, me and Dal were wondering if you wanted to meet us at the Nightly Double. Are you still by your lonesome?" I grinned in relief.

"Yeah, I'm still by myself. That'd be nice if I could meet ya'll. Is anyone else coming?"

"Nope. We will probably see other people there though, you know how that works." I agreed, everyone goes to the Nightly Double. I pondered over this. We were having a break from school, so Darry would be fine with it as long as I left a note. I was surprised Dally was going; normally he avoided anything that reminded him of Johnny.

"Sure, I'll come. Can ya'll pick me up?" I heard a car horn outside.

"Already here."

Dally's P.O.V.

The Nightly Double was more crowded then I had ever seen it on the weekdays. Yet again, the kids were all off of school. We actually stayed in the car for the first time, normally we just sat on the benches right outside the theatre, but today I guess Two-Bit felt like abiding the rules for once. Which was strange.

Once we arrived Two-Bit went to go get some drinks and popcorn. That left me and Ponyboy alone in the car. He looked stressed. I jumped up to Two-Bits seat so I could talk to him.

"What's up kiddo?" I asked casually. Ponyboy shrugged.

"Tell me." I prodded. He sighed and glared at me. He was good looking, like Soda. He had the same type of long silky hair, except his was a reddish color. He had grey-green eyes, though he had always complained that he wished they were grey.

"Fine. It's a girl okay?" Oh god. I knew that Pony had a crush on Cherry. But…

"Who?" It can't be her. I tried to convince myself, but it was hard since I knew that was the truth.

"No one. Never mind." He crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly and turned away from me. Did I really want to know? I knew I could get it out of him if I tried….

"Come on, tell me." I nudged his shoulder. Pony shook his head, gritting his teeth together. Okay, that's it. Time to go hardcore.

"Do you really want me to ask about it in front of Two-Bit?" I could tell his face had colored, even in the dim light.

"You wouldn't." He called me a few choice words, and I chuckled. He was too easy.

"Or, I could happen to mention that language you're using in front of Darry…" I raised my eyebrows, trying to look casual as I stared at the screen. Ponyboy sighed in defeat.

"It's Cherry okay?" My heart sunk. I so didn't need this right now. Pony and I both having a crush (and yes it is a crush, but just a little one. Maybe.) On the same girl was NOT going to work out. I opened my mouth, and then closed it because I had no idea what to say. I knew I was lying to myself.

"I know, I know that you like her too. I'm practically already over it." I shrugged.

"I don't even know if I like her. So don't worry about it." I stared blankly at the screen, not seeing anything. There was a long awkward silence that was broke by Two-Bit getting back into the car. He shoved me out of the driver's seat and handed me popcorn and a soda. Normally I would have made Ponyboy sit in the back, but I just didn't feel like arguing with anyone. We watched a portion of the movie in silence, before we were interrupted by Two-Bit.

"Look there's Cherry!" I and Pony avoided each other's eyes, both trying not to look in her direction. But I had to peek. She was leaning in a car window, talking to an average looking blonde girl. Obviously a Soc telling by the Mustang she was in. I turned my eyes back to the screen, even though I longed to talk to Cherry.

I sipped my drink, but I still felt sick about eating anything. I felt sick period. The movie had officially bored me, so I just listened to the sounds of drunken laughter. It wasn't until I heard a tapping on the window that I looked up. Cherry was staring into Ponyboy's window, her hands on her hips. I sat up in surprise; I didn't expect her to notice us.

Pony unrolled the window. I had to give it to the kid, he looked tuff. His eyebrows were raised casually, his reddish hair falling over one eye. The Curtis's never used Grease. Neither did I, but you get my point.

"Hey Soc." I was sort of surprised of how coldly Ponyboy regarded her. She gave him a half smile and turned her green eyes on me.

"Dallas. Can we talk?" I felt really bad for Pony at that moment. I felt bad for myself too, because I wanted her, a lot. But I can't be with her. I just can't.

"Yeah." Stupid stupid stupid! Why did I say yes? I scolded myself internally. As I got out of the car, I could feel Pony shooting me death rays. I tried to give him a look that meant, I'm sorry! But he looked away.

Cherry led me behind all of the cars, until we reached a moonlight filled empty parking lot. It seemed so….romantic. God, I'm such a softie.

I looked at her and I felt my heart stop. She looked really pretty, no: beautiful. Her red hair was glowing in the dim light of the full moon, her face flawless with her sharp features standing out to me more than ever before. Her dark green eyes bore into me with a different intensity that I hadn't seen her use before. Then I realized something that I regretted and hated. I was in love with her.

It had been there before, sure. I just hadn't realized it. Until now. I was paralyzed with the suddenness that it had hit me with. How could one moment change me completely? She stepped toward me, that intense look in her eyes still present. I couldn't breathe. No girl had ever taken my breath away before. She took another step, and we were nose to nose. I could feel her sweet breath across my face. She leaned in. And I pulled away.

"We can't do this." Now that I had my breathing back, it came in rugged gasps. I stepped away from her shaking my head. The expression in her face was so heartbroken, that I felt it too.

"What do you mean?" Her voice was trembling. I hated myself for doing this. I had to though.

"I can't be with you." Her eyes started to water. No, I didn't mean it like that. Oh god, I was screwing everything up.

"No, I don't mean it that way. I want you. I-I mean I want us." Great, now I sounded like a stuttering idiot. She smiled softly and looked at her feet. But her eyelashes had tear drops on them. I sighed angrily and ran a hand through my hair in frustration. This was not going well.

"Why? What's wrong? Dally you haven't been the same ever since…" She trailed off. There was a knot in my throat now. I wished she would talk about something else. I wish she would at least something. But she stayed silent, waiting for an answer.

"It's not fair." I whispered. No. I told myself. Don't think about him now.

"Tell me Dallas. Please?" Her voice wasn't flirty, or even pleading. She just seemed concerned. I couldn't bring myself to look at her. She gently took my hands in hers. I could feel her eyes on me.

"He's gone." My voice cracked. She was silent. I hoped she wasn't waiting for me to say more, because if I tried I would probably start crying right in front of her. And that was something that I wouldn't let happen.

"What does that have to do with us?" I looked at her now-dry eyes. There was no way out of this.

"Cherry." I spoke her name quietly, fearing her reaction of my next words. Her lips parted slightly as she replied to me.

"Yes?"

"I'm going to commit suicide." My tone was even and sincere. Cherry stared at me in disbelief, her mouth open in surprise.

"No." She was shaking her head franticly. Her eyes were filling with tears again. I bit my lip and forced myself to look away. Not like she would be able to change my mind, it just hurt too much.

"No Dally you can't." She dropped my hands threw her arms around my neck. I rested my hands hesitantly on her back, but then pushed her away.

"I have to. I can't…." I steadied myself. "I can't live without him. He was like a brother." Now it was my turn for my breath to get quivery. I hadn't admitted that to anyone. I had to force the one image that wouldn't ever be able to get out of my thoughts.

Cherry seemed to forget her own woes and looked at me, with worry written plainly on her face. She caressed my face, her fingers lighter then feathers. This time I didn't pull away. She pulled me toward her, and I rested my hands on the small of her back. She leaned up toward me, and I leaned down.

She paused when our lips where about a centimeter apart. My breath was still quivering, but this time it wasn't because I was upset. I was happy.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to hers. I had kissed so many girls before, mostly drunken Greasers or two-timing Sylvia. But I had never cared for any of them. And the second her lips touched mine, I knew that none of those other girls would ever compare to her.

Her lips didn't bite against mine hungrily like Sylvia's used to. Her lips were soft and sent tingles through mine. Even once she had pulled away, I could still feel jolts going through my entire body.

She stared at me for a moment before kissing me again. I could feel a smile spreading to my lips, and decided that I could get used to this.

Hello! I know, this chapter was kind of out of character for Dally. But he is changing, so that's my point Sorry about not updating for a while, I was really busy and got a little writers block. PLEASE PLEASE review, even if you hate it. Let me know what you think! Thanks so much for reading, the next one should be up as soon as I can write it.

~Lots of love,

Alaina