"What do you think you were doing leaving with Shepard?" Dally asked me, tension filling the room. I could tell that my answer was going to be crucial to everything that was happening between us.
"I thought…you didn't want me anymore." I was honest, and I watched him process my answer…I watched all the anger leave him in seconds.
"Why would you think that Rachel?" he asked, frustration filling his voice.
'You were so different from last night when I work up this morning. I thought that you wanted me gone," I explained, sadness in my voice as I reflected on this morning.
"Rachel. I don't know what to do with you, or how to act. You're not like anything I'm used to. You're innocent and I know I should be running the hell away from you and all this!" he exclaimed, motioning between us. "But I can't. Because every time I think of leaving you, all I can think of is how I want is to be right…next to you!" He slammed his fist into the wall on 'next', leaving a dent. Darry wasn't going to be happy about that.
I was shocked that Dally would be that honest with me and happy that he was expressing what I was feeling. Knowing that I wasn't alone made a world of difference. I would just have to remember what Tim had told me so I didn't go running away when Dally didn't talk about what he was feeling.
I stood up and walked over to him, not thinking just going with what I was feeling. Standing right in front of him, I watched as his eyes became dark and he began breathing heavily, only to realize I was breathing hard, too. My thoughts were cut off when he grabbed me, crashing his lips to mine, his arms going around my waist. I placed my arms around his neck running my fingers through his hair.
He started moving me forward and I followed, not paying attention. I was so involved in the kiss. It was better than anything I experienced last night. We fell back onto the couch, me on top of him. His arms curled around my waist, pulling me higher onto his chest.
My hands began to caress his chest, though his stayed firmly on my waist, never straying. He deepened the kiss and his tongue licked my lips. I pulled back in surprise.
"You okay?" he asked in a gruff voice, slightly out of breath
I nodded and leaned my face towards his, his lips meeting mine halfway. This time when his tongue touched my lips I opened them. Not sure what to do with my tongue, I followed his lead.
Never had I realized that kissing was so much work. Or maybe it was because he seemed to know what he was doing and I didn't want to disappoint. He broke the kiss and kissed right below my ear, making me moan. I'd never moaned before—I hope that was okay. Did people do that during kissing? I'd ask Soda later.
Dally sought my lips again in a bruising kiss that I had a feeling way going to leave a mark. His tongue went deeper, touching my tongue and exploring my mouth. I moaned lightly again causing him to go further in his exploration of my mouth.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?!" yelled a voice from the door causing us to break apart quickly.
I looked over and saw Darry, Soda, Pony, Two- Bit and Steve all standing there watching Dally and I in shock. Darry looked like he was going to kill us. I turned my head and put it in the nook between Dally's head and neck. Hiding. He slowly reached an arm up so it crossed over my back and rested on my shoulder. Protecting.
I'd never seen Darry so mad. Especially directed at me. Everyone was looking at me like they didn't know me. I felt the tears coming again. It was silent. My tears fell on Dally's skin. I felt him move, and I let go of my hold on him, thinking that he was going to leave me.
"Hold on," he whispered in my ear and I did as he said. I felt him stand up and I wrapped my legs around his waist, not wanting to fall. I felt him began to walk but I still didn't lift my head.
"I hope you don't think you're going into her room," Soda growled in a voice I'd never heard leave his lips before. I held onto Dally tighter.
"Are you gonna try and stop me?" Dally asked. His tone was deadly—never, not even when he was talking to Tim, had I heard that pitch from him. I didn't like what I was doing to everyone—I shivered. He rubbed my back gently.
No one said anything else as we went to my room. Dally set me down on my bed before closing the door. He looked over me and began wiping away my tears with a thumb.
"You've had a rough day kid," he murmured with affection. I nodded—so many things had happened in the last 72 hours that I wasn't sure how to process it all.
"Get some rest. I'll clear this up here, and then I'll be back tomorrow. Okay? Everyone's just gonna need some time to adjust," he promised, still stroking my face. I nodded, loving the feeling of his hands on me. "So go head and change, then get into bed. Do you need anything?" he asked me, so caring right now.
"Could you get me a glass of water?" I asked, not wanting to go out there and face everyone.
Dally nodded and then left, closing the door. I quickly changed out of those tight clothes, knowing that I would probably wear them again when I remembered how Dally had looked at me.
Dally returned moments later with a glass of water. He didn't knock and I wasn't sure what to think about that.
"Get into bed," he ordered gently, setting down the glass and watching as I got under the covers. "I gotta go out there before they break the door down. You all right?" he asked, looking into my eyes intensely.
"I'm not now, but I will be," I replied, grabbing his hand.
He nodded in understanding. Then he leaned down and kissed me, my lips instantly coming to life under his. I licked his lips first and watched him pull back and look at me.
"Damn you make it hard to leave," he laughed, giving me a quick kiss this time, not lingering.
"I'll be back tomorrow, no sneaking out," he smirked. His expression made the butterflies appear again.
I nodded, knowing I wouldn't be sneaking out for a while. He looked at me hard one last time before turning and opening the door.
"Dally…" I said quickly before he could leave.
He turned.
"Will you come back tonight before you leave…just so I can make sure you're okay?" I asked, blushing slightly with embarrassment.
He nodded his head, a smirk once again firmly in place.