five

—THURSDAY

days passed, and everyone started coming around again, except for dallas.

we haven't heard anything from him. two-bit jokes about how he must be in jail.

that's a possibility, but he always calls when he gets locked up.

as we sat scattered around the living room, i decided that i'll go find dallas.

"you want anyone to go with you?" steve asks, trying to win the arm wrestle with sodapop.

"no, i think it's best if i go alone" i reply and walk out the door. i know dallas doesn't want to be bothered, but this isn't good for him.

i make it safely to bucks and knock on the door. i was looking around as it opened.

"annalise? what are you here for so early?" buck asks.

"i'm here to see dallas" i say curtly.

"i don't know man, he's not doing so good.." he says.

"yeah, i figured. that's why i'm here" i say, pushing him out of the way so that i can come in.

i look around the bar and don't see him there, so i head upstairs to his room.

i knock on his door gently. i hear him groan loudly. "get out of here, man! i said i'm fine!" he shouts weakly.

"it's annalise" i shout through the door. i hear his bed creak, but then hear him groan again.

"shit, go back home" he says.

"dallas, come on, i'm coming in" i say and open the door.

when i walk in, i see bottle of alcohol sitting around the room, his clothes sprawled on the floor, bath towels as well.

"jesus, dallas" i say shocked.

i look over at him, he has his blankets covering him and his hand over his face.

i don't know what to say.

he's always been depressed, he usually copes with it by doing illegal activities. i've never seen him like this.

"dallas.." i make my way over to him. "get up" i say and pull the covers off of him.

i gasp and throw my hand over my mouth when i see his wounds on his body.

a couple of them are really bad.

"dallas! they're going to get infected! have you not been taking care of them?" i shout, pacing around the room trying to find alcohol to clean them.

he tries to get up, but i stop him. "stay there, i'm gonna clean you up."

i grab one of his towels and pour some alcohol on it. i sit on his bed next to him.

"this is gonna hurt" i say as i press it on him.

he yells in pain, and grabs my arm.

"let go of me winston, it'll just get worse if you don't let me help you" i say.

he lets go hesitantly, and lets me continue. he grips his sheets as i pat his wounds.

within a few minutes, i finish and bandage them.

"do you mind if i clean up the place?" i ask, putting the towel in his laundry basket.

he allows, so i begin picking up all the clothes and throw them in the laundry as well.

i then collect all the bottles and make multiple trips down the stairs, putting them in the trash in the bar.

after my last trip, i bring up a cup of water and some pain killers. "drink this" i say. "sober up a bit"

he doesn't fight it, he doesn't have the energy to.

after he finishes his cup of water, he stares at me for a moment.

"why are you helping me, curtis?"

i furrow my eyebrows "why wouldn't i? i would do this for anyone in the gang."

"mm..right" he says quietly as he lays back down, wrapping his covers over himself again.

"are you able to walk?"

"of course" he replies, muffled through the blankets.

"how about you come over to my place? everyone's there, maybe it'll make you feel better.."

"no, i don't feel like being around anyone" he says, taking the cover down from his face "in fact, how about you get outta here."

i cross my arms. "you can't just shut everyone out, dallas" i say as i lean against the door. "we know you're hurting. we all are. but it's helped us get through it together, maybe itll help you too."

he squints at me, giving me a real dirty look. "i don't feel like it, man!" he says.

"i'm not just gonna let you rot in here, winston" i say sternly.

he doesn't reply.

"i'm not gonna stop bothering you."

he turns over in his bed, his back now facing me.

"how about we make a deal?" i ask.

"and what would that be?"

"as long as you hang out with me, i'll do something for you in return. i won't make you be around everyone else quite yet."

"what would i get from you?"

"well, that's up to you. but mostly i would be helping you feel better, and i would be helping myself as well."

he sits back up slowly, thinking.

"alright, but you gotta get shit for me whenever i ask for it" he says, getting out of bed.

"like what?"

"cigarettes, beer, whatever.." he says while putting new clothes on.

"where am i gonna get the money for that?" i ask, throwing my hands in the air.

"you'd steal it."

"pardon?"

"you heard me. i'm in no condition to be running out of the place" he says, making his way over to me, getting real close.

he stays there for a moment, dark brown eyes staring into mine. his hot breath in my face.

when i'm about to question him, he yanks his christopher from my neck. "never said you could have this, did i?"

my eyes widen "oh, right. well i didn't want it to get lost or anything at the hospital so i took it into my own hands-"

"i didn't ask you to do that. no one gets to wear this but me, you understand?" he says angrily.

"sylvia wore it?" i question, wondering what the big deal is.

"yeah, cause she was my girl. you aren't."

ah, i see. i roll my eyes and laugh, opening the door for us to leave.