eight

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we pull up to the corner from my house. "are you sure you don't wanna see everyone?"

"nah, man, i'm not up for it" he says swinging his hand around as he talks.

"well, i'm gonna tell them you said hello" i say as i get out of the car.

"yeah, whatever man" he says and drives off. i shake my head and walk to my house, kicking the broken concrete on the sidewalk.

i walk in the door, trying my best not to cause a scene. unfortunately, it doesn't go as i wish.

"where the hell have you been?!" darry yells, standing up out of his chair quickly.

"hey anna, what happened?" soda asks as he sits on the couch.

"i was with dallas" i say quietly.

this only angers darry more. "look at yourself! if the fuzz had found out about the trouble you're getting into, youd be thrown into a girls home so quick it would make your head spin" he shouts with a finger in my face.

i forcefully push his finger away. "i wasn't getting into any trouble!" i yell back. "hell, darrel, i got jumped!"

darry slaps his hand on his head then crosses his arms "damnit, annalise. these are the type of things that happen when you hang around dallas!"

"he saved me, darrel! i could be dead right now if dallas hadnt been there! no wonder he doesn't want to be around you guys" i say, shoulder checking him as i walk to my room.

after a few minutes, someone softly knocks on my door.

"it's soda," he says, opening it slowly.

"what happened? how's dal?" he asks as he sits on my bed with me.

"i got jumped by randy while i was at the park. don't tell anyone this, specially darry, but dal and i are gonna be hanging out for a bit-"

"anna, you gotta be careful around him" he inputs.

"i know. he's just in a really bad spot and i wanna help him get out of it..he was in his room for days after he got out of the hospital. i finally got him out and we went to the park and painted. it was quite fun, actually. until randy and ryan jumped me."

"why not bring him around?" he asks confused.

"cause he says he doesn't wanna see anyone; which i know just means he doesn't have the mental energy to do so quite yet."

he hums in response. "maybe he called you down to the park for a reason the night johnny died."

"what do you mean by that?" i ask

"i don't quite know, but, you guys aren't close, and for whatever reason he wanted you to go down there" he says patting my shoulder. he then gets up and leaves.

i shovel through my nightstand drawers, trying to find a pack of cigarettes.

i don't have any.

then i remember the deal with dallas. perhaps if i were to go down, i could get some.

though, i'm in no condition to run. maybe i'll buy a pack for myself and steal one for dal. i grab a couple quarters lying around the top drawer and go out without telling anyone.

ponyboy is at school today. i usually go but i don't have the energy.

luckily, the store is a 10 minute walk away from my place.

the bell rings as i enter. i go around the shelves and find the different sorts of packs.

i grab my own, and look around before swooping one into my jacket for dallas.

i then go to the register and pay.

i leave without any trouble. i go back home and hang out for a bit, darry and soda went to work, steve works with soda, two is probably off somewhere getting drunk, so i had the place to myself.

i even got some homework and reading done.

eventually i get quite bored and decide to call dallas. ponyboy had called about an hour ago, saying he's gonna go to the cemetery and read for a bit.

the phone rings for a second, and then a raspy voice comes through "buck speaking."

"hey, buck it's annalise. could you get dal on the phone?" i ask. i listen as i hear static noises, telling me the phone is being given away.

"hello?" dal speaks into it.

"hey, i'm home alone and-"

"jesus, curtis. miss me that much?" he says with a chuckle. i can see his smirk through the phone.

"real funny dal. come on over, no ones gonna be here for awhile longer." i say and he hangs up.

it isn't long until i hear his car pull up, and his door slamming shut. i sit on the couch and wait as he opens our front door "this better be no damn trick" he says walking in.

to his surprise, it's actually empty.

i stand up, pulling the cigarettes out of my pocket and swinging them in the air "guess what i got" i say, expanding the o.

he bites his lower lip with a smile and walks over, snatching them from my hand.

he's a couple inches taller than i am, so it's no problem for him.

"shit, man, i been needing some. thanks babe" he says, lighting it on his christopher.

he nods his head, motioning for me to come over so he can light mine.

"darry would skin me if he knew i was smokin in here again," he says taking a drag.

i laugh "i ain't gonna go tellin, don't you worry."

dallas blows his smoke into my face, causing me to cough, fanning it away.

he chuckles, then flops himself on the couch.

"what'dya want me over for?" he asks while he watches me sit on the other side of the couch.

"i dunno, just to get you out of your place. i'll plan somethin for us to do though. i don't want you cooped up in there anymore" i say as i put the cigarette in between my lips.

taking it out and blowing out the smoke, i continue. "what do you even do while youre there?"

"you know," he starts "drink some alcohol, talk to buck and the customers, maybe play some pool.." he says taking another drag.

i hum in response, thinking of what we should do next.

we sit in silence for a moment before i start talking.

"i'm gonna go get my paint set from your car" i say as i put my cigarette out and get up. he nods and tosses me the keys so that i can unlock the trunk.

i go out and gather everything, looking at our two paintings. mine, with my dried blood scattered on it, and dallas' rose. a smile forms on my face.

i walk in and put the things on the table.

"what made you paint that?" i ask, pointing to his canvas.

he looks down at it, seeming as if he had already forgotten about it.

"oh, right. that's really the only thing i know how to paint" he says.

"why's that?" i ask, holding it up.

"uh," he clears his throat. i look over at him "my mother taught me when she was around" he says, scratching his head.

my eyebrows raise, surprised he would be able to remember cause he was so young. though, i suppose it's not that crazy. probably one of the only memories he has of her.

i nod "you want to keep it?"

"nah, man. where would i put it?"

i shrug my shoulders, putting it back on the table.