Change Your Life (The Outsiders fanfic)

Chapter 4

"Why not?"

"Do you really wanna keep up with it?" he asks. He must've been through a lot. I know he's usually in and out of jail for petty things. He's just stupid enough to get caught. But I guess he wants to.

"This is stupid," I say.

"What is?"

"Just all of it."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he says.

"Ah forget it."

"Look, what about you?" he asks.

"There ain't much to tell. I got kicked out and wandered my way here," I explain.

"What did you get kicked out for?"

"I don't really know. My dad just told me to get out because I argued about a grade in school. He said if I was so sick of living with his rules, then I should just get out. So I did."

"Sounds rough."

"Yeah? Well I'm glad I did."

"My old man doesn't give a hang if I'm dead or in jail somewhere. I don't even know much about him now," Dally says.

"I'm sorry."

"What's to be sorry about? I didn't like the guy anyway."

"You know, you don't seem like a bad kinda guy," I tell him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I've heard stories about you. You ain't as mean as they say." He scoffs and makes this ridiculous face.

"Yeah?"

"Yes!" I tell him. "Trust me, that record of yours is probably known in two states over." He's so proud of that thing that it's not even funny.

"Make it quick. I ain't liked much in this part of town," he says.

"Okay. I'll be out in a few minutes. Don't go too far off, okay?"

"Alright, whatever," he says, wandering around.

After making the quickest trip I possibly can, I step outside with a bag hanging on my wrist. I look around for Dally, not having any luck in finding him. I knew it. He's too cool to stick around and help me out.

I start walking alone. I feel a little scared, but I look like a soc so I should be safe, right? Walking about a block alone is something I didn't even want to do. Dally promised he'd stay around.

Then I get a strange feeling. Someone grabs my shoulders from behind and yells in my ear.

"You better watch it!" they yell. I yelp and swing my elbow backwards. "JT!" Dally says. "It was just me!" He holds his stomach in pain.

"Don't you ever do that to me!" I say. He kind of laughs.

"I'm sorry. I had to do it. Here," he says. "This ought to calm your nerves."

"I don't smoke," I tell him.

"Fine then." I feel my heart still racing. He scared me really bad! I was afraid I was about to get jumped again! I'm gonna end up a nervous wreck like Johnny if Dally keeps messing with me like that.

"Where did you even go?" I ask.

"Around. Causing some problem here and there," he answers.

"In ten minutes?"

"I'm Dallas Winston. I'm known for my trouble," he says proudly. I lightly punch his arm.

"You ain't right," I tell him.