The boys and I were excited, all riled up while we headed to the rumble. We were gonna show those socs who run this neighbourhood, but I just hope that Shepard’s gang arrives so we will be able to match up to the number of socs that get here. I was sprinting towards the park under the moonlight with a grin on my face. I couldn’t wait to get back at the socs Bob in particular. That bitch had jumped Johnny and nearly killed him more than once, and I couldn’t stand anyone who hurt my little group of friends.

When we got there, all the greasers who had come to back us up were there. I growled while I frowned, Tim Shepard hadn’t come, and we were left with another group. They had about 10 people in their group, but I knew that the socs were gonna outnumber us. “Guess Shepard lied, typical.” I heard a greaser from the other group say while we joined the little group. We waited there for a few minutes in silence until we saw those pretty little mustangs drive up. The socs started coming out of their cars. They all had grins, and some were looking at us like we were the scum of the earth.

“Glory Dallas, are you sure we should stay? They’re gonna kick the crap out of us.” Johnny said quietly, looking at me. “Johnny. No one is kicking us out of our territory, and no one is telling me how I’m gonna live in my neighbourhood. We’re gonna fight until we can’t anymore.” I cracked my knuckles and walked forward. Before I could say anything, I saw Bob walk up to me and then try to punch me square in the face. I had dodged and then quickly circled back with a right hook which knocked him to the ground.

The rumble officially started, and everything was scattered. Socs were on top of greasers, and greasers were on top of socs. We both were beating each other as best we could to show who was better than them. Tonight the socs were playing by our rules, no weapons, no nothin.” I was slugging the hell outta Bob until I felt someone pull me off of him and punch me in the jaw. I turned to see Randy on me, and I hit him with my elbow right in the ribs to get him off of me.

He stumbled back, and I got up and then gave him a few hits before another greaser grabbed him to go and try and beat him down. I was back on Bob since he took me by surprise for a moment. We were slugging each other and tumbling around back and forth. All until one moment when I started to hear cheering. I looked up and heard the words I hoped I didn't hear. The words I hated with a passion. “Look at them running!”

“Look at the dirty scummy greasers running!”

“Run along with your friends greaser!” I got off of Bob and backed off a bit, going back to our original site of the turf. The only greasers left there were Two-Bit, Sodapop, and Darry.

Two-Bit had a large cut on his cheek and what looked to be a broken nose. Sodapop’s cheek had been bruised, and he had a few scrapes and bruises on his arms. The sleeves of his shirt had some rips and tears on them. Darry seemed completely fine besides his lip being busted and the small scrapes and bruises on him. “Dally you're bleeding bad,” Two-bit commented, and I scoffed. “So what. I don’t care.” I was too focused on the socs to care about anything at the moment.

“Are ya’ll deaf? We said to leave already greasers! Get lost!” One of the stupid socs said I felt myself losing my cool. “Shut it ya fucking bastards!” I yelled back. Bob grinned, looking at me. “What’re you gonna do Dallas, can’t touch us. We’ll just beat you all over again. Stupid weakling.” I growled and took a few steps towards them, but Darry and Two-bit pulled me back before I could even land a hit on him. “Watch it Dallas, we don’t want more trouble. C’mon, let’s just leave.” Darry said cooly.

“Yeah listen to your buddy there Dallas! Leave already!” Bob shooed us away, and I couldn’t help but glare. “I’ll fucking beat the hell out of you and KILL you one day! The first one will be you, Bob! Especially after what you did to Johnny, you bastard!” I yelled in a tone full of hate and rage. “Dally enough,” Two-Bit said, trying to get me to stop, but I kept cussing and swearing at them no matter how much they tried to shut me up.

I stopped after a while and then started walking away with the others. “You’ll always be weaker than us,” Bob said tauntingly. “At least I have people who care about me and know when to give me limits,” I remarked, one of the socs heard it and must’ve told Bob. “At least my father didn’t abandon me and left me to fend for myself and live in gangs.” I froze, my blood turned icy and my heart gave a violent and painful tug.

“You should’ve stayed in New York where you belong! Not bring your trouble here for us to deal with. You’re still the same hood who gets arrested, nothing changed Dallas Winston. Go back to New York you scumbag.” I didn’t respond, and my body wouldn’t move. I heard the socs laughing, and then they started going back into their cars and driving off. I still wouldn’t move. I felt a hand on my shoulder. “Dal? Dally are you alright?” Darry asked in a soft worried tone.

My hands gripped into fists as I nodded. “Yep, all good.” I looked up at him and smiled lightly before I started walking. My heart was beating fast, and I couldn’t handle it. I was trembling, and I was wiping the tears out of my eyes constantly. It looked like I was wiping my head which was bleeding, so the others weren’t suspicious. “That reminds me…where are Steve, Ponyboy, and Johnny?” I asked in a cold tone. “Oh, those 3? They went to the hospital cause they were beaten up pretty bad. Especially Ponyboy and Johnny, so Steve told us he would go with them.

“I just hope Pony is alright.” Soda said quietly. Darry wrapped an arm around him. “I’m sure he’s doing just fine! Right, Dal?” He looked behind himself at me, I was behind the 3 of them walking slowly, and I only nodded. “Yeah, Ponyboy will be fine…” I mumbled, staring at the ground. Bob’s words were ringing in my head, and it was giving me a headache. I don’t cry in front of other people either, so I kept my mouth shut so nothing stupid was said.

We got to the house, and I sat down on the steps while everybody went inside. 15 minutes later, Darry walked back outside, sat down next to me, and wrapped his arm around me. “You alright Dallas?” He asked me again. I shook my head and stopped hiding my tears, letting them fall down my cheeks. “Fuck no I’m not. Stupid socs…stupid Bob. Had to fucking bring up my past like that, he had to bring up my fucking dad. He did that on purpose the idiot…” I mumbled and looked up at him. “Don’t cry, Dal..” He frowned and wiped my tears away.

“Sometimes I regret moving here to Tulsa. Maybe I should’ve just stayed in New York. I would’ve been dead anyway and that would’ve been better for everything. I should’ve just committed suicide when I had the chance.” I started to sob and leaned into Darry's chest. He wrapped his arms around me and sighed softly. “Dallas please don’t ever say those things. I wouldn’t know what to do without you man, you know I love you…” I frowned, feeling bad, I felt bad whenever I told anyone about my problems.

“Darry…you know how you kept asking me about the bandages on my upper arms?” I asked softly. “Yeah, what about it?” He raised a brow. I slowly let go of him and took off my jacket. I looked at one of my upper arms and slowly unravelled the bandages. His eyes immediately turned to horror in his eyes. I was cutting myself, and the blood was fresh on the cuts. I had cut myself before I had gone to the Curtis’ house earlier before we headed out for the rumble.

“Dallas. Did you cut yourself today?” He asked me sternly. I didn’t respond while I looked away. “Dallas. Answer me.” I sighed. “I cut myself before I came to your house. I’m sorry Darry I know I told you I’d try to stop but I just couldn’t help it.” I teared up again, expecting him to yell at me but instead, he pulled me into a gentle hug. I felt…comfort from it, something I hadn’t felt in a long time. I wrapped my arms slowly around him and fell quiet, not making a sound. “C’mon inside. I’ll disinfect them and bandage them back up for you. Then I’ll get you patched up.” I only nodded. He grabbed my hand gently.

“We’ll get back at Bob one day. I’ll be the one to give him that final punch.” Darry said softly. “I’ll do it together how about that?” I said, grinning since I wanted to also get the last hit on Bob. Darry laughed softly. “Sure, we both can.” We both stood up, and I gave him a small peck on the lips. “Let’s get in, it’s getting a bit chilly.” Darry started walking, leading me gently. I felt so comforted by him that I knew that I had chosen the right person for me.