My legs paced up and down the hallway impatiently as I waited for him to open up the door. I was beyond excited for tonight because I've been waiting since the last Friday we went out. I walked to his door again and knocked twice as I said, "Dal, come on!"

In an instant, the door swung open, revealing a slightly annoying Dallas Winston with a feigned smile on his face. "Finally," I exclaimed.

Dallas rolled his eyes. "Let's go," he said, grabbing my hand and walking me downstairs.

It was a Friday and almost every other night, Dallas and Buck would go to the tracks and make some cash either racing or placing bets. Because I didn't have a concussion this time, Dallas promised he'd take me and let me ride in his car.

As we made our way to the bar area of the building, I saw Buck sitting behind the counter, drinking a bottle of some random alcohol. I sighed and dropped Dally's hand, giving him a 'wait here' hand motion as I walked over to Buck.

I clear my throat to get his attention. He wasn't drunk yet, but I could tell that he was becoming very tipsy. "So," I started unsurely. I sighed, deciding that it was best if I just got to the point. "Look, I'm sorry about what happened to your bar. I didn't know the socs were going to trash this place."

Buck watched me with careful eyes. Hopefully he noticed that I was actually being genuine about this. "It's okay, Diana. It's not your fault," he said with a small smile. "And.. I'm sorry about what I said to you. I was wrong."

"It's okay," I said with a smile. I glanced back at Dallas, who was now propped up on the wall, leaning casually as he waited. Then, I took a look around the bar, which was clean again, but very empty because most of the chairs had been broken. A few of the liquor bottles were also missing too. "Do you still have that money I gave you?" I asked Buck.

"Yeah, most of it. There was a lot," Buck said.

"Good," I nodded. "Use it to fix this place up. You can use all of it, I don't care."

"Diana, that's your money though," Buck reasoned.

I shook me head, no. "It's not," I said. "Just use it, okay?"

Buck sighed reluctantly. "Alright." I sent him one last smile and a curt nod before I returned to Dallas, who gave me a questioning look, but I just shrugged it off.

We hopped into his new, stolen car, and drove off, hands still laced together as we made our way to the tracks.

"Everything good with you and Buck?" Dallas asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

I nodded and replied, "Yeah. How about you guys?"

"We're fine," Dallas answered monotonously. He was quiet for a moment, appearing to be thinking about something before he finally asked, "What were you guys talking about before we left?"

"I told him to use the money I gave him for the bar," I said with a small shrug.

"The money from New York," Dallas said, more for clarification than questioning. For someone who dropped out of school at a young age, he was really smart and good at piecing things together. Then again, I wasn't lying or denying anything, just not sharing everything from my past. I hummed in response, just giving him a slow nod to approve of his clarification.  Dallas took his gaze off the road before us for a brief moment, and glanced in my direction. I quickly met his gaze before he looked away with a familiar look on his face. I knew him well enough to know when something was on his mind. Dallas was mostly aloof and void of emotion to most, but after spending this much time with him I knew when something was up.

I squeezed his hand, which was holding mine on the middle console between the car seats, signaling him to say whatever it was he was thinking about. Dally sighed, I found it amusing how he was slightly annoyed on how easily I could read him. "You just left New York.. Just like that?" He started off, unsure of how to word whatever he was attempting to say.

I gave him a small smile that didn't reach my eyes. "Just like that," I said.

"Do you regret it?" He asked.

I shifted in my seat, gathering my thoughts together before speaking. "No," I said truthfully. "Not at all." I meant what I said. I didn't regret running away at all. "I didn't really have much to leave behind. Just a shitty parent.. and a small group of friends. I miss them sometimes." I frowned as I thought about Todd, Erica, and John, even James, who managed to find a small place in my heart. They were the only people I left behind, and the only regret I really had about leaving.

"Mom or dad?" Dallas asked.

I sighed at the thought of her. "Mom," I replied. "My dad left when I was young. She was an alcoholic and he hated it."

"That's why you never drink," Dallas noted with a nod to himself.

I raised my eyebrows and smirked. "You noticed?"

"Of course," Dally replied. I returned my gaze back to the window, watching the dark trees blur into one as I concealed my tinted red cheeks from his eyesight.

"How about you?" I asked, regaining my sense of coolness. "Tell me about your folks."

Dallas' eyes noticeably darkened and a small frown took over his face. I instantly wished I hadn't asked. How could I be so ignorant? It was crazy how one question could make you immediately regret opening up about everything.. but then there was a sigh, relieved sigh as his grip on the steering wheel loosened. "When I was ten, I got sent to the cooler because of somethin' my gang did," he began. "My old man was always an asshole, but when I got out he was gone. Only thing he left behind was my mother and a note sayin' he couldn't care less what happened to us."

I frowned at his story. After getting to know the tough and cold Dallas Winston, I was beginning to think of in a new light, where he wasn't as ruthless as people made him out to be. Sure, he was very intimidating and opinionated; Dallas was the last person you'd want to fight, physically and verbally, but there were more sides to him that I've never seen before. He was caring and supportive, even when Dally and I barely knew each other he still had my back. He was also protective and selfless.

I squeezed Dally's hand supportively. I was never good at expressing my sorrows or emotions for others, but physically comfort seemed like the best thing in this situation.

"My mom shipped me off to Tulsa to stay with my cousins," he explained. My eyebrows knit together in confusion. Is Buck his cousin or something? Dallas must've caught my unsureness because he said, "I moved out awhile ago. Haven't seen 'em since."

"Jeez, I'm sorry, Dal," I sighed. "I had no idea." My voice was softer and quieter than usual. I felt bad for him because of what an asshole his deadbeat father is, much like my mom. I couldn't believe how his mom just sent him away like he was some kind of foster kid or unwanted pet. At least my mother was openly honest about her opinions of me.

"It's okay, Diana," he said with a small smile and a shimmer of hope in his eyes.

I returned the sweet gesture. "You have me," I chirped happily.

"Oh, great," Dallas remarked sarcastically. I chuckled and rolled my eyes, nudging him in the shoulder playfully before giving him a serious look. "And you have me," he repeated.

»»——⍟——««

The engine of Dally's car hummed lowly as it stood ignited on the starting line of the tracks. I leaned on the car with Dallas' arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him. After signing up for the next race, which would be starting very soon, we decided to just wait for the announcement along with everyone else.

I spotted a familiar couple walking towards us. I sent the two a warm smile and greeted them when they finally made there way to Dally and me. "Hey Anna, Paul."

Anna's eyes met mine and she smiled too. "Hi Diana," she said happily. Her boyfriend, Paul, who was close by her side, sent me a small smile and a nod. "Its been awhile," Anna said. "How are you?"

I shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm good. You?"

"Same old," she chuckled, elbowing Paul in his arm playfully. He rolled his eyes and shoved her lightly, laughing softly as well.

"You racing tonight?" Paul asked, directing his question to Dally. I perked up at the mention of the impending race, excitement plastered on my face.

Dallas nodded coolly. "Yep," he said. "This one's driving." He pulled me in as I placed my hand on his chest and sent Paul a cocky wink.

Anna gave me an approving smile and nod, while Paul breathed a laughed, very impressed and surprised. "How'd you convince him to let you do that?"

I shrugged. "I have my ways," I said mysteriously. Although, in reality, 'my ways' just consisted of me asking repeatedly and him eventually saying yes. I was well aware that I could be annoying at times.

Suddenly, a male voice sounded from a loud megaphone with a message, "Attention all racers, please make your way to the track. The race will begin in one minute! All bets must be placed now, at the tent!"

Anna sent me a friendly smile as she spoke, "Well, we better get going now. See you on the track!" She waved happily and turned away as I said goodbye.

"My money's on you guys," Paul said with a chuckle. He gave Dallas and I a curt nod before following after his girlfriend, who was already making her way to the white tent in the distance.

Since the race was about to begin, Dally and I slipped into the car. I, of course, hopped into the driver's seat and excitedly turned the keys in the ignition to listen to the engine roar like a lion. The low hum of the machine was music to my ears. All around me, I could hear everyone else readying their cars.

"You're staring," I spoke with my gaze still kept forward. I could feel Dallas' eyes on me, so I glanced over and quirked a brow.

His lips twitched upward into a smirk as he shrugged nonchalantly. "Didn't know it was a crime," he replied.

I chuckled. "Not that it would matter," I remarked sardonically. This time, my eyes wondered to meet his. I gave him another questioning look, still curious and confused as to why he was staring.

Dally sighed and ran his hand through his dark locks. "I can't look at my girl?" He questioned with a smug smile.

I crossed my arms and smirked, thankfully the darkness was hiding my tinted red cheeks. "Oh, so I'm your girl?"

Dally shrugged. "You wanna be?"

I felt my heart stop beating. My breath hitched in my throat. Was he being serious right now?

Before either of us could say something, another car rolled up to the open spot to my right, coming to an abrupt stop on the starting line. The driver honked the car horn, catching Dallas and I completely off-guard. My eyes snapped to see who was inside the vehicle and I huffed when I saw the pompous grins of Chuck and Sylvia.

"Diana, you driving shotgun?" Chuck exclaimed with fake excitement. He sent me a wink and a wave, while Sylvia just rolled her eyes, refusing to acknowledge our existence.

With a sigh, I shot a remark back to Chuck, "Yeah, Chuck, thought it was kinda obvious." I placed a hand on the steering wheel to emphasize my comment.

Chuck laughed obnoxiously. "I admire your wit," he said sarcastically. Sylvia chuckled along with him and finally met my eyes with a death stare, looking me up and down in an attempt to intimidate.

"What do you want, Chuck?" Dallas cut to the chase. He wasn't one to take any bullshit. It was quite clear that he hated Chuck and despised Sylvia.

Chuck shot Dally glare, seeming to lose all of his cockiness when Dallas spoke up. "Just wanted to wish the competition good luck," he remarked with an eye roll.

I scoffed. "Save it. You'll need it when you're eating my dirt." Dallas smirked at my comment. I felt confidence radiating off of me and excitement boiling inside as urge to win became stronger now that Chuck and Sylvia were against us.

Chuck pulled Sylvia in for a passionately disgusting kiss. He tightened his grip on the steering wheel as he said, "May the best driver win."

"Thanks," I smirked. "I will."

A tall greaser girl with long, blonde hair strutted to the open area in front of all the cars and the starting line. She held a small pistol in her right hand, slowly raising it in the air as the announcer from earlier began a countdown.

"3!"

Chuck and I locked eyes, each of us with a dangerous glint as we glared one last time before the race.

"2!"

I pushed my foot down onto the pedal and revved the engine loudly as if threatening the other drivers around me.

"1!"

Dallas smirked. "Burn rubber, baby!" The blonde teen before us pulled the trigger on her gun, and the bullet wizzed through the air, sounding that the race had begun. My foot immediately crashed onto the pedal and the car took off.

»»——⍟——««

I hopped out of the car — not bothering to open the door — with an excited grin that stretched from ear to ear as Dallas embraced me in a warm hug. "We did it!" I exclaimed happily. "We won!"

Dally pulled away and grabbed my hands. "You won," he said proudly before pulling me in for another hug.

After three laps around the long and winding track that held all of the races, I managed to weave my way through each car and escape unscathed, landing myself in first place. The race was way easier than I expected, especially with the sudden appearance of Chuck and Sylvia, who remained riding my tail most of the time. I was still ecstatic about the win nonetheless.

Our enthusiasm was short lived though as an angry looking Sylvia stormed directly for us with an agitated Chuck trailing quickly behind. The Latina pointed an accusing finger toward me before halting her waltz a few feet ahead. "You cheated!" She spat with fury.

Dallas scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You would know," he remarked. Sylvia rolled her eyes at Dallas, but shoot him a snarky remark, instead turning her attention back to me.

I feigned my laughter and kept a straight, unimpressed face, while staring back at the fuming girl. "We won, fair and square. Now, get the hell over it," I said, brushing her off calmly.

"Hey!" Sylvia shouted. "You can't speak to me like that!" She crossed her arms over her chest and straightened to meet my eyes, but she was still a few inches shorter.

I rolled my dark eyes. "You don't own me. I can do whatever I want," I said, flipping her off in the process. Dallas breathed a soft laugh, rolling his eyes at my ridiculousness.

Her face transfigured into one of shock until she glared at me once more, shooting daggers with her eyes. "You know what, Diana?" She spoke. I tilted my head, encouraging her to continue. "I'm sick and tired of you walking around this damn town as if you own the place. Why don't you just go back to wherever the fuck you came from!"

Dally placed a hand on my shoulder, pulling me away from the situation as he said, "Let it go, Diana." I took a deep breath before nodding slowly, and allowing him to push me back. He was right. Sylvia wasn't worth it and I shouldn't let my temper get the best of me, but it always does.

As we were began to walk away, I could hear Sylvia's witch-like cackle of a laugh. "Yeah, walk away bitch! You can't take me on anyway," she taunted.

Instantly, my legs halted their movement and I spun on my heel, swatting Dallas' hand in the process as he tried to stop me again. I quickly swaggered back over to Sylvia, who was walking the other way now. "Hey, Sylvia!" I called out with rage.

The Latina turned around with a confused expression on her face, probably not expecting me to come back. Right as she turned around, my fist flew directly into her chin, causing her to fall down, completely unconscious. Everyone around me watched with curious and cautious eyes. Chuck stood a few feet away and rushed to Sylvia's assistance, while Dallas grabbed my hand more forcefully this time and pulled me away from the scene.

"Bitch."