Dally imagine for _greek_fire_! I hope you enjoy! -Katy

Don't you just think Dal and I would be perfect together, Johnnycake?" I daydream about my crush, Dallas Winston to my best friend, Johnny Cade. He nods.

"I do, but what would Darry think if you two started going out?" He responds, bringing me back down to Earth. He's right, my big brother Darry is protective, big and scary. Dally's strong and tough, and he and Darry are buddies, but if he ever laid a hand on me, we all know that he'd be dead.

"I know... It's not fair though!" I cry passionately, then stop for a moment, trying to figure out what to say next.

"I like him," I say, this time a lot quieter.

"I know you do, and he likes you too. It just wouldn't work, Megan," Johnny says, trying to talk me down.

"But what if we could make it work? I could have Sodapop talk to Darry, that always works, right?" I suggest. Johnny looks at me, debating on what to say next.

"Has he even asked you out yet?" He asks me. I blush, shaking my head no.

"But don't you think that if he knew it were okay to, he would?" I ask. He shrugs.

"I dunno," Johnny admits. Honestly, I don't either. Dallas is a complicated person, he dates girls just to dump them, even if he really likes them, and flirts with girls he doesn't care about just for fun, but when you get him alone, there are some times when he can be real sweet. He's like that with me, that's how the whole gang knows he likes me. He hasn't got a girl right now, and I'm not going with anyone, so he could make a move any time now. But we don't think he will, considering my older brother.

If Dallas claims to not be afraid of anyone or anything, why hasn't he asked me out yet? Is it because my brother really that scary that he even makes Dallas Winston, the Dallas Winston nervous? Impossible...

"What are we talking about?" A voice yells, bouncing in the doorway. I look up just in time to see Soda plop down on my lap and Steve squish next to him on the sofa, practically pushing poor Johnny over. The three of them laugh, but I scowl. They're always rambunctious after work.

"If you don't mind, I was having a conversation," I say, fake annoyed and trying to hold back a laugh as I push Soda over into Steve, knocking Johnny even further over.

"Oh, we don't mind," Steve says.

"Yeah, what were you talking about?" Soda asks with a smile. I groan, causing laughs from the guys.

"We were talking about Dally," Johnny says.

"Traitor," I whisper.

"You're not a traitor, Johnnycake. That's what Megan's always talking about. She and her boyfriend," Steve says, ruffling Johnny's hair. He smiles. I roll my eyes at him. We're not boyfriend and girlfriend yet.

"Oh, c'mon, Megan, we know you like each other, but no one's even made a move yet. Let it go," Steve advises me. I just frown and shrug, then look to Sodapop, my twin brother, who never fails to cheer me up.

"...I gotta go with Steve on this one, sis. Sorry. You know Darry wouldn't approve. I like Dally, really, and I think you guys would make a great couple. He's my friend, Darry's too, I just don't think he would like his little sister going out with him. You know what he does to other girls, Meg. We don't want you to get your heart broken," he says, giving me a hug. I return it, resting my head on his shoulder, thinking to myself.

What if he doesn't break my heart? He loves me, I know it. I love him. He likes me, I like him. Wouldn't we be perfect together? Why doesn't Darry approve? Doesn't he know Dal enough to tell that we have something different than with those other girls?

"I just really like him," I whisper, feeling my heart crack into more and more pieces by the second.

"We know you do, Megan. I think you guys would make a great couple... But would it work?" Steve asks. Johnny nods in agreement.

"Johnnycake, you know him best out of all of us. What do you think?" I ask him, wondering if he and Steve really do have the same view.

"I think you guys would be perfect together, just... Dally can be unpredictable sometimes. Darry has a right to be worried," he admits. I sigh.

"Worried about what?" A voice asks. My heart skips a beat at the sound. Dally.

"Hey Dal," the boys say.

"Hi Dally," I say with a smile. He looks at me strangely, but says hi back.

"What are we worried about?" Dally asks again. My face heats up, and I look to Soda again to save the day.

"Darry," he says.

"He's been working awful hard lately. I wish he wouldn't, he's gonna throw his back out again," Soda says. It's not completely a lie, Soda, Ponyboy and I are usually worried about that anyways.

"A'right," Dally says with a raised eyebrow. I hold my breath, hoping he believes it. And as soon as I see him plop down into Darry's arm chair, I realize that he doesn't really care.

"We'll finish this conversation later," I quietly hiss to Steve, who, like my brothers -although they wouldn't do it in this case- would do anything to embarrass me.

"So where's Superman?" Dally asks suddenly.

"He home yet?" I shake my head.

"Nope. Should be soon, though. He said he was going grocery shopping and then would come home and make dinner. Why?" I respond.

"Gotta ask him something," he says with a shrug of his shoulders. I look over to Soda to see if Dally's mentioned anything to him, but he just shrugs.

I'm on edge up until the minute Darry walks in the door.

"Hey," he says, then goes into the kitchen. Dally gets up after a few minutes and goes in after my brother.

"What do you guys think they're talking about?" I wonder aloud. Johnny shrugs, Soda doesn't react or say anything.

"I dunno. Maybe he needs money," Steve suggests.

"Wouldn't he have just taken some from Buck?" Soda asks him. No answer, because we hear screams coming from the kitchen.

"C'mon, Darry. I've really tried to clean up my act for this. I haven't gotten in trouble in months. I broke it off with Sylvia. There aren't any other girls. Why the hell not?" Dallas yells.

"Other girls?" I whisper to my friends and brother. No response, just intent listening. Darry doesn't raise his voice, just calmly responds.

"Because Dallas. I said no," he says, cool, calm and content with his response.

"Y'know what, man? That's fine," Dally says, and in an instant he's back in the living room.

"Hey Megan, can I talk to you?" He asks. My heart starts beating so fast I can barely catch my breath, so I nod.

"I was just talking to your brother, wanted to get permission before doing it, but he said no. I don't care though, I really like you. Will you be my girl?" He asks. My eyes widen and I look around the room. Johnny and Steve look surprised, but Soda just looks nervous and sick.

"I... I," I say quietly, unable to properly respond.

"I got you a ring. You know, just so everyone knows your mine," he says, passing it to me. I look at it, rolling it around in my hands.

I want this, right? This is what I have so been longing for, right? But I don't want Darry to hate me... He'll practically disown me if I say yes...

"Dally, I like you. But knowing that my brother doesn't like the idea of us...." My voice trails off.

"Megan," Darry says, coming through the kitchen door.

"Yeah?" I look up at him.

"If you really like him, I'm okay with it," he says. I smile, really big, and run up to hug my big brother.

"Really?" I ask. He nods.

"Really." As soon as I let go of my brother, I look to Dally.

"Megan?" He asks. I nod.

"Yeah, Dally. Yeah, I'll be your girl," I say. After I practically throw myself into his arms, he takes my hand in his, and I hand the ring to him, which he puts on my hand.

"That's great," he says, beaming. I look into his eyes, and he stares back at me. I stand on my tip toes, and suddenly, our lips softly touch in a kiss.

"They do make a cute couple," I hear Darry tell Soda, before Dally kisses me again.