⎨ credits to tasteslikepepsicola on tumblr ♡⎬

A/N: inspired by "I know what you did last summer" by Shawn Mendes & Camilla Cambello (my favorite song)❦

Preface

The space between them had only grown between them in the past few months. Between Sodapop taking on extra hours at the DX, to Y/N dealing with the stress of university, it felt like neither of them really had time for each other anymore.

So, after a big fight one Summer night, the two of them felt comfortable agreeing on needing a "break." The lines they had drawn were blurred between a breakup or something else.

That night, after slamming the door and walking out on her boyfriend of a two and a half years, her best friend since age twelve, she didn't want to cry anymore. And somehow, she showed up at Buck's, where she knew a party and a few drinks would help her forget her troubles.

And so, she had a couple drinks, and she started talking to someone. Someone who maybe she had no right to be talking to. Someone who she knew was nothing but trouble. Someone who happened to be there when she needed someone. Dallas Winston, the toughest greaser in Tulsa, comforted her. He knew from the moment she walked in, something was off. He watched her make her way through the crowd, noting the tear stained cheeks and slight redness that adorned her nose. Immediately he knew that look, he only thought of himself. He didn't think about his friend Sodapop, at home, cursing himself for letting Y/N walk out. He thought of how he felt when Sylvia turned out to be two-timing him, how he wore the same look as Y/N wore now.

So by the time the party was winding down, his lips were on her neck, and they were making their way up to his room.

It was only the next day the two of them had realized what they'd done. They decided to never speak of it again, not just for their own sakes, but for Sodapop's. Knowing what happened would destroy him, Dallas and Y/N were able to justify lying to him.

Sodapop and Y/N got back together later that day, for they were never truly apart, and Sodapop, feeling devastated about what happened, promised he would do better, be better. He told her he was terrified of losing her, and would never let it happen again.

And by then, it was too late to tell him the truth.

Winter

The past few months, Y/N and Sodapop's relationship improved, but Soda couldn't shake the feeling that something had changed.

Y/N was more distant than she used to be, despite her attempts to forget all about what happened and focus on Sodapop. It wasn't like she had feelings for Dallas, she loved Sodapop, but she couldn't even be around Dally anymore, especially not with Sodapop there.

It only happened once that Sodapop, her, Dally and the rest of the gang were all together. Y/N didn't spend much time with the gang, because she preferred spending time with just Sodapop, but from time to time the guys with girlfriends would bring them over too and everyone would hang out.

Dallas showed up on one of these occasions, without a date. Sodapop kept an arm around Y/N most of the night, which she was thankful for. But she couldn't help but feel bothered with the way Dallas eyed her up and down the whole time. She felt sick, guilt ridden and terrified of the truth coming out. She left early that night, fanning feeling sick, and that was the last time she saw Dallas Winston.

She thought she could move on, but deep down she knew the truth couldn't always stay hidden.

One cold night, Y/N was walking to the Curtis house, something she knew Sodapop didn't like- he was always worried about her getting jumped. However, on this night, her car was low on fuel and it was a short walk, so she reasoned it would be okay.

It wasn't until she was about half way there she noticed the red mustang trailing her from a short distance. Panic settled over her as she dug through her pockets searching for something to defend herself with. No car keys, no switchblade; realizing she was defenseless, she began to feel the terror really sink in.

"Hey beautiful, need a ride?"

"She's pretty for a greaser girl,"

"Where you going?"

The calls of the Soc's in the car turned more hostile, and before she knew it they were pulling their car over, so Y/N began to run, only a few blocks away from her destination.

However, there were three of them, and there was only one of her, and they quickly caught up to her.

"Where are you running off to?" The one with cruel eyes asked.

"I'm not looking for any trouble," she started.

"Don't worry baby, we won't make it hurt...much." he finished.

The tall Soc's grew close enough to her she could feel their hot breath on her skin. She began to scream for help, but one of them grabbed her and covered her mouth.

She began to feel utterly hopeless, she swung and kicked but her attempts to fight back were dodged.

"Feisty, eh?" one of them commented.

Suddenly, out of the darkness, she heard the familiar sound of a switchblade being opened. Tears ran down her cheeks, but her fear was soon replaced with shock when she heard a familiar voice yell, "Get the fuck off of her before I end your sorry lives,"

Y/N's body flooded with relief as she immediately recognized the voice of her savior, Dallas Winston.

Once her attackers noticed the blade he was holding, they quickly retreated. Dallas ran after them, clearly fired up enough to follow through on his threats. Y/N was released from the Soc's arms and she fell to the pavement, still sobbing.

She felt someone shaking her slightly, trying to bring her back to reality. "Y/N?" he spoke softly. She looked up to notice Johnny, looking almost as afraid as her.

"It's alright, Dally got rid of 'em. You don't have to be afraid anymore, you're safe now," The boy comforted her as he slowly helped her stand up.

Luckily for them, the Socs were able to get back in their car and drive off before Dally could do more than give out a black eye and possibly a broken wrist.

"Fuck!" Dallas' voice rang out in anger, filling the dead silence that had fallen upon the night.

By the time he came back over to the pair, he had calmed down a bit. He took Y/N into his arms, holding her in a strong embrace.

When he pulled away, he held her face for a quick moment, trying to search her eyes and place his finger on what it was she was feeling.

"Y/N? Are you okay? Are you hurt? Are you bleeding? I swear I'll fucking kill them if they laid a scratch on you. I'm gonna find who did this to you and I swear they're gonna pay-" he fumed.

"Dallas, it's okay. I'm fine. Can you just walk me the rest of the way? I- I just really wanna see Sodapop..." she said in a quiet voice.

A flash of hurt passed through the greasers eyes, but he complied. "Of course, whatever you want," he released her from his grip and they finished their walk to the Curtis house.

*****

When they reached the driveway to the small house, Y/N turned to Johnny and Dallas. "I can't thank you enough," was all she could manage to say.

"Don't, it's not necessary. We're just happy you're safe, doll." Dally lightly ran his fingers over her face.

She forced a smile towards Johnny, trying to express her gratitude. She finally stumbled up the steps and opened the door without knocking, letting herself in. The two greaser boys who saved her walked off into the night.

Hearing the door, Sodapop called, "Y/N?"

When he got to the livingroom Y/N was standing in, she threw herself into his arms, letting the tears fall from her eyes.

"Y/N? Baby? What happened? Are you okay?" he held her in his arms.

She shook her head.

"Come on, sit down, I'll get you a glass of water." He led her to the couch, and helped her sit down.

He returned with a glass of water, took a seat next to her, and softly asked, "Can you tell me what happened?"

She sniffed, "I got jumped. On my way here. I know I shouldn't have walked but- it doesn't matter. I'm okay, Dallas and Johnny happened to be near by and they must have heard me screaming. They chased off the Soc's that did it to me. I- I'm just so, so scared." she sobbed, falling into his arms once more.

He felt his heart break at her retelling of the night's events, and despite the rage that boiled his blood towards those Socs who hurt Y/N, he knew he needed to keep his cool for her right now. He gently stroked her hair, held her close and whispered to her, "I'm so sorry, I should have picked you up. This is all my fault, I should have been there to protect you. It's okay now baby..."

"No, Sodapop, this could never be your fault. I didn't tell you I was walking, you couldn't have known. I was so stupid, so, so stupid. I- I deserved it." she sobbed.

"How could you say that, Y/N?" Sodapop asked, shocked.

"I made a horrible mistake Sodapop, I deserve every bad thing that comes my way." she explains.

"Baby, nothing you did could ever make me love you less. Whatever you think you've done to deserve this, you didn't. You never could." He took her face in his hands, telling her all this as he looked her in the eye.

She made herself pull away from his touch, feeling a sudden wave of sickness and guilt, a need to come clean. How could she go on, allowing him to love her when deep down, she wasn't who he thought she was?

"You're going to hate me, and you have every right to..." she started, voice breaking.

"That's impossible, love," he tried moving closer to her once again.

"No," she backed away. "Sodapop..." she started. "I'm so sorry..."

"Baby? You're starting to scare me," the handsome greaser told her.

"When we got in that fight over the Summer, when we agreed on a break, I did something unforgivable." she told him.

She watched as the realization and hurt spread across his face, "no..." he whispered.

"I slept with someone else..." her chest ached from the sobbing. "It's been absolutely tearing me apart for months, and I've been so selfish and scared, I couldn't tell you what I did. I'm so sorry."

He sat there, stunned, in silence.

"I didn't mean it, Sodapop. I didn't mean it at all. I don't wanna let this go, let us go. I still love you so much." she cried out desperately.

"We were falling out of love..." he mumbled. "And now I can't seem to keep you close, I can't seem to let you go."

"Don't let me go," she cried.

"Who was it?" tears filled his eyes.

"Sodapop-"

"Who?" he demanded, but not with anger in his voice, just pure sadness and defeat.

"Dallas." she mumbled, followed by more silence.

"I didn't mean it though. I've only ever wanted you." she tells him, trying to lean closer to him once again.

"You were slipping away from me that whole time, I was so blind. This whole time, have I just been holding on to all the words you used to say?" tears began to tumble down his cheeks now, as he pulled away from her.

"Sodapop, I can't lose you." she sobbed.

"I know, I know you didn't mean it though." he said through tears, shaking his head, trying to make it all make sense.

"Don't, don't let me go. You're all I have."

"I- I can't. I can't keep you close, I can't let you go." he repeated.

"I didn't mean it..." she sobbed.

"I know you didn't mean it though..." he told himself.

He turned to look at her once more, "You've just lied to me, saying there's no other, that you only loved me."

Helplessness filled her voice as she told him, "I do love you. Only you. I don't want to let you go. Please, just please, hold me close and don't let go."

"I know..." his voice trailed off. "I can't let you go. I don't want to let you go." He grabbed her hands, holding them in his, desperation laced in his voice as repeated, "I don't want to let you go."

"Just hold me, please." she closed the space between them, as they held each other in a strong embrace that neither was strong enough to let go from.

When he finally pulled away, the two were both sobbing messes, neither sure of what to say next.

"I-" he started. "I love you, Y/N. But I think you should go home now, I have a lot to think about." he looked down at the trembling girl and added, "I can drive you."