I groaned walking up my porch steps unlocking the door I fumbled in the darkness finally flicking the switch I squinted my eyes at the sudden brightness been wondering when you'd show up I blinked fixating my eyes on the figure now yelling at me you have any idea how worried I've been ? Dallas I- I finally made out before he cut me off I'm calling Quincy he hasn't seen you cece doesn't know where you are you won't answer any of my calls I was gonna call I promise I just caught up is all he narrowed his eyes scanning me over are you drunk ?

No I slurred his expression
saddened while he stared at his hands do you not love me anymore ?no that's not true but it probably is you hate me like everyone else no I love you listen I'm catching a plane back to Tulsa tomorrow judge says my time is up Dallas please I love you Bill he sniffled kissing my forehead then my lips and just like that he was out of my life I've never been much of a crier in my life but right now In this moment it didn't matter please don't leave me I murmured over and over please

Billie wake up honey wake up your having a nightmare oh cece it was horrible I'll say you could've woke the dead ok promise you won't get mad oh honey I would never you can tell me anything well you know Al's birthday party last night uh huh well I sniffled it wasn't really his birthday what'd you mean ? Jewels and max came into daddy's the other day asking if me dal and Quince wanted to go to a party at the beach I told him dal wouldn't like me going so they told me to think about it but then al started telling me stuff about jewels and his mom I felt bad so he asked me to promise him that I'd go for him oh well you were just keeping a promise what's so bad that ? She smiled stroking my hair I stared at the floor fighting the tears that were forming in my eyes theres more isn't there ?

I got drunk and puked all over my clothes Jewels helped me and brought me to his so I could change  we were alone and he was showing me around the house we were laughing and talking and then he - kissed me oh sweetie I ran out of there as fast as I could by now I was a crying mess come here mi sol shh it's alright everything's gonna be just fine he's gonna leave me cece I just know it you know for this to go away what you have to do ? Yes I'm just not ready c I'm just not how long do you think this is gonna keep going Bill you can't keep running from this I know I know I just need to sort things out where will you go ? To Quincy's I can't stay here walking around acting like everything's ok when it's not what are you gonna tell him ? I got sick after the party and crashed at Quincy's when will you be back ? Soon

I frowned zipping up my backpack come here she said extending her arms its not your fault yes it is I should've left when I could no look at me you didn't know what you were doing you love Dallas and he loves you to take all the time you need I'll still be here when you get back thanks cece I smiled pecking her cheek

June 24,1972

I didn't sleep much last night I just couldn't get bill off my mind 

She  hasn't answered any of my calls so that's fucking great man I'm so fucking stupid she probably hates me I know it fuck I miss her I've gotta know if she's ok even if she hates my hates my guts

- Dal

I tapped my heel anxiously while I waited for Quince to open the door I couldn't believe I was actually doing this to dally leaving him lying to him but I knew this was the only way to keep from hurting him more than I already have hey bill what's u- what's the matter ? I'll explain inside I sighed sliding pass Him

I didn't catch a ride with Will this time you know to be alone with my thoughts a part of me feels bad for the guy one way or another I'm always dumping my troubles on him I oughta buy him a drink or something  maybe a case of Pepsi  

I kicked a few rocks on the ground  to calm my nerves  Jesus look at me shaking like a leaf  I need to get a hold of self before  It's too  late  I mean she's fine right ?  yeah that's it  Al probably had her working late fat  bastard  

Poor Bill barely gets enough sleep as is with adding on to her shifts in the morning and at night someone's oughta  make him run ragged all day see how he likes it feeling much better about things I pulled out a cigarette getting a few puffs out before cece  opened the door Dallas she spoke in a deflated tone which I ignored giving her a hug cece how's my favorite person in the world ? good she said flashing me a smile that looked forced fine come in from that heat you want something to eat ? I've got some fried chicken and gravy on the stove sure sounds great she nodded leaving the room I took a look around looking at older pictures of bill when she was younger kinda lonely in here yeah she sighed it can be but you get used to it she smiled setting everything on the table come on while it's hot I nodded placing the frame down it was silent while we ate only now and then smiling at each other this wasn't like cece at all I could feel something was wrong but I just didn't know how to go about it how's the chicken ? huh ? oh it's uh great good and crispy hey uh I don't mean to come off rude but have you seen bill around ? no not really but you know how she is always working Damnit oh I'm sorry dal she smiled grabbing my hand you came here to see her didn't you ? yeah but i'll probably call her later thanks for the food dallas  wait she sighed what's wrong ? I don't know why I thought I could do this she said lowly wh- just sit down please I sat back in the chair waiting for her to tell me what  the hell was going on listen I don't want you to be upset about what I'm going to tell you  why would I be upset ? well here goes nothin truth is she's been staying at Quincy's she left the other night after she came back from the party that's it ? I chuckled a little I'll  just  swing over there now then you really  got me you know that ce ? I chuckled cece kept the same blank expression when I walked in  which I ignored again I was almost out the door when she came running with a plate rapped up in sweets will you at least bring these over to her uh  sure it's a chocolate cake sugar cookies and marshmallows Christ her favorite I'll make sure she gets it I smiled shutting the door 

Well they're goes my confidence I remembered the address bill had given me to Quincy's for days like this and followed it carrying bill's plate of sweets ringing the door bell which I had to press a couple of times until bill opened the door her beautiful green eyes were a lighter tint and her cheeks were stained red as if she had been crying Had she been crying ? h-hey babe hey I smiled placing a kiss on her cheek missed you today you feeling ok ? yeah sorry about not calling I got back pretty late last night I heard she paused h-how'd you know ? cece I just left there she gave me a plate of sweets for you said it was your favorite she nodded taking the plate but for some reason she wouldn't make eye contact so uh can I come in ? oh yeah sorry come in  I knew Quincy looked like a dorky kid but I never would  have thought he would live in a place like this diamond Chandelier's hanging from every inch of the ceiling hard wood floors stone wall's covered in several animal heads now I know why you hang here  you hungry ? nah I already ate at cece's she nodded taking a seat at the bar so where is the ole boy ? at work he'll be back later oh well how was the party ? fatty get enough cake in him ? Al ? oh yeah uh tons the fuzz show ? dunno I left before anything happened oh yeah ? yeah I got pretty sick and puked all over myself she frowned playing with her hands 

it took everything in me not to crack a joke not intentionally of course it's just when you hang around two bit all the time these things happen luckily I controlled myself walking towards her leaning my head on her shoulder I smiled looking up at her I knew she wanted to smile but fought it toughly that was a really nice dress oh shaddup she chuckled hitting me a little my bad I smirked sitting on the couch with her sitting on the other it was quite too quite ok your never this quite you and cece been acting strange all day what's wrong nothing she smiled giving me the same smile cece gave earlier look bill I sighed placing my hands over my face you two have been running me ragged all night and day you know that ? dal- no why can't you guys just tell me the  truth ? why is everyone going around like there's some big secret  that everybody know's about accept me ? that's not- you know I've been up all night worrying about you  I haven't even slept calling your house no ones answering the phone do you have any idea what that can do someone ?  especially someone who cares about you a lot !! now you may speak !! I didn't mean for it to come out so harsh but I was wrapped up in the heat of the moment her eyes flickered from the ceiling then back to the floor I-I think we need to take a break my heart dropped down to my shoes what ? I think we should take a break you mean like...breaking up ? no no god no I just think we should take some time to sort things out by now my eyes were brimming with hot tears there's someone else isn't there ? what ? she gasped that's what it is isn't it ? no dallas she said now crying to sure it is I'm no good to anyone I'm always destroying things I wept into my now damp hands 

dallas she started placing a hand on my shoulder th-that's not why I just think we need some time to sort things out we're both pretty emotional right now and not thinking with our heads she sniffled rubbing my back look I've gotta go oh um ok will you at least keep in touch yeah sure fine whatever without another word I was out of there like a speeding bullet I just didn't want to hear her say another word it's funny how only a couple of days ago all I wanted to do was listen to her go on and on about her day to not even being able stand being in the same room I should've known this would happen she looked at me with the same eyes Sylvia had when we broke things off

*Flashback* 

Hey sylve buck's  throwing another party tonight say's a bunch of soc's are coming let's rob em I grinned rubbing my hands together yeah that's great dal maybe uh later what's wrong babe can you please sit ? why ? just sit please I did as she said waiting for her to start we need to talk what's the matter ? we need a break dal she sighed picking up her coat now wait a minuet I squinted trying to understand so your leaving me because I want you to rob a couple of soc's   ? I chuckled a little you know that's not what I mean dal then what the hell do you mean Slyve  ?!! I mean I can't do this anymore dal being at bucks every night getting drunk and high robbing people the fights sitting around worried sick waiting for you to come home I'm exhausted Dallas she screamed at me  practically fuming and I just can't do it anymore I just can't I'm sorry she smiled pecking my cheek before closing the door 

I winced remembering the familiar sting when she left me alone now I'm alone again with no one