All human beings search for either reasons to be good, or excuses to be bad.

Dallas Winston

"So, so I don't really apologize, or use my manners or really anything I've been told on countless occasions, and maybe, maybe I don't do a lot of the things I should. But here I am, Olivia Sheldon, apologizing, for bruising your ego or hurting whatever untouched unharsh, uncold feelings you may have left, so you better suck it up and accept it. And it's obvious I hit a nerve in there, and obviously I don't know what for or about and you won't tell us, so I'm sorry for just being curious, for just being a girl who has never left this shit town wanting to know what a big city looks and feels like on a firsthand account. And I still want to know, and they in there still want to know what it was like so maybe we should go in there and you should tell us even if you have to lie your ass off about every damn thing. Or maybe we should just go in there and act like we never even had this conversation and we should all eat chocolate cake and greasy diner food and make awkward conversation while we watch Mickey Mouse. Your move, Winston." Olivia half yelled at a me on the front porch, and right then I decided right then she was right and what I would have to do.

So I stayed on the porch for a few moments after Olivia went in contemplating which way to lie to them would sound the nicest, but also like me. I crossed my hands and balanced on the railing just staring at the full moon and glowing stars. Minutes later I slowly walked back into the living room and sat down in a chair with my ankles crossed and jumped straight into what they would want to hear.

"While I was in New York, I met a girl, and damn she was the most beautiful broad I ever saw. She had a heart of gold, and shit I thought I'd marry that girl. I was sent to jail for some time and a buddy of mine told me the broad was cheating on me and had been for a while. I didn't want to believe him, I broke the friendship with him because that's how in love with the girl I was. She was one of those once in a lifetime souls, you know, a rare diamond something so special and rare, worth millions." I paused seeing all the guys staring and listening intently to what I was saying, even Kieran was falling for it, focusing on my words like they were Soda's "I love you's". Olivia though, Olivia was smirking like I do. She knew I was lying, but did she really?

"She was the apple of my eye, the light in my night, but slowly, slowly she started becoming more and more distant and acting strange. She would leave at early hours and return late all flustered and messy haired. Of course I had my doubts, my superstitions, but it couldn't be true. Could it? one day I came home from the bar early and she was there; she was there with another man. Another man in my bed. MY BED! All I saw was red, and I couldn't stop myself, I strangled him, I almost killed a man in New York and before I left the last words I said to her as the tears ran made tracks down her cheeks was "If you ever see me again, don't say hello, or it just might be you in this position instead of your gigolo." And I spat in her face. I left that night a broken man I walked here the whole way and never looked back. I couldn't or else I might have gone back and finished her off." I yelled as I stood up from the chair watching all their faces and seeing only one emotion evident in all of them: shock.

"The sights though, the sights were something. I would explain them but I don't think I can capture their true beauty and give them as much meaning as they deserve. It's something you have to see for yourself to fully comprehend. The lights, they never went out and you could hardly see the stars like you can here, but when you caught a glimpse of one, or what you thought was one, it was like you held a diamond in your hands. It was so rare, yet precious. shows what things we as human take for granted each day. The noise, it was nauseating and constant, I could hardly sleep it was so loud, and if you were lucky every once in a while you would find some peace - even if for only five seconds. The green lady, she was magnificent, made me feel proud as an American to have such beauty in our country and to finally be able to see it. It truly is the city that never sleeps, though. People were always up and moving, hyperactive and over-reactive." I finished while staring at their amazed faces.

"Who knew Dally actually had a heart before, was actually able to love and act civilized as a human being." Two-bit cracked, but soon dropped it as everyone turned to glare at him.

"Dallas, come with me to the kitchen." Olivia nodded her head towards the kitchen as she subliminally told me to follow her or she might have my neck.

"That was some way to lie." She yelled behind the closed safety of the small dining area.

"Who said I was lying?" I whispered almost inaudibly as I cocked my head to the side and looked at her curiously.

"WHAT?" She looked like she about shit her pants from hearing my revelation.

"Whatever, lets just go." I shook my head while grabbing two beers from the fridge and exiting the kitchen towards the living room.

;

Olivia Sheldon

"Olivia I'm staying here with Soda tonight." Kieran announced and all the boys smirked and 'ooooooh'ed' at them

"How am I meant to get home? Especially trying to get past Bob right now. Him being all infuriated and nosey. Plus with me being half drunk I couldn't handle it or what he might do to me." I asked as I stared at her dumbfounded

"You could just stay here tonight too." She just shrugged.

"Yeah, you could sleep in my bed, and I'll take the couch." Darry said nonchalantly and I yawned.

"Whatever's best." I nodded and followed Darry to the back bedroom, his bedroom.

Darry was saying something from above me, but I couldn't hear him because as soon as I laid down I lost all trace of consciousness.