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Dallas hates college. He really, truly does.
He never thought he’d miss the gang this much—or at all, really. Sure, they’re like brothers to him—but he’s always preferred being alone. It's easier.
He never planned on going to college. But some prison program—he never bothered
to learn about it—made the offer to send him to community college free of charge, and Darry wouldn’t let him say no.
So now, here he is. He was always alone on Christmas—ever since his mother overdosed, it’s been just him. He spent a few years celebrating with the gang, but he always felt out of place. Still—he had planned on flying out to them. But being New York, a big fat snowstorm hit the day before he was supposed to leave—and all flights had been canceled.
He had settled down onto his bed, beer in hand and idly watching whatever shitty hallmark cable would play. A quiet but frantic knock hit his door—he could practically hear the heavy breathing from the other side.
Dallas wasn’t expecting company—he hasn't made any friends in his few months here. It was also 2 o’clock in the damn morning. Realistically he knew he shouldn’t open the door, but he found himself getting up anyway.
He leaned down to look in the peephole, he had to squint to make out the figure—even then, it was hard to tell. They were relatively small, he could beat them pretty easily—his best guess is that the person is high for the first time.
He groans, already walking back to his shitty bed. But the person knocks again—and he has a sinking feeling they aren’t leaving anytime soon.
“Whaddaya want?” He growls, throwing the door open.
The person—a man—jumps halfway out of his skin, already stumbling away. “I-I’m sorry—I’ll go—“ he begins to sputter, eyes wide and looking at Dallas like he was a predator of some kind.
“Jesus—Are you on something?” Dallas askes, looking him up and down.
He’s seen the boy on campus before—he stuck out because of how often people thought he was a highschooler. He was in one of those artsy-fartsy courses like Ponyboy wanted to do.
“No!“ The boy gasps out defensively. “I just—I… I’m sorry, I’ll go.” He repeats, already attempting to walk off. Before Dallas can stop himself, he reaches out and grabs the collar of his sweater, tugging him closer.
He knows he should just let the poor guy go. But he looks too familiar—the shake riddling his whole body, his eyes don’t really seem to focus on him, his hands shake even as he tries to tug Dallas off.
“Oh no you don’t! Why the hell are you knocking at my door at two in the morning, huh?” He bites, letting go once he’s sure the guy won’t bolt.
“I—I just…” he mutters, shoving his hands in his pockets and refusing to make eye contact. “My cat got out—H-He’s real white and it’s all snowy out—“ he begins, looking all guilty.
They definitely were not allowed to have pets here. This boy seems to know that too, talking as slow as he can to try and gauge Dallas’s reaction.
“I don’t want anyone getting—y’know, like a hold of him. I just—I don’t know where he is, and I’m really worried, and I’m sorry that I—“
Dallas sighs, rubbing his temples. That's what this is about? A damn cat? Here he was worried this guy was gonna overdose but he’s just unbelievably freaked out about a white-fucking-cat.
Personally, the closest he’s ever had to a pet was an alley cat in New York—it hissed and scratched him regularly, but it’d let him get close enough to pet it when he gave it some leftover food. One day it stopped showing up—he had been really sad, he knew animal control got it.
“So, what? You’re checking if anyone has seen him?” Dallas askes, trying not to sound as annoyed as he very much is. He feels bad for the guy—it’s clear he’s not used to talking to people.
“W-Well, I uh…” the boy mutters, finally glancing up at him. “I know he’s outside—but I don’t really have good eyesight…”
“You want me to go out there and look with you?” He deadpans, unable to hide his own annoyed raised brow. “Maybe perhaps.” He replies, a nervous chuckle leaving his lips as he already tries to back away again.
“I-It sounds stupid now—I don’t really… know anyone and you’re my neighbor, so—I’ll just leave, I’m sorry for bothering you.”
Dallas groans, loud enough that the guy glances at him worriedly. He really wants to slam the door in his face and go back to drinking until he passes out. But the sight is so pathetic that he knows he’ll never forget the look on his face if he doesn’t go.
The boy looks a lot like that stupid alley cat.
“I’ll go.” He says finally. The boy can't help but gasp, looking at him thankfully. “R-Really?” He says, eyes following him as he goes to grab his coat. “Don’t make me change my mind.” Dallas says simply, pulling it on and grabbing some gloves from his closet.
The boy stays silent after that. He stands in Dallas’s doorway until he comes out, locking the door behind him. “Don’t you have a jacket?” Dallas says, glancing back at the threadbare sweater and too-big jeans the boy was wearing.
“I’ll be fine.” He says simply, already scampering off to the elevator. Dallas watches him silently—he quickly unlocks the door, grabs an extra pair of gloves, and locks it again.
He tosses the pair to the boy as they both hop on the elevator. He stares at him for a moment before pulling them on.
“So, uh—“ the boy mutters, looking down at his feet. “What’s your name?”
“Dallas.” He replies, unable to hold back his own chuckle. “What about you?”
“Johnny.” The boy says in reply, pushing the lobby floor button. They are both silent for the rest of the way down. The receptionist gives them an odd look as they pass—it’s definitely past curfew, but they are a lot more lenient during the holidays.
“Does it have a name?” He asks, hearing his own feet crunch down on the falling snow. “Huh?” Johnny mutters, glancing up at him. “The cat.” Dallas replies, raising a brow at him.
“Oh! Shit, yeah—His name is Cobalt.”
Dallas chuckles, walking off already to search. Johnny catches up at him, frowning. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothin’.” Dallas shrugs. “It’s a good name. Unique.”
“You were laughing.” Johnny says, brown frowning as he searches his face for something. “His eyes are really blue. That’s where I got the name from.”
“Ah.” Dallas hums, glancing around. “We oughta split up, I’ll call you if I find anything.”
“Okay.” Johnny nods. “T-Thanks again, man. I mean it.”
“No problem.” Dallas shrugs, walking off. It annoys him a little that he’s so calm about this—it should be a problem. A random dude he doesn’t know came knocking at his door at the asscrack of midnight to help him search for some white cat with a dumb name.
Even so, he found himself actually looking. He told himself it was so he wouldn’t have to be out here all night—but deep down it’s because he knows the look on the kids face will destroy him if they don’t find the stupid thing.
They had been searching for a solid half hour when Dallas noticed an odd hole in the snow. He had passed it about a hundred times, but suddenly he felt like he just had to check.
He takes slow steps towards it, crouching down to look inside. Sure enough, two very blue eyes stare at him. He glances back at the road, cars driving past him at quick speeds. The poor thing must’ve burrowed down out of fear. A
He slowly digs his hands in the snow around him, halting everytime the cat hisses and only moving again when it stopped. It tried to bite him when he finally pulled it out. “Cut it out, you little shit. I’m trying to help you!” He finds himself whispering angrily.
“Johnny!” He calls, walking slowly to not jostle the poor animal. “I think I’ve got him!”
Johnny spins around quickly, pulling himself to his feet. He gasps when he sees him, running up with a big smile on his face. “You found him!” He says, full of child-like joy.
Dallas hands the hissing animal over asap. Sure enough, Cobalt stops hissing the second he’s in Johnny’s arms, ducking its little head under his chin and snuggling closer.
Johnny scratches behind his ears idly, finally looking back at Dallas. “Thank you so much! I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.” He says with a guilty smile.
“It’s no problem, really.” He finds himself saying. “Christmas spirit or whatever.”
God, why did he say that? What has this place turned him into? Maybe the gang was right, he was going soft.
He can’t help but take note of Cobalt’s blue collar, with a matching bow tie hot-glued onto it alongside a little bell. He can’t help but smile at the sight—god, that’s too adorable for even stone-cold Dallas Winston.
Johnny tucks the cat into his sweater as they head inside—Dallas makes a point to walk close enough to hide the bump now on his chest. Surprisingly, Cobalt stays silent as they pass by the reception desk.
Johnny pulls him back out the second they’re in the elevator, letting Cobalt climb onto his shoulder like a perched bird. Dallas can’t help but chuckle at the sight, clicking the button for their floor.
Dallas slowly reaches his hand up, making sure the cat sees it before he touches him. Cobalt lets him scratch behind his ears, purring quietly. Johnny must be a damn good owner—It seems just being in the presence of him keeps Cobalt at ease.
“I found him in an alleyway a few months ago.” Johnny says, the silence grating on him. “He was so tiny and scared, I couldn’t leave him outside. I know it’s against the rules—“
“I’m not much of a rule follower.” Dallas shrugs. “Just make sure you don’t ever let the office find out.”
Johnny smiles. “Yeah, I’ll uh—make sure to keep the window fully closed from now on.”
Johnny doesn’t bother hiding the cat as they both step out—most of the students hid something, and a cat was the best thing that could be kept. Cobalt does hop down back into his arms, burrowing his little face into Johnny’s sleeve.
“I really can’t thank you enough.” Johnny says as they stop in front of Dallas’s room. “I don’t—I mean, I seriously don’t think I would’ve found him on my own. I owe you one big time.”
Dallas can’t help the redness that flushes his face. He’s not used to being thanked like this—treated like some kind of angel. It’s not like he helps people out often—not unless he wants something in return. Maybe he should do it more—it feels nice.
“I really don’t mind, man. It’s something to do, I guess.” Dallas mutters, not looking at him. Johnny just smiles at him, warm and big—like he knows there’s more to it than that.
They say their goodbyes and head their own way. Dallas can see Johnny give Cobalt a little kiss on the head as he heads inside his dorm.
He sits down on his bed, leaning back against the wall. He finds himself revolted by the idea of drinking.
He feels good—something warm in his chest, something he’s only ever felt a few times in his life. Huddled up with his mother beside the fire, watching the gang hurl snowballs at each other with big ol’ grins on their faces.
Dallas glances down at his phone. He reaches over and grabs it, scrolling through the Merry Christmas messages the gang had sent him that night. He couldn’t help but smile—alone in his room, he felt loved. He felt good.
He shuts his phone off, kicking off his shoes and falling asleep on top of the covers.
Dallas wakes up the next morning to cookies on his doorstep—a red bow tied around the tin with a little paw print painting on it.
Maybe he was going soft.
Who cares?