A/N: Since I was having a bit of a writer's block for my regular story, I decided to write this little one shot. Hope you enjoy, and please review!

Dallas stood on the corner of Pickett and Sutton, waiting for Johnny. The street was dark, except for the few streetlights that weren't broken. He stood in under the light of one, cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth, shoulders hunched, and hands tucked into the pockets of his worn leather jacket. The dark haired boy was nowhere to be seen, and was already half an hour late. Worry was creeping into the edges of Dallas' thoughts, and no matter how hard he tried to push it away, it came back.

Frustrated, he threw the weed to the ground, stomped it out with the sole of his boot, and took off. He kept a steady pace until he reached Johnny's street. The Cade house was the only one with lights on, and two silhouettes were shaped in the window. Two voices screamed back and forth, and suddenly the larger outline raised a hand and brought it crashing down on the other. Dallas took to a sprint, arriving at the house just as Johnny's dad threw his son from the house, shouting strings of slurred curses after him. Dally grabbed the younger boy, helping him catch his balance, before running up the old, battered stairs and grabbing the drunk man's collar.

"Don't you fuckin' touch him," he growled, before shoving him back into the door frame. He went to turn around, when the the elder Cade answered.

"What you say, hood?" Dallas could smell the alcohol on him from a foot away. He grabbed the collar again.

"I ain't jokin' around old man. I hear or see that you been hittin' him again, and I'll make sure you pay for it," Dallas threatened. He released his hold and ran down the porch, grabbing Johnny by the shoulders.

"You okay?" he asked. Johnny nodded, brown eyes wide with fear and ringed with the beginnings of bruises.

"Just another stupid fight with the old man," he said quietly. Dallas nodded, guiding him away from the house, toward the lot, where they sat down beneath the stars.

"I won't let 'im hurt you anymore, Johnnycakes," Dallas whispered, brushing a dark curl out of Johnny's eyes.

"I know," the smaller boy answered. Their lips met, fingers intertwined, and bodies pressed together. They fell asleep side by side in the lot, and woke with the sun.

"I gotta get back to Buck's," Dallas said, getting up. Johnny nodded.

"Dallas?" he said softly to the blonde haired boy.

"Yeah?" he asked, turning back.

"I…thanks," he finished. Dallas nodded, fished a cancer stick from his pocket and lit it.

"See ya around," he said, as he walked away.

"I love you," Johnny whispered into the still morning air.

Even if you can't say you love me back.