An eleven year old Dally Winston ran up the fire escape of his apartment building. Sighing with relief as he saw the small girl. "Hey." he said quietly, so as not to startle her.

Turning her head she smiled when she saw her best friend, "Hey, Dally! Where ya been?" and she laughed knowing full well where he'd been.

Kizzy grinned at him and he ruffled her hair, causing her to screech and duck her head low. "What have you been up to?" He asked her, crouching down next to her.

She shrugged, "nothing really. Staying out of my dad's hair."

The small girl watched as her best friend gave a nod, and sat down, his legs hanging off the side of the building just like hers. Looking at him shyly she asked, "Was it that bad, Dal?"

The towheaded boy was quiet for a moment, and Kizzy almost wished she hadn't asked, then, "well...it wasn't a carnival, Little." he said it quietly, using the nickname he had called her since they were four.

Kizzy smiled as Dally used her nickname and swung her feet in the air. She leaned back, resting her palms on the cement behind her and resting on them. "I missed you…"

Dally's head snapped to the side and he stared at Kizzy for a moment. He cracked a small, rare grin, a soft grin that he only showed around her. "I missed you too." Kizzy smiled broadly, wanting to hug him but knew that Dally wasn't much for the whole touchy-feely scene.

Even thought the shouts from New York were loud, the two enjoyed the quietness of their seat on the roof. But, a moment later Dally broke it by standing up, "I'm leaving."

"Ok. I'll be down later, and I'll see you tomorrow." she replied absent mindedly.

"No. I mean i'm leaving New York."

Kizzy whirled around all the while keeping her balance on the roof, "What? What do you mean, leaving New York?"

"I mean, Little, " Dally said in a softer voice, "That I can't stay here, it's killing me. I'm leaving and I want you to come."

Kizzy stared at him in shock for a moment. "Dally…I can't." She said in a hushed voice.

Dally, who did not take rejection very well stiffened. "Why not?"

Kizzy cringed and said in a small voice, "I can't go. I want to, please believe that I do…but I can't." She bit her lip nervously and shook some hair into her face.

"Why can't you go?"

"I can't leave my family here, Dal. It's not that easy for me." She bit her lip a little harder, drawing blood and rested her head in her hands. She fought back tears and took a shaky breath, looking back up to meet his gaze. "I'm sorry."

Dallas Winston's blazing blue eyes flew open, and, half expecting to see his old friend, he sat up. 'No.' he thought, 'Just the Curtis' living room.'

Laying back he heaved a sigh. He hadn't understood then, why she didn't want to leave. Why should she stay with an abusive drunk? But, after six years of contemplating, he had yet to come up with an answer.

He had once asked Johnny why he didn't run away, but Johnny had just said he had no where to go. That wasn't true for Kizzy. She had Dally, she didn't need that asshole father, or the brother who abandoned her to her fate. It just wasn't fair.

"Hey Dal, you ok?" Two-Bit asked, glancing up from the television. Mickey Mouse was dancing across the screen.

"Fine." He answered gruffly, sitting up and lighting a cigarette. He took a long drag from it and held the smoke in his lungs until it began to pain him and he exhaled, a thin stream of smoke replacing the air.

He rubbed his eyes fiercely, trying to drag his thoughts away from Kizzy. He didn't need to be thinking about her so long after. But he just couldn't shake her face. He'd always figured that that was why he was so protective over Johnny. He'd seen one friend slip through the cracks of an abusive home, he was never going to let it happen again.

Listening to the sounds of the T.V. and of Two-Bit's laughter, Dally felt himself slip into a calmness that he hadn't felt in a long time.

After the scenes of that horrible dream, he had left, not even leaving a note, or saying goodbye to the friend who had needed him there. So many times he had felt the urge to go back and look for the soft speaking girl who had spent everyday with him from the time they were three.

But, everything was different now. There was no going back for her. He had waited to long, Kizzy had never been one to wait on things she knew would never happen. He had lost his best friend the moment he ran off the roof.

He felt that slithering feeling of emotion creeping into his chest and he rose from the couch immediately. "I'm gonna get out of here…go for a walk or something. I'll see ya'll later." With those words, he sauntered out of the house; a cigarette perched between his lips and a hard expression etched onto his face.

He needed to do something, he needed to get into a fight, or get drunk or do something to get his mind off of Kizzy. The only dilemma he faced now was the fact that he didn't want to. After six years of remembering whom he'd left behind, he didn't want to forget. He didn't want to abandon those thoughts of a dear friend whom he'd lost. He wanted Kizzy.