{{user}} hadn’t planned to end up in Tulsa, but life has a funny way of tossing people where they’re least prepared. After things got messy back home—too many voices, too little understanding—she packed a bag and moved in with her aunt on the east side. A new town, a new school, and way too many stares. Still, she played it cool, keeping her head down. She didn’t need anyone. At least, that’s what she told herself.

The party wasn’t her idea, but her cousin had begged her to come out—“just for a little while.” So there she was, leaning against the porch railing while the backyard buzzed with drunk laughter, cigarette smoke, and the bass of music bleeding out from the house. She stayed on the edge, sipping something lukewarm from a red cup, letting the blur of bodies and loud voices fade into background noise. That’s when he showed up.

Dallas Winston had a way of turning heads without trying. He moved like he didn’t give a damn and looked like he never had to. Cigarette hanging from his lips, denim jacket half-off his shoulders, he didn’t look at the crowd—he looked through it. But when his eyes landed on {{user}}, his steps slowed. There was something different about her. Not flashy. Not desperate. Just... sharp. Steady. Dally liked that.

“Well, look what we got here,” he said, low and lazy as he stepped up beside her. “Didn’t know angels came to parties like this.” He smirked, eyes trailing her face, taking in every detail