Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders

Title from a song by Thin Lizzy

Anyone read incense and peppermints profile update lately? I thought I'd take the bait...big brothers do NOT tell their kid brothers everything they do...Brace yourselves, Soda needs a little fun...

I ain't sure why I acted like I didn't wanna go out. Maybe I wanted it too much and that was making me kinda guilty. Everyone was tiptoeing round me, like maybe I should've been miserable still, over Sandy 'n all. But hell, it's been over two months, she ain't coming back and I should, what, live like a friggin' monk forever?

Ok, I was kinda knocked down when it happened. But, glory, with Pony missing I was all over the place anyway. I liked her. A lot. But now I'm thinkin' my pride got hurt more'n my heart, you dig?

But I still acted like it was all Steve's doing, like he was persuading me to get back out there. Truth was, if I hadn't hit Buck's that night, I'd likely have exploded.

I got into a fight last week with a guy over nothing, down at The Dingo. Well, more of a scuffle really, nothin' serious, but I was disappointed it didn't go further, I felt like a good fight woulda made me feel better. But he wasn't into it and Steve and Two-Bit pulled me away, so it never came to much. For a few seconds though, the buzz felt good.

I was losing a lotta sleep. I couldn't seem to get to sleep recently and then I had to keep getting up real early, before Pony was awake, because I was dreaming 'bout every girl I ever knew and plenty I didn't. It ain't real comfortable jacking off in a cold bathroom every morning, but I had to do something, because I was going crazy with how horny I was. Didn't even need to sneak one of Darry's Playboys.

Maybe Steve was feeling the same. He dumped Evie when I told him about Sandy. I told him he didn't have to, but he was spitting mad that she must've known, so there wasn't no way to talk him round.

Over two months. That was a long time for us not to have partied. His car was in pieces over at the DX, so we couldn't even get any races going. Not even for my birthday, which went past kinda quiet, what with the funerals so close 'n all.

We walked over to Buck's, Steve thinking he was doing a good thing by me, me desperate for any kind of action that was going.

It was the first time we'd been there since the week we lost them. It was hard, not looking for Dally inside. Some guy was sitting at the table Dal always used and I wanted to punch his lights out just for that, but I didn't wanna set Steve off, so I just stepped up to the bar.

Buck gave us the first ones free. Never said a word, but we knew why. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week. I downed it, and started into the next one, quick enough to make Steve look at me sideways.

I know Pony thinks I'm some kind of saint, but it's bull that I don't drink - I just don't usually need much, if there's other stuff going on to take my interest. Lately, though, sneaking one or two of Darry's beers has been getting me through late nights when I can't get to sleep. You can only watch your little brother sleeping for so long.

"Pool?" Steve jerked his head towards the back rooms. I nodded. Whatever. I just wanted to be doing something. I grabbed the bottle to take with me.

Better music was playing out back, not that Hank Williams crap, some Stones going, good and loud. I wasn't sorry to find there was a queue for the pool tables and I pulled Randle back to the other room. He ain't heavy into dancin' but it's the best way to pick up chicks.

We bumped into Angela Shepard in the doorway.

"I heard that Batman and Robin were back on the market..." She smirked at us.

"Piss off." Steve never did like her. He turned away from Angela, taking a swig from his beer. I saw him catch the eye of a girl across the room who smiled at him. Steve straightened up a little.

"And that," Angela said cattily, walking backwards away from us, "is why you should be a little nicer to me, Stevie, 'cause now I'm just gonna go tell my good friend, Becky..." She glanced in the direction of the girl who had smiled. "...that you have a nasty disease and she shouldn't go near you." She stalked off.

Steve swore under his breath but I was already lookin' around.

There were girls. There's always girls at Buck's. Some I knew, some I didn't. I walked right up to a gang of 'em and grinned at the prettiest brunette one. I'm off blondes. She wasn't as stacked as the one next to her, but she had legs goin' for miles and a real pretty face. She started babbling at me as we danced, something about remembering me from school. I had no idea who she was. She was a good dancer, up close and personal, you dig? I was still holding my beer, but one arm was enough to get round her while she was grinding and bumping up against me.

I looked around to see Steve being pulled onto the dance floor by the chick who'd smiled at him.

"Hello," she said cheekily. "Angela Shepard is such a fuckin' liar. I'm Becky."

"Uh, hi, I'm Steve," he said, like he was trying to work out what had just happened.

"Oh, cool. I figured Angel was lying about your name being Robin." She grinned.

"What?! Why do I get to be Robin? I'm Batman!"

The girl laughed. "Jeez, you're all nuts in this place! I thought it was just Angel. An' as I already said, I know she's a fuckin' liar."

"You are so not Batman," I interrupted, leaning towards them. "I am obviously Batman."

"Shut your trap," Steve growled, holding her closer as the music changed to a slower number.

"Hello, Batman." She smiled at me.

"Un, nah, I'm Sodapop really."

"Whatever." Becky shook her head in disbelief. "You're all nuts."

Lynn, that was the girl I was dancing with, asked for some of my beer. I smiled and took a sip myself. She took the bait and reached up to kiss me, swallowing the beer, but keeping the kiss going. I nearly laughed, thinking I'd have to let Two-Bit know that worked, I thought he was talking his usual brand of horseshit when he'd sworn chicks went for it.

She was heating up real good as I kissed her long and hard, I had my hand up the back of her shirt, right there on the dance floor. I tossed the empty bottle and got both arms round her, steering her up against the nearest wall, getting in a good bump that sent shivers up my spine. We were getting into it heavy.

I was so desperate that if she'd suggested doin' it there in front of everyone, I woulda gone for it. But she didn't. She suggested we went outside.

The air hit me like a slap. You never notice how hot it is inside somewhere like Buck's until you go outside again. Didn't take long to warm up again though, in the alley around in back. The music was kinda muffled and we could hear the swearing and noise from the pool room, through the window a ways along the wall. It was dark enough.

Lynn was tugging at my belt impatiently. I let her do it while I ran my hand up her leg, past her stocking top. She knew what she was doing, she was driving me crazy. I pulled back, glory that was near impossible to do, and yanked my wallet outta my pocket, finding a rubber with shaking fingers.

"Don't worry about it, we'll be careful." Lynn teased, breathing in my ear. I shook my head. I might say I'm dumb but I ain't stupid. I'd had five seconds of thinkin' about being a dad before I realised what Sandy was telling me, an' it was five seconds too long.

She was noisy and I wondered briefly if the guys playing pool could hear her, like we could hear them. Then it didn't matter, because all I could hear was the blood rushing round in my ears and the sound of my own panting. I was so ready for this, it was like I needed it more than breathing. I had to slap one hand on the wall to keep standing, my knees threatening to give way, my heart feeling like it would explode.

Sucking in gulps of air, I let her down and she adjusted her skirt. I dunno what happened to her underwear. I tossed the rubber in one of the nearby trash cans, trying to ignore what might already be on the floor of the alley, wiping my hands on my jeans. I was getting my breath back, leaning back on the wall and sorting out my fly when I heard her laugh, softly.

"That was the best ten dollars I ever earned." She smirked.

"What the...?!" I didn't, at least I hoped I didn't, understand her.

"Had a bet on since Junior High with my friend, Margie." She looked at me like I oughta know who that was. "The blonde one with the rack?" I must've still looked confused. She continued, "Over which of us could bang you first. Like I said, best ten dollars ever." She kissed me hard, bumping my teeth, but it was a goodbye kiss, like a finishing touch.

"Happy to oblige." I grinned. "What was second prize?"

"You were, babe." She winked at me, walking backwards. My mouth fell open. She smirked again. "We got real money on your big brother!"

I burst out laughing. "Darry?" And followed her.

"Sure," she said, pausing before pushing open the door. "He's in here sometimes. One of us is gonna get him one of these days..."

Well, the night's still young...anyone want to know what Soda gets up to next?

Anyone hate him kicking back like this? OOC? Opinions welcome...in fact, without them, I might just keep the rest of the night to myself ;)