Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders…

Off Key

Chapter 1- Dateless at the Dingo

The Dingo was packed full that night since it was a Friday. Steve, Sodapop, and Two-Bit were eating out together since all of them were dateless that night. Evie was grounded for getting caught with Steve in her bedroom and Sandy was out of town visiting her older sister. Two-Bit would probably end up in bed with some blonde by the end of the night, but at the moment he was just hanging out with his buddies and bragging about certain happenings at school…

"A musical?" Steve sneered. "They're asking you to be in the school musical? Have they heard you sing?"

Two-Bit nodded proudly. "Yep. Mrs. Layne thinks I'm so good at actin' and singin', I don't even have to try out. She thinks being in this play'll help my grades or something like that. Get me more involved in school shit. I figure I'll have a ball!"

Sodapop laughed. "So what's the musical, Two-Bit?"

"Uh… not quite sure. I was checkin out this new chick while Layne was explaining the whole thing. Must've not been listening," he said with a goofy grin on his face.

Steve rolled his eyes at that. He was pretty irritable that night, probably because Evie wasn't allowed to go out with him for another week.

"Maybe Ponyboy will know something about it. I heard him talking about it to Jessie the other day. I think Pony's trying out for the play to get extra credit or something like that." said Sodapop, glancing over at the table next to theirs. Some Socs were throwing the three Greasers dirty looks. It wouldn't be too long before they started something.

Steve took a gulp of his Pepsi and stood up. "Let's beat it. This place is gettin' too crowded."

Sodapop sighed and signaled to a nearby waitress to bring their bill. Steve was really upset about not being able to see Evie and was taking it out on his friends. Two-Bit didn't really seem to notice, but it was starting to get on Sodapop's nerves. Sometimes he wished that Steve could be more laid back and just take life as it came to him. But he knew that wouldn't happen. Ever since Johnny's funeral, Steve had been a lot more distant with Sodapop. Sodapop felt as if Steve no longer told him everything like he used to. It almost felt as if they weren't best friends any more...

"What's up your ass, Stevie? Jealous of my leading role in the play?" Two-Bit taunted Steve.

Steve clenched his jaw in annoyance of his hated nickname given to him by Two-Bit. "Just shut the hell up Two-Bit. For once in your life." Without even glancing at Sodapop or saying goodbye, he grabbed his leather jacket and cooly walked out into the numbing night. Sodapop stared after him in disbelief, almost unaware of what had just happened. Somehow, he knew that Steve's outburst wasn't just about his annoyance with Two-Bit. It was about something bigger, something that Steve was telling him.

"Sir? Are you ready to pay?" asked the blonde waitress. Two-Bit was already eyeing her hungrily. Sodapop jolted back into reality.

"Uh... yeah." he fished a few wadded up dollar bills from his pocket and handed them to the waitress. She didn't leave, just stood there, looking expectantly at Soda. Two-Bit was staring at him too, but Soda didn't notice. He was too busy thinking about what was going on with Steve.

Two-Bit shrugged at the waitress. "I gotcha covered, baby." he said, handing her some more money that she pocketed immediately. Two-Bit smiled wolfishly at her. "What time do you get off, dollface?"

She smiled back, no longer paying any attention to Soda. "Ten minutes. Why? What did you have in mind?"

"Meet you out back in ten minutes. Then you'll see what I had in mind." he said, cocking an eyebrow at her. She blushed and quickly went cleared away our plates, then rushed away back into the kitchen. Two-Bit stared after her awhile before turning back to Sodapop. "Why didn't you tip her, man? That was the last of my money." Sodapop looked at him with such a despairing look on his face that Two-Bit decided to lay off. It was only a few bucks. "Nevermind, Soda... so you going home? Seems like Steve-o isn't in any mood to party."

"Yeah, I'll probly head home. I think Pony took Jessie out tonight to the movies so it'll just be me and Darry at home."

Two-Bit shook his head. "Those two sure are a pair, aren't they?" he laughed. "Fore you know it, you and me'll be related."

Sodapop laughed and rolled his eyes. He could always count on Two-Bit to cheer him up at least a little.

"I hear wedding bells chiming! Best be saving up for a tux, Soda. You'll need one for the big day!"

Soda shook his head. "Aw, cut it out Two-Bit. If Pony could hear you now he'd turn redder than a tomato!"

Two-Bit laughed. "Yeah, the kid sure does get embarrassed whenever I mention Jess. But you shoud hear Jessie at home. She talks about Pony all the time! I'm on the couch in the morning trying to sleep off a hangover and she comes skipping in begging me to take her to your house." he laughed again. "Never knew she liked him so much."

Soda nodded and stood up. "Well I'll see you later, Two-Bit. I'm gonna head home... And Two-Bit..."

"Yeah buddy?"

"Could you maybe lay off Steve a little? He took Johnny's death real hard and is having a rough time. He don't need you throwing your wisecracks at him every minute of the day. Savvy?" Soda asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Two-Bit surveyed Soda before saying, "Sure buddy. I don't mean to be so hard on him. It's just me... You know how I am..."

Soda nodded, relieved. "Yeah, Two-Bit... I'll see ya later. Have a good night."

"Yeah, you too."

Soda left the diner, leaving Two-Bit at the table waiting for the blonde waitress to get off work. He didn't have a ride without Steve so he was just gonna have to walk...

"Where do you think you're going?" a voice asked to the left of Soda. Soda jumped at the voice but relief washed over him when he saw who it was.

"Steve... I thought you left already."

Steve was leaning against a red mustang and was smoking a cigarette. He threw his cigarette on the sidewalk and ground it into the concrete with the heel of hit boot. "No. Someone stole my car so I figured I'd just wait out here for you... Where's the smart ass?"

Soda smiled. "He's still inside. He's already got a date lined up for tonight."

Steve raised an eyebrow. "The waitress?"

Soda nodded and started walking again in the direction of his house. Steve walked next to him in silence. After a few minutes of walking, Steve said, "I'm sorry for losing it back there, Soda. Two-Bit was just bothering the hell out of me and..." he paused. "Sometimes I just can't take it, you know?"

Soda nodded. "Yeah I know. But you're my best friend Steve. If something's bothering you, just tell me..."

Steve sighed. They were outside the gate of the Curtis's house now. "I guess I just hate how unfair everything is... I mean, Johnny didn't deserve what he got... Anyways, thanks for being such a good buddy, Soda. Thanks for sticking with me."

Sodapop smiled. "No problem... Stevie!"

"Oh, you're dead for that!" Steve yelled, smiling the whole time. He made a grab for Soda, but Soda was already bounding up to the house, laughing his head off. Steve smiled and ran after him. He loved these times when everything seemed back to normal and he could just hang out with his best friend. Sure, his car was stolen, but he would find it tomorrow and have a grand old time beating the shit out of whoever stole it. And Sodapop would be beside him the whole time. His best friend.

A/N: I really hope that you all like this story. It's my second fan fic. I'll still continue writing my other story, Kitten, so please read that one too! This story is probably gonna mainly be about Steve and Soda, although I'm not quite sure yet. I'm really just coming up with ideas as I write this, so I'm not really sure what's gonna happen yet. Can you imagine how great Two-Bit's gonna be in the school musical?? I'm sure it'll be a hit. Well, as always, please read and review.