Author's Note: Alright here's my new story as promised. I finally finished the first chapter after editing it some. The story is inspired by the song "Travelin' Soilder" by The Dixie Chicks.

Karlieness: If you don't review after bugging me to get this chapter up I'm gonna be extremely mad at you. lol

Dreamer 3097: Thanks for the input as to what kinda story this should be.

Anywho hope y'all enjoy.

Chapter 1

I was glad that my shift was almost over because today had been a busy day. I took a sip of a Cherry Cola that I had gotten myself while I waited for my next order to come up. There wasn't a ton of people in here but enough to keep me moving. I heard the bell that's on the door, you know the one that signals when someone comes in, rang so I knew I had another customer to wait on.

"Order" Tony, the chef, called to me. I took one last sip of my soda before grabbing the plates. I walked over to the table and gave them their food along with their bill. Then I walked over to the guy who just walked in. He had an army uniform on and didn't look too happy. He looked almost scared it reminded me of Johnny for a second. The look he always had in his eyes. I quickly shook the thought away. Even after two year the thought of Johnny makes me teary eyed. I pulled a smile to my face as I approached the table. This guy looked kinda familiar then it dawned on me this guy has come in here a few times in the last week. He didn't come everyday but the reason I remember him I cause I hadn't seen him around here before. I think he just moved here.

"Hi I'm Daisy, can I take your order" I said; he almost hesitated to answer.

"Yeah, um… a burger and fries and a cherry coke" he said I wrote down his order and went to give it to Tony, the chef, when he spoke up.

"Excuse me" he said and I turned around

"Yeah" I said still smiling even though his big brown eyes reminded me so much of Johnny I wanted to scream. I miss Johnny so much.

"Look I know you're busy but would you mind sittin' down for a while and talkin' to me. I'm feelin' a little low" he said. I was a little shocked that he'd ask me that. Guys around here don't normally show any feelings, let alone talk about them. The only people I know who'd talk about their feelings were my friends Ponyboy and Johnny, and I've already said that Johnny died two years ago. Sometimes Sodapop, Pony's brother, would talk about how he felt but he's always so happy. I don't even think I could get my own brother to open up to me.

"I'm off in about an hour and I know a place where we can go" I said and he slightly grinned. I went and turned in the order.

The next hour was filled with order taking, table bussing, drink refilling, and cleaning up messes. After Army man, who's name I did not learn, came in a rush of people did. Luckily I was saved by Staci who showed up just in time. Finally my shift was over and I went and grabbed my jacket. It was June but it was a little chilly from the rain earlier. I met Army man at the front door and we started walking and talking. We were headed for the park. I go to the park a lot just to think or relax. I used to go to the lot but after Johnny died I couldn't bring myself to go there anymore. The lot was more a home to Johnny then his parents house. He slept there when he didn't go home or to the Curtis' house.

Army man, who's name I learned is Daniel but likes to be called Danny, was beating around the bush. I could tell he wanted to say something but hasn't said it yet. We finally got to the park and sat down under one of the big trees. I stayed far away from the fountain and that area where everything went down. I couldn't imagine what it would be like if Pony wasn't here. I don't think I could take not having three friends gone.

"So you're in the army" I said. Of all the thing we had been talking about that hadn't come up.

"Yeah" he said suddenly very serious. The scared look returned to his eyes. Again I thought of Johnny. I wanted to tell him to stop looking like that but I couldn't. "I got drafted." I don't remember what he said after that but immediately my thought rushed to Soda. Sodapop had been drafted and has been in Vietnam for a week. What is it with this guy and making me worry so much.

"Daisy?" he said snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Sorry" I said "It's just I have a friend who got drafted and he was sent off a week ago."

He nodded "Daisy I gotta ask you something" he said I started to say something but he stopped me "I know you probably got a boyfriend but I don't care I don't have anyone to send a letter to. Would you mind if I sent one back here to you?"

I smiled at that. Nobody's ever asked me anything like that before, and from what he told me nobody really cares that he's going over there. "Sure" I said. He let out a sigh of relief and I gave him my address. We got up and started walking back to where he needed to catch a bus to where ever he was headed. I think that he said he was from California and was staying here with some estranged cousin who he barely knew until he found a place and his old room mate called him and said he got a draft notice. He figured everything out and reported to one of the bases here and is now going back to California and is most likely going to be shipped out as soon as he gets there.

"Well this is my stop" he said once we arrived at the bus station.

"I guess so" I said not really wanting him to go. Even though I've only known him for about two and a half hours I still didn't want to see him go. And I really didn't want him to be shipped of to Vietnam.

"I'll write you as soon as I get there" he said with a small smile. I returned the smile.

"Be careful out there" I said

"I will" he said and kissed me on the cheek.

"Good bye Daisy Randle" he said and climbed on the bus. I smiled and watched as the bus pulled off. After it was gone I turned to walk home. I walked home silently thinking about what happened today. I felt like I've know Danny as long as I've know Pony and Soda, but in reality I've known him not but a few hours. I just hope he doesn't try anything stupid and get hurt. Thinkin about all of this made me miss Soda even more. Soda may be my brother's best friend but he's one of my closest friends too. Finally I got home. I walked in the door and could smell alcohol in the air, which meant my father had been drinking. I hoped he was passed out or gone cause I don't like dealing with him when he's drunk. He doesn't hit me but loves to yell and argue and I don't like to deal with it. I went up to my room and grabbed some clothes. I grabbed a yellow sun dress and a yellow bow to put in my hair. When I was little my mother used to put a bow in my hair and I guess I just never out grew it cause I'm 17 and still put a bow in my hair. I took a quick shower and dried my hair putting the bow in it and slipping in to my dress. Most girls dress in real low cut skirts or jeans around here. I wear skirt that aren't real short but aren't down to my knees, and dresses half the time. The other half I wear jeans and a T-shirt, a nicer one though. I guess I don't like wearing 'greaser' clothes. I was spoiled by my mother when I was little. She would always dress me in dresses and nicer clothes (not like madras or anything but not jeans and a T-shirt either). She wanted me to be a girly girl to say the least. She loved having a boy and a girl. She loved having a girl to dress up and a son that she could watch play football or who would play in the mud.

I pulled on some flip flop and headed out the door. Steve wasn't off of work yet so I headed up to the DX where he works. Soda used to work there too up until he got drafted. Now they're one person short. I was thinking about going to work there instead of at the diner. Soda worked behind the counter, I could do that plus the guys come up there all of the time. When Soda and Steve both worked there they attracted so much business. The boss man loved it. Soda looks like a movie star and Steve's not that bad looking either. I dunno though it was just a thought.

"Hey Stevie what's happening" I said as I walked into the garage where he was workin' on a car. He rolled out from under it to see who was talking to him.

"Hey Daisy what are you doin' here?" he asked

"What a girl can't come see her big brother at work." I said acting like I was offended. He just looked at me. "I just came to see what was up 'round here" I said he went back to working on the car.

"When do you get off?" I asked. He started working full time here once he graduated. I only work part time at the diner and it's just a summer job. I'll quite once school starts. I got off at four today and it was almost six now which is normally when Steve gets off.

"Six" he said just as I expected him to

"Well it's almost six now" I said

"Good that means I can get outta here soon" he said sliding out from under the car and standing up. We walked inside and grabbed a coke. He must have had a rough day. No sooner than we walked inside than did a car pull up meaning Steve had to go pump gas. I waited inside. It was a bunch of socs that pulled up and were probably stirring up trouble. I just sat at the stool behind the counter and sipped on my cola. I wondered if we were going to the Curtis' house after Steve got out of work. I was snapped out of my thoughts by someone shouting at me.

"Hello!" they said and I looked at the guy

"Yeah?" I said looking at him

"A pack of Kools" he said and I looked at him "Cigarettes" he said then it dawned on me that he thought I worked there. I was about to go get Steve but he was busy outside so I figured I could handle it. I rang up the cigarettes and gave the angry hood his cigarettes and he stalked out of the store just as Steve walked back in.

"Who was that?" he asked

"Some hood who needed his nicotine fix" I said "I handled it for you"

"Thanks" he said "Come on it's six lets get out of here"

"Right behind ya" I said and we walked out of the station and down the street towards the Curtis' for dinner.

A/N: Sorry Soda fans don't be mad at me that Soda's been drafted. I would have had Steve go too but then I wouldn't really have enough character to work with. So please don't be mad at me. I promise Soda will be in the story. Anywho so tell me what y'all think of this story, reviews are greatly apperciated (especially long ones!) .