Read.

Smile.

Review.

The usual.

-Jasmine

Sodapop Curtis wasn't sure what to make of what had just happened in his life. There just wasn't a simple way to say what had happened. Sodapop thought he knew his best friend. He was his best friend! But... this was just unfathomable. When Steve lost the bet he slapped Ponyboy and stormed out. Normally Soda would be mad about Steve hitting his little brother but he was so worried about Steve it was pushed back from his mind. Also, Pony still smiled after it happened, so he figured it wasn't that big of a deal. Sodapop was sure he went off to go get in a fight. Steve was just like that, he was a hot head! He couldn't just be calm about something like that! But... Sodapop was sure that when Steve would come into work the next day ready to kill someone... but this... this he would have never expected. Steve came into work the next day...

Smiling. (Yes, yes, you may all gasp in union! It's a wonder! STEVE RANDLE KNOWS HOW TO SMILE!)

Sodapop just didn't know what to do! Steve was happy! Why doesn't Darry just run down the street yelling, "I LOVE NINJA TOAST!" and Two-Bit better go and become a monk and Pony should just run off and punch a nun! THIS WAS ALL WRONG! Just wrong!

"What's going on, buddy?" Soda asked his friend once he found that he was able to look at the smiling Steve without his eye balls puking and then melting. (Which would make Sodapop Curtis just a bit unattractive. It's unbelievable but now I hear that girls don't dig guys that have melted eyes... crazy, I know.) Steve just smiled at him even more and told him,

"Nothing."

"Well, why are you so happy?" Sodapop prodded.

"I had a good night." he said, shrugging as if it was no big deal. Soda's eyes went wide.

"You get laid man? I thought you and Evie broke up." Steve laughed at this. It wasn't just ANY laugh, it was a HAPPY laugh. What was this? Happy laughing, smiling? Where was Steve Randle?

"No, man... just talked. It was fun." Sodapop raised an eyebrow at this.

"With who?" He inquired.

"May." Steve told him in a matter-o-fact voice.

May? Who the heck was May?"

"Who?" Soda asked him, shock clear in his expression.

"The girl from the football field, she lives in Johnny's old house." Steve explained.

"And you just talked?" Soda asked, still beyond confused. Steve nodded.

"She invited me in for drinks and we just talked. It was fun." Steve looked out and saw a car pull up. He waved and went over to go help them, leaving a very confused Sodapop Curtis.

What? Steve had fun, talking to a little girl? When he normally would be out beating some guy up? It was official.

Steve Randle had been abducted by aliens.

On the delightful morning where Tulsa Oklahoma was blessed with Steve Randle's smile, May Nightly did the weirdest thing. After breakfast she had a grape lollipop. Yes. Not cherry, grape.

GRAPE!

What was going on in this world?

Well, all of this craziness was caused by a simple chat between May and Steve. It was just... odd. What had happened that night? Well, why don't we have a dramatic flashback?

Steve Randle followed May into the house, not really sure what was going on. She lead him into the kitchen and took out two glasses. She grabbed some chocolate milk and poured it, she then added neon bendy straws. What is she, five? Steve seemed to ask himself for the eighth time that night.

"So, Steve," She said, sitting down on a stool and motioning for him to do so as well and he did, "How old are you?" Steve was taken aback by the question.

"20." He told her. She nodded.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, but it's really been on my mind...Usually when I talk to people I can get a picture in my mind of what they look like, even if it's wrong. Though, you... you keep changing on me. At first I though you were a big, strong, bald guy, with a lot of scars. Though after I heard you're laugh I though we were slimmer with crazy blonde hair. I just... I don't know what to think. What do you look like?" She asked. Steve laughed. Bald? With a lot of scars? Not even close.

"Well, I'm not bald." Steve grumbled. May giggled at that.

"Wait, don't tell me, just act natural. I WILL figure would what you look like!" Steve smiled and found himself laughing, all thoughts of the annoying Ponyboy were gone. May reached into a glass bowl on the counter and grabbed a cherry lollipop.

"Don't you get sick of those?" Steve asked suddenly and May stopped to scrunch her eyebrows together. Even though Steve knew she couldn't see him, he felt like she was giving him a questioning look.

"Why would I? Cherry is my favorite!" May laughed. Steve looked at the bowl in silence.

"You should put more than one flavor in there. Then it would be a surprise, because you can't see which flavor you picked. But... only two options." Steve had no idea why he had said it, it wasn't something he said.

"Like what?" May asked. Steve shrugged, but then realized she couldn't see him and suggested,

"I don't know... grape?" May smiled.

"OKAY! Grape!" She laughed and pulled Steve up and out the door.

"Where are we going?" He asked her as he was pulled out the door.

"The store to get grape lollipops. But you have to lead the way, I don't know where it is." May explained, dropping her hand down into his. Steve smiled, her hand was warm.. They both left to get some grape lollipops and maybe some bendy straws...

May smiled at the memory. It had been a good night, and now every time she thought of grape lollipops all she could think of was Steve. He was great company and a great friend. He even told her to come and visit him anytime at the DX where he worked. Maggie was busy rushing around the house getting ready for work but stopped suddenly when May spoke to her.

"Maggie, will you drop me off at the DX on your way to the shop? I want to meet up with a friend. Don't worry, I wont leave there. If I do, I'll get someone to show me home." Maggie bit her nails.

"I don't know..." She told her little sister. May pouted and battered her eyes.

"Pweeese?" She asked. Maggie broke, not being able to resist her little sister.

"Okay, fine." May smiled and took another lollipop.

It was grape.