Disclaimer: I do not, and never will, own The Outsiders

---------------------------------------------------------------------

9. Hey Jealousy

---------------------------------------------------------------------

She stepped out of the diner and into the sunlight. She winced as her headache got worse. She reached into her pocket and pulled out some dark sunglasses. She felt better the second she slipped them over her eyes.

"Who gave you hangover?"

She closed her eyes and slid down the wall to sit next to him.

"None ya."

"Oh Mr. Business, I know him well."

She smiled.

"If that amuses you this should make you become hysterical."

She opened her eyes to see what he was referring to and noticed his hair was a bright purple.

Her hands covered her mouth as she tried to keep herself from laughing.

"Its… purple."

"I know right, but I kind of like it." He ruffled his hair proudly.

"I assume you didn't do this to yourself no matter how much you like it."

"You assume correctly."

"Then who…"

"Nice hair Two-Bit!"

"I didn't think you could look any worse, but here I stand proven wrong."

"Steve did you do this?"

He turned his attention to Sam.

"What if I did?"

She smiled, "Then I'd thank you."

He looked surprised for a second. "Why would you…"

"Because I like it." she reached out and ruffled the bright purple hair sitting next to hair. She left her hand sitting on Two-Bit's head as Steve turned and left.

"Why'd you do that?"

She faced Two-Bit but he couldn't see her eyes behind the dark glasses.

"Say I liked your hair?" She asked. "I think it suits you."

"Not that."

She stood up and he followed in suit. She brushed off her jeans and started walking down the street in the familiar direction of the Curtis house.

Two-Bit was still standing there against the wall waiting.

Sam turned around and sighed.

"I did it because I might as well give him a reason to be jealous."

She turned around again acting as if she hadn't said anything and kept going. This time Two-Bit followed her.

"Besides," She said matter-of-factly, "You look cute when you blush."

---------------------------------------------------------------------

"So Pony what do you have to report back to me?"

"I don't think this is such a good idea…"

"Have you seen them together?"

"Yeah, but--"

"Then how can you say this is a bad idea?"

Pony sighed. How did you explain a gut feeling that something like this would end up horribly wrong? Especially when he seemed so sure it would work.

Dallas put a hand on Pony's shoulder.

"Pony would I ever do anything that was sure would backfire?"

Pony thought about the numerous times he'd done just that.

"Yes," he mumbled.

"What was that?"

Pony took a step away from Dal and rethought his approach.

"Listen Dal I know you're bored, but come on, that's so… unlike you."

"So what? Don't tell me you don't think they're alike."

Pony shrugged, "Yes they're scary similar, but what's your point?"

"That is the point, I've got nothing to do so I've been thinking. He's the only guy she never hurt for hitting on her."

"He's got a point there Johnny."

Johnny just shook his head, like he was trying to convince himself that it wouldn't work.

He gave in though, in the end.

"Come on Johnny-cakes, humor me."

"Fine, we're in."

"But are they in?"

Pony nodded.

"Yes Dal, they laughed so hard they cried but they said they'd do it."

"Good, that's real good."

"So what's step one of your demented little plan?"

Dallas rubbed his hands together evilly as he thought about it.

"Pony step one is already begun."

He stopped his evil hand gestures for a second and turned back to the two boys.

"So Pony, tell me what you found out."

Pony sighed, but told Dal everything he knew.

Knowing it would all come back to bite someone in the ass eventually.