Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders


Chapter 9: A Night to Remember

I jogged up to the house, a little surprised to see Steve's mom's car in front.

I was under the impression that we'd be home alone, but we could always just go out if Mrs. Randle really was home. And she was. She was the one who opened the door, smile on her tired face. "Hey, Jill."

"Hi," I said, walking inside.

"What're you doin' here?"

"Oh, I just..." I shrugged, taking the small second to come up with something. "Steve said he would give me a ride to the DX while he was on his way there."

"He works today?" She asked, closing the door to the house.

No.

I shrugged. "I think so." I looked around the place. "Where is he, anyway?"

Mrs. Randle laughed quietly. "Probably gettin' dressed."

My brows furrowed. "Huh?"

She looked down the hall before grabbing my arms and whispering, "Evie was just over."

Evie, Steve's ex-girlrfiend. They had dated for about eight months a year or two ago. Steve said they broke up because she was too much for her - which basically means she was a little needy and maybe a little pushy.

"Oh."

Mrs. Randle smiled. "I know. I don't see her around her for a year and then she comes here and they go straight for his room," she said, smirking as she walked to the kitchen. "I think they might be gettin' back together."

I stuffed my hands in my pockets and rocked on my feet. "Nice."

Footsteps came down the hall and Steve grabbed his jacket off the couch. "You're early, kid."

"Yeah, well..." I said, opening the door and starting to walkout, not even wanting to look at him.

"Sorry 'bout that," Steve said, walking up beside me, fixing the collar of his jacket. "My mom just got home. I thought she'd be working."

"It's fine."

"Hey -" He stepped in front of me. "You alright?"

I nodded, walking around him and getting inside of his truck just as he did the same. "I'm fine."

Steve started his truck, throwing his arm over to backseat and looking at me. "Why are you all the way over there?"

I sighed, turning to look at him. "Is there something you wanna say to me?"

Steve's arm fell off the back, putting his hands on the wheel and turning onto the road. "No." He glanced at me, seeming a little on edge. "Should I?"

"Was Evie just at your house?"

I watched Steve's face drop almost sadly. He closed his eyes for a second and sighed, like he was going to fall asleep. "Yeah, she was," he said, glancing at me. "But it wasn't what you think."

"What happened?" I asked, not getting angry. I would stay calm.

"She just wanted to talk."

"About what?"

"Nothin'."

"Well, what'd she say?"

"Why are you askin' so many questions?"

"Why aren't you answering them?" The anger seeped through that time.

I didn't want to be pushy or angry or annoying, but my ego was a little bruised and I couldn't help but let the anger take over for a couple of long seconds.

Steve scoffed. "It's none of your business."

I scoffed also. "So if I was talkin' to Peter, I wouldn't tell you because it's none of your business."

"That's different!"

"How?"

We were starting to yell.

"Evie wanted to talk about us - us getting together - getting back together!"

"What'd you say?" I yelled at him, noticing the moments hesitation and cutting him off before he could answer. "Oh, my god," I groaned, moving as far away from him as I could.

"What?"

I looked at him, quieted. "Do you still love her?"

Again. Hesitation. And then Steve said, without looking at me, "I'm not in love with her."

"But you still love her," I finished what I assumed his train of thought was.

Steve shook his head. "Nothing I say is gonna be right."

I sighed, rubbing my face, willing myself not to cry like a pansy. "I don't want this."

"Want what?" Steve asked, tone changing.

"I don't want to be with someone who wants someone else."

Steve's brows furrowed, turning angry. "I never said I wanted Evie. Jill, I - look, I don't know how I feel, alright?"

"Until, you do, maybe we should take a break or somethin'."

"What're you, nuts?" Steve said, voice rising for the second time. "We see each other everyday."

I groaned loudly, rolling my eyes. "Then just don't talk to me!" I looked out the window. "Let me out."

"What the hell -"

"Let me out!" Steve swerved over to the side of the road and I jumped out of the truck, stuffing my hands in my pockets and walking away.

"Jill, let me take you home!"

"No!" I yelled back to him.

The door slammed and Steve's footsteps followed behind me quickly. "I knew this would happen, going out with someone like you." He grabbed my arm, tugging me toward the truck. "Let's go."

I ripped my arm away. "Someone like me? Because I'm sixteen? 'Cause I'm Soda's little sister? What is it?"

"Just forget about it."

"Fine!" I said, turning and walking as fast as I could away from him.

"Fine!" Steve yelled back stubbornly.

I glanced over my shoulder to see Steve peel off before I leaned against the nearest building, quickly wiping the fast-falling tears off my cheeks. I sighed, letting every word I missed in the argument off my chest.

I love you. I'm sorry. It's stupid. I trust you.

I slid down the wall and my behind touched the cold ground. I ran both my hands through the hair and tugged at the strands, mad at myself for everything I had just caused.

I was being stupid. But so was Steve. Yet, I loved him anyway.

And he didn't even know.


"Enjoy." I sighed heavily after I walked away, leaning against the counter.

"Pick up the pace, Jill," Earl said to me.

I looked up at him, just trying to keep my eyes open. "Okay."

"You got a new one."

I walked across the diner, getting a weird feeling as I stared at the back of the guy's head.

His hair was greased back messily and he was sitting in a big booth all alone.

I walked up to him, pulling out my notepad. "What can I get for you?"

"Jill?"

I stopped staring at my notepad and looked at the man, who was handsome - devilishly so, which was how I only had ever thought of one person before. "Dally."

He smirked at little, looking me up and down. "Nice outfit, kid."

I laughed, twirling around. "Thanks." I put my notepad down and I leaned against the table. "When did you get back from New York?"

He shrugged. "A couple hours ago."

I nodded. "How was it?"

"It was New York."

I decided not to push Dally, considering that was never a good idea. "You were gone for a long time," I pointed out.

"Yeah, I was."

"You back for good?"

"We'll see."

I smiled, glad to see that he was back. "You should come by the house. Everyone will be happy to see you."

"You think so, J?"

I touched his shoulder, something I hadn't done in literally years. "Yeah."

He glanced down at my hand, subtly shaking me off. "So, uh, what's been goin' on around here? How's Soda and what's her face?"

"Sandy moved," I told him, informing him on all the old news most of us had forgotten about. "He's going out with someone named Camille now."

"Steve still going with that bitch?"

I smiled widely, shaking my head. "No."

He smirked at me. "I thought you'd hit me for sayin' that."

My smile disappeared, being replaced with a sigh. "Yeah, well, a lot has changed with Steve...and...me."

His eyebrows rose. "You two together?"

I nodded, but then quickly shook my head. "We were, but - we're kind of on a break right now." I shook my head again, rolling my eyes. "It's hard to explain. It's just a lot with Soda not knowing and Evie and -"

Dally nodded, picking up his menu. "Maybe I will drop by."

I stopped my rambling and nodded, picking up my notepad. "What can I get ya, Dally?"

If Dally ever did actually go to the house, I didn't know, but I assumed he didn't because I didn't see him after that.

After work that day, I went straight to Stacy's after, and I did that pretty much everyday.

I went to school, work after that, Stacy's after that. Pony sometimes went out with Curly and said that I was tagging along so Darry wouldn't get so mad about me going out every night. But he did get mad occasionally, telling me that "Stacy's not a good influence", which was very true. Soda would argue with him and tell him that I was just a teenager who needs to hangout with her friends.

Soda being such a good brother only made me feel more guilty about the whole Steve-thing, if there was anything to feel guilty about anymore.

Steve and I didn't talk. We didn't look at each other. I mean, we barely saw each other because I would go out as much as I could and I was sure Steve did the same. But he was still around the house at some points.

We didn't argue. We didn't act civl, either. We didn't fight, but we didn't even talk.

It felt like a part of my life was missing, and not even because we were together, just because Steve had been a part of everyday of my life for such a long time that not talking to him made me feel like I had something to do. It was like forgetting to brush me teeth, or brush my hair, or get dressed, but it was every single day.

And before I knew it, it had been a full week - a very long week and I was walking around Tulsa with Stacy, not knowing exactly where we were, but knowing that it was a Friday night and everyone from school was running around time, smoking and drinking and having fun.

"Where are we even goin'?" I asked.

Stacy, arm linked threw mine, tugged me forward. "We are going to get some hot meat to buy us some drinks."

I glanced at her. "And how do you propose we do that?"

"Bucks."

I stopped walking, eyes wide. "Stacy!"

She laughed loudly at my face. "What?"

"Darry will kill me if he heard I was in there," I said frantically, fully prepared to walk all the way back to Stacy's house.

"Darry won't find out," she said surely. "No one will even recognize you once you change."

"Change?" My eyebrows rose, not happy about the situation.

Stacy pulled the tiniest shirt I had ever seen out of her small purse. "I brought you a shirt so that we can actually get in the bar." She looked down at her back, rummaging through it. "And some makeup so that can actually get some free drinks."

"I'm not goin', Stace," I told her.

She gave me a look. "I'm just trying to help heal you."

"I can heal at your house, watching a movie," I whined.

She walked over to me, her heels clicking, and she linked our arms again. "Let me do this for you, Jill. Let me show you my world."

I sighed, shaking my head. "I'm going to regret this."

"Yes!"

And I was going to regret it. I was already regretting it when I was standing by the bar with a tiny shirt on and Stacy was flirting and dancing with a tall blonde. I was just standing there awkwardly, an empty beer in my hand.

I was not having the best time, and it was about to get worse.

"Well, well, well..." That voice made me want to roll my eyes into the back of my head. "If it isn't Jillian Curtis."

"Calvin," I said politely, nodding his way. "How are you?"

"Great now that I see you're here."

I just laughed, gesturing over my shoulder. "Stacy's over there."

"I'm not here for Stacy."

"I know." I nodded, looking at him leaning on the counter. "Stacy told me about your hit and ditch."

"She takes things too personally."

I narrowed my eyes and tried not to say anything too rude. "Is this the part where you try and convince me that you're not a complete meathead?"

Calvin started to smile and I couldn't help but to think he was gorgeous. "Let me buy you a drink."

I sighed, shaking my head. "No."

Calvin slammed his fist against the counter anyway. "A drink for this little fox over here."

I put my head down, hiding my drunk smile. "Thanks."

Calvin pushed the beer toward me, stepping closer as he did. "You're welcome, baby."

I smiled at him, loving his face so close to mine. "Thank you, Steve."

He looked up at me, starting to smile as well. "You're welcome, baby."

"Jill?"

"Huh?"

He laughed, waving his hand in front of me. "You alright?"

I nodded quickly, regretting the decision as I started to feel sick. "Uh-huh."

"Hey, you wanna dance?"

"No, I -"

Calvin grabbed my hand, pulling me into the area where people were dancing - kind of. They were kind of dancing. Everyone was mostly stumbling around or grinding on each other, or just swaying as they made out.

"Uh, I think we should -"

I didn't even have a chance to think about what we should do because Calvin pulled me to him, wrapping his arm around me tightly. "What'd you say?"

I just shut my mouth tightly, holding it anything that might come out - words or vomit. It could've been either at that point. I was swaying along with him, arms around his neck for support as my feet tangled in his. "Oh," I said, alarmed that I was going to fall.

"I got ya," Calvin told me as if it was supposed to comfort me, and his hand travelled down to my ass.

I just groaned, closing my eyes as my body went numb for a split second.

Calvin's wet and eager lips came onto mine, moving slowly and sensually. For a split second, it reminded me of Steve and I kissed him back, tightening my arms around his neck for more support.

"Oh, god," I breathed out, moving my face away from his, focusing on not puking. I opened my eyes, scanning the wall furthest away, seeing the absolute last person I wanted to see.

Steve was leaning against the wall in a tight shirt, laughing and looking handsome. He ran a hand through his greased hair and then punched someone's shoulder, his muscles in that arm bulging. He leaned back against the wall, tipping the beer bottle in his hand to his lips, eyes leaving his space and travelling to mine.

Oh, shit.

Steve and I looked at each other and Steve seemed genuinely shocked to see me, and I could imagine that it would be weird to see your kind-of-at-the-moment-not-girlfriend receiving a hickey from some guy.

His eyes were wide and his mouth was open when the beer bottle slipped from his hands and he looked down when it smashed against the ground.

Then appeared a new body, touching Steve's shoulder and seeming to ask if he was okay. The guy followed Steve's eyes to me and I regretted every single thing I had done in the last hour the moment Soda saw me.

I looked away from them, pushing Calvin off of me and handing him my beer bottle.

"Jill, what -"

I turned around, walking toward the door quickly. I ran out the door and into the night air, thankful for the briskness. I breathed in and out deeply, gathering my hair in my hands and holding it up and away from my sweaty neck.

The door to Buck's slammed and an all too familiar voice said, "What the hell are you doin' here?"

I turned toward Steve, who had Soda close behind. "I don't know." I went to go for him, hitting my feet against each other clumsily and stumbling.

Soda swooped in like the hero he was, catching me in his arms. "You're drunk."

"I am not," I said surely, standing up and not looking at Steve, only Soda. "I just...I don't..."

"Well, spit it out!" Steve yelled, making me look at his angry face. "What the living hell were you doin' in there? And with that asshole?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "I'm surprised I didn't see Evie in there with you!"

Steve's face was tight and angry and he looked like he was about to explode. "I didn't make out with Evie!"

"Yeah, because you only love her!"

"I don't love her!"

"Bullshit!"

Soda stepped in between us. "What the hell is goin' with you two lately?" He looked at Steve, who shook his head and pointed to me.

I opened my mouth to answer and it was not words that came out.

Soda ran for me, holding back my hair as I was bent over and puking. "Jesus, Jilly."

I stopped, wiping my mouth, using Stacy's shirt.

This was all her fault anyway.

"Why were you in there?" Steve asked, still sounding angry.

Soda gave him an incredulous look. "Dude, give her a second, alright? What's up with you?"

I stood straight too fast, waving my finger at Steve. "Stacy took me out, alright? And I was having a good time."

"Yeah, I could see that," Steve bit out in a very harsh tone.

"Calvin's a nice guy," I defended.

Steve's jaw turned. "We'll see how nice it is when my fist is in his face."

I pointed at him. "Hey, we're not together right now."

"What?" Soda said loudly, though it was like neither of us heard him.

"You don't go around makin' out with guys, Jill! Not when we -"

"We what?" I screamed so loudly my throat was starting to burn - or maybe that was from puking. "Not when we're together? You don't even like me!"

That was when Steve seemed to lose it. "What the hell are you talkin' about? Jill, I love you!"

I stopped yelling, my tense shoulders dropping. "You do?"

Steve sighed, looking me in the eyes and somehow he seemed too far away. "Yeah."

Before I could even get close to him, Soda's body rammed into Steve's, knocking him to the ground. Soda punched him twice before Steve got him in a hold where neither of them were moving from their positions.

"You got with my sister?" Soda asked angrily, pulling at Steve's arm.

"I'm sorry, man," Steve breathed out, struggling to contain his best friend. "I just -"

"Guys," I said slowly, the black from the outside of my eyes, taking over. I definitely had my eyes open, but I couldn't see anything. I felt my hands touched the dirt and then my head bounce off the ground before I didn't feel anything.