Author's Notes: Just a quick one this time! In case you all didn't notice, I DID change my penname from PinkPenguin87 to Eva Destruction...I was just ready for a change. Anyway, its still me! Now, go read the next chapter, I'm quite proud of it!

You may push me around
But you cannot win
You may throw me down
But I'll rise again
-The Offspring

The day that changed Steve's life yet again began as any other Saturday. He rolled out of bed when his alarm clock sounded and stumbled across the messy floor to his closet. He didn't understand how his room got so messy, since he spent so little time in it. In fact, the night before had been the first night he'd spent in his own house in over a week. The previous Thursday, he and his old man had gotten into it pretty bad and he'd taken off and spent the week bouncing around between Soda's, AJ's, and Two-Bit's places.

He'd only come home the night before to get some more clothes, as he'd been tired of borrowing Soda's stuff. He was surprised to find his Dad sober, sitting in his favorite recliner.

"Hey, Stevie." He'd said, looking up from the paperback Western he was reading.

"Hi." Steve had muttered back, anxious to get his stuff and get back out again, but before he could even make to the front of the hallway, his dad had stopped him.

"You been stayin' at Sodapop's?" He asked. Steve shrugged and nodded.

"Yeah, mostly. Ms. Nora let me sleep a few nights on their couch and I spent Monday night with Two-Bit." He answered, leaning again the door jam.

"Oh, well…where were you plannin' on stayin' tonight?" Leland asked. Steve shrugged.

"I dunno. Probably with the Curtis'." He answered. His dad leaned forward and pulled out his billfold, and handed Steve a five dollar bill.

"Well, here's a little money, you know in case you need something." Leland told him. "And there's some supper in the fridge if you're hungry."

Steve nodded. "I am." He said. He stuffed the bills in his pocket and went into the kitchen to warm up the leftovers. He ate in the living room, neither he or his father talking, but it was a comfortable silence. Then he had talked to AJ on the phone for awhile, telling her where he was, before going to bed.

It had felt great to sleep in an actual bed, he thought. The Curtis couch was lumpy, and the Adare's wasn't much better. When he had stayed with Two-Bit, he'd slept in Tally's vacant bed, because she was spending the night with her grandma, but it was tiny. And besides, Steve had felt very uncomfortable sleeping in a pink room adorned with butterflies and ruffles.

He took a quick shower and wolfed down some toast and coffee. He peered out the front door at the thermometer nailed to the porch railing and sighed to see that it had snowed several inches during the night. The thermometer read thirty-five degree's. Three degree's above freezing…yay.

Steve combed through his curly hair and then pulled on his thick coat and his winter boots. As grateful as he was to have his job, it was mornings like this one when he'd give anything to be able to climb back under his warm blankets and sleep for another two or three hours.

Instead, he pulled a sock cap down low on his head and grabbed his car keys. He trudged his way throw the snow and sat in his car in the driveway for a few minutes, letting the car warm up, before backing out and heading over to Soda's house.

For once, Sodapop was ready and waiting for him, so he didn't even have to get back out into the cold air.

"Feels like an oven in here!" Soda said, closing the car door behind him.

"Yeah, well…its cold outside." Steve explained slowly. Soda grinned.

"Really? I hadn't noticed."

Steve snorted and shook his head. "Goddamn, I can't wait till spring."

Soda nodded. "Hey, February's almost over…we're nearly there." He said.

"Thank God." Steve replied.

"Guess what we get to do today?" Cade said to them as soon they walked inside.

"I'm scared to ask." Soda said. He started to take his coat off, but Cade stopped him.

"Don't bother, because the three of us get the wonderful job of shoveling snow out from in front of the pumps." He said. "Boss left me a note."

Steve sighed and jammed his sock cap, which he had just pulled off, back on his head.

"I hate February." He said as the three of them grabbed snow shovels from the back room. "It's the worst month."

"Yeah," Soda agreed. "It's lame…and there's no cool holidays to make it better."

"What about Valentines Day?" Cade asked, to which both Steve and Soda groaned loudly.

"I said cool holidays." Soda said. "Valentines Day sucks."

"Most overrated holiday of the year." Steve agreed. "It's no where near as awesome as say, Thanksgiving."

Cade snorted as they headed outside. "Really? Thanksgiving?"

Steve grinned. "Think about it! Lots of good food, you don't gotta buy anyone any gifts, no school or work. It's the perfect holiday."

Cade grinned back and began to answer, but Soda stopped him. "Do you guys smell gas?" He asked.

Cade rolled his blue eyes. "Soda, buddy, we work at a gas station…"

"I know, but it smells…stronger than normal." Soda said. Steve sniffed the air.

"You're right." He told him. He started looking around the pumps. "The gas valves are loose. How the hell did that happen?"

"What?" Cade asked. He walked over. "Well, shit, we'll have to get that fixed. I'm gonna run inside and leave a not for the boss before I forget. I'll be right back." He started towards the front door, and then stopped and turned around, grinning. "Now, if one of you boys feel the need to light up, be sure and move away from the pumps. One little flame and this place will go up in a heartbeat."

Soda rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks for the warning, Cade. Like we didn't know that already."

Their friend just grinned and walked inside. Steve shook his head and began to shovel the snow and Soda followed his lead. They'd only been at it for about thirty seconds, when they both heard something that caused them to turn and look at the road.

A car was barreling towards them so fast that Steve couldn't even make out the model, or barely the color. He could only tell it was a light colored car. There was a scream of 'GREASERS!' and he saw something flaming come hurling through the air at them. And that was the last thing Steve knew before the whole place exploded.