Okay, so this chapter might be the big one…maybe not! Read to find out!!!! And review too…you know, that might help!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Outsiders

Chapter 11

Isabel was lying on the couch on her back, glad that she could lean against something now without her back hurting. She held a piece of her long, now dry, wavy hair twirling it around her finger unaware of Soda, Two-Bit, and Steve watching her from the kitchen.

"She seems genuinely interested." Two-Bit said.

"Yeah she does." Steve responded looking at Soda, who was slightly smiling. Steve rolled his eyes.

"You know, I didn't ever think that I'd meet someone who has a more interest in their hair than Soda, cause you know, he's so pretty." Two-Bit said trying touch Soda's hair, but Soda hit his hand away. "See." Two-Bit concluded. They heard the door open to reveal Ponyboy and Johnny.

"Hey Isabel." They heard Pony greet. "Why are Two-Bit, Steve, and Soda all staring at you from the kitchen?"

"What?" Isabel said sitting up and turning around. Soda looked down embarrassed, Two-Bit waved, and Steve just stared. She turned pink.

"So what were you guys doing?" Ponyboy asked sitting down next to her.

"Oh we were just observing Isabel's growing interest for her hair, which is funny, cause Soda loves his hair too." Two-Bit said happily plopping down on the floor. Instead of turning red, like they all planned for Isabel to do, she didn't.

"I'm a girl, it's what I do." She said laying back down.

"Oh so that's the secret to Soda's prettiness." Two-Bit continued to joke. Soon the conversation turned to cars and stuff Isabel wasn't interested in and she found herself spacing out. I hate how I'm always so like, what's the word, shy and vulnerable. I bet if I acted like I did with Bryce, they wouldn't even think it was possible for me to be shy…or quite. Maybe I can be like that-

"ISABEL!" Two-Bit's voice brought her out of her thoughts.

"What?" She asked sitting up startled.

"We're all going to the Dingo tonight, wanna go?" he asked. Hmmmm, interesting. Should I stay or go…what would the old Isabel do?

"Um, no thanks guys, I'll just stay in." she said.

"Are you sure?" Ponyboy asked.

"Yeah, um…yeah." She said avoiding their disappointed faces, especially Soda's. They just changed the subject and talked.

A couple hours later they were heading out the door.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Soda asked once the others were out the door.

"Yeah I'm sure…I'm just…tired." She said looking up at him.

"Okay. Darry should be home any minute so…see you later…bye." Soda said. Once the door closed, Isabel laid down on her stomach and buried her head in a pillow.

"This is so not how the old Isabel would act. I just can't go out there, he might find me." She heard the door open and took her face out of the pillow. It was Soda.

"I um, for got my…wallet." He told her. She smiled, she'd seen him put his wallet in his pocked earlier. He walked and sat down in front of her on the floor. "I just wanted to know, is there a reason you didn't want to go tonight?" He asked as she lay her head back down on the pillow.

"Well…I um…" she started, her heart starting to beat faster because his face was so close to hers. She gathered up her courage. "I'm afraid that he'll…he'll…"

"Find you?" Soda finished for her.

"Yeah." She said sitting up.

"You know you don't have to worry about that." Soda told her. She looked down. "The gang won't let him touch you." He got up on his knees and put his finger under her chin lifting her head up. "I won't let him touch you." She stared into his eyes, surprisingly, not turning pink. He inched his face to hers, the gap slowly closing.

"What's going on in here?" Darry asked. Startled, Soda fell back and Isabel turned red. Soda let out a sigh as they were once again interrupted. I was so close! Why Darry? Why?

"I'm going to sit outside." Isabel announced getting up and Soda followed.

Sorry it's so short!!!!!! But please review! The more reviews, the longer chapter get!!!!!!! Pwease review! Love ya all!!!!