Community Service Romance

Soda was in a damn good mood Saturday morning. He was up before everybody and in and out of the shower before Darry had even stirred.

He had breakfast on the table too, his legendary green pancakes and he'd made coffee, even though Darry had banned him from drinking it last year some time. That was when he'd been full of his old energy and Darry had said he didn't need any help in that department. After everything went down though, Darry hadn't said anything more about the coffee.

"Morning, Superman." Soda held out a coffee mug to his big brother as he entered and Darry looked at it and then the breakfast disbelievingly.

"What's all this?"

"Breakfast, dummy. You gonna sit down or what?"

Darry took the coffee and sat down at the table. He chuckled when he noticed the colour of the pancakes and then he picked up his knife and fork.

"Did you scratch the truck again?"

Soda sat down beside him and laughed.

"Nope."

"Speeding ticket?"

"Quit it, will ya? Can't a guy just be in a good mood. I made us both sandwiches too. Ham and tomato."

Darry looked back at the brown paper bags on the counter and raised his eyebrows.

"You're scaring me now, Sodapop..."

"I thought I smelt pancakes…"

Darry and Soda turned around to see a sleepy eyed Ponyboy in the kitchen doorway.

"Now I know this is a dream," Darry said. "You up before eight on a Saturday. Shoot, if all I had to do to get you up was make pancakes, we'd be eating them seven days a week."

"Sounds like a plan," Soda said with his mouth full.

Darry elbowed him and pulled out a third chair for Ponyboy.

"So, you know anything about your brother's sudden good mood?"

Soda found it weird to be accused of a 'sudden good mood'. Once upon a time, good was the only mood he knew.

"Lily Parker," Ponyboy said drowsily. He froze as he picked up his cutlery and gave Soda an apologetic look.

Soda raised his eyes heavenward. So much for brotherly solidarity.

"Who's that?" Darry wanted to know.

"Just some girl." Soda shovelled another pancake into his mouth. "Met her at community service."

"Oh, that's just great." Darry stopped eating and glared at his brother.

"What is? That she's doing community service? Does that make someone a bad person?" Soda refused to let his brother interfere with his good mood. He didn't even know Lily.

"So what does she do, this girl?" Darry was trying to be diplomatic but Soda could already see he'd made up his own mind.

"She's in school."

"Will Rogers?"

"Hale High," Ponyboy offered. "She's okay though, Darry. I like her. Her brothers a good guy too."

"Who's her brother?"

"Frankie Parker."

"Parker, Parker…." Darry was turning over the name in his mind when his face suddenly clouded her. "Is this Frankie her only brother?"

Darn it.

"Nope. Big brother is Ronnie from Brumly. And no, she's nothing like him." Soda pushed back his chair filled with an excited energy. "Gotta go, folks. Don't wanna be late."

Darry was frowning at him like his Mom used to when he came home after curfew.

"Don't you need a ride, buddy?"

"Nope. Not today," Soda said. He patted Darry on the back, ruffled Pony's hair, picked up his sandwiches and almost skipped out to the yard.

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Lily was not a morning person. Hangover or not, she didn't come alive until midday and having to be at the church by 8am on a Saturday was torture. She was trying to make an effort since she knew she'd see Soda today but she couldn't face any more than jeans and a shirt and a touch of eyeliner. She almost poked her eye out in her effort and decided that eyeliner would have to be it in the way of makeup.

She was just picking up her bag when there was a sharp rap at the door.

Christ, nobody came round here this early apart from the fuzz and she was in no mood to deal with them today.

"Yeah?"

She did a double take when she saw Sodapop on her door step. He looked all kinds of cute in a black poloshirt and blue jeans.

"What are you doing here?"

"Well, hello to you too," he said. "Come out here, I got something to show you."

Lily was cynical. It was too early for serious conversations and she had a bus to catch.

"Well, c'mon." He took her hand and pulled her out into the yard.

"Wait a second." She pulled her hand free and used it to close the front door. Then she turned back to the yard. Ronnie's old maroon Chevy was sitting on the driveway, looking cleaner than she'd ever seen it.

"You washed it," she said.

They both moved closer and Soda opened the driver door.

"Not only that, but I fixed it up too. New radiator hose, new sparkplugs and a full service."

Lily felt a little lump in her throat.

"How'd you find the time to do that?"

He'd only had the car since Wednesday for crying out loud.

"Who gives a damn about that?" He was looking put out now and she felt a gnawing guilt in her stomach.

She slipped past him into the driver seat and turned the keys that were hanging in the ignition. The engine came to life noisily but settled into a low purr. Jesus, it had never sounded this good before.

"That's pretty neat, Soda. But you gotta let me pay you something for it."

He closed the driver door and went round to the passenger one.

"Oh, don't worry, you'll be paying me alright."

She turned and gave him an amused look and he shoved her mockingly.

"I meant a ride to community service. Why, what were you thinking, Parker?"

Lily smiled at him as she pulled on her seatbelt. She was keeping her thoughts to herself.

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"You got lunch today?" Soda settled down under the oak tree and then looked over at her teasingly. "Oh, I forgot this is your spot. Am I allowed to sit here now?"

"No, I haven't got lunch and yes you're allowed to sit here. For the time being anyway." Lily lit up a weed and tossed him the pack.

"Well, I'm honoured." Soda leant over and took the cigarette out of her mouth. "For Christ's sake, Lil, at least eat something before you smoke that."

She was thinner than she should be and the reason for that was probably her knack of replacing meals with cigarettes. It wasn't proper to graft all day like they were doing and not eat anything. He was beat, and she was half his size.

She sat up straighter and glared at him.

"Will you stop behaving like my Mom and give me that back? I already told you I didn't bring lunch."

"Well, it's a good job I brought extra." He tossed the brown bag into her lap and she looked at him like he'd just handed her a fifty dollar note.

"What the hell, Curtis? You're making me lunch now?"

Soda gave her a mischievous look.

"Don't flatter yourself, doll. I'm just sick of sharing mine."

She laughed at that and opened the sandwich bag.

"Either of you got a light?"

Soda looked up to see the big dark haired guy he'd seen messing with Lily on his first day. He didn't like him but Lily had given as good as she'd got and he couldn't afford to make enemies.

"Yes, thanks." Lily continued to eat her sandwich and glare at the guy. Soda wanted to know why every guy she had a problem with was built like a hulking gorilla.

"Just give him a light, Lily." He sighed.

"I wouldn't give him a light in a power cut," she said. "Fuck off, Daniels, would ya?"

Daniels demeanour changed then and he squared his shoulders and scowled at her. Soda tensed up but Lily didn't flinch.

"You know what I think your problem is, Parker?" Daniels was openly leering at her. "You got this thing for me and it drives you insane."

Soda clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. Lily was right. He wouldn't give this imbecile a light in a power cut either.

"Alright, that's enough," he said, getting to his feet. It was a stupid move. It only showed Daniels the huge advantage he had in height and build.

"What are you gonna do about it? You jealous that she's got the hots for me?"

"Buddy, if she was any less hot for you, she'd be getting a restraining order. Just leave her alone, okay?"

"Everything alright?"

The new voice came from behind them. It was Paul, the guy that ran the place, but he was looking at Lily as he spoke.

"It would be if Daniels would drown himself," she said.

Daniels slunk away and Paul looked at Lily with concern.

"Is he troubling you?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

"I wouldn't mess with him, Lily, Or you, Curtis. He's not quite right, that guy. To tell you the truth, I didn't even want him on my program."

"Why not?" Soda asked but Paul already looked like he was regretting his words.

"Just stay away from him okay? Any problems you come see me."

And then he was gone. Soda watched him leave.

"What in the world did that mean?"

"Who gives a shit?" Lily polished off the rest of her sandwich. "Will you give me back my damn cigarette?"

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The day went quicker than usual. It sure helped to have someone to buddy along with and Soda realised that was one of the great things about Lily. They could crack jokes like she was one of the guys and she didn't expect him to pick up any slack she left behind at work. She pushed herself harder than ever to keep up with him.

"So you need a ride home?" She asked. They were standing outside the church gates, sharing a cigarette. It was nearly dark now and Tulsa looked almost pretty when he was looking at her.

"Nope." He looked at her sheepishly. "My brother'll be here in a minute. I forgot to tell him I had a ride home."

It had been stupid of him but he'd been so damn excited to show Lily the Chevy he hadn't thought to tell Darry not to pick him up.

"What are you doing later?"

"Collapsing in a heap in front of the TV?" She deadpanned.

He laughed at her, took a last pull on the cigarette and tossed it into the road. Then he pulled her towards him. Paul was just coming down the path with a bag over his shoulder.

"Community service romance." Paul shook his head. "I've seen it all now."

Lily and Soda laughed as Paul went over to his car and got in.

"Well, after you've collapsed a little while," Soda went on, slipping his arms up the back of her sweater. "You fancy coming to a party?"

"Whose party?"

"Hell, I don't know, somebody from school, Steve's school, I mean."

She looked unsure.

"So Steve'll be coming?"

"Well, yeah. And maybe Pony. Plus Two-Bit never misses a party."

She smiled at the mention of Two-Bit and he thought maybe he was winning her round.

"I won't know anyone."

"You'll know me. And besides, you're hardly the shy type."

She gave him a shove but he held on tight to her.

"Bring a friend if you want."

The loud tooting of Darry in the truck caused Lily to step away from him. Darry pulled the truck close to the sidewalk and called out through the open window.

"You ready?"

"Just a second," Soda called back. He turned his attention back to Lily. "Just say yes, already. Meet me at my place at eight?"

She hesitated but eventually nodded.

Soda gave her a quick kiss and swung open the truck door.

"Your friend need a ride?" Darry asked him.

"Naw, she's got the sweetest running engine this side of the river," Soda said loudly.

"Don't get carried away," Lily called back.

"Hey, c'mere," Soda pulled the truck door shut but beckoned her to the window. "This is my brother Darry. Darry, this is Lily."

"Nice to meet you, Lily," Darry said in a friendly voice.

"You too," she responded. "You make one hell of a chicken sandwich."

Darry smiled as Lily waved and took off for her car.

"So you lost your sandwiches last week, huh?"

Soda gave his brother a small smile.

"Now when I said lost…"

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"Hey, Frank, what are you doing later?" Lily called from the bathroom. She was restyling her long blond hair for the fourth time. She didn't know why but she felt mighty nervous about this party later. Which was stupid because she lived for parties and she didn't do nervous.

Helen was still grounded despite her pleas to her parents. Lily had only been allowed to talk to her for about three minutes earlier before her Mom had said she had to go. Which pissed Lily off no end. Now she was having to go to this party alone.

"I dunno yet," Frankie appeared in the doorway and leaned up against the frame while she continued to fuss over her hair. "Why?"

"Well, there's this party later and Helen is still grounded."

"I know."

"You know?"

He realised his mistake as soon as he said it and blushed deeply.

"Yeah, well, I-uh- called earlier. Her Dad wouldn't let her come to the phone."

Lily dropped her hair loose around her shoulders and spun round to face her brother.

"Why in the hell would you be calling Helen at home?"

He averted his eyes and then let out a huge sigh.

"'Cause I like her, okay?"

Okay? It was far from okay. Frankie was a sophomore and Helen was her best friend. There was no way in hell she was watching that happen.

"And how about her? Does she like you?"

Frankie shrugged that ridiculous adolescent shrug reminding Lily how young he was. He couldn't date fast moving Helen. She would eat him alive.

"Well, so what if she does? What's your problem?" He mumbled.

"My problem is you're my kid brother and she's my best friend. It would just be-weird."

Frankie sighed again and leaned his head back on the door frame. Lily went back to her hair, lifting it high on her head and tilting her head this way and that to examine it.

"I really like her, Lil. I think she likes me too. Can't you just back off?"

Lily looked at him, all red faced and apologetic and part of her felt bad for him. The other part of her knew how it was all going to end and who was going to have to pick up the pieces.

"Look, Frank, you can date any girl in Tulsa if you want, just not Helen. She's the only real friend I have and I don't want you screwing that up. There's plenty of girls in your class you could ask out. So please, just not Helen, okay?"

Ronnie would have told her to go screw herself but Frankie wasn't Ronnie. Lily hadn't saved Ronnie from two burly cops, nor was he the reason she had no social life at the weekend. Frankie rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably before he looked at her again.

"Alright, I won't ask her out."

"Good." She smiled at him, pleased. "You wanna come to this party then? Bet there's plenty of chicks your age there."

He nodded absently.

"Yeah, sure."

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