Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own The Outsiders. Full credit goes to S.E. Hinton. I am just borrowing her characters.

I had filled Steve in as best as I could, given how little information I really had. I looked over at him occasionally as I spoke, noting his stiff posture and stoic expression. He hadn't said anything while I was speaking, only nodding his head occasionally at my words.

"I know it doesn't make sense," I admitted once I had told him everything, "I don't really understand it myself."

I saw something flash behind Steve's eyes that I couldn't exactly place. "Katie, I'm gonna ask you something and you better tell me the truth."

I swallowed thickly before nodding. I had an idea what he was going to ask.

"Did you cheat on Soda, while we were gone?"

As much as I had expected the question, I was surprised by how much it stung. I knew it was nothing personal, that Steve was just looking out for his best friend, but I found myself feeling slightly defensive regardless.

"No," I said firmly. He relaxed visibly at my words. "But he's going to think I did."

Steve leaned back in his chair. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, offering one to me. I shook my head, declining.

"You gotta tell him," Steve said, shoving the lighter he had been holding back into his jacket pocket. He must have seen the hesitation on my face, because his expression became more serious. "He needs to know, Katie."

I bit my lip. I knew, logically, that I would have to tell Soda at some point. Even if I delayed as long as I could, eventually I would start to get bigger. Soda might not have been incredibly book smart, but even he would be able to figure out what was happening.

"I know," I said with a sigh. My stomach was twisted up in a bundle of nerves. "I just don't know how."

Steve ran a hand through his hair. It was shorter than I had ever seen it, but it made him look older and more mature. "Easiest thing to do would be to just come out and say it," he said dryly.

"It's not that easy," I protested weakly. "I don't know what he'll do. What if he's mad?"

Steve blew a ring of smoke before stamping out his cigarette. "Can't really get mad, can he? I mean, he had something to do with it."

I felt myself blushing. "I just don't know what to do."

Before Steve could reply, there was a knock on the door. I paled, hoping that whoever it was hadn't been around long enough to hear anything that had been said.

I felt my heart sink when Soda walked into the room. If he knew anything, his face didn't show it. He was smiling and holding a Pepsi in his hand that he placed on the table next to me before taking a seat.

"Have some good girl talk?" Soda joked. I gave him a weak smile, but I knew it didn't reach my eyes. "You okay?"

Steve took Soda's words as his cue to leave. "I gotta get going. I'll see y'all later."

Soda gave him a nod and I waved halfheartedly. When we were alone in the room together I felt like I might be sick.

"You look kinda green, Katie," Soda said. He looked around the room, probably hoping to find something I could be sick.

"I'm fine," I said quietly. I took a deep breath and looked at him. He was blurry through the tears in my eyes, but I could still make out his sweet face and his innocent eyes. "I have to tell you something."

Soda's expression changed once more. Worry took over his features. "What's wrong? Did the doctors tell you something?"

"Kind of," I said. I used my free hand to wipe at my eyes. "I don't want you to be mad."

"Baby, what is it? You can tell me." He gave me an encouraging smile, but it only made me feel worse.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words died in my throat. I hadn't imagined it would be this hard to tell him.

"I'm pregnant." My words were so quiet that I almost didn't hear them. I knew Soda had, though, because he immediately went stiff. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, staring down at my hands as tears slid down my cheeks instead.

He didn't respond. I sat in the uncomfortable silence for minutes, wondering what Soda was thinking. He hadn't stopped holding my hand, but his own had gone limp and cold.

When he finally spoke, I felt my heart breaking. "Is it mine?"

"Yes," I said, looking up at him finally. His face was blank. "Soda, I've never... It's only ever been you."

Relief flashed in his eyes briefly. His grip on my hand came back slowly. I felt my heart racing in my chest and butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

"But we never- we always..." Soda trailed off, looking at me desperately. I couldn't find any words that would ease his confusion. I was still just as confused myself.

"I know." I didn't know what else to say. He was still looking at me with so much confusion. I wanted so badly to be able to reach out and reassure him that everything would be okay. "I'm sorry."

His expression changed, and his eyes finally focused in on mine. "It isn't your fault, Katie. It was an accident." His words did little to reassure me. The tears had stopped falling from my eyes, but I was still sniffling. "Don't be upset, baby. It's going to be okay."

I felt guilty and ashamed. "I can't believe this is happening. I don't- I didn't mean to get you tangled up in this."

"What about you, Katie?" he asked, leaning forward and pushing a piece of hair from my face. "This isn't just about me." I saw his eyes trail downwards, stopping briefly at my mid section before coming back up and meeting my own.

"I just- I don't know what to do." Tears gathered in my eyes again, and I wished desperately that they wouldn't fall.

Soda saw the tears in my eyes, and he instantly reacted. He settled down beside me on the hospital bed, pulling my into his arms. My tears soaked through his shirt as he held me close.

I clung onto Soda, thinking that it could only be a matter of time before he came to his senses and left me alone. I pulled my head up and looked into his eyes, expecting to find them full of hesitation and regret. I was met instead with compassion and love.

"I love you, Katie. And whatever you decide, I'm with you."

Tell me what you think.

Till next time-

Bee.