You Give Me Chances & I Let You Down
You Waited For Words That I Couldn't Get Out
I Have No Excuses, For The Way That I Am
I Was Clueless & I Couldn't Understand
Jenni rubbed the small of Steve's back as he cradled his head in his hands. "I can't believe he's actually thinking about going through with this."
Jenni sighed, "He never got over her Steve, you know that."
"He's being stupid."
Jennifer moved to sit next to him on the bed, "If that were me, you're saying you wouldn't do the same thing?"
Steve squinted his eyes, "That's different."
Jennifer smiled sadly, "You said it yourself Steve, Sandy and I are two in the same." Steve was silent and Jenni went on, "We both got pregnant and we both ran off. You took me back, Soda'll take her back."
"But why does he have to go to Florida? Why don't they just stay here, hell Darry would even let her move in with them if it meant Soda wasn't moving across the country."
"The baby's in Florida Steve, and so is her grandmother, who pretty much gives her everything she needs for free."
"It's not even his."
Jenni sighed, "You just don't get it sweetheart, the heart wants what the heart wants." She kissed him on the cheek and went to give Kaylie a feeding.
XXX
The stores were ringing with the Christmas spirit although Thanksgiving was only a couple days away. "Soda invited us over for Thanksgiving dinner." Jenni looked at Steve out of the corner of her eye as she picked up some diapers and set them in the shopping cart.
Steve shrugged, "Is Sandy going to be there?"
Jenni frowned, "She's staying until Saturday, and then Soda has to make his decision."
"He can't just leave us Jenni. He's had us his entire life, and she wants to run off on him for whoever knows how long and he'll still pick her over us?"
"I don't wanna have this conversation anymore Steve, it's his life he'll do with it what he chooses."
Kaylie started crying in the middle of the supermarket, as Jenni suspected would happen with the vibe going on between her and Steve. She picked her up and rocked her back and forth in her arms, her blue eyes dripping with tears. Steve grabbed onto the cart and began making his way down the aisle. "What are we gonna do with him, huh, baby girl?" Jenni smiled at her daughter and looked at Steve with motherly worry.
XXX
Jennifer was in the kitchen helping Sandy stuff the turkey as the boys were outside playing football in the crisp air. Mrs. Mathews was peeling a bag of potatoes to begin to boil.
"So it was a boy, huh?" Jenni looked at Sandy as she washed her hands in the sink.
Sandy nodded and attempted a grin, "I named him Patrick."
"Soda's middle name?"
"Mm-hmm."
Mrs. Mathews handed Jenni the bowl of potatoes, "Can you wash these off for me sweetheart?"
Jenni headed to the sink and watched Two-Bit as he came in for a drink, "Where's Kathy?"
He shrugged, "She was supposed to be here to help you guys out." He kissed his mother on the cheek gingerly and grabbed another bottle of beer to head outside with.
When the women finished prepping for dinner and the turkey was in the oven they headed outside with a plate of crackers and cheese. "Who won?"
Ponyboy frowned and grabbed a Pepsi out of the cooler, "Soda, Dally, and Steve."
Jenni cocked an eyebrow as Steve wrapped an arm around her waist, "I don't think that team sounds very fair."
Soda copied the gesture with Sandy and stuffed his mouth full with crackers, "They had Darry and Two-Bit."
Sandy looked at Soda with her bright blue eyes, "Where is Two-Bit anyway?"
He looked around curiously before settling his eyes on the glass door. "Kathy's here."
Two-Bit led Kathy outside with his hand wrapped in hers. She caught Jenni's eyes as she walked down the stairs and her face filled with a smile. Jenni gave a confused look as Kathy let go of Two-Bit's hand to wrap her arms around Jennifer. Jenni obliged to the hug and gave a small grin.
"Where's Kaylie?"
"Inside, sleeping."
Kathy nodded and looked to Steve with a smile, "Hi Stevie."
Steve tipped his head slightly, "Hey."
Kathy looked at Sandy with slight confusion and Jenni just shook her head gently, "Later." she mouthed.
A cry came from inside the house not too long after and Steve removed his arm from around Jenni, "I'll get her."
Jenni nodded and kissed him gently before he headed inside. Kathy quickly took his spot on the porch step. She looked after Two-Bit for a moment as him and Soda began a wrestling match. "So you two are okay?"
Jenni nodded slowly, "Better then we've been in a long time."
"He seems... Different."
Her eyes became distant, "I know."
She shrugged, "Maybe he's just different as a father."
It took Jenni a moment to answer, "I don't know... I just feel like, something's not right."
Kathy sat still for a while before her eyes caught Sandy staring at Soda from her spot leaning on the fence. "So she's back, huh?"
Jennifer looked around until she realized who she was talking about. She shrugged, "Yeah."
Kathy sorta sighed, "She's been gone a long time."
Jenni nodded, "She wants Soda to come back to Florida with her."
Kathy's eyes went wide and she turned to look at Jenni head on, "What?"
She sighed, "I know, the sad thing is is I think Soda's actually thinking about going."
"He still loves her?"
"A love like that doesn't go away, we all remember how bent out of shape he was when she left."
Kathy paused, "How's Steve?"
Jenni turned to look at Steve tickling Kaylie on the couch. "Not so good."
Kathy nodded, "Well they have been inseparable since grade school."
As Jenni opened her mouth to respond she heard the timer for the turkey go off inside.
XXX
Mrs. Mathews set the table as everyone tried to figure out how to fit. Kathy, Sandy, and Jenni ended up settling for their boyfriends' laps.
"It looks great, Mom."
Mrs. Mathews smiled and gently touched Two-Bit's cheek. "Thank you, honey."
Darry said grace and everyone began to dig in. Jenni looked around half way through her sweet potato and a smile crossed her face. Steve looked up at her, unsure of what was going on. She looked into his eyes for a moment before kissing his cheek, "I love you Stevie."
Steve let one of his genuine smiles slip and he looked toward Kaylie, asleep again on the couch. "Always have."
Jennifer grinned, "Always will."
And All That You Wanted
And All That You Needed
Was A Side Of Me I Never Let You See
& I Wish I Could Love You & Make You Believe It
Credits-
Song: All You Ever
Artist: Hunter Hayes
Book: The Outsiders
Author: S. E. Hinton
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