Chapter 9: Hi! It's been a hot minute. If y'all wouldn't mind reading and reviewing, I'd really appreciate it:) Now... onto the story!

Today I was pulling double duty, watching Izzy while I worked at the DX. Buck said they had about ten cars backed up, and needed all the extra help they could get. Izzy was just excited she was getting to "Fix the cars."

Wendy had packed an old Tshirt and a pair of overalls in Izzy's backpack, both of which Hudson had outgrown, and I put her hair into two braids.

"Just like yours!" she grinned as she looked in the break room mirror, turning her head side to side. If Hudson was Darry's mini me, I think it's safe to say that Izzy is mine.

She ran right up to Steve after we finished changing, making it hard for me not to laugh after remembering what she told Soda and I last night. As he picked her up and she wrapped her arms around his neck she asked, "Am I pretty Stevie?" with a serious look on her face. He smiled. "You sure are, Izzy!" She giggled and leaned in close to his face. "Am I pretty like Avery?" His face flushed as he looked at Soda, then me. I blushed and grabbed my time card, punching in.

"Beautiful like Avery!" He exclaimed, making her grin. "Stevie, Avery is reallllyyyyyy beautiful, ain't she?" I bit my lip to keep from laughing. It was a good thing Evie avoided this place like the plague. She'd be pissed her boyfriend was asked about another girl, even if it was by a five year old. "She sure is, Dizzy Izzy."

"Well looky here, Iz. Our first customer!" I said quickly as a car pulled up for gas. I wanted this awkward conversation to be over. "Are you ready?"

"Are you kidding me?" she quipped, putting her hands on her hips. "I was born ready!" The boys and I laughed at her attitude as I followed her outside. She sure was something else.

...

Soda was working under Mr. Thompson's car and Izzy was holding a flashlight for Steve as he tinkered under the hood. I watched them from the gas pumps, where I was refilling the bucket of windshield washer fluid. She was going on and on about how one day, when she's grown, shes going to "be a babysitter and work at the DX and be a mommy just like Avery!" This made me snort. My life wasn't exactly one I would've been yearning for at her age, but I was slightly flattered none the less.

"Woah there kiddo, slow your roll!" Soda called as he appeared from under the car with a grin. "Avery's not a mommy!" Izzy rolled her eyes. "Well not yet Sodapop but she will be. When she is, do you think Avery will let me babysit her kids?" Steve laughed as she frowned at him, crossing her arms over chest and pulling out a line she had heard me use over and over again. "Well, it's an honest question Steven!"

Steve shook his head as he continued working. "Why don't you ask Avery if she'll let you babysit her kids?" Curious to know the answer, I watched as she scrunched up her face, leaned in close, and whispered something only he and Soda could hear. When he pulled back, his face was red as he mumbled something that sounded like "I don't think so Izzy." Soda's laugh rang out from his place on the ground, followed by an "ouch" as Steve accidentally kicked his leg.

...

About four thirty, Two Bit and Pony stopped in with Hudson, fresh from his football practice. Hud excitedly told Soda about how he was the fastest runner during their warm ups while I filled Two Bit's tank. Izzy was more than happy to help me. Two always let her climb onto the hood to clean the windshields, and she absolutelt loved it.

"Hey Pony, isn't that the girl from school?" Two asked my little brother, pointing across the street to a girl walking in overalls. She looked young, even younger than Ponyboy. "Yeah, it is" He responded, keeping an eye on her. I smirked to myself, thinking I'd have to ask him about her later. There seemed to be a story there.

"Well now, that's a beautiful job Iz!" Two grinned as she finished, opening up his wallet to grab her tip like he always did. It was quite honestly the cutest thing. He would give her a quarter and tell her not to spend it all in one place, and she would tell him that she was going to take me out for ice cream (of course, I always paid, and told her to save it for a rainy day.) When he would ask if he could go with us, she would make a face and say "Don't you know what girl time is Two Bit?"

Two pulled out a five dollar bill and said, "Give me one second Izzy, I've got to get some change." before turning to the guys. "Hey Steve, you got change for a five?" Steve shook his head no. "Get it from buck!"

Izzy grinned, tugging on Two Bit and Pony's arms. "I'll show you!" she excitedly exclaimed, as though neither of them had ever been there before. While they walked into the building, I moved from my place at the pump and stood next to Steve as he kept working under the hood. Soda had already finished and was wiping his hands on a rag as Hud continued to talk about his day.

"So uh, Steve, did Soda tell you Evie's got some real competition?" I asked with a smirk. "Huh?" He moved to glance at me so quickly he whacked his head on the top of the car and I had to put a hand over my mouth to keep from laughing. "Are you alright?" I breathed out. "Yeah, what were you saying about Evie?" he rubbed his head. "She's got some competition," I shrugged. "And who might that be?" he asked sarcastically.

"Well Izzy seems to think you're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Last night she told us that when she's finally old enough for a boyfriend, she wants it to be you. She even told Soda he wasn't her type when he tried to ask her why you!" He chuckled as he finished tightening the bolt. "Well she'll be happy to hear I'm not with Evie anymore, but sad to hear I don't date anyone more than a year younger than me." I laughed until I realized what he said.

"When?" I asked, leaning against the car as he grabbed a rag to wipe the grease off his hands. He shrugged. "About a week or so ago. She didn't like that I was spending so much time with you guys, so I told her if she couldn't understand what happened, she needed to find a new boyfriend to boss around." My mouth dropped open. "I'm so sorry Steve-" He shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry about it, it's been coming for awhile. And honestly, it's the best feeling I've ever had!" I returned his smile until we both noticed the police car pulling in and officer Michaels stepping out.

"Izzy" I breathed.