"Man, talk about gorgeous broads." Steve said as they walked out of the club and went to the parking lot. The blond girl was still hanging on him but she was to drunk to know what they were talking about and Steve had to practically carry her to the car.

"That was one good looking chick you picked up, Soda!" "Yeah I know." Soda said. "How old was she man? She looked like she was in her twenties." Steve said. "I didn't ask how old she was. You don't ask girls how old they are." Soda said.

"That was not a girl, Sodapop. That was a woman. A full grown, fully built…" "Ok, Ok, thank you, Steve. That's enough said." Soda cut him off. "Now can you get me home quickly please? Darry's been real strict lately about this whole curfew deal." "Yeah," Steve said. "Help me get Tina in the car." Oh, so the fake blond had a name, did she?

They both put her in the back seat and put her seat belt on. Then ran and got into their seats. Steve pulled out quickly and rushed Soda back home.

"You're late." Darry said the second he walked in. "I uh, lost track of the time." Soda said. Darry crossed his arms. "Oh, c'mon Dar." Soda whined. "I'm late by fifteen minutes. What's the big deal?" "When I say one I mean one." Darry said looking back down at the paper. "Ok, I'm sorry." Soda said. "I'll be on time from now on." "All-right." Darry said. "Did you have fun?" "Yeah." Soda said. "I'm tired. I'm going to bed." He said changing the subject. "Goodnight." Darry yelled after him.

Soda went to his room and laid down on the bed next Ponyboy.



******************

He woke up the next morning and remembered the night before. Had all of that really happened? He groaned remembering and wondering why on Earth he had done that. He wasn't ready. Not for this.

He forced himself out of bed and got ready for work. "Gosh she was something." Soda thought but then pushed that thought away and told himself no. "Don't do this Soda. Not now." But he had said he'd call her. Soda groaned again and tried to determine if he should or not. He picked up the number he had put on the bedside table and considered flushing it down the toilet so he wouldn't have to decide. If the number was gone he wouldn't have to worry about it, right? But then he thought that if he did that and never did call her he'd be wondering for the rest of his life.

"Ok fine." Soda told himself. He'd see her one more time and if he felt the same way that he did last night at the club then he'd know that he wasn't just exhausted and had no idea what he was doing that night.



*****************

Ring Ring Ring. Soda dialed Samantha's number and waited impatiently for an answer. "Hello?" Someone finally said. "Samantha?" Soda asked. "It's Sodapop." "Oh hi, Soda." She sounded cheerful enough.

"Hey," he said. "I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go do something tonight." "Sure," She said. "Sounds great. What do you wanna do?" "Um, I thought maybe we could go back to the club if you want or we could do something else." "The club sounds like fun." She said. "Great. So I'll pick you up at eight?" He asked. "Sure." Samantha said. "Let me give you my address." He wrote it down and made sure he heard every word that she said.

"Ok, I have a date." Soda said aloud to himself once he had hung up. "Now to get the car."

Soda ran out into the kitchen were Darry was making breakfast and Two-Bit and Ponyboy were eating cake. "Can I use the truck tonight?" he pleaded. "What for?" Darry asked. "Because I'm going somewhere." He said. "Why don't you tell me were you're 'planning' to go and I'll decide weather you're going or not?" "Just out with a friend." Soda said. "Gosh, do you havta know everything, Darry?" "Yes as a matter a fact I do." Soda sighed. Darry'd been way to protective lately. "Well, can I borrow the truck or not?" Soda asked. "Yeah, but you can't have it until after seven because I have some errands to run." "Ok." Soda agreed happily and sat down for breakfast.

Two-Bit cocked an eye brow at Soda. Something was up and he could tell. Soda ignored it and took a bite of chocolate cake.



******************

Soda straightened his shirt and greased his hair back neatly. He studied his outfit in the mirror. "She's probably gonna wear something real hot." He thought to himself and he started to hate the shirt and pants more and more but there wasn't anything else nicer that he could wear.

"You never cared so much what you wore when you went out with Sandy. Why do you care so much now." He asked himself. He new the answer to that immediately. He didn't need to impress Sandy. She liked him for who he was and he liked her for who she was. "Why am I even doing this?" Soda sighed. He had no idea why a girl like Samantha would have any interest in him. It didn't make any sense. "Shut up, Sodapop." He told himself. "Don't question good things."

He quit looking in the mirror. It wasn't helping him look any better. Soda picked up his coat, went out to the living room, said goodbye to everyone, got the keys to the truck, and drove off.

He felt uncomfortable as he drove down her neighborhood street in that old beat up truck. She didn't live in the socials part of town. He was surrounded by more like middle class houses but he still felt a bit uncomfortable.

Since when had he ever been nervous about a date. He tried to remember one time but he couldn't. He was supposed to be the cute one, the one that got all the girls right? Well maybe in some cases but he didn't think older girls that looked like supermodels. Finally he reached her house and picked her up.

"So, how old are you?" Samantha asked as they drove down the street to the club since nobody was saying anything. Soda bit his lower lip. Should he tell her? He wasn't sure. She'd probably just think he was a kid. "I'm seventeen." He said. "Oh." She said trying to keep the surprise out of her voice

Soda blushed. "Um, how old are you if you don't mind me asking?" Soda said.

She smiled. "Twenty-eight." Whoa! This was a surprise… What in the world was she doing with him?

"Really? I thought you were younger." He said calmly but inside he was shocked. She shook her head. "Thank you for the compliment though." She said.

"So, how long have you lived in Tulsa?" Wait a second she was still talking to him? She still wanted to go to the club with him even after she just found out he's only seventeen? "All my life." Soda said. "How about you?" "Only for two years. I grew up in New York." "Did you like it there." Soda asked. "Yeah, for the most part."

Eventually Soda became more relaxed. Her friendly manner made him feel like she like him a lot and like she didn't care how old he was. Weird huh?

They went to the club again, they had dinner, danced, kissed, etcetera etcetera… The week went on like this. Almost every night Soda would pick her up, take her out, and spend all the time he had with her. By the end of the week he was convinced that this was not a mistake. Samantha had Sodapop eating out of the palm of her hand.



*Please Review. You can criticize as long as it's constructive. Please give me any ideas you have.*