It was Saturday morning, and the entire gang was over at the Curtis house, except Johnny. Dally had invited him to join and give Soda some company, but Johnny couldn't get himself to do it. He was feeling sour about the entire thing, but Dally wasn't going to tell Darry that. He knew the oldest greaser already had enough on his plate.

Darry, Steve, Two-Bit, and Dally got to work in the kitchen and living room first. They were going to focus mostly on deep cleaning while Steve was going to check if anything needed to be fixed up. "He's not coming down is he?" Steve asked Darry. Steve was on the floor inspecting underneath the sink. Two-Bit and Dally were in the living room moving furniture around to clean.

"I don't think so," Darry answered softly.

"Well then, how was your date?" Steve asked quietly. He glanced up at Darry who was checking the hinges on the cupboards.

"Did you tell Two-Bit?" Darry asked.

"Of course not. I figured you could tell him that," Steve chuckled.

Darry rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. It's bad enough dealing with you.

"Wow," Steve said, "That hurts. I was very happy for you. Too happy actually. Soda noticed I was in quite the jolly mood at work."

"What did you say to him?" Darry asked.

"Nothing," Steve shrugged, "I'm sure he thought it was weird, but he didn't ask about it much."

"Good," Darry sighed in relief, "But anyway, it was great. It really was."

"Oh yeah? You didn't bring her home?"

"Of course not. I can't do that right now."

"I know, I know," Steve sighed, "Did she want to?"

Darry shrugged, "I don't know. She seemed happy when I brought her back to her hotel."

"Wait," Steve said quietly, "She's staying at a hotel? You could have just gone up with her."

"No, no. This just isn't the time," Darry shook his head.

"Yeah, you might be right. When are you going out again?"

"Well, I told her a lot was going on with Soda, so I might not be the easiest guy to date right now. She seemed willing though."

Steve ran a hand through his hair, "Did you tell her about...?"

Darry immediately shook his head. Steve backed up from the sink and looked at Darry surprised.

Steve lowered his voice to a whisper, "So...she thinks you only have one brother?"

Darry slowly nodded, "I just can't right now. If things become a little serious, of course I will. It's too soon though. Not just too soon in dating, but too soon since he..."

"Hey," Steve got up and patted Darry on the shoulder, "I do get it. Really. If you can't tell her right now, then don't. If she likes you enough, she'll understand."

"Thanks."

Steve let a grin cross his face.

"What?" Darry asked, bracing himself for Steve's next question.

"Did you kiss her?"

Darry laughed, "You are killing me. I might as well wait until everyone knows, because you all will ask the same damn questions. I'll make a presentation for you all, so I can answer them all at once."

Steve laughed as he shook his head, "So..."

Darry rolled his eyes, "I kissed her cheek."

Steve's mouth hung open, "You kissed her cheek? Are you ten?"

"Shut up," Darry shoved him, "I haven't done this in awhile."

"Clearly. You left her really hanging. Poor girl."

"Don't you have something to do?"

Steve chuckled, "I'm going to run to the store for a couple things for the sink. Nothing too major. Do you need me to pick anything up?"

"Yeah, why don't you just grab anything you think we could need. No use having you run back and forth all day, so here," Darry got his wallet from his back pocket and handed Steve some cash, "Just grab what you think could be necessary and we'll go from there."

"Alright, I'll be back in an hour," Steve left the kitchen and walked through the living room, "Two-Bit you're scrubbing, I'm so proud of you."

"Thanks Steve," Two-Bit shot him a goofy grin.

"I should take a picture for your mom. Little Keith's first cleaning all by himself," Steve laughed as he walked out the front door.

Soda was having a rough day. He knew what was going on downstairs, and it was messing with his head. He would open his bedroom door, walk to the stairs and listen in for a minute. All he heard was everyone talking about cleaning something or what needed to be fixed up. He had gotten past the anger phase, and was just sad. Every time he'd go back to his room, he'd break down on his bed again. He couldn't take it, but he didn't want anyone to see him leave the house. He knew he'd make more of a point being upstairs in his room than out of the house. He just knew it'd bother Darry more.

Peeking out his window, he watched as Steve drove away. Shortly after, his door opened and Darry walked in.

"Hey buddy, I made you a sandwich," Darry set the plate on the side table.

"Where's Steve going?" Soda asked.

"To the hardware store."

Soda shook his head, walked to his bed and grabbed the sandwich. He couldn't deny he was hungry. "Just go please."

"Okay," Darry softly said, turning to leave.

Steve drove to the hardware store and began walking around grabbing tools and materials. Thankfully, the house didn't seem in too bad of shape, considering the type of people that would be interested in it. He was feeling bummed Soda was hiding upstairs, and was debating if he'd go up and talk to him at all. He was hoping they could get on decent terms so he could sleep in a bed again.

As Steve walked around, he took a sharp turn into an aisle and bumped into another shopper, dropping some items on the floor with obnoxious bangs.

"I'm so sorry," Steve hurried to the floor and gathered everything, "I'm in a hurry, I'm sorry I wasn't looking."

"Oh it's fine, no harm done."

Steve was taken back for a moment by the oddly feminine voice in the hardware store. He looked up. She was really pretty. She had long, strawberry blonde hair and dark eyes. Maybe it was the lack of friendship going on for him, but she was really something.

"Here," Steve handed some stuff over to her and picked up his basket of items.

"Thanks," she smiled, "It's really my fault. I should've been smart and grabbed a basket, but I didn't think I'd be grabbing so many things."

"Well here, just throw it in mine," Steve offered, "I have to walk through the majority of the store anyway, so I'll follow you."

"Really? Are you sure?" she asked.

"It's really not a problem," Steve smiled letting her place her things in the basket. Talking to a pretty girl would be a nice break for Steve, even if it was going to be short-lived. He followed her around and began watching the items she was picking out.

"Are you working on a car?"

She looked up at Steve with a grin, "Yeah, kind of. My dad passed away not too long ago, and he always had my grandpa's old car in our garage. I miss both of them a lot, and I shared their interest in cars, so I thought I'd work on it some. Maybe help the grieving process, you know?"

"That's awesome," Steve shook his head after saying that, "Sorry, not about your dad. That part sucks, I'm sorry to hear that."

She let out a giggle, "Thanks. Him and my grandpa taught me a lot about cars, but I had never actually worked on one by myself, so it's a challenge for me."

"What kind of car is it?" Steve asked.

"It's a mustang."

"Really? Those are tuff cars. I haven't had a chance to work on very many."

"Oh, you like messing around with cars too?"

"Yeah, I actually work at the DX. I love working on cars."

"That's cool," she said, "I know of the DX, but I haven't been there much. I live a little more North." Steve was relieved to hear she at least wasn't a Soc. She was middle class, but that didn't completely ruin his chance.

"Oh yeah, that's a nice area. Well, I know you said you wanted to work on it yourself, but I'll come help if you need any. Or I can just come watch and check on things."

"Are you trying to spend some time with me?"

"Maybe. Is it working?"

She smiled, "Maybe. It might help if I know your name."

"I'm Steve."

"I'm Lexi. Maybe having an expert keep an eye on me, give some input and such, would be helpful."

"I'd love to."

Lexi smiled, "Even though I probably don't need it that bad."

Steve smiled back, "Watching a pretty girl work on a car though, I'd love to see that."

"Wouldn't be so pretty then. I'd be getting all dirty and greasy. You think you can handle that out of a girl?"

"Absolutely."

"Great. Are you free later?"

Steve bit his lip, "I'm not sure. I'm kind of helping a friend fix up his house today. That's why I'm here."

"Wow, double trouble. You can fix cars and houses."

"Well," Steve chuckled, "I can do some basic house stuff. I like learning how things work. I like working with my hands."

"I enjoy working with my hands too," Lexi winked, "Well how about this, I'll let you keep helping your friend, because I don't want you to break your promise over a chest and ass."

"Do you think I've looked at your ass?"

"You followed me around the store," Lexi smirked, "I know you weren't checking out my shoes."

"Maybe I'm a shoe guy," Steve shrugged.

"Uh huh, okay," Lexi laughed as they walked to the register, "How about Monday then?"

"Sure, I can come by after work."

"Alright sounds great Steve."

Steve felt his heart quicken. Maybe this wouldn't be short-lived. As they walked outside back to their cars, Lexi wrote her address and number on a piece of paper. "I'll see you Monday?"

"Yeah, I'll give you a call when I'm leaving work."

"Awesome."

"Oh, and Lexi?" Steve asked.

"What?"

"What color is the mustang?"

Lexi looked confused, "Black."

Steve shrugged, "I can work with it."

"Does it matter?" she giggled.

"You'd look better against a green car," Steve winked as he got in his car.

The gang got a lot done that day. Darry was pleased with it. He ordered a lot of pizza and handed plates around.

"You guys have no idea how thankful I am for this," Darry said sincerely.

"Of course Darry," Two-Bit said, "Just don't tell my mom."

"Are we coming back tomorrow?" Dally asked.

Darry thought for a minute, "I don't think I'll need you guys. Steve and I can finish everything else."

"Just call us if you do," Two-Bit chimed in, "Oh hey Soda, did you smell the pizza?"

Darry turned and saw Soda at the bottom of the stairs. "Hey buddy. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah," Soda nodded. He grabbed himself a plate and some pizza. He sat on the couch next to Dally and began eating. Steve was on the floor, and glanced down at his lap, feeling slightly down Soda didn't sit next to him.

"How are you feeling Soda?" Steve asked.

"Fine," Soda simply replied.

"Well, I'm going to take off," Dally said, "I better go find Johnny. I'll see y'all later."

When Dally left, Steve looked up at Soda again. "Is it fine if I sleep with you tonight?"

"I never kicked you out," Soda commented.

Steve bit his tongue. He knew Soda never verbally said he couldn't share the bed anymore, but his actions made it clear he didn't want to sleep together.

Meeting Lexi made taking the pill a lot easier. Steve didn't say anything to anyone about her, but he was pretty excited. As Soda and Steve settled into bed together, Steve almost regretted it as the tension was high.

"Soda, I really don't want you to stay mad at me."

"I'm not mad."

Steve rolled his eyes, "Sure, okay."

"We'll be fine, okay?" Soda asked, "Obviously I'm not going to change Darry's mind, so I'll have to figure it out myself. We're fine though."

"Okay, thanks buddy," Steve replied, unsure if he believed him.

A/N: Forgive me y'all, I know very little about cars, so her answer on her grandpa's car being a mustang just seemed like a fitting enough answer. Hopefully there's no car-lovers yelling at me through their computer screens! Please review :)