Disclaimer: S.E. Hinton owns the Outsiders. Rascal Flatts own the song. I own Sam.

Ch. 5 - Movin' On

I've dealt with my ghosts and I've faced all my demons

Finally content with a past I regret

I've found you find strength in your moments of weakness

For once I'm at peace with myself

Soda's P.O.V.

I felt like the day was dragging on as I went about my business. I'd pump gas, ring up customers, take their money, wander around. Then I'd do it all over again. Daytime is mostly pretty slow, but it's a good time to get the shop work done. So I took that time to restock and refill, even cleaned a bit here and there.

I hadn't seen a customer in a good 5 mintues, so I decided to head back to the shop and see how things are going. As I stepped in, Sam turned and smiled at me and the nervous energy I'd been missing lately suddenly came back to me, all in a heap. I grunted my greeting and went over to investigate.

For the first time in a long time, I gave the roller that Steve was working on under the car a good hard push and sent him flying across the floor of the shop, much to his dismay. He managed to stop himself before he went flying into the tire directly behind him, and I expected him to come over and wallop me a good one, but he didn't. He shot up like a bat out of hell and grinned about as wide as I've ever seen.

It didn't hit me until Sam and I burst into hysterics how hard I'd really been taking things and how much it affected the people that I love. I decided right then and there, hunched over laughing at my best friend, that I was done being sad. I was done being down and hurting the people I love. It's not right, and it's not gonna happen anymore.

"So," I started, "what's going on in here?"

Sam stepped forward and started to babble on about all the things she'd done that day, how she school Steve in rebuilding a carburetor but how he could rip hubcaps off better than anyone she'd ever known, and how that was sayin' something.

I felt a bit of a tease session coming on, part of my fun nature, I guess, and with a smile said, "Glory, girl, you can talk! I ain't never met someone who can ramble on like you, 'cept maybe Two-bit, but I think you've even got him beat."

At that moment, I heard a loud crash from the other room and scrambled out of the shop with Steve and Sam close behind, only to find Two-bit himself running around the store chasing after the chocolate bars he'd knocked over. Ponyboy was behind him looking embarrassed, but amused, nonetheless.

Two-bit shot up when we came in and quickly turned red. "Well, jeez, if I knew all I had to do was knock over a display to meet a gorgeous girl, I'd have been here a long time ago!"

Now it was Sam's turn to be red in the face, and she did so in a manner much more graceful than Two-bit. She stuck out her hand like she had this morning and again in her bright voice said, "Sam. Nice to meet you."

"Two-bit," came the reply, and a polite handshake.

"And you are?" she asked, directing it Pony's way.

"Ponyboy." That boy was too quiet. But right now, I think he was more astonished because he was looking at me like I had 2 heads, only briefly looking at Sam to answer her question. "Soda? Soda! How are you? Are you having a good day? What's going on?"

I smiled and laughed and his astonished face only became moreso. And for the first time in some months, Ponyboy looked really happy, even if we were picking up chocolate bars off a dirty floor. It sure was nice to see him happy.

I spent the next 20 minutes or so listening to Two-bit and Sam banter back and forth, sharing stories and jokes, laughing a lot. Pony interjected more than I'd heard him in quite some time and even Steve looked happier than normal. And when Pony and Two-bit left, I felt a smile creep across my face because I knew things were on their way back to normal, all because of a girl I never expected to meet. Now I just had to figure out why.

The rest of the afternoon passed pretty quickly, with me thinking about lots of stuff and Steve and Sam doing their thing in the shop. It was nearing 5 so I started cleaning things up and doing the end-of-day routine. Wonder what Darry's making for dinner, I thought absently. Maybe Sam would like to come? I'd sure like to get to know her.

When 5-o' clock finally rolled around, I washed up and headed into the shop to get Steve. When I saw Sam again, it was like my heart stopped. I couldn't get enough of this feeling!

"Steve, it's 5. Let's go. Darry's making dinner tonight."

"Alright," he replied. "I'll go wash up." And off he went, leaving Sam and I to ourselves in the grungy shop.

"So, Sam," I began tentatively, shaken by the fact that I was nervous. "What are your plans for tonight?"

"I've got a load of laundry with my name all over it," she replied. "Not too exciting, huh?" She laughed.

What an amazing laugh. I think I could listen to it all day long.

"Would you like to come to our house for dinner? It probalby won't be anything real special, but Darry's a pretty good cook. He doesn't have my abilities with food coloring, though. The food might be boring." I paused to let the idea of colored food sink in, but it seemed like Sam was no stranger to the idea.

"Blue mashed potatoes are my favorite!" She squealed.

Oh my god, I think I'm in love. Seriously.

"Well, then you'll have to come over some night I'm cooking, but you're welcome tonight too. The gang will probably show up, so you can see Two-bit again. Darry and Pony will be there for sure."

"Well," she started, a bit hesitant, "I guess that laundry can wait. My brothers won't be home until late tonight, so dinner sounds great! Plus, I'd like to meet this Darry, if he thinks he can take care of a guy like you and Pony too. Must be a brave man." She paused, seeming to think about that bravery. Then an evil smirk overtook her face. "Or a crazy one!"

With that, she flounced out of the room before I could grab her and...well, I don't know what. But she was gone in a jiffy, in the back washing up with Steve.

This is going to be an interesting night.