About a month passed and everything was better, even though it was Monday and I had to go to work. Out of habit, I drove by the Curtis house to pick up Soda and drive him to the DX. Darry's truck was missing, so I assumed that he had already left for work. When I casually walked through the door, I saw Ponyboy curled up on the couch with a bowl of cereal resting in his lap. He looked up at me from the old black-and-white movie flashing on the TV and smiled a little.

"Hey, Steve," Pony said. I wondered briefly why he wasn't at school. Darry was never keen to let Pony stay home unless he was sick or it was under certain circumstances, like after he and Johnny had run away after killing that Soc. I took a closer look at Pony's face. He didn't look sick.

"Hi, Ponyboy," I responded slowly. Pony tilted his head slightly, clearly curious of why I was staring at him. As much as the kid annoys me, I could read him pretty well. Kind of like the books he always desperately clings to. I looked away quickly and stared at the TV. I couldn't tell what movie the kid was watching, so I looked back at Pony. "Where's Soda?" I asked him.

"His room," Pony said, looking back at the TV.

"Thanks," I said, walking down the hall and opening a door near the end. Soda's room was a bit dirty since he was rarely in it, and when he was he was usually in a hurry and needed something. Since Soda spent most of his day at the DX and outside, and then slept in Ponyboy's room, it had begun to become a bit dusty. Soda had told me he liked it that way and that he wouldn't let Darry clean it. I didn't understand it, but Soda seemed to like it.

After the Curtises parents died and Soda started sleeping in Pony's room, the gang started sleeping in Soda's room for a night or two if they needed a place to stay. By gang, I mostly mean Dally. Buck usually let him stay in a spare room, but since Dally got so drunk and ended up spending most the day in bed, ordering Buck around for food, eventually Buck would get fed up and kick Dally out. As his second choice, Dally would come to the Curtises and stay in Soda's room since me or Johnny were already staying on the couch.

Soda was sprawled out on the bed, his hands clasped behind his head and his eyes glued to the crack on the ceiling. He looked at me when I entered the room and a smile slowly spread over his face. I returned the grin, then made my way over to Soda and sat on the bed. Slowly, Soda sat up.

"Hey, man!" he grinned. Soda winced slightly and raised a hand to his ribcage, but he was still grinning. He looked me over quickly. "You headin' to work?"

I nodded. "You look like you're ready to go, Soda," I said sarcastically. Soda was only wearing a wrinkled white t-shirt and a pair of boxers. I wondered why I wasn't bothered by being in the room with him while he was only partially dressed. It was probably because Soda always ran around in his underwear or a towel. His hair was stuck out at odd angles, which I assumed was because he had probably been lounging around in bed all morning. Soda chuckled and smirked.

"I'm not goin' today," he said. "My rib was killin' me, so Darry's letting me stay. Darry also let Pony stay home with me, for company I guess."

So that explained why Ponyboy was still in the living room.

"So, you're not coming to work then?" I asked stupidly. Soda nodded and looked over at an old clock that he had tacked to his wall.

"It's almost ten, man," Soda sighed. "You're gonna be late if ya stay much longer."

"Okay." I got up and gave Soda a small grin. He smiled and laid on his back, then rolled onto his side that didn't have his broken rib. I left so that he could sleep. He looked really pale.

After about a half-hour's drive, I pulled up to the DX and got out of my truck. My heart sank a little when I realized I'd be working my shift alone today. It sank a little more when I realized that my boss would probably have me work Soda's shift, since Soda and I were the only two who worked there.

I wouldn't be completely alone, at least. There were the occasional customers who came in. Also the group of girls who came by after school was over to flirt with Soda.

So, I stepped through the threshold of the DX reluctantly. Today was going to be fun.

Luckily, I didn't have to take Soda's shift, but my boss made me stay an hour later for being late, anyway. I didn't mind much, but when Soda's admirers came in around three I wasn't all that excited.

"Sorry, Soda's not here today," I told them, pleased when half the group groaned. Those girls were so annoying. I don't understand how Soda can put up with them.

The group began to leave, disappointment etched on all the girls faces. Well, almost all of them. One of the girls stood there, her sparkling light brown eyes fixed on me. Blonde hair touched her shoulders from the ponytail on top of her head. It was a light blonde, not bleached, but more like the color Dally's had been - lightened by too much time spent in the sun. She turned to leave with the girls when she saw me looking at her.

"Hey, wait," I said suddenly. She turned around, a look of slight surprise on her face.

"What?"

"What's your name?"

"Kristy," she answered shyly, looking at the floor.

"I'm Steve." I looked at her with a small smirk and Kristy's cheeks turned a light shade of pink. She was really pretty.

"I really need to go," she said hurriedly. "I'm not supposed to be here, and if my brother finds out I am. . ." Kristy stopped mid-sentence and shuffled towards the door.

"How about you meet me back here around six?" I asked. It was a spur of the moment question and since I might not see Kristy again, what was there to lose?"

Kristy turned around once again and looked at me, a small smile creeping onto her pink lips. "Make it five forty or I won't show."

It was five thirty-eight and I was pacing in front of the doors at the DX. I was nervous. Why was I nervous? I'd gone on plenty of dates before so why was sweat starting to bead on my back?

Was I wearing too little hair grease? Too much? I ran a hand through my palm and examined my hand.

Too much.

Would she like me? Would I embarrass her? What if she forgot and doesn't come?

I looked through the window at the clock inside - 5:39.

Breath check. I blew air into my hand and sniffed. Not that bad.

Clothes check. I looked down at my weathered denim vest and grey shirt. At least there isn't a hole in my jeans. . . Wait. . . Never mind.

I looked up and - Just run before she sees you! - Kristy was strolling down the road towards me.

She hadn't changed her outfit from earlier that day, but the dimming sunlight bouncing off her ivory skin made her look different. She was breathtaking.

Kristy stopped in front of me, tugging at her bottom lip lightly with her teeth. I couldn't say anything. She looked up at me, her eyebrows disappearing behind the bangs hiding her forehead.

"Hi," she said.

I couldn't say anything other than, "You look beautiful." Kristy's face lit up at my comment, a light pink dusting over her cheeks. After a moment, she recovered and her cheeks returned to their natural color.

"Thanks," she responded coolly, shoving her hands into her jeans pockets.

"Okay," I said with a small sigh, rubbing my sweat-covered palms on my jeans. Kristy nodded and we both started walking down the sidewalk.

I didn't really plan what we were going to do for this date, since I was too worried about how much grease was in my hair and whether Kristy would come or not. We decided to go see a movie.

Kristy had dragged me to the back row, which was surprisingly empty. Couples usually took refuge there to make out while everyone in the theater was occupied watching the movie. Kristy dragging me there probably should have been my first clue she didn't want to watch the movie. I decided I didn't want to either.

The movie theater was the only place Kristy and I went, but I was driving her home in my truck a quarter to eleven, anyway. I thought the date went well - if you consider sticking to basically the same thing all night fun. But I enjoyed it. . . a lot.

Kristy didn't speak much while I drove, so I decided to ask her something.

"Earlier, you said you brother didn't want you at the DX. Why?" It was a bit personal - probably a bit too personal to ask someone you spent the last four hours doing nothing but making out with. what harm would it do, though?

Kristy stayed silent, so I guessed she wasn't going to answer. She responded a few seconds later. "He's just. . . over-protective. He doesn't like me hanging around people like you."

"You mean greasers?" Kristy nodded. "We're not hoods, unlike what most people say. Well, a few are, but I'm not." Kristy looked at me and smiled.

Kristy told me to pull over, so I did. We were stopped in front of one of the nicer neighborhoods on the west side of town. A lot of Socs lived there. Kristy got out of the truck.

"We should do this again," she grinned, giving me a sideways glance through the open window.

"I'd like that," I said with a smirk. Kristy nodded and took a step up the road, smiling. "G'night," I called after her. Kristy gave me a small wave and kept walking. I pressed my foot on the gas petal and started driving.

I'm dating a Soc.