Disclaimer: Well I've tried, but S.E. Hinton won't republish The Outsiders in my name, so I guess it's all still hers....

By the way, y'all are FABULOUS! I love you for the reviews! Thank you, thank you. Feel free to keep it up... wink.

The next morning I was again awakened before I was ready to get up, this time by my mom calling, "Amie sweet heart wake-up, it's ten and I've got to get into bed before I collapse. I need you out of the house so I can sleep without you waking me." She next woke Johnny in a similar fashion.

I grabbed some clothes and headed to the bathroom to get ready for the day. When I emerged fifteen minutes later I was disappointed to learn Johnny's presence had been replaced by Two-Bit's. "So how was your night?" I smirked. His hair was tousled, he needed to shave, and there were bags under his eyes that made me wonder if he had gotten any sleep at all.

"It was just dandy" he said, cheerful despite his state. "What about yours? I saw Johnny leavin'." My heart stopped. There was something in his voice that made me fear he had guessed what I had refused to tell him the night before. He stared at me intently for a minute then cried, "I knew it; it's Johnny! This is tuff, kid. Really tuff, Amie."

"Just what is so tuff about it?"

"What do you mean?" he sobered at my negativity. "Johnny's a good guy."

"I know that."

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem, Two-Bit, is that whether I like Johnny or not, he doesn't like me as anything more than a friend."

"But... Yeah he does."

"Don't be stupid. And Two-Bit, you tell anyone about this, I mean anyone an' I'll use your own blade on ya. I mean that."

"Alright, but Amie just listen for a second-"

"No, I don't want to talk about it anymore. Please just drop it. I'm gonna go over to the DX and see Steve and Soda, ok?"

"Sure, you don't have to ask me. I'll catch ya later, Am."

"Bye." I called over my shoulder from the street. The walk wasn't long and I barely had time to think about Two-Bit knowing my secret before I was there.

Soda was working the counter inside surrounded by three girls who were giggling madly every time he spoke. Upon seeing me he hopped over the counter and spun me around in a hug. "Help" he whispered in my ear, but I knew he loved all the attention girls gave him.

"Alright, if you're sure-"I continued a plan forming, "then kiss me."

He looked at me startled then seeing the mischief in my eyes grinned and obeyed. The second the girls stormed out he stopped and declared, "Amie, you're a genius!"

I laughed but my head swam. As much as I cared about Johnny, and believe me I did, more than ever lately, you can't just get kissed by Soda and recover the next moment. Not under any circumstances. That's the power he holds over girls. It's amazing really.

"Ya know, Amie, you're a pretty good kisser" he smirked and I hit his arm.

"Seriously, Soda, I just helped you out so now you help me and don't tell- "I started to say Johnny but caught myself and finished, "anyone." I didn't know what I'd do if Johnny heard and got the wrong idea. It would ruin any hope I still held onto about him ever returning my feelings.

"I won't tell Johnny" he assured expression serious, and I gaped at him.

"How? What-"I struggled.

"You're sort of obvious. Well not to him, but to anyone else that pays attention" he grinned and I fought to comprehend this new information.

"I don't think I can take this many people knowin', Soda." I sat on the counter next to the cash register and put my head in my hands.

"Don't sweat it, we'll all know eventually anyway."

"Why?"

"Amie, darlin', you're too busy starin' at him to realize he's starin' back." There it was, for the second time that day it was suggested that Johnny liked me. Though I had to fight not to tell Soda he was out of his damn mind, I realized he wouldn't lie to me. Not about anything, especially not this, and yet I didn't dare believe him. I wouldn't be able to survive the rejection if he were wrong.

"I..." I said unable to think. "No, he doesn't. He wouldn't. He's got no reason to."

"What do you mean no reason to? Amie you're beautiful. I think we all stare sometimes, we not Two-Bit but you know what I mean. Anyway with Johnny it's different. He really digs you, doll."

Thankfully a customer came in that minute and Soda had to help them because I wouldn't have known what to say. This was all news to me and apparently I wasn't even aware of it when people looked at me. I was pretty convinced I was cracking up and I numbly hopped off the counter in search of Steve. I found him in the garage, head under the hood of a car, singing to the radio loudly and surprisingly not too off key.

"Hey, Stevie" I greeted knowing he wouldn't get sappy and talk to me about love. "What's shakin'?"

"Eh, not much" he shrugged but from his demeanor I could tell he was in good spirits. Somethin' about cars relaxes him; I guess 'cause he's in total control. Whether that's why or not, he was the least tensed up I'd seen him in awhile. Though he never let on, I knew the fights with his old man were getting worse. "Whatcha up to? Causing the usual trouble?"

"I suppose. Can't really help it if I am, I never try." I went along with this notion. Anything was better than letting my mind wander. "How's Evie doin'? She hasn't been around lately."

"Don't really care right now."

"Y'all have a fight?" "Naw, I'm just getting' sick of puttin' up with her. I mean she's good for some fun, but- aw, I don't really even care."

"But y'all seemed really close. I thought you were really into her."

"Oh I was." He grinned roguishly and I blushed slightly and rolled my eyes at the way he turned my words around. You get used to dirty jokes living with a bunch of boys.

"That ain't what I meant, Steve, an' you know it."

"Yeah I know. We're just not getting' along so well lately, an' it don't seem worth tryin' to work it out" he said with finality that prevented me from commenting further. I had never like Evie all that much anyways. I could take that she was trashy, most of the boys' girls were, but she was manipulative. 'Sides, she had never been too nice to me, so I had reason not to like her.

"On that note, I'm gonna go con Soda out of a Pepsi or two. I'll catch ya later, Steve."

"Later, kid" he called, then his expression softening in a rare vulnerable moment said, "thanks for listenin'." I nodded and smiled heading back to Soda.

"Couldn't stay away?" he smirked at me running his hands through his hair cockily, "They never can."

"'Specially when they want ya to give them a Pepsi" I countered. He obliged opening it on the cash register edge before handing it over. "What time is it, anyway?" I questioned at the sight of him flipping the sign on the door to closed.

"Just about quittin' time."

"Well hot damn, time flies." I mused turning up the radio. "Dance with me, Sodapop." I half asked half commanded though I didn't have to coax him. That boy loves dancin' and just about anything that takes energy come to think of it. I didn't notice the DX door open, but suddenly I was spun into Johnny. I looked him over for a second then grabbing his hands said, "Come on, dance."

It wasn't until the end of the song that I realized how bold I had been. I didn't regret it at all.