Oh, wow. Hi. It's only been a few months ... I really have no excuse for updating, other than I hit a dry spell. But here it is, chapter eleven. I should be wrapping this up fairly soon, though. Probably just one more chapter to go.

Well, anyway, a big, big, big thanks to Queen Jane Approximately for editing this for me so many months ago. It was a giant help. :)

A few disclaimers: As always, I do not own The Outsiders, written by S.E. Hinton, and am not making any profit off of this. I also don't own Wild Horses, written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and preformed by The Rolling Stones. The song 1921, written by Pete Townshend for the rock opera Tommy, and performed by The Who does not, in any way, shape, or form, belong to me.

Enjoy! Reviews are love. :)

I watched you suffer a dull aching pain
Now you decided to show me the same
No sweeping exits or offstage lines
Could make me feel bitter or treat you unkind

If there were three women Evie wished she looked like, it was Rita Hayworth with her curls, Marilyn Monroe with that smile that just beamed -- almost yelling to the world that she was on top of it. She was ready for anything! And then there was Jackie Kennedy, the

President's widow, who even after her husband's death, had retained a style and grace than any girl would envy. She remembered the President's death vividly. She'd just stopped by the school supply store to buy some paper when she overheard some girls going over the various rumors that had found their way through the school. It was a North Korean that had snuck into the country just to kill our president! It was a whole conspiracy and the vice president was behind it!

It was only an hour later that Mrs. Dubose came in, tears streaming down her face. "President Kennedy has been shot in Dallas." That was all she had to say for a silent, stunned audience -- the most attentive she'd ever seen her class.

Evie remembered feeling horrid after hearing the news. The poor First Lady …

And yet the woman continued to be a thing of class and beauty, and Evie admired her endlessly for it. If there were three women she wished she looked like, she'd take Rita's name and hair, Marilyn's smile and charm, and Jackie's class and style.

But a girl like Evie knew she'd never have any of those things. She was pretty, but not beautiful. She had a nice smile, but not one that beamed. She had nice clothes, but they were mostly homemade; she could never match the fashions of the former first lady.

So maybe that explained why she clung to Steve so desperately, why she was so afraid to lose him. He was the one thing she'd always had. She was the little girl that had always hung around his door step, the teenage girl with more attitude than height, and the girl who became Steve's first kiss. It had just always been that way.

Even people like Tommy, who treated her with unconditional kindness, couldn't change that.

Could they?

XxXxX

Evie marched up the stairs as she did every day after work. The trip down in the morning was fine, but after being on her feet all day at the salon, and then trudging up six flights of stairs, her legs were ready to give in by the time she got home.

But today, nothing -- absolutely nothing -- could keep a smile from her face. College! He'd actually been accepted into a college. Sure, it was community, but he had made it. And, to be honest, it wasn't like she'd never had her doubts. Steve had always been such a hard worker in school -- he'd even canceled a few dates (one or two every so often) to study for a test or a final -- but still, she'd couldn't help but wonder sometimes. No matter how hard he'd worked, he'd always gotten B's and C's, with an occasional A. Nothing exceptional; average.

And yet he'd made it. Evie was proud of him, too. Steve had come into the salon at lunch to tell her. He had the letters with him and that big, lopsided grin he always wore.

The only thing that had troubled her was … No, that didn't matter. It was typical, wasn't it? Good news always meant a few rounds with the guys. Why wouldn't it have been any different with Steve? He'd just had some of the best news of his life: why not go drinking? It wasn't like he'd been drinking constantly since October. And it'd been seven months since the intervention.

No, she merely thought she smelled it on him. And even if she had smelled it, it wasn't anything to worry about. Another thought for another day.

As Evie settled onto the couch and rested her legs from the climb, looking forward to an evening on her own, Susan came into the small sitting room, grinning from ear to ear.

"Big date?" Evie asked, closing her eyes.

"Not for me, for you."

"Me? What do you mean?" Evie raised her eyebrow in that way Two-Bit had taught her.

Suzy dug through her purse until she pulled out a piece of loose-leaf. She cleared her throat and read: "'I'll pick you up at six. Dress up. It's important.' He told me to read it just like that. Six o'clock sharp."

"What else could he possibly have to tell me? I though I'd gotten all the good news I could get for one day."

"Well, obviously not," Suzy said in the obnoxious, matter-of-fact way she had. "You should get ready. It's already five."

Evie rolled her eyes and glanced first at the clock, then at those heels she'd been wearing all day -- the heels she'd have to wear again for her date.

"I'm going, I'm going," she grumbled.

XxXxX

Evie stepped out of her room and sighed. She couldn't seem to get herself to look nice enough, no matter how hard she tried. That one strand of hair at the top of her head was driving her nuts. No matter how she tried to spray it down, it just wouldn't stay. Her feet would be swollen by the end of the night from those damned heels, and her dress just didn't want to sit right on her. She could only hope she looked decent.

Where could Steve even take her that required her to look this nice? Nowhere either of them could afford.

The clock was on the six exactly as Evie sat down, waiting for Steve's loud knock on the door.

Six-o-one and Suzy sat next to her, still smiling, but looking pensive. Finally, she spoke. "Evie, consider the proposition before you actually accept it."

"What?" But Evie hadn't any time to consider her roommate's words, as Steve's loud bang of a knock came from the other side of the door.

"Oh, nothing. Good luck, Evie. I won't be home until two -- I'm working at Buck's tonight."

Evie nodded and smiled. "How do I look?"

"Lovely." There was a slight tone in Susan's voice that Evie couldn't place. Envy? Sarcasm? Sadness? She really hadn't any idea.

The knock came once more, louder, more impatient. "Bye, Su!" And with that, Evie was out the door and into Steve's tight embrace. He kissed her lightly, holding her in one arm and closing the door with his free hand.

"Shall we?" Steve offered her his arm and they began their descent down the six flights of stairs.

XxXxX

"Steve, the diner?" So she'd been right. There were no extravagant restaurants that either of them could afford to go to. Just the dinner where they were both overdressed. Steve was wearing a suit and tie, something she hadn't seen him in since their prom. Evie had on her best -- and favorite -- dress. The rest of the visitors and regulars were in the same clothes they'd worn to work or school. But still, Evie was wondering what could have been so important that Steve had asked her to dress her best.

Steve gave her a sheepish smile. "Well, it was where we went on our first date ..."

He actually remembered that? That had been five years ago ... And neither of them had looked anywhere as nice as they did now.

"Let's find a seat," Steve said, taking her hand and leading her to the back of the diner.

The London Family Diner was a small, shabby place that had been sitting in the same location since the early 50's. No matter how shabby the place appearance, it brought in regulars, travelers, and everything in between. Given the diner's reputation, it was no surprise to any regular to see a couple come in dressed up as both Steve and Evie were. So, the two made their way to the far back of the diner, their orders already in their minds before the waitress could get to them.

As soon as their orders were taken, however, Steve and Evie had run out of things to discuss. Evie was beginning to roll tiny napkin paper balls and Steve was shifting nervously.

"Anything bugging you?" Evie finally asked.

"Uh … nothing. It's just really hot in here is all."

If you asked Evie, the place was too cold for her liking. Finally, the food came and they ate in silence. Had they gotten this dressed up for absolutely nothing? Evie finished her dinner and waited, in boredom, for Steve to finish his. She tried to make small conversation as he ate, but abandoned that idea when she couldn't think of anything. She fiddled with the tablecloth, wiggled her feet, trying to get comfortable in her shoes, and hummed to the song on the radio. None of those things seemed to work, as the time passed slower than ever. At last, Steve finished his meal.

They left in silence as soon as the check was paid. A whole night wasted dressing up. It wasn't like she hadn't appreciated the dinner … it was just that she'd wasted time putting on her best dress and making sure she looked nice.

Evie fiddled with the radio, switching from James Taylor to The Who and stared out the window. After a while, she noticed they were driving closer to the high school.

"Steve, where're we going?"

"You'll see." He sounded more excited now than he'd seemed all night.

Evie took her station back at the window, humming to the Who song that she didn't actually know. I had no reason to be over optimistic, but somehow when you smiled I could brave bad weather.

As the song ended, Evie felt the car stop. Were they there already? She waited for Steve to open the door and let her out and then followed his lead. They were at the high school by the hill.

Shit. Evie though. I'm not climbing up that thing in these heels.

"Hang on … I'm taking my shoes off." She did so, and the grass felt nice on her bare feet as Evie continued following Steve.

Finally, at the top of the hill, Steve stopped. It overlooked the football field where they used to go to watch the games.

She felt Steve's hand move to the small of her back and smiled. She still couldn't understand why they'd dressed up, but it felt nice. And Steve seemed happy -- actually, he seemed completely giddy. Finally, he turned to her and knelt down, his right hand behind his back and his left holding hers.

Evie's stomach dropped a good mile and she tried desperately to catch her breath. Or at least keep from crying.

"Yes!"

Steve gave her a crooked smile and laughed. That same booming laugh that she'd tried to forget months ago. How could she try to forget that? "I haven't even asked yet."

"Well, my answer is yes, no matter what."

He smiled again and took a deep breath. "Evelyn Jane Kerrigan, will you marry me?"

"Of course!" She didn't even attempt to hold back any tears as Steve, a sober, smiling Steve, hugged her.

Evie smiled again and held tightly to Steve as he tried to slip the ring onto her finger. Everything that had happened over the last five years seemed so minor, so insignificant. From an angry teenage boy to a hot-headed soldier, a depressed, angry war veteran to a drunk and an addict … and now a smiling, happy fiancé. For now, their trials, their past, and everything that had happened over the last few months were behind them. Nothing else in the world mattered.