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Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.

I read through this very quickly, and it was only proofread once. Sorry about any mistakes I missed.

Oh, also, I changed the summary for the story because I felt that the previous one didn't fit well. So, read that if you want, and tell me what you think of it.

Thank you(: & revieww.

Two weeks later, when February sixth rolled around, Steve planned a very special date for Friday. Sure, they'd hung out plenty, kissed countless times now, but still; Steve didn't particularly feel that he should call Friday his girlfriend until he'd officially asked and she agreed. So, that's exactly what he was going to do.

In all honesty, Steve wasn't the brightest when it came to being… romantic. He planned on asking Friday to be his girlfriend just by taking her to the park, nearby the lake. It was real pretty there, and Friday didn't generally ask for much. It would be passable, wouldn't it? It wasn't like he was proposing to the girl or anything.

So, once Friday had finished her lessons during the evening and Steve had done his fair share of job-hunting, he went straight to Friday's house. It was dark, though not late. Only eight PM, but still, he hoped Randal wasn't around. After nearly three weeks of him and Friday going out on dates, Randal has still not warmed up to him. Steve figured he was just in obsessive-overprotective-brother mode, but it still annoyed him.

Thankfully, when Steve rapped his knuckles against Friday's front door, she answered.

"Oh, hey Steve," she said, looking surprised. "What're you doing here?"

"Surprise date?" he offered kindly. Friday glanced over her shoulder first, then nodded in agreement.

"My brother'll be home 'round ten, though," said Friday.

"Two hour's plenty," said Steve, helping Friday into his car. Friday sat down wordlessly, then gazed around, a bit dreamily.

"Your car's real nice," she commented.

Steve activated the engine and started down the road. "It's a real grease ball."

"Kinda like you?" teased Friday, who was opening and then closing the window relentlessly.

"Yeah, kinda like me," agreed Steve, smiling. "Don't mess around with the window. Could get stuck."

The car ride was slow and awkward; Steve could literally feel the tension lingering in the air. Friday wasn't speaking much, which was unusual, so Steve sensed something was the matter.

"Hey, what's goin' on, kid?" he said as he stopped his car nearby the park.

"Nothin'…" said Friday solemnly.

Steve cocked an eyebrow, unenthused with her answer. Friday took site of his expression and sighed, relenting.

"My dad came 'round today."

Steve hesitated. "Didn't know you had one," he said slowly.

"I-I don't," said Friday underneath her breath. "Dunno who he thinks he is. He stopped by and asked my Ma for money, that's it. I haven't seen him in nearly two years, but today…" She sighed, fingers on her temples. "Sorry," she added suddenly.

"Hey, it's all right. Don't be," said Steve. He reached over to Friday carefully, then brought his arm around her shoulder. "Your old man sounds as bad as mine," he offered.

"Yours?" said Friday, looking up at him.

"Yea. He used to push me around some… literally. Not so much anymore, not since I got older, but…" He shrugged and tightened his grip on Friday.

"Oh…" said Friday, who looked ashamed. If Steve had been hit as a kid, what was she complaining about?

It was quiet, so Steve said, "Hey Friday, mind if I ask you something?" He stopped and gazed out his windshield at the park. The lake was nearby, and it was pretty in the dark, but it probably would've been prettier if they actually left the car. "Why don't we get outta the car?" he added.

"Oh, um… Yea. Okay," agreed Friday, who still seemed a little bit depressed. Steve grinned and took her hand, helping her from the car. She appreciated this, and awarded him with a peck on the cheek, which made the hairs on Steve's neck bristle.

"Wait here," said Steve as they sat by the lake. He went back to his car, Friday waiting near the lake with her toes dipped in the water, and took a single rose from the trunk of his car. He thought a bouquet would've been over-the-top, and that the rose was predictable but still… sweet. He knew Friday would like it.

Steve went back over to her, noticed her toes in the lake, and said, "Ain't that cold?" while holding the rose behind his back.

"Yea… it's sorta soothing though," explained Friday. "Whatcha got there?" she asked, nodding toward Steve's back.

Steve sat down beside her and smiled. "Guess you've gotta wait and see. Close your eyes."

Friday did as she was told and shut her eyes, but did not try to hide her large grin. Steve took Friday's fingers and unclenched them, then closed them around the stem of the rose. He was relieved that he'd remembered to remove the thorns before he'd given it to her.

"Now open," instructed Steve.

Friday's eyes reopened. She scrutinized the rose, which was held in both her and Steve's hands, as Steve hadn't yet let go of her. Then, with a slight giggle, Friday said, "Didn't take you for the romantic type, Mister Randle."

"Guess you're just special," answered Steve, leaning forward to kiss her fingers. "Speaking of which, will you be my girlfriend, Friday?" he continued. He hadn't meant to blurt it out so randomly, but he just felt that that moment was the best of any.

Friday seemed to think so too, because she remarked teasingly, "Ain't that what I am?" With that, she titled toward Steve and pressed her mouth against his, softly.

Their smooches remained soft for a couple minutes, but then Steve deepened it and they kissed, hard. Friday allowed it, and caressed Steve's lower back as they did so. She enjoyed the taste of his lips, which was a mixture of cigarettes, booze, and some kind of sweetness that she couldn't recognize. Still, the taste was somehow pleasant.

Suddenly, Steve's mouth left Friday's, and traveled beyond her neck to her collarbone, which he nipped at. Friday was slightly uncomfortable with this, but let it be. Steve ventured further, until his mouth lingered above her breasts. Seeing nowhere else to go, he undid the first button of Friday's blouse, which caused her to jerk away from him.

"Steve… stop," murmured Friday, wriggling underneath him. Sometime during their kissing, he'd ended up on top of her.

Steve rolled off of Friday and lay beside her silently, although in his mind, the word jackass was being thrown around, much like a broken record. He'd nearly forgotten, Friday wasn't that kind of girl. Not like Evie, who, when they'd gone out, could hardly keep her hands off of Steve, even while he was driving. Now, as Friday redid the button on her blouse, Steve was ashamed.

"I'm sorry," he muttered. "Just… in the moment. Ya know?"

"I understand," said Friday. She no longer seemed shaken, but instead, embarrassed. "I dunno, though. I'm new to… that. Guess I'm just not ready," she sighed.

"Yea," agreed Steve, shaking his head. He'd just asked Friday to be his girlfriend officially, and prior to that, they'd only been going out for about three weeks. Their relationship had just barely begun. What had he been thinking? "I'm real sorry, Friday," he apologized.

Friday sat up and rubbed her hair, which was slightly windblown. "I said it was all right, didn't I?" she said, grinning as though nothing had occurred. Steve was relieved by her forgiveness, although the word jackass still bounced around his brain relentlessly. Irritated, he stood up.

"I think it's 'bout ten," he said, starting toward his car. "Better get you home."

Friday followed, and they drove home. Steve talked mostly, because Friday had begun yawning and rubbing her eyes every few minutes. Due to this, she contributed little to the conversation, and it had died by the time they reached Friday's home.

"Dang," muttered Friday, exiting the car. "Randal's truck is by the house. He's gonna wonder where I was."

"Say you were at the Dingo," suggested Steve. "You tell 'em you were at the park by your lonesome with me, and he'll hit the roof."

Friday snickered. "Don't worry. He likes you more than you think," she assured him, leaning forward. Steve kissed her goodnight, soft and gentleman-like.

"Night, Friday," he said happily.

"Night, Steve," she answered.