Dumped; chapter twenty.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders.

Sorry to all of you, I know my updating is uneven. Just, sometimes I'll really be in the mood to write, and other times it's like pulling teeth. But, I'm updating now. (:

Also, I noticed that it's been nearly a year since I first posted this story. And I think it's just insane, the way time passes so quickly. Jeez.

Anyway, review! :D

PS: Oh, and before I forget, one of my reviewers asked if I've ever read Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. And yes, actually, I have(: I've read the whole Hunger Games series, and (I think) it's pretty awesome.

Soda looked out the window of the convenience store, watching as Steve and Friday stood by the DX. Friday looked embarrassed, and Steve regretful. Soda tried to read the words they were speaking off their lips, but was unable to. So, he waited, nonchalantly cleaning the counter as he did so.

"Shit, I shouldn't'a brought you with," said Steve, annoyed with himself. He paced back and forth across the ledge of the sidewalk, and Friday bit her lip. "Soda looks upset." He sighed, relenting as he sat down on the curb. Friday sat beside him, her arm timidly slung around his shoulder.

"Guess I shouldn't have invited myself," she said, staring hard at the ground.

"Guess not," agreed Steve bitterly. He knew he also shouldn't have agreed, but for once was allowing Friday some of the blame.

Friday did not speak. Instead, she looked back at the convenience store, where Soda was clearly watching them. When Soda noticed her, he averted his eyes, ducking under the counter as though he'd dropped something. Friday knew better, though.

"I'm bettin' he wants you to come inside," she said finally, her words slow and considerate. "Go on."

"Ya think?" said Steve seriously. He stood up, cast a glance at the convienence store, and then began walking toward it. He called over his shoulder, "Wait out here, Friday!" before entering.

Inside, Soda was still working the counter, scrubbing furiously at a stain only he, it seemed, was able to see. Steve stood by the beverages and watched him, not moving closer. Then, with an air of annoyance, he said, "You mad at me or what?"

Soda looked up at him. He was either angry or upset, Steve couldn't really tell. He opened his mouth to say something, but then considered his words and stopped. Then, a moment later, he spoke, "I ain't."

"Ain't what?" asked Steve.

"Ain't mad," clarified Soda, setting down the rag and looking straight at Steve. His stare was unwavering. "Just… scared." He hesitated. "I guess."

"I'm scared too, buddy," said Steve, coming closer. "You think I want ya to go? No. I don't. Wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." He sighed, glaring at the floor. He pictured Soda in a little black coffin, all limbs attached, but… dead. The mental image was terrifying, and gave him the sensation of wanting to cry. But Steve wasn't about to do that in public. Greasers didn't cry, anyway.

"Then why don't ya come with me?" said Soda, a bit desperately. He clenched both his fists, as if wanting to punch something. "You said ya would a couple weeks ago!" added Soda. "But then, you got all cozied up with her…" He peered out the window, where… he didn't even want to think her name… where Steve's girlfriend was watching them. He didn't mean to feel so much resentment toward someone, especially not Friday. Honestly, he generally liked her. But he couldn't help it. He felt like he was being cheated, like Friday was stealing Steve away from him. But, weren't best friends supposed to matter before girlfriends?

"Cozied up?" said Steve, air-quoting. "That ain't true, Soda! You're my best friend, always have been! She ain't gonna come between us."

Soda exhaled, not unclenching his fists. His face was stark red, which was unnerving. He didn't usually get angry like this, and definitely didn't mean to now. But, it just didn't seem fair…

"Ya did get cozied up to her," said Soda deliberately. "And it looks like she already has come between us, Steve." The scarlet in Soda's face eased slightly, but he was still angry. "Ya know I like Friday an' all," he continued, "but… you're pickin' Friday over me, and ya know it, too." Soda didn't know what else to say, so he stopped and glared at the floor, giving Steve a chance to digest his words.

Steve was dumbstruck. He'd known this all along, and even considered it before, but for some reason it really seemed to hit him now. He was clearly choosing Friday over Soda, even a stranger would've noticed that. But then Steve remembered: as much as Friday was influencing his choice, he also did not want to go to Vietnam on his own accord. He was scared, which he'd told himself the night before. Now, if he could just eliminate his pride for about thirty seconds and tell Soda that, maybe he'd understand better. After all, Soda had already admitted multiple times that he himself was scared. Why was it so hard for Steve to do the same?

"It. Ain't. Just. Friday." Each word Steve said seemed to be its own sentence, which grasped Soda's attention. "I'm scared."

"For me," muttered Soda, grumbling.

Steve swallowed. "For me," he clarified. "It ain't fair for you to ask me to go, Soda. I'm scared, too. I don't wanna go. I've got a life here." Well, sorta. He'd lost his job, but he could always find another. And aside from that, there was still Friday. "I don't… wanna… die." Steve had tried to avoid using that word, die, but hadn't known how else to be blunt.

Soda winced, not liking Steve's wording much himself. "You think I will? Ya know... die?" he croaked.

"Naw, course not," said Steve instantly. He stopped, then grinned bitterly. "Anyone who's got half a mind knows you're tougher than me." His humor was dark, but enough to make each of them chuckle a bit. Soda stepped toward him reluctantly, and they hugged. And not a half-assed one-armed hug, either. A genuine hug. The tension was still there, but it had eased considerably, Steve thought anyway.

When they broke apart, Soda was grinning, somewhat weakly… but more enthusiastically than Steve was. They both glanced outside the store, where Friday was smiling a grin so wide it made up for each of their feeble ones. She'd noticed their hug, and was pleased that they had appeared to have made up.

"Ya know, you should probably go talk to her," said Steve, waving at his girlfriend. "I think she's got this idea that you hate her or somethin'. Or not like, anyway."

"Me?" said Soda. He sounded surprised, but didn't look it. "I don't hate her." He shrugged. That was true, though the resentment was still there, lingering slightly. However, it had lessened... a lot. "Sure, I'll go talk to her. Maybe we could hang out sometime."

"Maybe just you and her," added Steve, as they walked alongside each other, exiting the store. "She doesn't know ya very well, ya know. And I think she should. Since you're my best friend, an' all." He emphasized the word best friend severely, which caused Soda to smile a genuine grin.

They reached Friday, who looked to Soda uneasily and then apologized, saying that she hadn't meant to come between Steve and him. Soda said it didn't matter, that it was all right, and it was settled.

Steve butted in as Soda and Friday then began talking about something he wasn't really interested in. "Friday, why don't ya hang out with Soda sometime? I mean, by yourself. Ya know, so I won't distract you." He winked at her, his sarcasm heavy, and Friday giggled and hit him across the shoulder.

"Sure. Sounds great," she agreed, looking to Soda.

Soda nodded also, and proposed, "What 'bout Saturday at the Dingo? We could get lunch or somethin'."

"Yeah, and your brother'll be happy you ain't hangin' out with me for one afternoon," teased Steve, smirking a bit.

"Yeah, all right," agreed Friday, casting Steve a smirk of her own. "See ya then? I should probably get home now anyway, my dad's usually out during the day…" She heaved a shuddering breath. "I should check if Ma's okay."

Soda nodded, and went back to work when he heard his boss, Dave, holler at him. Steve kissed Friday quickly and watched as she wandered down the street before going after his best friend.

However, as pleased as he was that the fight between him and Soda was over—or at least put off for now—Steve still felt burdened. He knew that the Vietnam situation was just beginning for Soda, and was worried that it wasn't quite over for him yet, either.

Soda and Friday hanging out will probably have an entire chapter devoted to it. Or at least a good amount of a chapter. I feel that there needs to be more Soda/Friday interaction, seeing as there's already plenty of Steve/Soda and Friday/Steve interaction.

Also, I'm sort of self-conscious about this chapter. This one was really important. Well, all of the chapters are important for the plot, but I felt that this was particularly important, seeing as it covers a huge dilemma in the story. I wanted to make Steve and Soda's reactions/argument perfect, and I'm pretty happy with how it came out, but I'm still unsure. So, it'd be helpful if you mentioned what you thought about Steve and Soda's discussion particularly. If you think it came out right, etc.

Review. (:

PS: Oh, and just one other thing. There are probably some typos in here, because I've been reading fanfiction all day and my eyes were crying by the time I finished writing this, x_X - so I proofread it very quickly, skimming it mostly. Sorry about that.