Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton, or "Times Like These" by The Foo Fighters

Warning: Fluff. Haha.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Wednesday, April 5th, 1967

It's times like these you learn to live again.

Leaning her back against her locker, Anna stared into Steve's eyes and considered his offer. It was a good one - probably the best she'd receive all day - but she was pretty sure she'd have to turn him down.

"We only just got here," she said.

"So?"

"So you really wanna skip out on the whole day? I don't know about you, but I have a history test this morning."

"Third period? That's perfect; we can meet up right before study hall and leave for the rest of the day."

She liked that he knew her schedule. "And do what?"

Steve smirked. "Whatever you like - go out for lunch, go see Millie and Bradley, hang out at my house."

Pushing herself away from her locker, Anna rolled her eyes. Having realised her lack of trust in Steve when it came to Evie, she was now pretty sure that played a major factor in why they hadn't had sex yet. However, even though she was pretty sure he knew this, she appreciated that he still teased her about it. It was good to know he wanted her, and the last thing she wanted while trying to fix things was for something so typical to change.

Sliding her hand into his, she tugged him down the hallway. "Or we stay at school, and I'll come see you tonight?"

"Yeah?" he asked, tightening his grip on her hand.

She nodded, but said nothing. Since their awful fight at Terry Armstrong's party, not much had changed. In fact, things almost seemed a little too like last year for her comfort. She was completely untrustworthy when it came to Evie, and Steve was jealous and still denying it.

Differences were that this time he was jealous over Henry rather than Ricky, and Anna supposed he had reason to be. Her relationship with Henry had been a lot better than her one with Ricky, and she'd - so damn stupidly - let him kiss her. She hated herself for it, but she'd messed up and kissed Henry, and Steve had every reason to be furious and jealous. Not that she ever planned on doing it again.

As for her lack of trust … well that was something she was still attempting to work through. And when she heard Evie calling her name down the hallway, she realised this might be her first chance to do so.

"Anna! Wait up!"

Steve tensed, pulling his hand back. "I'll just see you in study hall, okay?"

She knew he was just trying to make things easier on her, but she held tight and shook her head. In the interest of moving on and trying to trust him, she wanted him to stick around for whatever Evie wanted.

"Hey, guys!" Evie said, far too happy for Anna's liking.

"Hey," Anna said. Steve said nothing.

Evie grinned. "I was hoping I'd run into you. Mom's making dinner for your dad and his new girlfriend tonight, and she said you and Danny have to come. No excuses."

No excuses? Shit. "Sounds great."

"Cool. Dinner's at seven. Oh, and Mom also wants to know if maybe you'd make a pie for dessert?"

Anna nodded. "Yes, absolutely."

Maybe she'd even make three. If she had a few hours to kill between school and dinner she was going to need something to keep her busy. Sitting around and stressing about dinner with Evie would just give her a headache. She'd much rather be busy making pie for Evie and her family.

"I dunno if it'd be weird," Evie continued, "but you can come, too, if ya want, Steve."

Dropping the hand she was holding, Anna crossed her arms. "He can't. He's busy."

"Yeah," he said, ignoring her mood and throwing an arm around her shoulders. "I'm busy tonight."

Evie shrugged. "Oh well. Maybe next time." She left with a final grin.

"You know, I'm pretty sure jealousy isn't healthy for any relationship," Steve said, leaning down to whisper in her ear.

"You're one to talk."

"I kinda like it. I mean, I wish you weren't jealous and that things were, you know, good between us. But I like how defensive you are."

"I'm not defensive."

"Doesn't matter what you are," Steve said. He placed a kiss on her forehead before looking down at her. "You just gotta remember that I only want you."

Her heart thudded and she could feel herself relax. "Yeah, I know."

"And you only want me." He didn't ask, but she had a feeling he was after confirmation.

"I only want you."

"Good." Steve scowled at the ceiling as the final bell rang. "I'll see you in study hall?"

"Okay."

"And we'll still hang out tonight? After your dinner?"

She couldn't deny that she liked how eager he was. Still cocky, but definitely committed to spending time with her. Spending time getting things back to how they once were. She nodded, looking forward to hanging out with him.

XXXXX

Anna felt a little sick. If she'd known that agreeing to dinner with her family would result in this, she never would have come. Shifting her seat that little bit closer to Danny's, she tried not to throw up in the blueberry pie she'd made.

"You get any closer you're gonna be sitting on me," Danny snapped.

"Can you blame me? Really?"

Looking over her shoulder, Danny grimaced. "It's pretty gross."

"Gross? Major understatement. Our dad is feeding dessert to his girlfriend. He's feeding her. That's … disgusting. And so out of character."

"Yeah." Turning away from the couple next to Anna, Danny went back to his pie. "It's cool, you know, that Dad's got a girlfriend, but it's not cool to see that."

"I like Meredith," Anna said, keeping their conversation quiet. "She scored me a pay rise at work even before she started dating Dad, and she's taught me a lot, but that doesn't mean I'm okay with sitting next to her while she whispers sweet nothings into Dad's ear."

Danny paused, piece of pie mid-air. "Sweet nothings?" he asked, grinning. "What kinda romance books have you been reading?"

"None, actually. I've just seen you do it to Mary-Louise enough to know what it looks like and know that it's gross."

"Or maybe you're just jealous. Maybe Randle doesn't whisper sweet nothings in your ear."

Well actually. She smirked, thinking of the things Steve did whisper in her ear. Not exactly sweet, that was for sure, but also not the kind of thing she wanted to mention to Danny. Though, if his scowl was anything to go by, she didn't need to.

"I've noticed you ain't stayed at his place," he said, lowering his voice.

"Are you really asking me about … that?"

"No, not really. I just think it's good."

"Of course you do."

"I'm serious, Miss B." Danny looked at her, and she knew he wasn't just talking out of sheer dislike for Steve. "If you're taking this slow, which is how it seems, then I think that's good. And I ain't just talking about … that."

"Right. Well, I am. Taking this slow, that is."

Danny looked more relieved than she'd seen him in a long time, but she still believed it wasn't just about the sex. "Good."

Glancing across the large table, she looked at half the reason she was taking things slow. Evie. Evie, who just happened to be half the reason she was feeling sick. It wasn't how she'd thought it would be; she wasn't thinking about Steve and Evie, or everything Evie had done to hurt her. She was trying not to stare in fascination and grimace in disgust as Evie and Joey swooned over each other at the dinner table.

Anna really wasn't sure who was worse - Evie and Joey, or her dad and Meredith.

Evie was in love, there was no doubt about that. She and Joey could barely take their eyes off of each other, and Anna had to wonder if she and Steve had ever looked that stupid. She really hoped not, but there might have been a small part that hoped so.

It didn't make her trust Steve any more that she had before dinner, but it sure made her feel better about him and Evie. Because there was no him and Evie, and she hated that it had taken Evie moving on for her to realise that. She knew that Steve didn't want Evie, but realising Evie wasn't going to be making any more plays for Steve sure helped.

"You know, I think we might be movin' soon," Danny said quietly.

"Whaddya mean? Movin' where?"

"Our house is only just big enough for the three of us; ain't no way Meredith, her kid, and Anita are gonna fit in there, too."

"You don't think -" She broke off, glancing back at her dad and Meredith. "You think it's that serious?"

Danny shrugged. "Maybe. It ain't been that long, but …"

He didn't need to finish for Anna to understand. Her dad hadn't been seeing Meredith for that long, but there was something different about him since he had been seeing her. He'd changed an awful lot in the last year, but with Meredith around, he was like a whole other person. He was happy.

"I think they've been together a lot longer than we know," she said.

"Yeah. But if we don't move, then I hope you're ready to share a room."

She smirked. "Anita's my friend. I wouldn't mind sharing a room with her if I had to. Alex is only … fourteen? You ready to share a room with a kid?"

"Oh, I don't have to worry about that," Danny said, grinning. "I'm gonna be twenty soon. I can move outta home whenever the hell I like."

Anna rolled her eyes as though Danny's comeback wasn't a big deal, but the idea of him moving out of home was horrible. Her dad was different, and she had Steve again - Steve, who she loved so damn much - but she still needed her brother. Glancing at him, she wondered just how serious she was. He would be twenty soon, and he had a serious - serious for him, at least - girlfriend. He could move out of home whenever he wanted, and why shouldn't he?

She was officially the worst sister in the world; selfish, wanting Danny to stay at home just for her, and hating the idea of him moving out and having a life of his own. She needed him, but he was an adult. He might act like an idiot with some of the shit he and Tim did, but there was really no reason for him to still live at home. When she thought about it, she was pretty sure she was also the worst girlfriend in the world, too; untrusting, kissing ex-boyfriends, and holding out.

She sighed, wondering why Danny put up with her and Steve was even with her.

XXXXX

Sitting on the couch on the front porch, Steve wished Anna would hurry the hell up, and for once, not just because he was pathetically desperate to see her. The sooner she got there, the sooner he could leave. With the mood his dad was in - had been in before passing out - he was more desperate to get to Soda's than he was to see Anna.

Well, not really. If that were the case he'd already be at Soda's and Anna would just have to deal with turning up to find him gone. But he wanted to see Anna. More than he needed to get out of his house.

A small sigh fell from his lips when Danny's car pulled up. There was no small argument or heated discussion before Anna climbed out this time, and he wondered if Danny was finally done hassling her about being with him, or if they were just getting along particularly well. He figured either one would be a good thing.

Anna smiled at him as she reached him, but it was only small. She looked tired, and he hoped like hell her dinner with Evie had gone okay. It wouldn't be his fault if Evie had done something to piss Anna off, but he knew it wouldn't help him any. In fact, he was sure it would just make things worse for them.

"What happened?" she asked, soft fingers brushing against his left cheek.

He knew there was a bruise forming - had been able to feel it for the last hour - but hadn't bothered icing it. Staying outside had seemed like a better idea.

"Dad was in a bad mood. He's passed out now." His answer was brisk and straight to the point, but that was pretty much all there was to it. Nothing major had happened; it had just been an everyday argument, finished when his dad's fist colliding with Steve's cheek.

Anna frowned, but he decided a change in subject was in order before she could say anything.

"How was dinner?"

A smile was the last thing he expected, but he felt warm when she did it.

"It was actually kinda cool. A little weird, but not nearly as bad as I'd thought it would be."

"Weird?"

"Yeah." Anna made herself comfortable on the couch, and he draped his arm over her shoulders as she leaned into him. "Dad and Meredith are weird. I mean, it's nice that he's so happy, but it's still weird to see. And gross."

"I'm just glad Dad and Millie were never like that," Steve said with a smirk.

"Dad was actually feeding her dessert. And no one except me and Danny seemed to realise how disgusting it was."

"Sounds … awkward."

She nodded, reaching up to hold the hand around her shoulder. "Evie didn't help. Have you seen her and Joey together? I think they're like, in love or something."

Sheer relief flowed through him, but he tried not to show it. He was over Evie - had been done with her for a long time - but Evie not being done with him had caused them problems in the past. Now she was moving on, in love with someone else, and Steve felt like maybe he and Anna might get somewhere.

"That's good," he said.

"It's really good," Anna agreed.

They were silent for a few minutes, and Steve wondered what would happen now. He didn't expect any major improvements, but something had to change. He was over Evie, Evie was over him, and Anna had to realise that. Christ he hoped she realised that. Once she realised that then she'd know for sure she had nothing to worry about. He hoped.

"What're you gonna do, Steve?" she asked quietly.

"About what?"

"You'll be eighteen in ten days. You won't have to stay here any more if you don't want to."

His heart thudded as he realised that, while he'd been worrying about her and her trust issues, she had been worrying about him and the issues he had with his dad. They had some definite relationship stuff to work through, but it never failed to amaze him just how much she cared.

Shrugging, he spoke honestly. "I wanna finish school, you know? I can't do that if I ain't livin' at home."

"What about after school?"

"I'll be outta here as soon as school's finished. Billy's always said he'd be happy to take me on fulltime once I leave school. Then I can go somewhere. Get a place of my own, I guess."

Sliding around so she could see him, she sat sideways and placed her legs over his. "That's real good. I can't imagine you doin' anything other than cars."

"I ain't sure I'd wanna do anything other than cars," he said, softly stroking the skin above her knee with his hand. Her legs draped over his with that damn short skirt were killing him.

"Where would you go? When you move out?"

"Dunno. Guess I hadn't thought that far ahead."

She nodded, looking away from him. "Right."

And now that he was thinking about it, he really wasn't sure. There were probably plenty of places he could get a small place for himself, but none of them were in his neighbourhood - in their neighbourhood. Not having Anna a couple of streets away sounded far too depressing, and the thought of asking her to come with him flittered through his mind.

Feeling a little sick, he made sure not to say anything like that. He realised then that they might be taking things slow and working through their fucked-up past, but he was much farther ahead in their relationship that she was. Much farther ahead than he had been last time. She was trying to work through last year; he was looking to the future. Their future.

She and the guys were his life, there was no doubt about that, but asking her to come with him was a stupid idea. An idea he wasn't sure he was even ready for. Having her with him every night sure sounded nice, and he had no doubt it would happen, but not yet. It wasn't going to happen yet. Talking about it wasn't going to happen yet. Properly considering it wasn't going to happen yet.

It was an idea, but one for later. He stopped feeling sick when he thought of that. Knowing - not just hoping and assuming, but actually knowing - he'd have a later with Anna was pretty fucking nice. Somehow, after their fight when she kissed Phillips, there was no doubt in his head that they'd make it work. They both wanted it too much to not make it work.

"I won't go far," he said. "I'll stay as close as I can."

"Really?"

"Really. I can't be too far away, just in case you decide to sneak out to see me."

She smiled, and after a few moments of silence, changed the subject. "Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"You love me, right?"

Lifting his hand from her thigh, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You know I do."

"A lot?"

"More than anything else," he said, and the words were out before he realised what it was he was admitting.

Anna stared at him for a long moment, and he was sure she was trying to tell whether or not he was telling the truth. He felt sick again, knowing she might freak out or not quite feel the same, but there was nothing he could do about that. If he'd learnt anything from trying to get her back, it was that his honesty usually paid off.

She gave him a very pleased-with-herself smile before snuggling into his chest. "I love you, too."

It's times like these you learn to love again.

A/N: Thanks to RileysMomma for beta-reading. Fluff is tough. I find it hard to write. Therefore, telling me what you think of said fluff would be appreciated :P

Oh, and happy Good Fic Day!