DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Outsiders. Most likely never will either, so don't get your hopes up.

Walking into school that next day, Steve did not scope out Two-Bit and Johnny like he usually did; he had more important things to do than hear about Two-Bit's latest fiasco with the Tulsa Police Department, or the new blonde he'd picked up at The Dingo. He made a bee line to the first set of stairs he found and hurried up to the next floor where he knew Evie would be. The day previous she and Kathy had walked down the math hallway, he remembered.

Despite the crowds in the hall he saw her right away. She leaned against the lockers talking to Kathy. Highly engaged in conversation. She giggled loudly, and Kathy's laughter followed. Steve wondered what they were talking about. Perhaps about what a stud he was, and the thought of him made them so flustered they had to giggle. Possible? Yes. Plausible? Probably not. Damn. Steve strolled over nonchalantly to the water fountain nearest the lockers. He leaned forward and took a long drink of the disgusting school-water.

He had to make a plan in the time it took to take a drink. There were, it seemed, two things he could do in this situation: Wait for the bell to ring and then "bump" into her in the hall, or push Kathy into a locker so he could get Evie alone. He liked the latter. He waited a bit, mentally preparing himself, and once he was finally ready he—

"You must be real thirsty," Evie interrupted Steve's gaining confidence. He didn't have to look up. He knew it was her.

He did look up, though, and saw both she and Kathy staring down at him. He straightened up so he again was taller.

"It's pretty hot out," he replied. "Ya know, April. Spring. Heat."

"Oh yeah," she said, nodding her head, "the high temperature always seems to peak at eight in the morning."

This girl was good. And for some reason Steve had a hard time coming up with his own sarcastic remarks when looking at her.

"Well," he finally said, "it's pretty warm this morning."

Steve wanted to kick his own ass right then and there, but he didn't want to sound and look like an idiot in front of Evie.

Evie lightly chuckled. "I guess it is." She turned to her friend. "Let's go, Kathy."

They walked down the math hall together. Steve fought back the urge to slam his head into a locker.

XXX

Steve could not concentrate on anything the rest of the day. Not on Julius Caesar, not on Algebra, not the Trail of Tears, or Two-Bit's jokes, and not even on his 1955 Chevy. He'd made a fool of himself that morning; how could he think about anything else? He needed to redeem himself. He made a decision—no more beating around the bush. He was acting like a blasted pansy. Evie's only a girl, right? Big freakin' deal.

Steve told himself this, but he knew it was bullshit.

XXX

Only after half a day of brooding over his embarrassment was Steve pulled from his daze.

"Steve, what the hell's a matter with you?" Two-Bit asked as they and Johnny walked across the parking lot to Two-Bit's car during lunch. "You're actin' spacey today."

Steve sighed roughly. This was pissing him off.

"You know where that Evie chick is?" he asked.

"Evie? I dunno, man. I saw Kathy go into the cafeteria. Man, she is a nice girl, isn't she?" Two-Bit answered. "A nice girl with nice legs and nice … well, everything else."

"Yeah, she's nice, thanks, Two-Bit. I'll see y'all later."

"Where ya goin'?"

Two-Bit's question was left unanswered. Steve was halfway back to the school, on his way to the cafeteria.

XXX

Steve entered the cafeteria for about the first time in two years. The last time he could remember ever eating there was during sophomore year, and it was made pretty obvious that he wasn't welcome. The cafeteria was unofficial Soc territory. The only greasers that ever ate in there were girls who were friends with middle-class kids.

But this gave Steve an advantage. Not only did Evie and Kathy stick out like sore thumbs, but their laughter could be heard halfway across the room. They were very happy people, apparently.

He started across the cafeteria, not even pausing when an anonymous Soc yelled, "Greaser!" and a few more real funny remarks. He went straight to the table where Evie sat and leaned in between her and another girl.

"Can I talk to you?" he asked.

She moved her gaze to meet his, then back to her friends', and then back to his. "Sure." She stood and followed Steve to an emptier table.

"What do you wanna talk about?" she asked.

"Uh, I was wonderin' actually if you'd like to go to Jays with me after school for a Coke or somethin'."

"A Coke at Jays? Well you go all out, don't ya?" She chuckled. "I think I'm gonna be busy after school. I have to wash my hair."

Steve was perplexed. Wash her hair? What the hell does that mean? She must've been playing hard to get.

"Wash your hair, I guess that's important. Maybe another time then. There's a ball game on Friday, my buddy Soda's takin' a girl from E.C. and he wants to double."

"East Central? What girl?"

"Sandy McSomething, I'm not sure."

"Sandy McCulloch?"

"Yeah, that's her. You know her?"

"Yeah, I know her. We went to elementary and junior high together. Haven't seen her in a while."

"Well, you wanna go with me?"

Evie looked at him for a moment, studying him, it seemed. "I could do that."

Steve didn't smile in an effort to gain back some of the cool he'd lost that morning. He didn't want to seem excited.

"All right then, I'll call ya."

She nodded and walked back to her table, her hair bouncing with each step. She'd done something different with it that day. Curled it, perhaps. He walked back outside to the lot with a giddy sort of feeling in his stomach. Met her two days ago and already he was taking her to a ball game. The future looked promising.

Steve found Two-Bit and Johnny sitting on the hood of Two-Bit's car drinking Cokes. They'd gone to the DX without him.

"Where ya been, Steve?" Johnny asked.

"Gettin' a date, Johnny. The women of Will Rogers High cannot resist me," he answered with a grin.

"Nice one, man," Two-Bit answered. "You get her number?"

For a second time that day Steve felt like kicking his own ass all the way to Durant and back.

"Shit," he said.

Did this seem rushed? Sorry if it did! Wow, I'm terrible ... I update, what, every two weeks? I apologize. I plan on getting a little speedier with my updating soon. With the holidays coming up I'll have time to go on a major writing binge. Hopefully that shall mean more updates.