Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders

Chapter 5: "Can you please put some clothes on?"

I hummed as Steve's fingers travelled down my bare back. I felt his lips between my shoulder blades and I giggled. "Steve."

"Jill," Steve mimicked my tone, then laughed.

Suddenly Steve turned me around and I covered my bare chest. "Steve!"

Steve laughed and put his body on top of mine, kissing me sweetly. "Jill."

I smiled, placing my hand on the side of his face, rubbing it tenderly. "Hm?"

"I l -" He stopped suddenly. "Jill!"

My eyes widened. "What?"

Steve was just screaming in my face. "Jill!"

My eyes opened and I jolted out of bed. Beside me, Pony was standing, laughing.

"Jill, hey. Wake up!"

I rubbed my eyes. "What?"

Oh, it was a dream.

"School starts in, like, thirty minutes."

"Shit." I scrambled out of bed, rushing to the bathroom. When I opened the door, there was someone in the shower. "Soda!" I covered my eyes before I could see anything.

"Wrong person, Jill."

"Steve?"

I heard the shower stop and the curtain open. I waited a couple seconds before I heard, "You can open your eyes."

I opened them slowly and Steve had a towel around his waist, but that didn't nothing to stop the rapid beating of my heart.

He was so...shirtless and...wet.

"You doin' okay there, Jill?" Steve smirked. God, he knew what he was doing.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I turned away. "Uh, bye." I rushed out of the bathroom and to my room, feeling a blush grow on my cheeks.

The day really dragged on and on. But, eventually, the day came to an end and Pony and I started to walk home, due to Soda's overtime.

"So what's really goin' on with you and Steve?"

I gave Pony a look. "Nothing."

"C'mon, Jill. You've kissed..." Pony started to look grossed out. "Twice."

I shrugged. "I don't think it's goin' anywhere. I mean, he's Soda's best friend, Darry doesn't like any boys, especially not one's that are seventeen, and you hate him."

Pony hesitated. "I don't hate him. I don't like him, but I don't hate him."

I sighed. "I don't know what's worse; that I kissed someone one of my brother's almost hates, or that I kissed someone that's another one of my brother's best friends."

"It's a breakup thing, Jill," Pony started. "If you and Steve were to ever date, then if you were to ever breakup, you know that I would always choose you." Pony looked at me. "I wouldn't talk to Steve, if that's what you wanted. But, Soda-" Pony sighed. "Soda would be torn. You're his sister and he loves you, but Steve's his best friend and he loves him, too - in a different way, but he still loves you both. Soda wouldn't know who to choose and I think that if you can avoid putting him in that spot, you should."

I crossed my arms. "I know, but what if I..." I shrugged.

"What?" Pony looked at me intensely.

I laughed a little. "What if I want...something...with...Steve." I looked at Pony, no longer laughing.

Pony looked at me like I was on tripping on acid. "Are you crazy?"

I shrugged. "I..."

Pony's brows furrowed and he stepped in front of me, grabbing my shoulders. "You can't go out with Steve. He's Steve. I thought it was a one time thing."

I nodded. "It was! I mean, it is!" I pushed his lightly, continuing to walk. "I'm just thinkin' the extreme."

"Oh, thank god," Pony sighed in relief. "I thought you were really considering it."

I bit my lip. "Yeah, pretty dumb, huh?"

"Yeah."

We were silent most of the way home.

"Jilly."

"Hm?"

"Jilly Bean."

"Mm."

"Jilly, wake up," Soda laughed. "It's time for bed."

I shook my head, feeling comfortable enough on the couch. "No."

"C'mon, Jilly."

"Soda, no." I rolled the other way.

I heard Soda laugh as he rubbed my hair. "You're really gonna sleep out here?"

"Mmhm."

"Alright." Soda kissed my head. "Goodnight, Jilly."

I hummed. "Night, Soda."

I heard Soda stand up, and then my eyes widened when I heard Soda say, "Couch's taken, Steve. You can take her bed instead."

Steve was still here after supper and he was staying the night. It wasn't unusual, but I was on the long couch, which meant that Steve would have to take my room. Normally, I would be okay with it, but it felt weirder now.

"Alright, man. It's okay with Jill?"

"You can ask her, but I don't think she's movin'." Soda laughed. "Anyway, I'm goin' to bed. Night, man."

I shifted on the couch as I heard Soda's footsteps grow further and Steve's grow closer.

Then there was a hand on my shoulder. "Jill?"

I pretended to be asleep. "Hm..."

"Jill, hey, I'm stayin' the night, but I need to couch."

I tried to decide whether I wanted my bed or not, so I joked to fill the time. "Only if you carry me."

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I felt Steve's muscular arms wrap around my back, the other around my legs. He lifted me off the couch, groaning. "If that's what it takes."

I should've felt uncomfortable, but his arms were almost more comfortable than the couch.

I sighed. "Steve."

"Yeah?" Steve whispered, walking down the hallway.

I looked up at him. "I don't know what I want to say."

Steve smiled lightly. "Then don't say anything." Steve somehow managed to open my door and get me into my room, laying me down on my bed.

As soon as I was on the bed, I noticed how bad my jeans felt on my legs. I quickly started to unbutton them.

"Jill!" Steve whisper-yelled.

I smirked. "It's not like you haven't seen my in my undies before." I threw my jeans across the room and started to take of my shirt.

"Dear lord." Steve turned around and looked like he was rubbing his face.

"Yeah, how do you like it?"

Steve glanced over his shoulder, but quickly looked away. "Jesus, Jill."

"What?" I said, growing frustrated. "You do the same to me."

"Because I know you won't do anything."

My brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know you won't jump me because you're a chicken."

"I'm not a chicken," Was the response I had, until I realized what he was saying. "You want to jump me or somethin'?"

Steve glanced at me. "What, no, no, I -"

"You think I'm sharp, don't you?" I smirked.

Steve tried to laugh it off. "No, I..."

I made the risky move of sitting up in my bed, fully displaying my body in my bra and underwear. Thankfully, Steve was turned the other way and didn't know. But he sure did know when I placed a hand on his back.

He didn't move. He just stood there as my hand ran down it, only finger tips touching. I got to the bottom of his shirt and the start of his jeans. I let out a shaky breath as my hand maneuvered underneath his shirt and onto his bare and warm back.

I saw Steve cover his mouth with one of his hands and I put my other hand on his bicep to ensure he wouldn't go anywhere, while my other hand explored his incredibly muscular back. I moved closer to him to let my hand slid around to the front of his body. My hand lightly touched his pecks and his rock hard stomach.

My mind floated into the dream I had in the morning as I leaned forward and pressed my lips to the center between his shoulder blades over his shirt.

Steve spun around, grabbing both my hands. My vision lined up with his lips and I stared at them for a couple seconds before looking up at his eyes. He was staring at me with such intensity that it made my stomach flip and I felt sick.

I moved forward, feeling desperate to kiss him. Steve twitched away and we both paused, but he eventually let our lips meet.

My arms wrapped around him and his around me. He grabbed my thighs and pulled them up swiftly, letting them wrap around my waist as I fell backward and both of us fell onto my bed, him on top of me, still kissing.

I couldn't get Steve's shirt off fast enough, but I did, eventually. I felt his warm body on my colder one and I exhaled, releasing any tension that was in my body.

Steve kissed my cheek and slowly kissed lower. His lips touched my neck and I breathed in sharply as my fingers curled into his back.

Never had I ever felt this way.

Steve took me by surprise by rolling off of me and standing quickly. "That's enough."

"Steve," I said breathlessly.

"No, Jill," he said sternly, putting his shirt back on. "I can't do this. I thought I could without feelin' guilty about it, but I can't."

I so fast that it made me feel dizzy. "Wait," I said softly, still aware that it was late and the walls in our house weren't all too thick. "Wait, Steve..."

"What?" Steve asked, like he was going to listen, but he reached for the doorknob.

I grabbed his hips, spinning him around with great force and pushing him against the wall. "Wait."

"What?" he said, and I sighed, trying to look at him with sad eyes. Steve shook his head. "No. No, don't give me that. It's not gonna work."

I hit his shoulder. "God, you're so..."

Steve chuckled. "Difficult?"

I nodded. "Yes, difficult."

"That's just the way it is, Jill." He started to move, but I grabbed him again.

"What if I..." I sighed. "What if I want..."

"Take your time, Jill."

I squeezed his arm. "What if I want you?"

Steve froze for a second, then he shook his head. "No."

I moved my hands from his arms to his shoulders. "I want you, Steve. I don't know why and I don't care." I leaned forward and puckered my lips.

Steve turned his head to avoid kissing me. He grabbed my hands and removed them from him. "Stop, Jill. I can't do this with you."

I didn't give up. "Why, because of Soda? He'll get used to it and -"

"Jill." Steve pushed my lightly. "This isn't a good idea, alright?"

I gripped Steve's shirt, yanking him onto my bed and crawling on top of him, just trying to keep him from leaving. "Is it Soda? Just tell me."

Steve and I wrestled around until he pinned me down. "Yes, it's Soda!" he whisper-yelled. "Jesus, Jill, I don't want my best friend to hate me for gettin' with his sister." He sighed as his head fell down. "Can you please put some clothes on?" he begged and he stood up.

I grabbed a shirt from the end of my bed and put it on. "The shirt is on." I stood up and stood directly in front of him. "I just wanna try, Steve."

"No."

"Steve."

"No."

"Steve."

"I'll think about it."

I tried not to smile and to seem as stone-faced as he was. "Okay."

Steve nodded, walking around me.

"Wait." I gripped his arm and tugged him to face me. I kissed him quickly, then back away. "Okay, now you can go."

Steve's mouth twitched up, but I couldn't see if he smiled because he left my room before I could.

I knew I was smiling; smiling when I laid down and smiling when I fell asleep.

"Oh, my god!"

I laughed, looking around the The Dingo. "Keep it down, Stacy."

"You almost lost you v-card and -"

"I did not!" I defended myself. "We just kissed."

"His shirt was off and you were in your undies!"

"Jesus, Stace!" I barely yelled, looking around to make sure no one heard. "Will you keep it down?"

Stacy covered her mouth and sat back into her seat. "Sorry. But c'mon, Jilly, you're so close."

I laughed and shrugged, eating a french fry. "It's not on my checklist, Stace. When it happens, it happens."

Stacy looked at me peculiarly. "You don't have a game plan?"

I shook my head. "No?"

Stacy raised her eyebrows and smirked. "Okay..."

"Why?"

"Because there's a lot that happens."

"What?"

"And you're doing it with an older boy." Stacy gasped dramatically. "Has he -"

I snorted, that turning into a full out laugh. Stacy looked at me with uncertainty as I regained my composure. "Yeah, totally."

"Does he know that you're a virgin?"

I stopped laughing.

I could've had sex with Peter, but I didn't. But I could've. Did Steve think I had? Did Steve even think of that at all?

"I don't know," I said honestly, then started to panic. "Do guys like virgins?"

Stacy cringed as she thought. "Um...I..."

"Oh, god." My head fell down onto the table, into my arms. "Oh, good god."

"Lose it before."

My head popped up. "What, no!"

Stacy shrugged. "Why not?"

"I'm goin' around and doin' it with just anyone!" I stressed. "I want it to be with someone I like."

"Why?" Stacy questioned.

I groaned. "Because I want it to be...special."

Stacy laughed. "It's not gonna be special no matter what you do."

"What could be so bad?"

"The blood," Stacy said, too casually. "And gettin' knocked up."

I had to laugh. "I'm not gettin' pregnant."

"What if you do?" Stacy said, shoving fries into her mouth. "You'll have a little Steve runnin' around. God, what a nightmare."

"I don't even know if Steve will take a chance with me. He seemed mighty unsure."

"If he doesn't, he's an idiot. If he does, he's still an idiot, but a smarter idiot."

I shook my head, grabbing a fry. "You're the idiot, Stacy."

Then Stacy threw a fry at my face.

"Go!"

Soda tossed the ball to Darry through his legs and Darry back up, looking way forward at Two-bit.

I started tor run to cover Soda, as I saw the ball spin in the air, Steve tackling Two-bit before he could get his fingertips on it.

Steve stood up, flexing his muscles and cheering for himself. Pony patted his back as he walked by, not caring as much as Steve did.

"See that, Jill?" Steve nodded at me.

I scoffed. "It's just Two-bit. Even I could do that."

"Hey!" Two-bit yelled, sitting on the ground.

Steve nodded, ignoring Two-bit, and smirking widely. "Try me, Jilly Bean."

I laughed, getting into a ready-stance. "You asked for it."

"Bring it."

I ran forward, throwing my best tackle, but Steve caught my waist, swinging me down and onto the ground. I gasped at the impact. "Holy shit."

"Sorry, Jilly." Steve smiled, holding my arms down. "You alright?"

I groaned, trying to fight him off. "Yes." Then I realized that we had a moment with all the other boys messing around. "Did you think about it?"

Steve's face faltered slightly. "It hasn't even been a day, Jill. Give me some time."

"Hurry up."

"Don't push me," he growled.

"Fine." I smiled, touching my foot to Steve's ankle and trailing up, bring his jeans as far up as they would go. Then, when Steve was figuring out that I was just distracting them, I yelled, "Soda!"

"I'll save you, Jilly!" Soda came to my rescue, like he always did. He knocked Steve off of me, wrestling around with him.

I stood, brushing myself off and walking to Pony. "He always does that."

"What, be an asshole?"

I laughed. "Chill, Pony."

Pony huffed. "I don't like him."

I patted his arm. "No one asked you to."

Darry was at work, Soda in the kitchen, Pony falling asleep on the other couch, Two-bit on the floor, paying too much attention to the TV.

It was almost the perfect moment to talk to Steve, who was sitting beside me on the couch. Well, it was almost, almost the perfect moment. It was as perfect as it was going to get, only because I couldn't wait any longer.

"Steve," I whispered. Steve didn't notice, so I did it again, nudging him and whispering, "Steve."

He looked at my without turning his head. "What?"

"Did you decide yet?"

I could see Steve roll his eyes. "Jill, I need longer than a day."

"Why?"

Steve turned to me slightly. "Because it's a big decision."

I rolled my eyes. "It's not. You're just making it one."

Two-bit turned around slowly, staring at us. "Hey, you guys doin' okay?"

I gave Two-bit a thumbs up at the same time that Steve gave the A-ok hand sign.

"We're good."

"We're good."

Two-bit raised his eyebrows, tipping his beer to his lips and turning back to the TV slowly.

I turned back to Steve, giving him a look. "Steven."

Steve mimicked my look. "Jillian."

I leaned in close to his face. "Soon?"

Steve smiled. "Soon."

I subconsciously smiled. "Okay."

"Okay."

I wanted to kiss him and I almost forgot that I was in the living room with someone who would shout at the mountain tops that Steve and I locked lips. That someone being Two-bit.

I leaned back, putting my elbow on the arm of the couch, placing my head in my hand, sighing.

I heard Steve cough and stand up. "What's taking so long, Soda?"