Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders

Chapter 6: A Bad Mood and a Good Brother

I made my way down the hallway, rubbing my eyes. When I got to the living room, I looked out of the window, stopping at the sight; Steve mowing our lawn...shirtless.

What a sight to wake up to.

I was so enticed by the sight that I forgot that we had that one floorboard that was raised higher than the rest. That was when I was face first into the floor.

"Jilly?" I heard Soda come around the corner and touch my arm.

"Yeah." I sighed, getting up with Soda's help. "Hey, why aren't you guys at work?"

Soda shrugged. "Boss called. We don't have to come in until one."

"That's great," I said, looking out the window as Soda walked back into the kitchen.

"You want breakfast, Jilly?"

I could only focus on Steve's huge arms, but I managed to mumble, "Yeah."

"Jill!"

I snapped out of my trance and walked into the kitchen, smelling the burnt bacon. "Soda..."

"What?"

"Burnt bacon?" I smiled.

"They're not burnt!" Soda retaliated.

I laughed. "Yes, they are!"

I heard the door slam, Steve walking in, shirtless and sweaty. "Is the food ready?"

I just looked away in the fear that Soda would notice me staring at Steve's body. "Soda burnt the bacon."

"Way to go, Bud," Steve said, walking to the fridge and grabbing a Cola.

"Both of you are eating the bacon whether you like it or not," Soda commanded, putting the bacon and eggs on a plate and giving it to me.

"Thanks, Soda," I said, sitting down at the kitchen table.

Steve sat down next to me a minute after that. "Mornin'."

"Morning."

Soda sat down next. "Got anything planned for today, Jilly Bean?"

It had been almost a full week. A full week of Steve not making up his mind, so, I waited patiently while Stacy nearly lost her mind.

"I'm going to lunch with Stacy."

"That's it?"

"I was gonna head down to QuikTrip later. We're runnin' out of milk."

"Get some more eggs, too."

"I need money then."

Soda reached into his pocket and handed me a few bucks. "There."

"Thanks." I stuffed it in my pocket, standing up. I didn't know how long I could be in the same room as Steve while he was shirtless. "I think I'm gonna do it now actually."

"You're not gonna finish your breakfast?" Soda asked.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'd rather have a burger at The Dingo, Soda, but thanks."

"Fine," Soda said, slightly bitter. "You need a ride?"

"No." I dumped my food onto Soda and Steve's plates. I put my dishes in the sink and walked out the door, yelling back, "Later!"

I grabbed the milk off the counter, about to walk out of the store before someone caught my arm.

"Jill."

I groaned. "Don't want to hear it, Peter."

Peter caught my waist, spinning me around. "I miss your pretty face."

"Stop." I pushed him away. "I'm here the get milk and eggs, now beat it."

Peter looked at me with a determined face before he grabbed the milk from my hands.

"Hey!"

Peter started to jog out of the store. "Just let me carry it for you."

I ran after him. "Piss off, Peter!" I tried to grab the milk, wary of eggs in my hand.

"What're you even doin' here?" I said loudly. "Aren't you over buggin' me?"

"No." Peter smiled smugly.

I groaned, reaching for it one more time. "Give it!"

Peter pulled away. "Let me do this and I'll leave you alone."

I sighed, starting in the direction of my house. "If you drop that, I -"

"I won't, baby."

"Don't call me baby."

Peter smirked. "Your wish is my command...baby."

"Thank you, Peter," I mumbled, grabbing the milk.

Peter yanked it back. "I need somethin'."

I sighed. "Of course you do. I don't have any money left, Peter."

Peter shook his head, smirking. "I just need a kiss."

I rolled my eyes, trying to grab the milk again. "Peter!"

Peter laughed, easily avoiding my grabby hands. "C'mon, baby."

"Peter," I growled. "Give me the milk."

Peter puckered his lips, closed his eyes, and leaned forward. I took that as an opportunity. So just as I heard the screen door of my house open, I punched Peter in the face.

"Whoa, yeah!"

I smiled as Steve and Soda yelled from the porch. Peter scrambled away after catching sight of Steve and Soda. I kept smiling as I grabbed the milk from the ground and walked into the house, Soda and Steve patted me on the back.

"So bad ass, Jilly," Soda praised. "Have I told you that I love you lately? 'Cause I do."

I laughed, putting the milk and eggs in the fridge. "I know."

Steve's hand settled on my lower back. "Nice job, Jill."

I turned around and smiled. "Thanks."

Soda disappeared as Steve and I stood in the kitchen, his hands still on my waist.

"What's on your mind?"

I boldly grabbed the loops of Steve's jeans on either side of his hips, pulling him forward. "What's on your mind?"

Steve licked his lips. "Nothin'."

"Steve." I pushed him away, walking around him. "Are you gonna tell me, or what?"

Steve looked into the living room, making sure Soda wasn't around. "Let's talk about this later."

"Steve, you've been making me wait for a week!" I whisper-yelled. "I might as well be dating Peter!"

Steve stomped forward. "I'm nothing like him."

"You're just like him!" I ran past him, making sure to bump his shoulder. I shut my door respectfully before turning around and punching my pillow, getting out my frustration.

"Okay..."

I spun around, clutching my heart. "Jesus!"

"No, it's just me." Pony laughed.

I threw a pillow at him. "You're so funny."

Pony laughed more, gesturing to my bed. "What was that about?"

"I just -" I stopped. "What are you doing in my room, Pony?"

Pony sighed, throwing a magazine on my bed. "I can't focus in my room, you know that."

"Pony." I laughed. "My room is the same as yours."

"Yours smells better."

I shrugged. "Yeah."

"So…what did that pillow ever do to you?"

I shook my head, falling back onto the bed. "It's Steve."

Pony stood quickly. "And I'm out."

I laughed. "You're an excuse of a best friend."

"I'm also you're brother," Pony pointed out the obvious. "And I don't want to hear about boys. I don't, but what's goin' on with you guys?" Pony sat on the edge of the bed and I laughed at his sudden interest.

"He's trying to make a decision, if he wants to date his best friend's little sister."

"Okay..." Pony nodded while looking very clueless. "Good...luck with...that."

I kicked his shoulder. "Just get out."

"Guys," I tried for the fifth time, pencil twirling in my hand. "Guys."

Soda laughed obnoxiously after he missed the grape that Steve threw. "Dude."

"Guys."

Steve and Soda laughed again, completely ignoring me.

"Guys!" I threw my pencil at Steve's chest.

"Ow." Steve looked at me with an unimpressed expression. "What the hell, Jill?"

"How about you both shut up, so I can get on with my homework?"

"Oh, c'mon, Jilly." Soda tried to put a hand on my shoulder.

I pulled away from his touch. "Knock it off, Soda."

"Whats got you in such a bad mood? You on the rag or somethin'?"

I punched him in the arm as I stood. "Soda! You -"

Soda caught my arm, standing up with a remorseful face. "You're right, I'm sorry, but chill out, Jilly."

I pulled my arm away, stomping away to Darry's room.

I wasn't mad at Soda. I wasn't mad at anyone, I was just mad. Steve wasn't making any moves.

So I ran to Darry's room and opened his closet, pulled the stepping stool up and stepped on it, pushing on the roof and crawling into the attic of the house. I moved across the room to the window in the back of the house, where the setting sun could be seen.

I loved the attic because it was my own personal space. Pony, Soda, and Darry knew that they weren't allowed up in the attic - not that they would fit anyway.

"A little help here."

I looked over my shoulder. "This space is off limits."

"Too bad," Steve groaned, just barely fitting through the entrance to the attic.

"Steve -"

Steve groaned loudly, crawling over to where I was and sitting down beside me. "It's so frickin' small in here."

I laughed. "What are you, an old man?"

"Might as well be."

I looked up him, my head tilted. "You're two years older than me, Steve. If age is why -"

"That isn't it," Steve said quickly, looking at me. "It's still Soda. It's always gonna be Soda that's the problem."

"But you want to be with me, right?"

"Yes."

I swallowed a lump in my throat as we both reached out for each other, pulling us closer together. I smiled when our faces were close. "You know, Steve, you don't get enough credit from all the girls."

Steve smiled. "Why's that?"

I touched the side of his face. "You have a nice face; almost perfect, I'd say."

"You're not too bad yourself."

I leaned forward, kissing him sweetly. When I pulled away, I sighed. "What would help you decide?"

"I don't know." Steve shrugged.

"How about a day for just me and you?"

"How are we gonna go out without it looking like a date?"

"Take me out of Tulsa."

Steve smiled. "Well, what are you gonna to tell Soda?"

"Simple. I'm going over to Stacy's. What about you?"

"Simple. I'm going over to Shepard's."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't know why you're friends with that goof."

Steve smiled, eyebrows raised. "Goof?"

I smiled too, nodding. "Yeah, he's an idiot. One of those smart idiots, you know?"

"No," Steve laughed.

"Dinner!" Soda yelled from downstairs.

"Whatever," I said, nudging him and starting toward the opening. "We'll talk about this later."

The next day was a hard one. Nothing seemed to go my way.

Adding to the misery, I tripping around the corner. "Ah, shit," I muttered, getting onto my knees and picking up my books.

"I like to see you on your knees, Jilly."

I laughed, looking up at Curly. "Shut up, Curly."

Curly stuffed his hands into his pocket, looking around. "Your boyfriend gonna beat me up?"

"Don't have a boyfriend" I said, standing up.

"Really?" Curly's eyebrows raised. "Then who's that cocky ass trying to get your attention?"

I looked over my shoulder at Peter. Then I turned back to Curly. "You should probably split."

"I'll see you 'round, Jill."

"See you."

"Jill, baby -" Peter walked up, putting his arm around me.

I shook him off. "Don't touch me, Peter."

"Why?" Peter said, slipping in front of me. "You're my girl."

It was beyond me how me punching him in the face didn't make him clue in to the fact that I wanted nothing to do with him.

"I'm not your girl."

Peter licked his lips, shaking his head. "You're askin' for it right now, you know that, don't you?"

I shook my head. "You're a terrible person, do you know that?"

Peter smiled sickly, touching my face. "I should give you a beautiful shiner to match your beautiful face."

I hit his hand away. "Don't."

"I saw you with Randle. You got somethin' with him?"

I hesitated. "I...don't know."

"If you're his, why hasn't he told anyone?"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm not a prize to be claimed."

"Hiding something?"

"No," I said, then sighed, pushing him out of the way. "This has been delightful, but I have to get to class."

"Now, wait a damn second," Peter said quickly, moving in front of me and pressing a hard hand against my shoulder. "Are you Randle's girl or not?"

"Not," I said surely.

"Good," he said, smiling widely. "Maybe I'll swing by and pick you up."

"Don't." I walked around him, heading to my class.

"Alright, I'll catch you later, baby."

I spun around to say something, but he had already slipped away.

"Jill?"

I spun back around, smiling a little. "Pony."

He smiled, his arm coming around my shoulders as we walked down the hallway. "How would you feel about the movies tonight?"

"Sounds like a great Friday night," I said, putting my arm around him as well. "Maybe you could go with Curly and...pretend you went with me?"

Pony stopped walking, moving to stand in front of me. "Why would I do that?"

I sighed, giving him my big eyes. "Pony, I need you to cover for me tonight."

Pony glared at me. "For what? What did Stacy -"

"It's Steve."

Pony's brows furrowed and he shifted on his feet, seeming to be thinking about it. "Steve...and...you...are...going..."

I nodded. "On a date." And then I quickly backtracked. "On a hangout. Whatever. We're going out."

"Where?" Pony asked incredulously, shaking his head.

"Out of Tulsa," I answered, laughing a little ad started walking back toward class.

"What, now you guys are going together?"

I shook my head. "No, we're just casual right now."

Pony groaned quite loudly next to me. "Do you even know what that means"

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously."

"Sex, Jill. Sex."

A couple of months ago, I would've given his a disgusted face and said, "Ew, Pony! With Steve - no!", but instead I said, "Whatever happens, happens."

Pony was the one that made a disgusted face. "Ew, Jill! With Steve - no!"

I laughed loudly, slapping his arm. "Oh, come on, Pony, I've seen you looking at Amy Whitton."

Pony's face reddened, though he tried to look intimidating. "She's a great friend."

I smiled. "Oh, okay." I sighed as we grew closer to the door. "So, will you do it?"

Pony sighed, shaking his head. "No."

"But I'm your little sister," I whined dramatically, tugging on his sleeve. "Pony, I'm just your sweet, little, baby sis -"

"Okay, fine!" Pony said loudly, hands up. "I'll do it."

I clapped loudly. "Ha!" I breathed out, smiling widely. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah."