Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Outsiders.

DUDES, sorry for the delay. I'm having a few rough weeks. I'm not sure when I can update again, sorry

-Kathrine

(Language for warning)

Keep Moving

A New Day

"Lucy, get up!" there was a bang on my door. Pony's voice rang out loudly threw my locked door. A little dazed, I looked around. Dallas was no longer in my room, but his jacket was draped over my body. I sat up after Pony banged on my door again.

"Come on, Darry said you work at eight. I have to walk ya down there." Pony said a bit annoyed. I opened my door, he was dressed but looked half asleep.

"Sorry Pone, I'll be ready in a minute. Hey, to make it up to you…I'll buy ya breakfast." Pony rolled his eyes and walked away from my door.

"Whatever." he has gotten so moody lately. God, I hate puberty as much as the next guy but it's taking a serious toll on my little brother. Shutting the door I quickly changed into my uniform. It was as tight as I remembered it to be, I groaned at it. Even with the wrap around my stomach, it hurt to wear the shitty uniform. In the bathroom, I brushed my teeth and hair. It doesn't take much to get ready now since I have little hair to worry about. After putting a white head band into my hair, I left the bathroom. As I grabbed an apple, we both left out the front door.

I was in a hurry because it was already going on eight o'clock. As I chomped on my apple, I tried to swallow it. Calling back to Pony, I kept up my fast speed.

"Lets go slow poke. I thought you were on some kind of track team!" he laughed tiredly to me.

"I haven't been running for about two months now, so I'm out of shape."

"Hey, me too. Maybe we can go on a run sometime." Ponyboy jogged up to me, giving me a weird look.

"What have you done with my sister?"

"I'm just in a good mood. I had a good nights sleep."

"Yeah, I heard." I looked at Pony like I didn't know what he was talking about.

"I heard Dally come through the window. Don't worry I wont tell on you."

"Did you listen to us talk?" I was a little frightened at the fact that my baby brother knows what kind of stuff I get myself into.

"No, I just heard him come in. Then I just went back to sleep." I gave him a look that made him put his hands up in defense.

"Hey, I swear I didn't listen. I promise." I threw my free arm around his shoulders.

"Good, because it would be a very bad thing if you were intruding in on my privacy. I might have to beat you up."

He scoffed at me playfully. "As if."

"I think I could take you."

"I wouldn't want to hurt my only sister." he looked up to the sky like he was thanking God that he only had one.

"The best sister ever invented!" I said pumping my fist in the air. He laughed at me.

"Now this is what I miss."

"What?" he joined with tossing his arm around me.

"I miss the silly moments we have together. We haven't had any since you've been back." I looked at him apologetically.

"Well, how about after work we go bum some money off Darry. The two of us can go see a movie. Just you and me." he smiled at me enthusiastically.

"That would be great. None of the guys like to see movies, so it will be nice to have company that wont talk the entire time." I grinned at him.

"Yeah, than we can get some eats. Your choice." he looked at me suspiciously.

"Why are you being so nice?"

"I'm just in a really good mood and we haven't had time together. Someone else is always there. So it's just a day for you and me. I also understand you need new shoes." I pointed down to his disgusting, dirty sneakers.

"Darry said I have to wait because we are tight with money." I shook my head.

"You need shoes. I will pay for your shoes. Darry is right though, we are still pretty tight. Even with the three of us having a job. I hope the new money Ruth was talking about helps out." Pony shook his head.

"You don't have to pay for my shoes. That's Darry's job." I shook my head as I threw my apple core to the ground.

"No it's not. I pay for food. Clothes. Umm…sometimes medical." he looked at me funny.

"Yep." I nodded yes. "Those pills you take every night, I pay for them. The new shirts Darry bought you the other day, I paid for them. Soda's underwear that he has, I bought. That apple I just ate, I paid for."

"I didn't know you paid for so much."

"I really don't. I only pay for the food some times. Sodapop pays for it normally. Than he and Darry pay for the house. Electrician. Water. Repairs. Pretty much everything. All my money goes towards our essentials. And shoes are definitely necessary."

"Wow. I never thought about this stuff before. I'm sorry you have to work."

"It's no big deal. I was hoping I could still work fulltime because we still need the money. I wanted to save up most of it this summer and only work part time when school comes around. Speaking of which, I guess I'm still a junior. And you're a big old sophomore."

He nodded victoriously. "Hell yeah. Two-bit is a junior too, so don't feel so bad."

"I don't think I would care that much if the circumstances were different."

"What do you mean?"

"I lost my credits for stupid reasons, that's what I mean. I could be a senior if I hadn't run away."

"Well, it's in the past. Everyone's glad you are back, so lets just stick with the now." I nodded to him. Ruffling his hair, I took him under my wing.

"How did you get so smart."

"I'm really not that smart. It's being around people that's dumb what makes me seem smart." he laughed as we approached my work.

"Ohhh!" I said laughing with him. "Not only smart…but a smart ass too."

"You bet!" we laughed as we entered the diner. It was booming with morning customers, just stopping in for a quick breakfast. As I went behind the counter, I noticed Steve and Sodapop at the counter. Ponyboy sat next to them as I went to clock in. when I came back, Lora was there giving an order to the kitchen. She smiled at me, then gave me a hug.

"I'm so glad you are doing alright. How are you feeling. You look great. Did I give you that head band? Both your brothers are here. What's with this no Dallas rules? I've missed you."

"Lora, breathe. I've missed you too." she smiled one last time before throwing a demand at me.

"Get to work, slacker." I did a playful salute.

"Yes, ma'am!" I walked over to two gentle men at the end of the counter. After taking their orders, I gave the ticket to the kitchen. Then I went over to my brother and our friend.

"Morning Louie. We got the morning off to have breakfast here." Steve said with a smile. Just as I was going to say something, the bell to the door rang. Tim and Curly walked in, waving to me as the sat with the other boys.

"Louie Bird. Dally said you were lookin good, he wasn't lyin'!"

"Oh so flattering Timmy." he grinned at me deviously. I high-five Curly.

"Haven't seen you around Curly, where ya been fool?" he laughed at me. I always called him names.

"Avoiding you of course." he said. I put my hands up.

"I didn't want to see ya anyway." all my boys laughed.

"Okay, just so everyone knows; if you order, you pay. Unless you are Ponyboy, because I owe him breakfast." they all groaned at me, even Sodapop."Oh shut up, now what can I get you Pone?" everyone ordered after that, vowing to pay when they were done eating. After a while I took everyone their food that I got orders from. Then I took more orders. And pretty much did the same pattern until the crowd died down. It gave me time to talk to my boys, who were finishing up their huge meals. Just as I was going to say something, the devil herself walked into my diner. Julie Holland and her side kick, Ruth. Now I forgot all about Ruth after I met my Ruth. Julie's Ruth definitely doesn't deserve her name. Anyway, they sat at a booth together; waiting for someone to take their order. She spotted me on her survey of the diner. Why the hell was she on this side of town! Lora walked passed me with hands full of plates.

"Go get that table, will ya?" my eyes got large. The boys turned around to look at what I was looked at. They turned back with the same look on their faces. I felt my mouth go dry as I took out my pad of paper. My purple pen stuck out from behind my ear, which I took a hold of.

"Just go over there and do your job, Luc. Don't talk to her other wise. Ignore her comments." Sodapop told me as I step out from behind the counter. As I walked up to the table, she smiled at me pleasantly.

"I heard that you were here, I wanted to talk to you about something."

"Hi, my name is Lucy. May I take your order." I said just as pleasantly as I could. I stuck to what I normally did, trying to pretend I didn't know her.

"Lucy, I just came here to talk to you." she admitted, still sounding pleasant.

"Julie, I have a job to do. If you aren't going to order something, than I will have to ask you to leave. No loitering." I pointed to the sign on the door, next to the open sign. She frowned at me as I started to walk away. She reached up and grabbed my wrist gently. I turned around quickly.

"I'll have a fruit bowl." she quickly said. "And a water without lemon."

She looked over at Ruth, who quickly picked the first thing she saw on the menu. "I'll have a short stack of blueberry pancakes."

I nodded to them, writing down the order. As I went to walk away again, she grabbed my wrist again. "I really need to talk to you. When is your next break?"

"Julie, what do you want from me?"

"I just need to talk with you. It will only take five minutes." I shook my head.

"That's all your getting from me. My breaks in twenty." I pulled my arm away from her and gave the order to the kitchen. My boys stared at me as I totaled their orders. Once they paid, Tim was the only one to have the guts to say something.

"What did she say to you?"

"She said she wants to talk to me. I'm not sure what about, but it can't be good. She's being all nice to me, so she's gotta want something." I shook my head as I leaned over to talk to them.

"Are you going to listen to her?" I shrugged my shoulders.

"Probably not." the guys laughed.

"Well Steve and I gotta head out." Soda kissed my head as he left, then Steve did the same.

"I LOVE YOU!" they screamed. I screamed back, not caring Lora was right there.

"I LOVE YOU MORE." a few customers laughed at us, but it didn't seem to bother them that we screamed. Then I noticed Pony was still there. "Wait, Soda take Pony home."

Ponyboy followed my twin out the door after a wave to me. I waved back and started to talk with Tim and Curly. We talked about what's been going on lately, which has been nothing much. The order that was Julie's was ready. I took it over there and went to tell Lora I was on break. As I was walking back to her table, Tim stopped me.

"We are headed out to see the gang. I'll be back to take ya home later, what time ya off?"

"Lora, what time am I off now?"

"Three." she answered as she went into the kitchen. I gave the Shepherds hugs before they left, then I headed for Julie's table. I hope this turns out well.