Disclaimer: I do not own the Outsiders or the song Glitter in the Air.

Have you ever wished for an endless night? Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight? Have you ever held your breath and asked yourself? Will it ever get better than tonight? Tonight.

He breathed in uneasily. His palms were so sweaty he had to wipe them off on his pants leg a few times before he even got to the top of the stairs. He hadn't felt this way in a long time and it was going to take some getting used to. He liked this feeling though...a lot. He just hoped it stayed and he didn't get the feeling he did after the last storm.

69B. He stopped and stared at the numbers, making sure he had the right place and trying to physic himself out about reaching forward and knocking the door. Could he knock it? Could he even move his now limp arm? Could he even say anything once she came to the door?

He knocked and waited. He heard her footsteps from the insides and slightly wished she wouldn't be home. Should he dash? No, cowards run. Who is Sodapop Curtis to be afraid of a little girl? He wouldn't run out.

He put on his best smile as the clicking stopped and the door peeled open. Her green eyes gazed up at him. "Sodapop? What are you doing here?"

"I just thought I'd stop by, you know, I was in the neighborhood and all." He flashed his teeth again.

She thought for a minute but reluctantly opened the door and he stepped in. "You want some water or something?" she asked.

He looked around the place. It was open, the kitchen and living room being in one room and three doors on the side leading to the bedrooms and the bath. "Nah, thanks."

She sat down on the sofa, he following her lead. "Welcome to the palace." She smirked. "In the neighborhood, huh?"

"Yeah, that wasn't the best thing I coulda came up with, huh?" Soda chuckled. "It got me in the door though, didn't it? More than I can say about most people."

Jennie pressed her lips together and admired his smile again. "Why are you really here then, Soda?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "I thought I saw some guy peeping in your window." He pointed to the open blinds and grinned. "I was concerned."

Jennie nodded and laughed. "Uh-huh. We're on the fourth floor. Guy must have had superpowers to see all the way in here seeing me walk around topless and all."

"Oh really?" Soda went on. "So that's what he was looking at?" He paused and curled his lips up. "Can't say I blame him."

Jennie hid her giggle with her hand. She shook her head and composed herself. "Why are you here?"

Soda looked down and fiddled with his fingers. "I wanted to see if you're ok after last night...I mean after what happened at Buck's."

"I should be asking about you." She reached out and brushed her finger over his swollen pink cheek. "Took a good lickin' there. But I don't guess you hit him jus' 'cause he was looking at my butt."

Soda's face turned slightly red and he had wished he had thought quicker and ducked out before the hit. "I wanted to make sure he didn't...upset you or nothing."

"It had nothing to with what you saw before that?"

Soda looked up at her. He stared at her pearl skin and silently resisted the urge to touch it. He looked into her eyes at how damaged they were. Anger overcame him again. "I...no."

Jennie sighed. "Soda, I appreciate what you did." She stood up and crossed her arms. "But maybe you should...go."

Soda didn't move. He stared at her. "You really want me to?"

There was a long pause. Both of them stared into each other's eyes, neither of them knowing if they should blink or not. Jennie seemed at a lost. Then there was a small cry in the room coming from a new person. All eyes turned to her.

She clung to a ripped pink blanket with lambs on it. She rubbed her tired eyes and moaned out again. "What's going on?"

Jennie broke herself from Soda and rushed to the girl, lifting her up from the ground and holding her. Her face went dark red. "You're supposed to be asleep! What happened?"

Soda stood up and smiled at the little eyes watching him. "Hi there."

The girl buried her face in Jennie's shoulder, scared. Jennie spun around and faced Soda. "So-"

"Who's he?" the girl asked, moving around in Jennie's arms to where her eyes focused on Soda.

Soda walked closer to them, trying to reach out to the scared little girl who couldn't have been more than four. "I'm Sodapop. Who are you?"

She looked up at Jennie who nodded at her to go ahead and speak. "Suzie."

"Well hiyea, Suzie." He stuck a hand out for her to shake. "It's mighty nice meeting you."

Jennie watched Suzie take Soda's hand and shake it. She stared at him as he ruffled her hair, telling her she was pretty and making her grin from ear to ear. "This is my friend," Jennie explained. "He stopped by for a minute."

Soda squeezed her hand. "Did we wake you, Suzie?"

She nodded, getting more comfortable. "Yeah." She looked up at Jennie. "You're really loud and your feet make a lot of noise."

Jennie shook her head and put Suzie back down on the ground. "Yeah, yeah, ok. I'm the loud one." She eyed Soda.

"I'm loud?" Soda asked, winking at Suzie. "I beg your pardon, ma'am. I was as quiet as a mouse!"

"A barn rat is more like it."

Suzie giggled and Soda continued on. "That hurt. It really hurt."

Jennie tickled Suzie under her arms and lifted her up again. "You gotta go to bed!" She tipped her upside down. "And stay there this time for more than five minutes, ay?"

"I wanna stay out here with you!"

"No way!" Jennie scooped her up, and turned her toward her room. "We're boring anyway."

Soda waved goodbye to the girl as Jennie quickly pushed her way into her room to lie her back down to sleep. He could have guessed this if he really put a lot of thought in it and the more he did, the less surprised he was. Jennie wasn't like most girls her age in the fact that she wasn't into what was hip.

Maybe that's one of the reasons Jennie reminded Soda of his mother...maybe that's the reason he was running so hard and so scared all at the same time.

Jennie reappeared soon. She covered her face and slid against the wall and onto the ground. She let out a deep, tired, sigh. Soda sat down beside her. "She's a cute kid."

Jennie snorted. "Yeah, you should see her at bath time."

"A sweet kid like that? I can't imagine it."

Jennie uncovered her head and looked at him with a small smile. "I didn't know you were that good with kids. I coulda guessed just by your personality, but..."

"That? Eh, it ain't a big deal. I used to have to entertain Pone and Dan when we were kids all the time when Dar babysat us."

She sneered and silence took over the room. Her face was flushed pink and Soda couldn't help but notice. He immediately knew why. He thought he had an explanation for everything now.

"I really don't mind," Soda stammered out. "I get it, you know. That's why you didn't want me to come in before but I really don't mind. I mean, I really love kids. I'm Mr. Fun after all!"

Jennie stared at him. "What?"

Soda continued on. "I mean I can see why you'd be...worried about it, but I mean, I don't mind. See," he got in close to her. "Last year I actually thought I was going to be a dad myself! So you having a kid doesn't-"

"Wait!" Jennie stopped him. "You think Suzie is my kid?"

Soda sat, dumbfounded. "Yeah?"

Jennie couldn't control her laughter. "She's my sister, So."

Soda's face turned dark red, making Jennie giggle, lightening her up a little and loosening her up. She socked him playfully on his arm and he hid his face, embarrassed. He didn't even know what to say anymore. He was such an idiot.

"I can't believe you thought that!" Jennie continued to laugh. "Do I...Soda! I don't look like a mom do I?"

Soda lifted his head up and grinned seeing her brightened face. He took in her smile and her laugh and let out a small chuckle himself. "I'm so sorry, Jen."

Jennie shook her head and hiccupped. "No, no. Don't be sorry. It's a common mistake I suppose."

The room grew awkward and Soda wondered about asking another question, afraid he might screw that up to. The last thing he wanted to do was further embarrass himself but there were so many questions that he wanted answered. Should he ask her or-

"She lives with me," Jennie let out softly. "It's kinda...it's kinda one of the reasons we moved up here." She played with her fingers, avoiding eye contact for a minute. "I just needed to get her and me outta Kansas."

Soda scooted closer to her, his ears peeled. This was the first personal thing he'd really heard from Jennie. He placed a comforting hand on her hand and held her fingers. "You're back...was it because of that?"

Jennie stared at the hand touching hers. It was so warm. She didn't dare look into his eyes. She knew if she did what would happen. "You really know how to swoon a lady, don't you?"

"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, Jen. It's ok, really."

"That's just it," Jennie said. "You're...so easy. I dunno if I should be concerned about how you get girls to feel this way, but whatever it is, it works. A stranger could open up to you just by you flashing her a smile. It's incredible."

Soda tightened his grip around her fingers. "I really care, Jen. Tell me."

Jennie leaned forward allowing Soda to see her full back covered by her T-shirt. He traced the outline of her spine, feeling it underneath her shirt. He hesitantly lifted her shirt up, being ever so careful not to hurt her or scare her off.

Jennie said nothing. She allowed him.

Soda saw the red linings and winced. He reluctantly touched them so lightly that he barely felt them. He was afraid to hurt her. He moved his eyes to her lower back where the burn sat. It was pink and tender. He didn't dare touch it.

"Do it," Jennie breathed out. "Just do it."

Soda did as he was told and ran his finger over the letter, tracing it over and over again. "Does it hurt?"

Jennie hugged her knees but shook her head. "You're not running away."

Soda outlined it over and over again, just eyeing each piece of it, trying to understand. "I'm not going to." He began to rub her back, just like his mother did to him late at night when he was sick. "Who did it, Jen?"

She didn't answer. Soda continued to rub. He hadn't even realized how he absentmindedly started to hum. They stayed like this for a long time. They both didn't even realize it. Neither wanted the other to move.

"When most guys see it they split for the door," she explained. "They're afraid of what it means. They think they're going to catch a disease or something. Some just think I'm in a cult or a witch. Either way they all leave."

Some time passed and Jennie pulled her shirt back down. She looked behind her shoulder at the boy looking straight into her eyes with care, drawing her to him.

He held out an open arm. "C'mere."

She slid under his arm and nestled herself in his chest. She breathed in his sent and shut her eyes. She hadn't noticed the tears until she felt his hand wipe them away.

"Why are you still here?"

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No."

Soda kissed the top of her head. This was the first time they'd both showed affection towards one another. And at this point, Soda didn't care if he scared her off. He didn't care.

Jennie's eyes sparkled up at him and at that moment, that's all they both saw.

Slowly, Soda lowered his head down, his lips kissing hers. He let them lay on hers for a long time, taking his time and enjoying this moment like it was his first and last kiss. She did the same.

"Who are you?"

He flashed his teeth proudly. "I'm the one and only Sodapop Curtis, ma'am."

It was really snowing for the first time all year. It was coming down along with some hail. The whole house smelled like gingerbread and cinnamon. It always did when it was around December. It reminded me of a few years ago when I was in this very house, cuddled up by the fire with...this jerk.

"I can't believe you're acting like you don't give a damn!" I screamed, the back of my throat burning.

"Well does it look like I give a damn, Danni? I've already spoken about what I think. Mike wasn't going to do anything and you know it. Don't try and act like you think he's a monster. You know him!"

I don't know why I was here, standing in front of him. I don't know if it was from the anger I had built up inside of me because of Ronnie, or Dally going MIA, or from Mike, but I was standing here, letting it all out on Randy. I needed to set a few things clear before this rumble set fire.

"He was going to hit her!" I continued to rant. "And who says I know him? I apparently don't know you!"

He snorted at the remark. "I'm sorry for whatever it is that you're still hung up on. But my God, move on. Get over yourself and look at us. You were our friend and now you're trying to act like we're dangerous! You know better!"

I knew better? I hadn't decided that. I hadn't decided if I did or not for years. Dangerous. Aren't we all dangerous?

"I'm not hung up on anything!" I addressed. "I'm not the one who ended ties with you guys. You kicked me out. You left me on the side of the road like yesterday's trash."

"Oh God, stop saying that!" he spewed, rolling his head back. "I did not just leave you there. Your house was right around the corner. You could've come to us. Heck even Marilyn. She was your friend!"

I made fists. "Who ditched me the moment you dumped me! She wouldn't even look at me afterwards, what do you mean come to you? You got rid of me and if Sam would have had it his way, I would have really been gone."

He scowled and his face turned red with anger. "Don't say that."

"It's true."

Randy paced around the room for a minute, trying to cool down. "You're so hung up on that."

I walked toward him. "I'm not. I'm happy where I'm at and who I'm with. I'm just giving you a reality check of what actually happened, seeing as how you all forgot."

"Yeah, you found a nice guy." He rolled his eyes. "I'm happy with Mar, so who cares about what we had?"

"I don't," I said. "Our relationship has nothing to do with why I came here. That happened years ago."

Randy nodded and went into the kitchen, making me follow him. He seemed to have cooled down somewhat. "Why are you even here? To yell at me?"

"I came here to remind you that you promised me something," I explained. "You promised me you guys wouldn't go near my family. Remember that?"

Randy moved his eyes away from mine. "Sam promised you that. He's dead now, Danni."

"So what does that mean?" My voice rose again. "That the promise is over? C'mon!"

Randy ignored the question. "You don't even care if he's dead or not. He was your friend and you didn't bother showing up to his goddamn funeral!"

"Like I was welcomed there!" I yelled. "You're shitting me, right?"

"I heard Dally's going to go to the cops and tell them he did it." He turned and faced me again, going right back to a new subject. Leave it to Randy to avoid a conflict.

"So?"

He raised an eyebrow. "You all think you can just cheat the system like that?"

"Why do you care?" I asked.

"I want justice for my friend...I'll tell them he's lying."

My eyes shot open. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He would never. "You better not! Randy I swear-"

"What are you going to do if I do?" He held his arms out and came near me. "That wasn't in our deal, seeing is how that's all you care about anyway."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Is this Mike's idea, or did you actually come up with one all by your little self?"

"Hey, now!"

I backtracked. "I want my promise to be kept. I'm not going to start threatening but I will if I have to. I could have a long time ago when you and Bob came after Pone but I didn't because you stopped. Don't think I won't do it though."

Randy sneered and crossed his arms. "Fine. We'll keep your silly little promise though I don't see why I still have to keep it. We made that years ago when it actually mattered. It probably doesn't anymore."

I grabbed my coat from the table. "You really want to chance that?"

He didn't say anything. He knew better. Randy and his family were at the top of the food chain. Someone at the bottom, like me, setting him back like I'd plan to, would ruin him forever. This would ruin everyone's lives.

"You go to the cops and you go down with us," he said. "You know that right?"

I slipped my hands through the warm sleeves of my jacket. I turned and faced them. "As long it keeps my family safe, I don't care."

"You'll be there for life."

I smirked at the idea. "Yeah, well, maybe me and Dally can raise a family in there."

I could feel his eyes roll at the mere mention of his name and headed for the door. He followed after me. I stood at the front of the door and faced him one last time.

"You need to watch yourself with them," I said calmly. "They're going to get you in over your head so fast you won't even know what hit you."

He looked down at me. "I think I know them better than you do."

"I'm just warning you," I said. "You can't take back some of the things you do, Randy. Just keep that in mind."

He grinned and motioned me out the door. "Don't worry about me now. Just go take a hike Danni. It'll be good for you."

I opened the door behind me. "Remember, you promised. I'm not afraid to go down Randy. Are you?"

It's only half past the point of oblivion. The hourglass on the table, the walk before the run. The breath before the kiss and the fear before the flames. Have you ever felt this way?