"Tomorrow, huh? I didn't even know you two wild boys were takin' a road trip."

Steve opened one of his dresser drawers, choosing T-shirts and jeans to pack as he replied to TwoBit. "Yep. It's been an idea longer than it's been an actual plan, but we are."

TwoBit peeked in the open drawer as Steve added clothes to his duffel bag, the older man spotting a light pink T-shirt. "Hey, check it out, Steve-O wears pink!"

Steve grabbed the shirt, then smacked his friend over the head with it. "A lot of guys wear pink, man. It's not a big deal. Now, get the hell out or help me pack."

TwoBit smiled, seeing the grin Steve was trying to hide. "Aw, there wasn't a bit of heat behind that, was there? You know you love me."

"Shut up and hand me that pair of swimming trunks."

"Gladly." TwoBit did as Steve had asked, his buddy then tucking the swimming trunks in with some other shorts. "I take it that means there won't be any skinny dipping?"

"Nah. Somehow, I figure that's against the hotel rules."

"Rules, smules. The ladies there would love it. I can see it now. You and Soda dashin' outside late at night and the women opening their windows to look at your-"

"Okay. You can stop. I get it. Man, that's definitely an image I didn't need in my head."

TwoBit allowed a few beats of silence to pass, the subject dropping as Steve resumed packing. "Hey, I guess this means you really have gone soft."

"Huh? What does?"

"I was just talkin' about you and Soda going to a pool naked, and you barely even blinked. You didn't shove me or do anything to retaliate."

"Retaliation could be arranged if it's what you're after. I ought to kick your ass for calling me soft."

"But you won't."

"Don't get cocky about it. That word just doesn't have the same sort of meaning to me. It's not a bad thing anymore. I actually see it as a strength."

"So I just gave you a compliment then?"

"In a way, yeah. Being soft is hardly an insult, even if you did mean it as one. I'm also too comfortable in my own skin now for something like that to get to me. There's really a lot to be said for security."

"No offense, but I can sure tell you've been talkin' to a shrink for a while. It shines through."

"No offense taken. But I do wish you wouldn't call Laura a shrink. She's not that. She's a counselor who's helped me more than I even know how to say."

"Okay. I can tell you've been talkin' to a counselor for a while. Is that better?"

"Yeah, you smartass. That is better."

"So what are ya'll planning to do on this trip? Chase a few women?"

"Soda ain't single, you moron. But, yeah, we don't exactly know. We're just going to go and see how it unfolds."

"Don't worry, Pone. It's only for a couple of days. We'll be back on Sunday night."

Pony stirred the corn on the stove as he and Soda were both preparing dinner. "I'm not worried. Just wondering. Me and Darry will be fine while you and Steve take off for the weekend."

Soda dumped a bag of tater tots into a frying pan, adding oil before turning on a second burner. "Yep. You make sure you take care of our big brother while I'm gone. I don't want him here losin' his mind."

"What was that, little buddy? I couldn't hear you from the living room."

Soda shot Darry a big grin as his older brother entered the kitchen. "Oh, nothin', Dar. Me and Pone were just talkin' about dinner. You know how we are when we get hungry."

Darry peeked inside the oven, seeing the chicken his brother had doused with barbecue sauce. "Uh-huh. So what time are you and Steve planning on leaving tomorrow?"

"Probably around 2:00. Mr. Coleman's all right with us cuttin' out a few hours early for the trip."

"And you've got enough cash to cover your share of expenses?"

"Sure do."

"Whose car are you taking?"

"Steve's. He's pickin' me up for work in the mornin' so we can leave straight from the DX."

"Do you have a map so you know which roads you need to be following?"

"Yeah. We-"

Pony interrupted before Soda could finish. "Geez, Darry, lay off. They know what they're doing. They're two guys who work on cars for a living for crying out loud. They know how to drive somewhere without getting lost."

Soda laughed when he saw the annoyed look Darry was giving Pony in response. "Hey, how about that? My little brother is confident in me."

Darry allowed the moment to pass, running a hand over his face before he spoke again. "I'm confident in you too. It's just that you've never gone away before. Hell, you haven't left Tulsa at all since before Mom and Dad died. So this is kind of new for me."

Soda shared a look with Pony, seeing his younger brother's focus return to the dinner that was still cooking. "I can dig that, Dar. Ask me all the questions you want if it's what you need to do. I don't mind answerin' them. I'd probably ask you lots of questions too if you were leavin' for a couple of days. Don't worry though. Me and Steve will be just fine."

"I know you will, little buddy. Pony's right. You two know how to handle yourselves on the road. I need to relax and remember you both have more than enough common sense."

"Dad, if you squeeze any harder, I won't be able to breathe."

Nicholas loosened his hold, though he kept Steve wrapped in an embrace. "Sorry, Son. I can't help it."

Steve easily hugged Nicholas back, looking over his dad's shoulder to see the time on the clock that ticked just past 7:00. "I've gotta go or I'll be late picking up Soda."

Nicholas reluctantly let go, giving Steve a kiss on the forehead before he completely pulled away. "I love you. Please keep in touch."

"I love you too. But don't be so damn dramatic. I'm going a couple of hours away, not moving across the country."

"I know. But I still want you to call."

"I will. There are payphones. Plus, you know how fancy hotel rooms can be nowadays. We'll probably have a TV and a phone."

"I remember when you could barely get a bed and a floor."

"Yeah. Times are changin', that's for sure." Steve grabbed his wallet and keys off the counter, the bag he'd packed already in the car. "Anyway, I really better go now, Dad. I'll call you later."

"Okay, Son. You and Sodapop be safe this afternoon and all weekend."

"We will." Steve opened the front door, stepping outside as he waved to Nicholas. "We'll be careful, and at the same time, we'll enjoy being out on the highway."

"You got a full tank of gas, Steve? And has your oil been changed recently?"

Steve sat in the driver's seat of the Ford, the key still in the ignition as he talked to Darry through the open passenger side window. "Of course, Superman. Who do you think you're talking to here? I know how to maintain a car."

Darry looked across the front yard, seeing Soda give Pony a hug. "Yeah. I know you do. I just had to check."

Soda came down the porch steps, tossing his duffel bag into the backseat of Steve's car. "I'll see you on Sunday night, Dar."

Darry pulled Soda into a hug. "You better call me later today, little buddy. You and Steve both drive careful too. No speeding. And don't stop anywhere that doesn't look safe or seems too-"

"We won't, Darry. We're east side greasers, aren't we? We've got good instincts. Don't worry." Soda let go of his big brother and got into the passenger seat of the Ford. "Let's go and get our workday over with, Stevie."

Steve started the engine, backing out of the driveway as he and Soda both waved to Darry and Pony. "Yeah, if you ask me, time can't go fast enough today."

Soda watched out the window, his house and brothers disappearing from view as the car took off down the street. "It sure can't. I know I'm ready to go."

"Man, Darry sounded a lot like my dad before I left. He told me to keep in touch, like I was going far away forever."

"Well, I think Darry is pretty much like a parent, you know? He was askin' me so many questions last night that Pony told him to lay off."

"Really? I never thought the kid would say that to Superman. They didn't get into a fight, did they?"

"Naw. Darry just gave him a look. I laughed, so maybe that broke some of the tension. But I let Darry talk too once he was ready. So I get where he was comin' from."

"It always helps to listen and understand. Being all dismissive doesn't ever get you anywhere."

"Yeah. Exactly. I like the way you put it about not bein' dismissive. I sure wasn't that at all. 'Cause I wanted Darry to know I care about how he feels and that he can ask questions if it helps him."

Steve stopped at a traffic light, seeing the DX up ahead. "That's good, buddy. I'm willing to bet Superman needed the validation." The light turned green, leading him to push on the gas pedal and start toward the station's driveway. "I think we'll have plenty to do today, man. Which is what we need 'cause the busier we are, the faster time will fly."

"Hey, Darry, Mr. Sanders won't like it if you're late for work."

Darry stared at the street, his eyes following the path the Ford had taken minutes earlier as he registered what Pony was saying to him. "Oh. Um, yeah. I should get going, shouldn't I? Are you ready for school?"

Pony slung his backpack over one shoulder, about to head out the door. "Yeah. I'll see you later, Dar. I'm meeting Lydia and Michael to work on a science project this afternoon, but I'll be home before dinner."

"All right, kiddo. See you then." Darry watched Pony leave, his younger brother crossing the porch and yard as he made his way to the sidewalk. The eldest Curtis then went back to preparing for his day, searching for a distraction that would make him forget where his nerves seemed set on taking him. He's fine, Darry thought. Soda's fine. He's nineteen and more than allowed to be away from me. Besides, they haven't even left yet. They're at the DX.

Darry sped up his movements, leaving the house before his thoughts could venture further. Stop it, he told himself as he got into the truck and started it up. Soda's safe, and all you're doing is blowing everything out of proportion.

"Man, this day felt longer than it should have. But at least we're on the road now. Right, buddy?"

Soda sat in the passenger seat beside Steve, the Ford heading down Route 69 as he reached for a drink from the cooler they'd packed. "Sure thing, Stevie. It feels good too. Nothin' but us and a long stretch of road."

Steve heard the pop and fizz as Soda opened a Pepsi, his best friend then taking a long swallow. "Hey, would you grab me one too?"

Soda took a second drink from the cooler, also opening this one before handing it to Steve. "So when will it be my turn to drive?"

"Probably in like an hour and a half. That sound all right?"

"Yeah. I think I'll be ready to get out and move around by then too."

"Hey, I didn't tell you what TwoBit said to me yesterday, did I?"

"I don't think so."

"Well, first, he asked if me and you were going to go skinny-dipping at the hotel."

Soda laughed out loud as he imagined those words leaving their buddy's mouth. "Somehow, I ain't even surprised by that. What'd he say next?"

"That he could just see us running to the pool naked and the women looking at us. He started to get a little more specific about what they'd be seeing, but I stopped him there. Then he called me soft because I didn't beat his head in for saying that stuff."

"You knew he was just jokin' around."

"Yeah. I don't think it was only that though. I didn't react at all. I kind of just shrugged it off and kept packing."

"What about when he called you soft?"

"That's where it started getting deep 'cause I honestly didn't mind, even if I thought I should. I told TwoBit that too. Being soft used to seem like this bad thing. Like a curse. But I don't see it that way now. I didn't even tell him I'm not because I know I am, and I'm okay with it. Especially when it means I'm less hot-headed."

"I don't know, Stevie. I get how you're seein' it, but I think I see somethin' else too."

"What?"

"You didn't react to what TwoBit was sayin' because you're not walkin' around with a bunch of shit pent up inside anymore. You're calmer, so you don't get angry as easy."

"That's true too. Maybe it's not just about being soft."

"Of course it ain't. That's like tryin' to explain yourself all in just one trait, and you can't do it 'cause there's a lot more to you than whether you're tough or soft. I think you're both, depending on which one you need at the time."

"Yeah. I guess I do too. I told TwoBit I'm secure in myself, so that must mean I can be things besides tough. I don't need to look a certain way all the time. I talked about that with Laura once. You know, how my image just isn't a priority anymore. I can be soft, and that's fine with me because I know where it comes from, and I know it's healthy."

"Hey, now I can be the one to say that self-esteem looks good on you."

Steve watched the road ahead, glancing briefly at Soda to see the wide smile his friend was giving him. "And I can say it feels good too, buddy. I'm pretty damn sure that nothing else in the world has ever felt better."

Audrey pressed her lips to Nicholas', the couple standing in the back of the grocery store, where she'd found him posting the schedule for the following week. "Hi, how's your day going? I got off early, so I thought I'd stop by."

Nicholas, momentarily taken off guard by the kiss, pushed a tack into the employee bulletin board. "It's been quite busy today, actually. Plus, Steve and Sodapop were set to leave for their trip about an hour ago. I know my son is nineteen, but I'm feeling kind of strange about going home to an empty house after work."

"I can make it a little less empty if you'd like."

Nicholas looked at Audrey, her kind eyes making his heart flutter. "Yes. I really would like that. I can make us a lasagna."

"And I can bring a dessert."

Nicholas laughed, earning a puzzled look from Audrey. "It's nothing. Let's just both be glad that neither Steve nor Sodapop is here right now because I can definitely imagine what the two of them would say."

"I'm sure we've both had to take a piss in worst places, Stevie."

Steve was now in the passenger seat as Soda drove the Ford just past the Kansas state line. "I don't know, man. That gas station was pretty bad. But at least it was there, I guess. So we could get out for a while and make those sandwiches too."

Soda watched the road signs that told him they were still following the same route, remembering something Steve had said about the map. "Hey, ain't there another road comin' up? Do I need to turn somewhere?"

"Not yet. I think it's like another thirty miles or so, from what my dad told me."

"Oh. Okay. Hey, you know what my first thought was when you told me we were actually going to take this trip?"

"That you had better pack your bags 'cause your wish was coming true?"

"No. Nice try at guessin' though. It made me think of how I'd be far away from Emily. I wasn't sure how I felt about that at first."

"So how do you feel about it?"

"Better now, but then, just the thought made me kind of sad. Maybe even a little scared."

"Man, come to think of it, I remember you seeming hesitant when I said we should leave today and come back on Sunday. You were asking about it, like you weren't sure."

"Yeah. I guess I just wanted to hear it a couple of times so I could tell myself it ain't long at all. Besides, it's not like I see her every day or somethin', and this trip is real important to me too. I don't want you to think it's not."

"Nah, I don't think that, buddy. I get where you're coming from about Emily. You still really just started being allowed to see her."

Soda didn't say anything else for a little while as he navigated traffic, getting over into the left lane and passing a handful of cars before swerving back into the right lane. "But I think this is all just what bein' a birth parent actually means."

Steve waited at first, feeling the wind blow through his rolled-down window as Soda lapsed into silence. "What does being a birth parent mean then?"

"That I don't have any real responsibility here. Penny doesn't either. We can both go wherever we want. We're not Emily's parents, so we don't have to be with her all the time. Samuel and Vivian are the ones taking care of her 'cause she belongs to them."

"Yeah. That's true."

"I ain't the one raisin' her, so that means I can take off for a weekend if it's what I want to do. I'm still free."

"Of course, and at the same time-"

"But I don't feel very free, Stevie. More like I'm stuck or even trapped. Not 'cause of Emily, but 'cause of my thoughts."

"I've felt that way before, man. Anxiety feels like it holds on to you really tight sometimes."

"Yeah. It does. And I know my place in Emily's life. I do. But that makes me fear losin' it too. Like if I step one foot out of line, it's gone."

"Out of line? What the hell are you talking about? You don't get to be in Emily's life 'cause of good behavior. You just are, and that's that."

"I know it sounds crazy. So let's just forget it, okay? I want to enjoy the drive."

"I think the drive is exactly what's making this come out. The further away we get, the more you'll open up."

"But that ain't what this time is for."

"Why not? If you can't have heart-to-hearts in a car with your best friend, who can you have them with?"

"I'm not sayin' we can't. Heck, me and you could have a heart-to-heart anywhere. But I just don't want to spend our trip bein' an emotional wreck."

"All right, buddy. Point taken. I admit you've got me curious now, but we can put this on a shelf till you want to talk about it more. I'm not out to push you. At least not as long as I can see you're okay."

"I am. Of course I am. I've got the best brothers in the world to help me with stuff. Three of them, in fact. And nobody can tell me any different. To make it even better, I've got a beautiful woman in my life."

"You didn't tell me you have a crush on Dr. Morgan, man. Don't you think she's a little old for you?"

Soda looked over at Steve, seeing his best friend failing to keep a straight face before they both burst out laughing. "I meant Penny, you knucklehead! What am I going to do with you, Stevie?"

"I don't know. Just keep laughing with me, I guess. You sure can't throw me out of my own car."

"Oh, we'll have to see about that. Just give me a minute to pull over." Soda paused, the smile still on his face as he basked in the light atmosphere that had filled the car. "Now that's what this time is for. Jokin' around, a little bit of love, and a whole lot of laughter."

"I was actually enjoying the time alone, TwoBIt. But go ahead. Pull up a chair and tell me about your day."

TwoBit accepted Darry's invitation, his mouth already moving before he could fully settle into the nearest chair. "So, you should've seen it, Superman. This gorgeous blond came into the bowling alley today, right? Well, she had the nicest ass and her rack-"

Darry was quick to interrupt, not letting his buddy go any further. "I have a girlfriend, so I'm not interested in hearing about the details of another woman's body."

"Oh, then that must mean you know the details of Maryanne's body, if you know what I'm gettin' at."

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell."

"But I'm sure you've done more than kiss. Anyway, the blond chick came in with a redhead chick too. Both damn good lookin' ladies, if that's a more proper way to put it."

"It is."

"Next thing I know, there two dudes show up to join the women, and man, if they weren't total hippies! They looked straight out of California."

"You came over here just to tell me you saw some hippies? Gee, TwoBit, why didn't you call the news station? I'm sure they could've used that story for the evening program."

"Aw, listen to Darry gettin' down with the sarcasm. I've gotta say, I really like it. You should try it more often." TwoBit got up out of his chair and went to the refrigerator, his eyes scanning the inside. "So have you heard from Soda and Steve yet? Did they get where they're going?"

Darry unintentionally let out a sigh, a hand moving up to rub his forehead. "No. I haven't heard from them yet."

TwoBit grabbed a beer, then sat back down with Darry, the man's gray eyes studying his friend with an emotional curiosity that had become more common in him as of late. "Are you worried?"

"Of course not. Soda knows how to take care of himself. So does Steve. There's nobody I could count on more to take care of each other either."

"Truer words were never spoken, but that doesn't mean you wouldn't still worry anyway."

"I'm fine. Just being paranoid."

"Aha! Which is a fancy way of sayin' you're worried. I read your face correctly."

"Yeah, yeah. So you did. But there's no reason for me to be worried. We're talking about two grown men here. I'm sure they're doing great." Darry's gaze wandered over to the phone that had yet to ring. "But, somehow, I'll only feel better once Soda gives me a call."

"Hey, this ain't too shabby for twelve bucks a night. Looks like we lucked out, Stevie."

Steve looked around the hotel room he and Soda had checked into for the next two nights, seeing a pair of made-up beds, a television, and a phone. "Yeah. I guess we did. It's not bad at all. Just enough space for us."

Soda put his bag down on top of one of the beds, his hand reaching for the phone receiver. "I better call Darry and let him know we're here. I don't want him worryin' his head off."

"Yeah. I'll call my dad too once you're done with that. Then we'll decide what we want to do."

Soda dialed both the area code and the digits of his home number, the line barely ringing once before his older brother picked up. "Hey, Dar. It's me. Yeah, we just checked in. The drive was pretty good."

Steve set his bag on the second bed, then sat down, sliding his shoes off as he put his feet up on the foot of the mattress. "Hey, Superman. We're safe and sound. No trouble here."

"Hear that, Dar? Yeah, tell TwoBit hi too then, and let Pony know I called. I don't want to run up our phone charges, so I'll talk to you again before we leave. Love you too. Bye." Soda hung up the phone, then unzipped his bag. "Man, I'm ready for a new shirt. I've been wearing my DX clothes all-" He stopped short as he looked up at Steve, whose shoulders were hunched, the heels of his hands pressed tight against his eyes. "Steve? Are you okay?"

Steve responded with stumbling speech, the visible tension in his body growing. "N-no. Hurts. S-Soda, pl-please help."

Soda got closer to Steve, feeling his friend flinch when he first put a hand on his shoulder. He then tried again, making sure his voice accompanied every touch. "Stevie, it's all right, buddy. Just try to relax. I know that's tough, but you're as safe as you could ever be."

Steve's eyes opened as he moved one hand to grasp Soda's arm. "So sudden. Don't know what happened."

Soda shifted so that his gaze met Steve's, their foreheads nearly touching. "I'm not sure either. Could be anything. Or nothin' at all. But just focus on me, okay?"

Steve nodded, laying his head on Soda's shoulder as he felt the memories begin to recede. "There's nobody here but me and you. We're just in a hotel room. She's still gone, and she can't hurt me."

Soda cradled the back of Steve's head as he gave him a squeeze. "Right. It's all a memory. Nothin' bad is happening here, so you don't need to be scared. I've got you, and I always will." His eyes closing, Soda held Steve a bit tighter. "Always. 'Cause our souls never even think about lettin' go."