Stronger with You

Drinks On Us

Steve*
June 26, 1965

Going to Buck's might not have been our best idea, but we weren't going to admit that. Hank Williams played loudly and people were drunkenly yelling about things I didn't even understand.

Ponyboy and Johnny locked themselves upstairs in the room Dallas usually stayed in.

Maya and Peyton were already very drunk and on the dance floor. Two-Bit was sitting at a card table playing with some older guys. Darry was sitting at the bar sipping a beer and talking to a guy that was in his class way back when.

Dallas was standing with Tim Shepard while Soda and I were getting drinks.

Soda typically didn't get drunk, he was already crazy just by the energy he's around, but tonight he was taking shot after shot.

Soda and I passed out drinks to our friends only saying a few words to each of them. Soda wandered off to Peyton, leaving me by myself.

"Hi, Stevie." That smooth voice that captured me every time whispered in my ear.

I turned around to see, her. She had jet black hair and dark brown eyes, with legs that went on for miles and miles. She wore black leather leggings with a dark red tank top, hugging all of her curves.

Her name was Evie and man did she get my blood pumping. She was in Soda and I's class and I had been attracted to her since seventh grade.

"Hi, Evie." I grinned, looking her up and down once more, "Your lookin good tonight." Her hand found its way to my bicep and after that I was melted. She had me captivated.

After that, we found ourselves on the dance floor dancing, "What do you say we go upstairs, Stevie," she purred, right next to my ear. I glanced around the bar seeing all of my friends were occupied, so I let Evie take me upstairs.

*The Next Morning*

I was jolted away by a loud thud, followed by a series of cursing; I was still at Buck's. Evie laid beside me, her head was rested on my chest and she was snoring lightly. I could fall in love with Evie. I really could, she was gorgeous and sweet, but still tuff.

The thing was, no one could ever love me and I knew that. I knew deep down I was too messed up, too much of a disaster to be loved. Peyton was my only legitimate relationship and even that was messy and secretive.

Evie stirred and when I looked down to see if she had woken up, my heart jumped when I saw her dark eyes looking into mine.

"Steve, I want a relationship with you."

The words shocked me. Evie and I fooled around, we had deep moments, but I never expected this.

"A relationship?"

"Yes, a relationship," Evie sat up, she was wearing my t-shirt, "I want to go do things together. I want to hang out with you and your friends, become friends with them. I want you, Steve."

I pushed myself up to where I was leaving against the bed frame, "You want me?"

"Yes! I'm in love with you, Steve!" Evie threw her hands up. She got on her knees and straddled me so she was was sitting on my legs. Her hands placed on my shoulders as she looked deep into my eyes.

"I'm a mess," I said, "My dad's a drunk and all I know to do is work with cars."

"I don't care! I love that about you. I also know that you have so much more than what you believe." Evie's eyes held emotions I wasn't used to and my heart thudded in my chest.

"I love you," the words tumbled from my lips, "and I want to have a relationship but I'm also scared."

Evie pressed her soft lips to mine, after pulling away she said, "and that's okay. It's okay to be afraid, but no matter what, we will be in this together."

"Okay, okay. I want to try."

Evie and I kissed once again and I had never had this feeling about a girl since Peyton. Evie and I had been friends all through school. We started fooling around last year.

"Well, I better get to the Curtis house, have to make sure none of them went missing or are in a ditch." I got out of bed and pulled on my clothes, Evie doing the same.

"Hey Buck, where'd my gang all end up last night?" I ask.

"Peyton and Soda snuck off together, Darry, Johnny, and Little Curtis left, Maya and Dally, then Two-Bit just kind of wandered." Buck told me while cleaning out a glass.

Evie and I walked out of Buck's and started down the street. It was warm, a slight breeze, almost a perfect day. A small, cold hand, grasped mine and it took everything to keep myself calm. Her hand seemed to fit perfectly in mine, like a missing puzzle piece.

Evie was the only person who could make me feel this ooey gooey and I really didn't know how to feel about it. I was supposed to be a tough Greaser, not a romantic.

My thoughts were cut short when we walked up to the Curtis house that held lots of yelling.

Evie and I looked at each other, contemplating on going inside or not. I won't lie, I saw what happened coming from a mile away.