Senioritis

Author's Note: For any of you seniors out there I'm sure you will become well acquainted with Senioritis! I apologize for not updating, getting rid of all my Outsiders works, and so on. Hopefully this story will make up for it. At least for the Two-Bit/Ponyboy lovers. As always, review and shoot me your ideas. College is kinda in the way since I am taking 15 credit hours, but my New Years revolution was to write more so I'm now on a schedule.

Warning: Homosexual relations between Two-Bit and Ponyboy eventually. Fair warning is fair. This has NOT combed over for grammatical and spelling errors. Notice any? Point them out to me and I will fix them eventually.

Chapter 1: Bit by the Bug

Ponyboy had heard little whispers from his fellow seniors about the oh so real disease known as "senioritis", but in his early high school years he had never given it much thought-after all it was just an excuse 18 year olds in their last semester of high school used in lieu of lazy. At least that was what he thought until he himself got bitten by the bug.

Spring was ticking by and teachers and students alike were marking their calendars diligently, awaiting school's end and summer break's beginning. There were only four short weeks left until the seniors were shown the doors with diplomas in hand and the buzz amongst Pony's classmates was as high as ever and the excitement and promises of a life beyond Tulsa and beyond the crummy school was chatted about frequently from everyone. Even Two-Bit, who still had not graduated and was finally outright kicked out of the school, was getting in on the fun when he managed to sneak onto campus.

Often times included in the senior chatter was the days students decided to "take off"-often for the most arbitrary of reasons like "I don't really like Thursdays anyways". With only twenty days left in his high school career Pony saw little reason to go about skipping school; of course his older brother Darry also agreed. "Besides," Darry started in on the first day of May, "maybe you can get some extra credit and make sure you get A's in your classes."

When Darry was set on something there was no changing it. "Also," Darry would begin to remind him, "you have your scholarship to worry about. You want to keep lookin' good for that big-shot California college right?" Sure Darry's heart was in the right place, but to continually bring up Ponyboy's scholarship offer was kind of embarrassing. Especially since he only seemed to bring it up in front of the rest of the gang.

None of the gang ever acted as though they were resentful for Pony's success. All of them even seemed kind of proud in their own way, even Steve. Regardless it did little for that feeling of superiority he felt it brought over the gang.

Nevertheless it was because of Darry's determination to keep him in school, and Pony's total and complete ignorance on just how dull the last month of being a senior in high school meant was how he managed to find himself, a girl named Mary, and his advanced English teacher alone in an otherwise barren room. Pony and Mary both just so happened to sit on two opposite sides of the room and were periodically looking over at one another with raised brows as if to say "are we going to do anything today?"

The teacher on the other hand was sitting at his desk, feet propped up and a newspaper obscuring his vision of the room. Twenty minutes after class began Pony finally started to get a little worried. Getting up and tip-toeing over to the teacher's desk he cleared his throat to garner his teacher's attention.

After a second go of it the teacher looked over his news paper, wire-rim glasses low on his nose and a look of mild surprise on his face. "What can I do for you Ponyboy?"

By that time Mary also got up from her seat and was standing curiously besides him. She didn't seem to want to do any of the talking so Pony took the liberty to ask the question that was on both their minds. "Mr. Efinger are we," he paused, hoping he wouldn't come off as offensive, "doing anything in here today?"

Mr. Efinger snorted, his lips pursed as if to stop a full-on laugh. "You did your final exams right?"

Both Pony and Mary nodded, slowly as if it was some sort of trick question.

"Then no. Not doing anything today."

Well wasn't that somewhat blunt?

Mary rocked on the soles of her feet for a moment, her mouth somewhat canted to the side like it normally was when she was thinking. Finally she spoke, slowly again. "So does that mean we can… go?"

Mr. Efinger looked back down at his newspaper. "Yup."

And that was that. It was also when Pony finally caught the senioritis bug, though at the time was unbeknownst to him.

Ponyboy and Mary both returned to their desks and packed away their books before quietly exiting the classroom. Once outside Mary twirled a tendril of her shiny brown hair between her fingers. "So I guess I'll see you tomorrow then Ponyboy."

They waved and headed in their opposite directions-her towards the football field where she seemed to spend at lot of her time, and he? He wasn't sure but his feet seemed to make a beeline for the entrance of the school. He had fifty-five minutes until his next class, what fun would it have been to hang around the school until then?

None of the hall monitors or various staff tried to stop him even though he passed by at least three monitors and the principal. Once outside he was almost immediately greeted with an all-too familiar face. "Well if it isn't the college boy now! I was wondering when you'd show up out here. If at all."

"Two-Bit? I thought the principal threw you off the campus indefinitely!" Pony gave a stunned look, but Two-Bit Mathews was left unphased by Pony's outburst/

"He did, but when I told him I was waiting for you he said I could wait right here." The jokester smirked and tapped the ground with his foot. "And that I couldn't budge. So I haven't. Scout's honor!"

Pony shook his head and continued to walk past his friend, heading off the campus-maybe he would stop by Dairy Queen and get a coke? Seemed like such a good plan… Off in his little reverie to calculate how long it would take him to get to the closest DQ and back in time for his next class he completely ignored Two-Bit who was still yammering on about something or another. Though the senior did manage to catch the last part of his friend's sentence. "So you finally got the senioritis bug eh? Best time of my life."

"Best time? Two-Bit your entire high school career was made up of nothing but senioritis." Pony pointed out with a dull expression in his eyes.

"Exactly! Best time."

Pony knew better than to argue with Two-Bit, especially when his mind was occupied more on Coca-Cola than on arguing. Finally it dawned on him on how he could avoid arguing all together! "You got your car here Two-Bit?"

Two-Bit grinned, a knowing little twinkle in his eye. "Of course I do kiddo! Can't beat senioritis without one y'know."

"Ignoring that bit there. Mind taking me to Dairy Queen. Please?" Pony asked in possibly the most pseudo-sweet voice he could possibly muster. It was a lot harder to "act cute" after his voice deepened at least an octave compared to when he was a fourteen year old.

Two-Bit put his arm around Pony and gave the boy's side a tickling pinch. "Of course little senior. You gotta pay though."

Of course that wasn't a problem, anything for a sugary caffeine fix! In several minutes Pony found himself blissfully in "biggest coke you can get me" heaven. And there was of course Two-Bit also who decided to get a small drink for himself; with Ponyboy's money of course.

"So I take it you're gonna want to go back to school soon huh?" Two-Bit started in casually, playing with his straw in a dazed way and swishing his coke around in the cup.

"Yeah. No one showed up for English today, but who knows? Maybe Calculus will be different." Pony shrugged and took a deep gulp of his drink.

"It won't be. Why not just take the rest of the day off eh? Have some fun before you become too good to associate with a Greaser like me." Two-Bit urged, his foot tapping against Ponyboy's as if to say "c'mon!"

"I can't! If just one of my classes takes attendance today Darry will find out I skipped and I will be dead. Very dead. And I'll never hear the end of it." Pony grunted, moving his foot away from Two-Bit's incessant tapping. "I don't feel like being yelled at today for hanging out with you."

Two-Bit put on a pout, leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest like the child he was. "You love spending time with me." He sat back up in his chair. "It'll just be one day and your teachers adore you. They're not stupid and will likely mark you there regardless. Even if they don't I'll talk Darry down. No one can stay mad around me after all."

Ponyboy cocked his brow-a trait he picked up from Two-Bit that had stayed with him-unsure of whether or not he should fall for it. The offer was indeed tempting, and it wasn't like his English class was a huge motivator to stay in class today.

"No I can't." Ponyboy finally decided giving a pitiful sigh. "But I see no reason why you couldn't pick me up after sixth period. I mean my last class of the day is just gym after all."

"See was that so hard?" Two-Bit cooed with a knowing wink. "Trust me we'll have fun. We could even go see one of those movies you like so much before I get you home."

Now that sounded like a plan to Ponyboy.

Two-Bit returned him to school-five minutes late. Not that it ended up mattering because, as predicted, there was nobody really there. Only a few of the other students showed up, but the teacher himself didn't even bother to make an appearance. The entirety of Ponyboy's day followed through in similar ways; classes cancelled, dismissed early, so one and so forth.

When seventh period finally rolled around it was difficult for Ponyboy to say with a straight face he wasn't excited about leaving. And again no one tried to stop him as he exited the school grounds. As planned Two-Bit was outside waiting for him and possibly the most productive part of Pony's day started.

"So how was school?" Two-Bit started in innocently, revving the engine of his car and peeling out of the parking lot.

Oh how Ponyboy loved speed. He chuckled and gave Two-Bit a side glance. "Just like you said it'd be." He admitted. "It was so boring that I took to reading my Physics notes for fun."

"Kid you're the only one that would ever read physics notes for fun." Two-Bit teased, shaking his head as though he was displeased. Of course he had already known Pony was something all his own.

"Yeah yeah Two-Bit. I admit you were right. Now you owe me a movie."

Two-Bit couldn't help but laugh at Ponyboy's demand. Well he did offer it now didn't he? "Of course I do. I'll pay and all."

Ponyboy dreaded stepping into the bright sunlight from the movie house. He always had a sickening sense of déjà vu. He was over the death of his friends, or at least as "over it" as he could ever get, but it never made easier; the entirety of that side of town still made him a little jumpy, even the park made him jumpy. Since the whole trial years back Pony was never bothered by the "Socs" again (at least not in the usual "taunting, practically kill you" kind of way), but that didn't seem to change anything in his mind.

"You all right Pony?"

"What?" The sound of Two-Bit's voice pulled him out of his mental limbo, his green-grey eyes snapping to stare right into Two-Bit's. The usual jokester inwardly shivered, the usually keen and bright eyes were stony and wide.

"Are you all right?" Two-Bit repeated in a softer voice, inching closer to Ponyboy as if trying to decide if he should hug him or not.

"Yeah, yeah. Just déjà vu is all. I think you should get me home." Pony murmured guardedly before walking on ahead.

Two-Bit didn't argue, just followed quietly. To think? Him quiet. Seemed somewhat like blasphemy.

The drive home seemed longer than it should have been, but the closer they got to home the more comfortable seemed to get. "Y'know Pony, maybe you shouldn't go to that movie house anymore." Two-Bit was trying to be helpful, but it seemed to backfire on him.

"No! I like that movie house." Pony snapped.

"If you act like that I don't think you should go." Two-Bit reasoned calmly.

"Stop trying to act like a grown-up it doesn't suit you smartass."

Two-Bit tried hard not to pick a fight with Ponyboy, he really did, but age seemed to make the kid a huge ass. "Listen blondie, I'm trying to help you here now stop being such a dick."

Pony just snorted and muttered "whatever" under his breath. Thankfully they didn't have to stay cramped in the car for much longer as they pulled into the driveway. Before Two-Bit even came to a complete stop Ponyboy jumped out of the vehicle, tattered old backpack in tow. "Damn it Pony!" Two-Bit continued to utter a slew of curses after him, slamming on his brake and parking his are on the gravel driveway.

Still cursing and muttering to himself Two-Bit stepped out and had to go and close the passenger side door before stomping up to the house. If Pony wasn't careful he was going to get himself killed. "Damn it kid what the hell was all that about?" he yelled as soon as he stepped into the house-only to find Pony wasn't in the living room. Feeling slightly dumb he brought his hand to his face and rubbed his eyes.

Two-Bit turned to leave when he heard Pony come down the stairs and sigh loudly. Stopping he looked back at Pony who stood, his eyes downcast in shame. "Sorry for snapping Two-Bit."

A grin pulled at Two-Bit's lips and nodded understandingly. "It's all right. So you wanna hang out tomorrow?"

Ponyboy's face brightened. "Yeah. Pick me up during lunch."