A/N: Hiya! I love the Outsiders and I think this is my first story published in this fandom. But I've read an abundance of great fanfiction in this fandom. I want to name names but I'll do that later. This story is Karen/Ponyboy. Yep, her name is Karen Matthews. I've realized there's this "unofficial"agreement all of us Outsiders fans have to name Two-bit's sister Karen. I find it funny more than anything, but I love it and I'm sticking to the agreement. I think this fandom has been dead, I mean most of the fics I've followed in this fandom have not updated at all. It's like a ghost town... Okay enough of my rambling. But I'd love to give two shout outs to my friends DG and Reid and Pretty Porcelain Doll. Check out their stories please... DG and Reid'sA Couple Mistakes (Teen Titans) and Pretty Porcelain Doll's It Just Ain't the Same(The Outsiders). Terrific stories!

Disclaimer: I don't own the outsiders. SE Hinton does, though.

Summary: That was the night that she broke down and held my hand

"The teenage rush," she said, "Ain't we all just runaways, we got time."

Teenage Rush

That was the night that she broke down and held my hand

The teenage rush, she said,

"Ain't we all just runaways, we got time."

—Runaways, The Killers

"Hey Pony," whispered Two-bit.

I looked at him. He was sober, I could tell from his eyes, which meant he hadn't dived into the 6-pack of beer he had decided to bring with him. To keep him company while he "babysat" me. Darry was working an extra shift and Sodapop was still at the DX with Steve. The strange thought. A sober Two-bit.

"Well, ya know Karen..." Two-bit began.

Why was he bringing up his younger sister? She was a grade below me, slightly whiny. I took chemistry and history with her. We really didn't talk much, outside the occasions when she would every now and then come up to me between hours to ask me a couple questions that I wouldn't mind answering. She was like that. Always asking questions for the sake of it. I think she was in the journalism club, too.

"Yeah," I answered absentmindedly, watching the TV. I was tired, really tired. Those laps coach made us run today really had did a number on me. My eyes were getting heavy, and heavier. Two-bit kept saying something to me about Karen and I nodded, so he could see I was paying attention, although I really wasn't.

It was lunchtime, and I didn't really feel like walking to the DX Today. Nevertheless I sat down on the stairs in the back of the school where all the hood and greasers ate.

"Hey Curtis," Ron said, a smile was dripping from his lips along with the unlit dangling cigarette hanging from his mouth. Ron—I knew, was a greaser, and was a freshly recruited member of the Shepard gang and was the only one outside of Curly who went to school. And speaking of Curly Shepard, he wasn't here today. I figured he was most likely in the cooler with that stint he had been trying to pull the other night at Buck's. I heard it had involved hot wiring a car and beer. I then glanced at Ron, he pointed to the direction he was staring at, "That's a hot broad, I'd try to get my hands on."

I looked to where he pointed. It was the one and only Karen Matthews. It looked to me, that she was headed my way. Her blond hair was in two long braids that went pass her shoulders. She was wearing an old blue sweater, jeans, and some white converse; not meeting up to the stereotypical standards of the greaser girl. She was what you could call... Different than most girls, appearance wise.

Unlike Two-bit, Karen was responsible. She was fifth in her 10th grade class and took pleasure in photography. And right then and there I saw the camera, which was strapped around her neck. The only time I had ever seen her without that thing, was well... Never. For we never did hang out together much, we only spoke when Two-bit was around but never with it just being us.

"Hey Pony," she chirped. Even though she seemed at ease, I could tell from her big brown eyes, she was anxious and nervous about something. "Hey," I greeted back. I could also feel some of the others on the steps staring at me and Karen, trying to figure out why a broad like her was talking to me. I felt my ears grow hot at the unwanted attention. After a minute of awkward silence, she spoke. "So Two-bit told me you said yes."

I stared back at her blankly.

Yes? I didn't remember giving any confirmation to Two-bit about anything. Unless...

He did keep saying something before I had dozed off. Mentioning Karen's name a lot in the sentence. I didn't quite comprehend what he had been trying to get at, but now that I thought about it. The Spring formal dance was tonight. It was girls ask boys and I knew no broad would ask me. My greaser image and connection with the whole greaser stabbing soc thing that had happened two years back, had made girls both terrified and disgusted of me. Giving me the notion that no one bothered to look beyond that tainted picture of me. It wasn't just the soc girls but ironically it was the greaser girls, too.

"I think," I said, squinting my eyes under the sunlight, that was beginning to poke through the silver clouds in the sky. Karen smiled a little at my answer. She took a short deep breath as if she were gaining a little confidence in herself before saying, "So you wanna go with me? To the dance?"

For some odd reason, I knew I didn't have a choice. No matter which way I looked at it. Whether it knowing Two-bit would be disappointed with me and possibly angry with me to the point where he'd come after me and beat me up, no doubt. Or that I had the power to make a girl feel bad by just saying no. I decided saying yes would be the better option. "Sure," I mumbled. I couldn't look at her. It was weird being asked out by a girl, but even weirder knowing that I had been asked out.

I didn't get to see her reaction, other than hearing her say something about picking her up at six would be great. The greasers beside me whistled at me as she walked away. "Wow Curtis," said Ron, patting me on the shoulder. "Never thought you could score so good. Let's say, tonight will be a great dive?"

Looking at Ron, I saw a hint of mischief and play in his eyes, weirdly reminding me a little of Two-bit. I was annoyed at the greaser's words, but just as the bell rang for class. I then got up from where I was sitting and quickly headed to class. I felt more sure of myself now that I had something to look forward to tonight. Not alluding to what Ron had kept saying, but knowing that perhaps I could have some fun that I really haven't had since their deaths.

"Hey Soda?" I asked.

I was in our bedroom, at the dresser, looking in the mirror. I was putting some fresh new grease in my hair. I knew I needed to look extra spiffy for Karen tonight, but didn't really have anything nice to wear, other than jeans and a worn out jacket. But I needed to wear something nice. I figured Soda would have something more decent-looking in his closet that I could wear.

"Yeah, Pony?" He appeared at the doorway of our room. He and Darry weren't aware that Karen had asked me out and that I was going to the school's Spring formal dance. Huh, would the guys get a play out of that. I wouldn't hear the end of it and it was something I really didn't wanna hear them joke and laugh about. This was my first date and first dance I was going to. It needed to be kind of special.

"Uh do you have a nice leather jacket, I could wear?" Soda didn't seem too fazed by my question. He eyed me skeptically before going back down the hall to get the one jacket I needed. It was a quaint leather jacket that dad had gotten Soda the last Christmas, before the accident. The jacket was real tuff and made with real leather. Soda wore it on occasions when he was going somewhere nice and when he knew he was going to attract some extra broads.

A few minutes passed until he came back with it. "Here ya go," he said handing it to me. When I put it on, it fit just right. I knew it would, since Soda and me were about the same height now. We were even at the stage where people kept seeing a resemblance between the two of us. Huh, me as handsome and charming as Sodapop? I wasn't handsome, I knew that for sure. Nor did I carry the charm.

Turning back to the mirror, I didn't realize Soda was still standing there in the doorway. His arms were crossed and a knowing smirk was on his face. "You're going on a date." At those words, I felt my ears heat up. No, I couldn't let them know. I was going to have to lie. This was new, lying to Sodapop. "No," I said, turning to face him. "I'm going to hang out with a few of my track buddies at a dance the school's having."

I thought I saw a flash of disappointment cross on his face. Probably disappointed that his younger brother couldn't get a date, or that I wasn't telling the truth. But instead he smiled, and I think it was because he believed me. "Okay, well have a great time." Before he left, I stopped him. "Soda wait!"

He peeked his head through the door. "What honey?"

"Since Darry won't be home 'till six, could you tell him where I'll be." I hope he'd say yes. I'd be sure to leave my finished homework set out on the coffee table, in the living room for Darry to check. Knowing that if I didn't, I'd make my eldest brother have a heart attack at age 22.

"Okay, but make sure you're home at a reasonable time." I nodded. It was Sodapop to make my curfew sound way longer than it needed to be. Darry would expect me to home by 10 or 11, I knew that for sure. "Thanks," I said with a smile.

"No problem."

I knew the route to Two-bit's place as if it were the back of my hand. He didn't live too far. About two blocks I'm guessing. His house wasn't that great looking, but the inside made up for it. Debra, Two-bit's mother made sure it was decorated nice and cozy on the inside. Always wanting her house to look representable. And she successfully accomplished that even with having a kid like Two-bit to raise.

Once I made it onto the porch, I pressed the doorbell. From the other side of the door I could hear shuffling and a hushed voice hiss, "No Two-bit. Let me get it." It sounded like Karen. As soon as the shuffling stopped, the front door opened revealing... Karen Matthews. She looked nice, no doubt about that. Her blond hair was long and naturally wavy, going pass her broad shoulders. The dress she was wearing had a crew neck, was pink and had no sleeves. She reminded me of a Grace Kelly.

I didn't know how long I was staring at her until Two-bit came into the picture. "Hey Pony, didn't know you'd be here. What ya' need?" I rolled my eyes. Karen was doing the same thing, too. Ignoring him, I gave Karen a flower that would go lovely with her dress. I wasn't the sappy type, but for some odd reason when I had picked it out on the way here from a neighbor's garden. It had reminded me of her. Blushing at the gift, she smiled shyly. "Thanks."

I smiled back.

"Ready?" I said. She nodded. "Oh yes," she said, "but I almost forgot. I need to get my camera."

"Okay."

Going to get her camera, she left me and Two-bit alone on the porch. I wasn't expecting an inspection or a threat, because Two-bit knew me. He knew I wouldn't get fresh with his sister nor would I treat her bad. He only gave me a crooked grin saying something like how he knew me and how he knew I wouldn't hurt his sister.

"I'm ready now," Karen said, locking her arm with mine. She had her camera now, which was in the case.

As we left Two-bit on the porch, I just only hoped and prayed that this night would go well. Oh, but if only I had prayed harder. Maybe it would've...

A/N: Karen's dressed too nice to the point where she can pass as a soc, eh, but hey, that'll be better explained next chapter. There's a foreshadow hint at the end of this chapter as you can see. I'll be sure to edit any grammar mistakes after I'm done with this story.

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