SADLY, I DO NOT OWN THE OUTSIDERS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE AMAZING S. E. HINTON!

Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for checking out this story. I've always been interested in writing a story like this, I'm not sure how it'll turn out but I'll do my best! I did all my research, and don't worry, I know a fair amount of stuff about leukemia, so I'm not totally clueless ;) Hope you like it!

At The End Of The Road, Chapter 1: Again?

PONY'S POV

"Ponyboy Curtis! If I have to speak again to you for sleeping in class, I'm writing you up!"

My head snapped up from the smooth surface of my desk. 3:15. Eight minutes till the bell. Then, I remembered that Mrs. Colla had been talking to me.

"Sorry ma'am, what did you say again?" I was wincing, waiting for the explosion. Mrs. Colla had not been known to take to distractions in her classroom very well. The Socs were smirking, enjoying watching me suffer. The disadvantage of making good grades is being the only greaser in a roomful of Socs.

Sure enough, she didn't take well. "I was wondering if you can possibly explain why you were sleeping during our lesson!" she snapped, her voice escalating. "Why you find this more important then your exams! Why..."

She paused to take a breath and I saw opportunity. "Listen, Mrs. Calla, I'm really sorry, it won't happen again."

"I sure hope it won't happen again, because if it does, I..."

The bell cut her off, and everyone scrambled to get out. I tried to slip out with the rest of them, but no such luck.

"Mr. Curtis! I'm not finished with you! We'll continue this conversation tomorrow!"

Thank God. I got out of there as fast as I could. I hurried down the hall, got to my locker, and leaned against it, exhausted. I had been really tired lately. Johnny appeared next to me.

"Hey man," he said. "Long day?"

"Yeah, I just got caught sleeping in history by Mrs. Colla."

"Don't let Darry find out, he'll be furious." Johnny warned me as we walked outside.

"No worries, I ain't planning on telling him."

"Hey Johnny, Pony!" Two-Bit waved us over, sitting on the hood of Steve's car. "Y'all coming?"

Johnny nodded and scrambled in, but I shook my head. "Can't, I got track practice."

"Want me to give you a lift after practice?" Two-Bit offered, but I shook my head. "No thanks, I'll walk."

"You sure, kid?" Steve yelled from inside the truck. "Darry wouldn't be too pleased if you got jumped."

I shook my head again. "I'm fine. I'm late, too. See ya." They took off, and I made my way over to the track. Now that I was by myself, I realized I didn't feel so hot. Kind of nauseous and my muscles were aching. If I'm getting sick again, I'm gonna be furious. I caught the flu a couple of months after Mom and Dad died, and ever since then it seemed to keep coming back. I'd already been sick twice this month. I'll just take a couple aspirins when I get home.

"You're late, Curtis!" Coach yelled from across the track. "Hurry up!"

I jogged over to where the team was standing, already starting to sweat. I was drained of all energy. I have to get through this practice, it's only a couple of hours. I reminded myself as westarted our usual five laps. I can't even express how much I just wanted to quit and lie down. It'll all be over soon, I kept reminding myself. Just keep going. Almost there. I finally finished, in last place.

"Alright, 50 push-ups! Curtis, c'mere for a minute. I made my way over to where he was standing.

"You okay, Curtis?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." No, I'm not. "Why would you ask?"

"You usually come in first, and you came in last, you feeling all right?" Coach asked, looking concerned.

"I've just got a cold, I'll be fine," I replied. He didn't believe me, I could tell.

"Curtis, go home and get some rest. You won't be able to be in the competition next week if you're sick."

I finally just agreed, there was to much truth in that to argue. "Alright, bye Coach, see you tomorrow."

"Get some rest."

I trudged home desperately wishing that I had agreed to let Two-Bit take me home, I was feeling worse by the minute. I'll just take aspirins and take a nap, if Darry finds out I'm sick then he'll make me stay home from school, and I have exams tomorrow. I can't miss them. When I got home, I saw Darry's truck in the driveway. Great, he's home early, I thought sarcastically. I banged open the screen door, and immediately went for the aspirin bottle.

"Pony, that you?" Darry yelled from his room.

"Yeah, I'm in the kitchen." Darry came in.

"Why are you home early?"

"I could ask the same about you." I retorted. Darry looked annoyed.

"Don't get mouthy. Now answer the question."

"Coach let us out early."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Two hours early? Liar. Now tell the truth."

I sighed. There was no way getting around him. "Fine. I wasn't feeling good, so Coach sent me home so that I'll be okay for next weeks competition.

"You're not feeling good?" Darry looked concerned. I knew I shouldn't have told him. "Again?" He pressed a hand against my forehead. "Pony, you're burning up. Go to bed, I'll be in in a minute."

"I'm fine, I'm probably still hot from track. I'm fine,it's just a cold." please belive me, please believe me.

"You sure?" I nodded. "Okay, but I'm checking your temperature tomorrow, and if you're sick, I'm taking you to the doctor. You've been sick way too much lately."

"But my exams-"

"Are not as important as your health." Darry cut me off. "You can make them up."

"Fine. I'm gonna go sleep now."

"Kay. Sleep well, buddy."

I got to my room and lay down. I was kind of worried. I had been really weak and tired lately, and I had lost at least ten pounds, and I hadn't even been trying! I sighed and closed my eyes, curling up under the blankets. The cool pillow felt good. I fell asleep almost immediately. What was wrong with me?

Author's Note: Well, that's chapter 1! I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please review! Have a good day! Stay Gold! -Emily ;) :)