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Ponyboy twitched as the morning sun slowly crept through the window and onto his face; the warm light disturbing him from his rather pleasant sleep. Slowly, he opened his eyes and glanced around the room when he noticed the bed next to his was empty.

"Soda," Pony groaned as he untangled himself from his blanket. Sodapop must have forgotten to turn the alarm clock on again. He quickly got dressed for school and hurried downstairs when the smell of pancakes hit his nostrils.

"Hey buddy," Soda greeted as he walked into the kitchen and saw Darry by the stove.

"Soda, why didn't you wake me up?" Pony asked as he joined him at the table.

"Oh, sorry about that," Soda said as Darry came over and placed a large plate on the table full of pancakes.

"Darry, these are so freaking good, I am amazed you're actually sharing," Soda said while eating, referencing the chip incident the other day.

"And I am surprised you're not trying to take everybody else's," Darry grinned back. Their dad soon came into the room, ready for work and greeted them all. Linda on the other hand had the day off and had slept in today.

"Hey boys."

"Dad." Darry responded. "Don't you want something to eat?"

"No, I'm late. I'll get something at the job sight. See you all later."

"Bye." The three said in unison.

For the next few minutes, they ate while talking and calling each other names, but not really meaning any of it. When they finished Soda and Pony did the dishes since Darry cooked and grabbed their backpacks from out of the hall closet.

After heading out the door, Pony decided to get a ride to school with Darry instead of going with Steve and Soda. Steve was really starting to get to him and he didn't want to be around him right now.

"See you this afternoon Pony," Darry said as he and his little brother walked in and went in different directions.

Ponyboy stood at his locker entering the combination when he felt himself shoved from behind, causing him to crash right into it. Thinking it was one of the gang messing around, he spun around only to come face to chest with Darry's ex best friend, Paul.

"Well, well, well, isn't it Darry's little brother, what was it…Ponygirl?"

"What do you want Paul?" Pony asked, trying not to sound scared.

Paul gripped the front of Ponyboy's shirt.

"I just wanted to welcome you to Will Roger's."

Pony closed his eyes as Paul balled up his fist. He braced himself for the hit when all of a sudden a voice called out.

"Hey! Let the kid go."

Pony looked over to see Steve walked towards them. Pony sighed in relief, he never thought he'd be happy to see Steve.

"This is none of your business, Randle," Paul said.

"I'm making it my business," Steve responded.

Paul glared at him for a second before letting go of Ponyboy's shirt.

"See you around Ponygirl," Paul said before lightly shoving him back against the locker and walking away.

Pony took a deep breath and turned around, opening his locker and getting out his gym clothes as Steve walked over.

"Thanks Steve."

"Listen kiddo, you better toughen up or you're gonna spend the first year in high school stuffed in a locker."

"Thanks for the advice," Pony said, rolling his eyes.

"I mean it kid, guys like him pick on freshman all the time. Lucky for you that was Paul, you can just tell Darry, he'll take care of him."

"I'm not telling anyone," Ponyboy snapped. "I can take care of myself."

Pony walked to the locker room, angry with himself over what happened, even though it wasn't his fault. He was more upset that it had to happen right in front of Steve.

He changed into his P.E uniform and met up with his gym teacher Mr. Jones who led him and the rest of the class outside to the track to run a lap.

"Alright class, girls first!" Mr. Jones yelled and the girls of his class started running as the boys groaned.

"The girls always get to go first," One of them grumbled under their breath.

"Boys, go!"

After he yelled that, Ponyboy's reddish brown hair fell back against his head as he flew down the track, his white shoes pounding the asphalt. Racing down the track, he passed an older, longhaired boy who was in front of the others before catching up to the girls.

His legs moved faster and finally he soared past the girls, now farther ahead of the rest of his class.

The track coach, David Randle walked over to observe the class and instantly noticed Ponyboy.

"Damn, who's that?" Mr. Randle asked.

"Some new kid," Mr. Jones answered as Ponyboy finished his lap and crossed the line. It was then he noticed just how far away everybody else was.

"Hey Ponyboy! Come here!" His teacher called.

He walked over to where his teacher was standing with another man.

"Ponyboy, this is Mr. Randle, the track coach." Mr. Jones introduced.

"That was pretty impressive," Mr. Randle said to Ponyboy as they shook hands.

"Thank you, sir."

"I hear you're new here, where'd you move here from?"

"Actually, I was moved up a grade."

"Really?"

"Straight A's in every subject."

Mr. Randle rubbed his chin.

"Well, you could teach my kid a thing or two."

"Is your son Steve Randle?"

"Yes, you know him?"

"He's my brother's best friend."

"He's something else, isn't he?"

Pony nodded.

"Yeah…he's…something else."

"Listen, if you're interested, track starts in the fall, than we have indoor track in the winter, then spring track. Think about it, because we could use you."

Later on, after the bell went off, Soda and Steve exited their science class, Steve was going to study hall but Soda was to go to the library and meet up with his tutor.

"Well, I'm off. Hey, what do you think she looks like?" Soda asked.

"Who?" Steve responded.

"My tutor."

"I don't know, but if she's got the best grades in math, I'd guess she has thick glasses, pigtails, and buck teeth."

Soda shuttered at the thought.

"Should I be embarrassed that I have to go to a tutor?"

Steve pretended to think about it.

"Hmm…yes."

Soda hit Steve in the arm as he laughed and continued his way to the library.

Soda sighed as he opened the door to the library and walked in. Steve's gonna be right, the girl was gonna be short with bottled glasses, and shy, too afraid to make eye contact and speak in low tones.

"Let's just get this over with," he said to himself and walked over to the tables and saw that they where all empty. Hey, maybe he got lucky and his tutor forgot or was sick.

"Excuse me," said a voice from behind him.

Soda turned around and found himself face to face with a beautiful girl with long brown hair, light skin and the bluest eyes he had ever seen.

He couldn't help it, but his mouth dropped a little.

"Hi, are you Sodapop Curtis?" She asked.

Soda closed his mouth and nodded.

"I'm Sandy Weisman, your tutor."

"You're…you're very pretty," Soda said before he could catch himself.

Sandy smiled as she sat down.

"Thank you, you're not so bad yourself."

"Thanks," Soda grinned as he sat down next to her. "Sorry, I just wasn't expecting you to look like…you."

Sandy's brows furrowed at Soda's comment.

"What were you expecting me to look like?" Sandy asked.

"I don't know…like her I guess," Soda said, nodding in the librarians direction, causing her to laugh.

"Well, let's get started, shall we?"

"Yeah...sure." Soda responded, not taking his eyes off the girl as they sat down next to each other at the table.