Friday, after school, Ben, Anna and I all skipped open gym to go watch Ponyboy and Kevin in their track meet. Even Two-Bit managed to squeeze it into what he referred to as his "extremely full social events calendar."

I didn't mind watching the actual events; what annoyed me was all the waiting. It would take fifteen minutes to get ready for a race that took thirty seconds, then it would take fifteen more minutes to prepare for the next event. To make matters worse, there was a whole lot of waiting before anything could begin, because everyone had to wait for all the other teams to arrive. After only about ten minutes in the bleachers, I was already having trouble sitting still.

"You guys want to go walk around?" I asked everyone.

"Me? You know I don't walk, if I don't have to," Two-Bit answered. "And I don't see any reason says I have to, right now." We were always on his case about how lazy he was.

"I thought I was getting a day off from exercise today," Anna replied. She and Two-Bit were hitting it off perfectly, as I imagined they would. After only a few minutes of having met each other, their conversation already made little sense to anyone but themselves.

"I'll go," Ben said, and Anna leaned back and winked at me behind the guys' backs. It occurred to me then that leaving Anna and Two-Bit alone, with Anna as gung-ho as she was about me getting together with Ben, might not have been the greatest idea. Two-Bit loved to kid Ben and me about our relationship, but I wasn't sure what his reaction would be if he actually thought there was something going on. I shook my head at her and mouthed the word don't, hoping she'd be able to keep her mouth shut.

Ben and I headed over to the baseball field, where I finally ended up leaning up against the backstop watching Pony and his friends stretch and warm up through the holes in the fence.

"Think he'll win?" Ben asked.

"I don't know. I hope so. Kevin said he's been beating everyone on our team by a mile. I don't know what kind of runners are on any of the other teams though."

"He's sure been training hard." Pony had been getting up mornings before school in order to get in an extra workout. He told me that even though he'd lost weight during our time at the church, it had turned out to be an advantage, because he had lost fat and then added muscle. He was still thin; he had always been the thinnest one in the family, but now he was deceivingly strong. He used to be an easy wrestling target for Two-Bit, but lately Pony had been giving him a run for his money, and had earned a little more credibility among the guys for his strength.

"I know." I didn't tell Ben about my conversation that I'd had with Darry; how hurt he had been about the fact that Pony hadn't told him about the meet. I wanted Pony to win, but even more than that, I wanted Darry to be there to see him win, and even more than that, I wanted Pony to know that Darry had come to see him win. But Darry had already gone to work, that morning, before we left the house, and I had no reason to think he'd be coming except for the persistent hope that he really wanted to start working to mend the rifts between him and Pony.

Ben leaned up into the backstop next to me and stared straight ahead. Our arms were touching, just barely, but there was no denying the fact that every inch of my skin that was touching Ben was letting my brain know about it.

"You and Anna are getting pretty close, huh?" he said, and something in his tone made me look over at him.

"I guess so," I said. "It's kind of nice to have a girl around, sometimes, you know… I don't really have anyone else to talk to about, you know, girl stuff." Ben had been the only person to look at me and come right out and ask, with no hint of embarrassment, "Are you wearing a bra?" I had answered yes, and that had been that.

I got the feeling he was a little jealous, about me having another friend. We had always been inseparable.

"You know, when I was at her house, she offered me a beer." I didn't quite know why I was telling him this.

"She did?" Ben knew how I couldn't get away with anything.

"Yeah. She just takes them from her Dad, and he doesn't notice."

"So, did you have one?"

"No. But now I'm kinda wishing that I did. You know I can't do anything like that without getting in trouble around my own house."

"If you're that determined to drink a beer, you can come over to my house anytime you want and drink one, Scout. I'm not part of Darry's FBI." I realized that, without knowing it, that had been exactly what I had wanted him to say.

"Why are you so interested in it anyway?" he continued.

"I don't know, I'm just curious. You've tried it." I was thinking about what Two-Bit had said, it just makes things seem a little bit easier. Easy sounded good, even if it was just for a night.

"Well, I'd rather you come over my house for your drinking experimentation than go get yourself into a bad situation somewhere else."

"I guess." That seemed to be my opinion on a lot of things lately.

Just then they started lining up the runners for the hundred-meter dash, one of Pony's events. I guess part of the reason that he was such a big deal for the track team was because he was more versatile than most runners. He could run the sprints as well as the distance events. The only thing he couldn't run was hurdles. The coach had tried for a few weeks to groom him for a hurdles event and, after a period of non-stop bruised shins from hitting them, and sore wrists from frequent crash landings, he had finally given up. Pony said he just couldn't get the timing of the jumps down.

We sat down again next to Two-Bit and Anna, who were discussing the relative merits of junior high and high school- strangely enough, Two-Bit was arguing for junior high and Anna was advocating for high school. I was swinging my feet in the space below the bleacher when suddenly somebody grabbed hold of both of my feet from below. I screamed, scaring the life out of all three of my companions.

I leaned down and looked under the bleachers to see the very amused smiling face of none other than Darry. He hoisted himself up through the space between the seats to sit down on the bleacher in front of us.

"Well that's a fine howdy-do!" Two-Bit yelled at him, "Causin' us all a premature demise just for a few laughs at our expense!" Anna had grabbed on to Two-Bit for dear life when I had screamed and was embarrassedly removing herself from his lap.

"Am I late?" Darry asked, expertly ducking as I swung at him. "Hey, Scout, how are ya?" He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward, whispering, "Sorry, but it was just too easy."

I was so glad that he had come, I probably would have forgiven him, even if any of us had suffered a premature demise.

"You're right on time," I said, and pointed. The runners were lined up and taking their mark. I always cringed at the sound of the starting gun- I didn't know how Pony could stand to hear it without thinking about seeing Dallas get shot. I had asked Soda, and he told me that it was definitely after Dallas was shot that Pony had collapsed, so he had definitely seen and heard it. After seeing that, I would have been paralyzed at the sound of a gunshot, but it only seemed to energize Pony as he shot off the blocks. Maybe he was afraid and was somehow able to convert that fear into power.

He won easily, never less than two full strides ahead of the closest runner. Our section of the bleachers, most notably represented by the voice of Two-Bit, screamed in support, and I saw Pony look up at us and noticeably react when he saw Darry. After a second of indecision, his gaze softened and he smiled and waved. I realized it was exactly how I had felt when Darry had come to my basketball game: initial panic, and worry that I might not measure up, and eventual gratitude for his support. The minute I saw Pony smile I knew he would win every event.

His performance in the two hundred meter dash was comparable. Nobody was even close. In his distance event, the two-mile, he led slightly throughout the entire race, but on the last two laps he made a complete mockery of his opponents, as, out of nowhere, he pulled off a sprinting finish that I could not have managed on five days rest, much less after having already run over a mile. For his final performance, he anchored the team to come from behind in the 4X400 relay. His teammates rushed him at the finish line, tackling him to the ground and eventually lifting him up on their shoulders.

I looked over at Darry, who was beaming. I was so glad he had been able to be there that I had to work hard not to cry. Ben looked over at me and somehow, I knew he knew what I was thinking. He squeezed my hand. I felt bad when I realized that we hadn't even bothered to see how Kevin had fared in the shotput.

Darry stood up and started down the stands. I watched him go up and pat Ponyboy on the shoulder, and after a second's hesitation on both parts, they engaged in a wholehearted embrace. Darry talked to him for a minute and I saw Pony point and lead him over to his coach. Darry shook his hand and I watched them talk, no doubt about Pony, since he stood awkwardly to the side, nervously shuffling his feet in the dirt of the track. Finally, Darry reached out his arm and pulled him in towards him, all three men smiling. I remembered how Darry had gotten along with my coach in the hospital, how it had made me feel like he was taking an interest in what was going on in my life, and felt a renewed hope for Pony and Darry. I wished Soda could have been there to see it; I couldn't wait to tell him.

I was planning on just riding home with Darry, since he was there, but I kind of wanted him and Pony to have some more time alone. Anna turned out to be my perfect excuse.

"Hey, Two-Bit, you have anywhere to be right now?" I asked.

"I told you, Scooter, my social calendar is full. I'm a very busy man."

"Look, Two-Bit, drive me and Anna home, and I'll send you home with an entire pizza."

"Sold."

"Okay, just let me go tell Darry," I said. "I'll meet you two at the car." I headed down to the track with Ben while Two-Bit headed with Anna toward the student parking lot.

"I would go with you but I don't think I should send Anna alone with Two-Bit," I told Ben.

"Good thinking," he said.

"See you at home?" I asked.

"You know you will," he grinned, and headed off to find Kevin.

I sneaked up behind Darry and hit the backs of his knees, taking his legs out from under him. He recovered quickly, though, and grabbed me by the waist as I tried to run away.

"Payback's tough, huh?" he asked.

"That's right," I smiled. "I got Two-Bit to drive Anna home, so I'm gonna ride with him, okay?"

"That's fine," he answered. "Hey, why don't you pick up some dinner for us there and bring it home? It's Pony's night to cook but I think he deserves the night off." He handed me some money. "Just get spaghetti or something, since Pony likes that." We had just been to Angelo's the night before, for our usual Thursday night pizza.

"Okay. I'll see you at home, " I turned and ran back over to the bleachers.

"Don't let Two-Bit get into any trouble over there," Darry yelled, as I ran off. I knew what he meant, but there really wasn't anything out in the open to steal at the restaurant, so I wasn't too worried. I didn't think he would feel the need to walk out with the silverware or anything.

"You wanna drive?" Two-Bit asked when we got to the car. I played along, for Anna's sake. There was nobody else really parked near him, since he usually split the difference between the high school and junior high, and therefore was pretty far from both. I took the keys, got in, and started the car. Two-Bit hopped in the passenger seat, and Anna just stood by, open-mouthed. Reverse was not my best gear, but I did manage to get us backed out of the spot and facing the right direction without bucking or stalling.

"Come on, Anna," Two-Bit said. "The bus is leavin'."

She just looked on, dumbfounded.

"Scout… I don't know if… I don't think…"

"What?" I asked. "Two-Bit's been teaching me for months now."

"She ain't too bad, Anna. She still has some trouble stopping on hills, and every once in a while she forgets to downshift, but…" Two-Bit was loving every minute of this.

"Scout, you're not even thirteen yet." That I found funny- she would have been comfortable with this if I was thirteen instead of twelve? I started moving the car forward, just the tiniest bit.

"Okay, okay," she said, and got in the back. I pulled the parking brake and Two-Bit and I looked at each other.

"We got you, Anna," I said, as Two-Bit laughed maniacally and I climbed over him into the passenger seat.

I could see her let out a sigh of relief. "Jeez, Scout, I didn't want you to think I didn't trust you or anything but man, I was pretty worried."

I just laughed.

"You really can drive, though, huh? That's tuff."

"Well, I'm still learning," I said. "Don't say anything to my brothers about it, okay? They don't know, and if Darry found out I'm not sure if he would kill me, or Two-Bit, or both of us."

"I think both is most likely," Two-Bit said. I had to agree.

We hung out at Angelo's while they cooked our order. I introduced Two-Bit to Mr. Harvey and he was on his very best behavior. I'm sure he knew Darry would kill him if he did anything embarrassing in front of Alison's dad.

When we had been waiting for a few minutes, I was surprised to hear Alison call me over from behind the counter. I walked over and she handed me the phone. "Darry's on the phone for you," she said. She must have noticed the worry in my face, wondering why he would be calling me at the restaurant when he knew I would be home soon anyway, because she said,

"Don't worry, Scout. Everything's okay. He just wants to ask you something."

I took the phone.

"Darry?"

"Hey. Can you and Two-Bit swing by the DX and pick up Soda on your way home? Steve got stuck working the night shift because the night guy's sick."

"Yeah, no problem."

"Okay, see you at home then."

"Okay. Bye, Dar."

"Bye."

"What was that all about?" Two-Bit asked when I came back over.

"We have to go get Soda. Steve has to work late."

"I'm gonna start charging cab fare, all the drivin' around I do for y'all lately." He was complaining, but in fact I knew he loved it. Two-Bit needed to be around people, he was most unhappy when he was alone.

Just then our order came up. Despite my protests, Mr. Harvey insisted that I accept a huge container of salad and some garlic bread that he had thrown in for free, along with our huge order of spaghetti.

"Gotta keep your brother strong and healthy," he said. He had heard about Pony's track meet.

Two-Bit grabbed the spaghetti and I followed with the salad and bread. He had decided that he wanted to have spaghetti with us instead of the pizza I had promised.

When we pulled up at the DX, Soda was waiting for us outside and hopped in, grabbing the bag of bread out of my hands and taking out a piece. I swear, he was always hungry.

"That smells great!" he said, trying to pry the lid off the huge container of spaghetti.

"Come on Soda, leave it," I said. "We'll be home in a couple minutes." Surprisingly, he left it and went back to his bread.

"How'd the track meet go?" he asked.

"Great," I said. "Pony smoked the competition in every event. Darry didn't tell you?"

"Maybe he didn't know. I don't know if Pony was home yet when I called."

"Soda, Darry came to the meet," I said, smiling.

"He did?" He sounded every bit as happy about that as I had been. I knew he wanted Pony and Darry getting along even more than I did.

"Yeah, he saw everything. Even talked to Pony's coach. I sent them home in the truck while I went with Two-Bit to drop off Anna and get dinner."

Soda was smiling from ear to ear.

We pulled up at the house and Two-Bit grabbed the spaghetti, while Soda headed in with the bread and salad. Darry put up the expected fuss when he saw what Mr. Harvey had sent us for free, but I knew it would be a good excuse to call over there later and talk to Alison. For the first time in months, we ate dinner with no bickering, and no underlying current of tension between Pony and Darry.

After dinner, I was sent off to do homework, along with Pony, while Two-Bit, Soda, and Darry cleaned up. I heard the phone ring and Darry answer. I sat perfectly still, trying to listen in on what he was saying.

"Yes, this is Darrel."

"Oh, hi, how are you?"

"Good, thanks."

"Really? That's fantastic!" That was not a word that Darry usually used.

"No, it won't be a problem. I assure you, he'll be there."

"Yes, you too. Thanks. I'll get him," Darry paused. "Pony?" he yelled. I heard Ponyboy come out of his room.

"It's your coach," Darry said.

I got up and walked to the living room door. Darry looked ecstatic. Soda must have been listening too, because he appeared behind me after a minute. We both looked on, puzzled.

Finally Pony hung up. He turned to Darry.

"Darry, it's too far. You don't have to."

"Oh, you're going, Pony. It's an honor."

Soda and I must have looked confused, because Darry turned to us and explained.

"The meet, today… " he started. "Pony's times… he qualified for the state meet next Saturday."

"That's great, Pony," Soda said, and ran over to embrace him.

"I'm not going," Pony said. "It's too far." He looked at Darry. "You don't have to, Darry. It's okay."

"Where is it?" Soda asked.

"Hough," Pony said. "Way up in the panhandle. Its almost six hours away."

"Pony, we're going. You don't miss an opportunity like this," Darry said. "There's no way we're missing this. You win at states as a freshman, and you are on everyone's radar. You'll be guaranteed a scholarship."

I knew how much Darry wanted Pony to go to college. Me, too, but I was second in line.

"Pony, you qualified. You have to go. You're representing Tulsa," I said.

He hesitated, the finally asked Darry,

"You sure you don't mind? It's a really long ride, Darry."

"I know," he said. "I'm up for it. I'll drive anywhere to see my brother become a state champion."

I am sure Soda felt the same way I did. They had to go, together.

"Okay, then," Pony said. "I'll go."

I fell asleep within seconds that night.

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A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. Please read and review my Outsiders oneshot, "Their Hands," that I posted today, too!