~I do not own The Outsiders~

"And you see the things they never see
All you wanted, I could be
Now you know me, and I'm not afraid
And I wanna tell you who I am
Can you help me be a man?
They can't break me
As long as I know who I am"

"Class is over. You may leave."

Everybody in class got up talking to their friends about how graduation was getting closer. 'Which college are you going to?' 'So are you leaving?' 'Aren't you going to miss home?' 'Do you even have the money?' Ponyboy waited until every Soc kid got out. Being in an advanced class meant that there would be no greasers except him. Socs gave him a hard time trying to make him feel less, but Pony knew better. It was lunch time, Benjamin was waiting for him outside the cafeteria, they normally didn't eat inside the (where almost all the Socs were) so they went out with the greasers (and some middle classed people).

"How's everything going for you Curtis?" Benjamin asked eating a sandwich.

Pony took a bite out of an apple, "Fine. Just dandy. You?"

Ben scratched the back of his neck, "I wish I was fine, my folks are being a pain in the ass, ya know, high school almost ending. Sheesh!"

Pony laughed taking another bite, "I can imagine." He said bitterly at the end remembering Darry was also being pain..

"I got a C on my English essay. Just because I put on too many comas! Damned lady. What'd you get?"

He hesitated to answer, "Uh...An A."

Ben's eyes widened, "Damn. No wonder you ain't all jittery! You got all the brains!"

"Well, this had to happen someday. School isn't hard. You just have to...push yourself to get what you want."

His friend gave him a meaningful look then half smiled, "I wish I was more like you Curtis."

Pony shook his head throwing his finished apple in a trash can, "You wouldn't like it. Believe me."

After school ended, Pony walked home with Ben, they parted ways 2 blocks down, he lived in the middle classed area. Walking on he thought about the talk with Ben. On how he was really nervous about finally moving in into a higher level of education. Leaving home to start your own independence, making his future. Ponyboy on the other hand, was actually calm. Maybe a little stressed but I'm fine. That's good right? A small feeling of happiness surged inside of him realizing that he wasn't afraid of flying away from the nest. Being Independent. Growing up.

When dinner time rolled by, the youngest Curtis shared some information making his brother Darry very happy.

"University State of Oklahoma?" Darry asked trying to hide his excited smile. That was where he was going to before the accident...

"Mm-Hm, that's where I'm applying to."

Darry couldn't do it so he broke into a wide grin, "I think that's an excellent idea little buddy." Pony noted the enthusiastic reaction in his words smiling happily.

Soda 'Whooped!', giving his little brother a slap on the back, "I'll drive you there to see how it is! Gosh Pones, I'm so proud of ya!" He too grinned widely, I knew he'd come a long way. God damn it I'm so proud!

On a Saturday morning, Pony lied to Darry saying he was going to the library for some hours to read something for a History assignment. Knowing he would drive him there, he told Ben to meet him at the Dingo. They drank some Pepsis, ate some hamburgers having a really good time. Stress free afternoon. Ponyboy felt relaxed as he sighed contently looking around. Seeing that it was almost time to leave, they stepped outside to walk home.

"You which college are you applying to Curtis?" Ben asked.

Pony slightly frowned not wanting to talk about it but answered anyway, "University State of Oklahoma."

His friend whistled a high tune, "I'm sure you'll get in. You're smart, I know it."

They walked past the park where a couple of Socs were. As Ponyboy and Ben passed by the Socs started snickering overhearing everything the two boys had said. One of them shouted, "A greaser in a college? Please! Only to work as a fucking janitor!"

Benjamin grimaced, he turned around ready to start a fight. He was a very loyal friend and Ponyboy was one of his closest friend he could ever have so nobody ever messed with his buddies. "Having your kind of brains I bet you could be one too!"

The Soc glared at him shutting his hands into fists fuming. Benjamin smirked doing the same until Pony gripped his arm pulling him away, "C'mon, don't listen to these guys. Let's get outta here, we ain't enough to even fight 'em."

"I don't care, I just wanna-"

Pony shook his head already leading him away while the enemies murmured some inaudible words. "I can't get in trouble anyways. It's getting late, let's go!"

Both hurried to the library, even though Ponyboy didn't show it he was mad in the inside. Over the time he knew how to hide his emotions very well. Somehow those Socs hit a very delicate nerve making him very angry, just because he was a greaser doesn't mean that he won't become someone in life. Ben huffed wiping his hands on his jeans sweating from the incident. The sun was going down leaving the moon to enlighten the sky. The chilly wind blew making them shudder.

"Fighting isn't going to solve anything." Pony suddenly said.

Ben shrugged, "Yeah well he was being a real jack ass. But whatever, nice hanging out Curtis. See you at school." He left grinning, Pony let out a deep breath waiting for his brother. He'd arrive soon. As he looked at the sky getting darker. The words of the Soc replayed in his head, "A greaser in a college? Please! Only to work as a fucking janitor!"

Huh, a janitor? No way, not even a Greaser would work as that. They'd probably jump somebody over being some janitor... I'm a Greaser all right and fucking proud of it! I'll show everybody who I really am. Let them Socs talk all they want.

Darry's red truck came into view stopping in front of him smiling. He told Pony to get in, that Soda was waiting for him to eat dinner, "You know he gets all jumpy. He's not a patient person." His little brother chuckled nodding. It was true.

Greaser, yeah. Poor? Maybe, but we're rich with what we call ... a real family.

(Sorry for any grammar mistakes)