This story takes place after the novel.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Outsiders or anything related to the story created by S.E. Hinton.

(Ponyboy's POV)

I was practically bouncing on my feet, buzzing with adrenaline. With me running the last leg of the relay, our team just got first place in the relay at the state track meet. My coach patted me on the back and told me I ran great, and my teammates and I were all ecstatic.

While everyone was excited about our win, I still had to think about my next race. I could only bask in our victory for another ten minutes before I had to run again for the 400-meter sprint. I already ran in the 100 and 200; I got first in the 100 and second in the 200. I was frustrated because I knew I could've won the 200 too, but I didn't run my best, so I was stuck with second place in a race that I was used to winning. I was determined to win my last event and prove to myself that I could do better.

I looked up into the stands and saw my brothers, Steve, and Two-Bit all cheering excitedly. They had been in the stands the whole time, arriving even before my team got onto the track. The moment my coach led the team out of the school and towards the track, I heard my name being shouted, and I spotted the guys all standing and cheering for me. A few parents that were already there gave the guys weird looks, and while I felt a hint of embarrassment at their antics, I couldn't fight the smile on my face. Our school was hosting the meet, so I didn't know why the guys decided to be so early, it's not like there was a lot of traffic or anything to worry about. I guess they wanted to make sure they didn't miss a second of it, and I was grateful for them.

I knew my brothers would do everything they could to be at the state meet, but I figured one of them wouldn't be able to get off of work, so I was surprised when they told me a couple days before that they were both able to be there. I wasn't really surprised that Two-Bit was there since he still didn't have a job to be at, but even though Steve and I were more friendly than we used to be, I still felt my eyebrows rise when I spotted him there.

"You feeling good about the 400, Curtis?" my coach asked me, bringing me back to the present.

I nodded my head. "Yes sir, I'm ready."

It seemed like no time had passed before I was at the starting block for the last race. I was going to be racing against seven other guys, including Mitchel Anderson, the guy who beat me in the 200. I got in my starting position, and the moment the gun fired, I took off.

I was pumping my arms and driving my legs into the ground as I ran as fast as I could. I didn't hear anything except my breathing and my heart pounding in my ears. Everything around me was a blur, and I hardly noticed that I was pulling ahead of the other runners. I knew they were on my heals, so I couldn't let up at all; I had to give everything I had left for my last race. I had about 50 meters to go when I somehow found another gear. I managed to move my legs even faster, and when I crossed the finish line, I realized that nobody was in front of me. I won.

In addition to my heartbeat, my ears were suddenly filled with the sounds of cheering. Before I could look at the stands, Mitchel Anderson was standing next to me, panting.

"Nice job, Curtis," he said, apparently trying to catch his breath between words. "Maybe I'll beat you next year."

"You already did," I said with a grin as I tried to regain a normal breathing rhythm, which was easier to do than it used to be since I started to cut back on smoking, which made my brothers more than happy. "You won the two-hundred."

He shrugged, then put a hand on my shoulder, still panting. "Yeah, but you won two out of the three individuals. I'll have to be faster next year." He gave me a grin a walked away.

As my team and coach ran towards me, no doubt to congratulate me, I looked back at the stands. Two-Bit and Soda were obnoxiously cheering from where they stood on the bleachers, Steve was grinning, and Darry was giving me the biggest smile as he clapped. I was beaming with pride.

After the award ceremony, our coach let us go see our friends and families in the stands, but not until he told us to celebrate safely. I think he knew some of the guys were planning on going to a party and getting drunk, but I was just excited to hang out with my brothers and what was left of our gang. With my medals around my neck and trophies in hand, I walked to the stands, where the guys were waiting for me. Once I looked right at them, all four of them jumped out of the bleachers and met me halfway.

Sodapop pulled me into a tight hug, not caring that I was sweaty and smelled horrible from all the running I had done. "Good job, Pony! My kid brother's the fastest runner in Oklahoma!"

"I got second in one of the races, Soda," I said, which caused him to pull away from me.

"But you came in first in the rest of them!" Soda said as he ruffled my hair.

Darry was standing next to me and Soda, and when I looked up at him, the smile was still on his face. "You did awesome, Pone." Then, he surprised me by hugging me too, putting his hand on the back of my head. "We're so proud of you kiddo."

I melted into his embrace. "Thanks, Darry." Then I laughed. "You guys realize I'm sweaty, right?"

Darry pulled away from me, but it was Steve that said something next. "Yeah, I can smell ya from here." Then he gave me a grin. "I ain't coming near you, but you did a good job kid."

"Good job, that's it?" Two-Bit chimed in. "He was faster than a greased pig out there!"

"Smells like one too," Steve added, which earned a punch in the arm from Soda.

The five of us started walking back towards the school, with my brothers on either side of me. I was so happy that I didn't realize they were talking until Darry addressed me directly. "What do you say, Ponyboy? Up for a celebratory dinner?"

I looked at him with a curious look. Can we afford it? "You sure?"

Then Darry gave me a grin and ruffled my hair. "Of course. Anything for the state champ here." I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.

"I just need to go to the locker room to change," I said. Then I remembered that if I was going to go out in public, I should probably wash up first. "I need to shower too."

"Ain't that the truth," Steve muttered.

"Give me five minutes," I said, ignoring Steve's comment. I gave Darry and Soda the trophies and medals before I started walking backwards to the doors. "Ten minutes tops."

"I'll pull the truck up," Darry said. "Meet us out here, champ."

The nickname made me beam once again, and I quickly went into the school and made my way to the locker room.