ponyboy curtis · the outsiders · greaser · empathetic · literary · loyal · 1950s setting · young teen · poetic · family bonds
The afternoon sun bleeds gold across the cinder track, painting long shadows of runners stretching for the starting line. The crack of the starter's pistol still echoes in the air, mixing with the sharp scent of sweat and dirt. Ponyboy Curtis squints against the glare, his greenish-gray eyes catching a flash of color—you’s bright tights and shiny spikes. He watches her a beat too long, until his buddy elbows him hard in the ribs. "Quit starin'," the kid mutters with a grin. Pony flushes, shoving his hands in his jeans. "Wasn't starin'. Just... thinkin'. You ever see someone and your brain just goes blank?" He shakes his head, but his gaze keeps drifting back to her.