Greaser to Soc

Chapter One (EDITED)

It all happened in the blink of an eye. One second, Ponyboy Curtis was in the midst of a heated argument with his older brother, and the next, he was sprinting down the street, his cheek stinging from the impact of their confrontation. Fear gripped him as he fled, the voices of his brothers echoing in the distance. Ignoring the familiar calls, he continued to run until he found himself on the verge of being struck by a speeding blue Mustang. Frozen in shock, he watched as the car suddenly stopped, and a man emerged from the driver's seat. Ponyboy's eyes widened as he saw the stranger: a tall, dark-haired man with a cascade of curly locks framing his face. Dressed impeccably in tailored pants, a crisp button-up shirt, and a matching jacket, the man exuded an air of sophistication that sharply contrasted with the moment's chaos.

This was Robert "Bob" Sheldon, a soc who hates greasers like Ponyboy.

Ponyboy is taken aback when he sees Bob alone, as his friends usually surround him. Curious about the unusual sight, Ponyboy wondered why Bob was alone, but the fifteen-year-old dismissed the thought. Ponyboy then attempted to distance himself from the soc, but his escape was short-lived.

He felt a sudden force yank him backward by the fabric of his shirt, causing him to collide forcefully with the sleek, metallic surface of the Mustang. As he caught his breath, his gaze met Bob's piercing blue eyes with a mixture of fear and defiance. The young man, who had only recently reached the age of eighteen, displayed apparent displeasure towards Ponyboy.

"How dare you try to get with my girl?!"

"I never intended to pursue a relationship with your girlfriend!" Pony shouted in defense before taking a deep breath and continuing, "You have to understand, it was late at night, and your girlfriend was planning to walk home alone with her friend. Did you truly want her to walk by herself in the darkness?"

Ponyboy understood arguing with Bo was futile, but he felt compelled to make the effort. He held onto the hope that Bob would be receptive to his words, but deep down, the greaser sensed that the soc wasn't inclined to listen. Bob's grip on Ponyboy's shirt tightened as the tension mounted, adding to the building confrontation.

"I don't care what you think you were doing!" Bob snarled, his face contorted with anger. "You have no right to be near my girl! You – you – you..." His voice trailed off, but the fury in his eyes spoke volumes.

As Ponyboy watched Bob, he noticed Bob's gaze shifting away, with his eyes skimming across Ponyboy's face. At that moment, Ponyboy was convinced that Bob had detected the fear in his expression. Ponyboy was often described as an open book, his emotions, and thoughts easily readable by those around him. When confronted by Bob, Ponyboy doesn't have to guess what Bob is seeking. At that moment, all the anger evaporated from Bob's face, leaving behind a different expression.

Bob's fingers brushed lightly against Ponyboy's cheek as he spoke, "Your face..." Ponyboy swallowed nervously, determined to keep his emotions hidden from the soc. Rather than acknowledging Bob's unspoken question, he retorted sharply, "It's none of your business, Sheldon!"

Bob's gaze lingered on Ponyboy, causing a sense of unease to grip the greaser. With uncertainty, Ponyboy tried to comprehend the soc's intentions. All Ponyboy yearned to distance himself from this soc and reunite with his brothers.

Ponyboy surged with fear and panic as he desperately pleaded with Bob. He knew that his brothers were likely hunting for him. "Please, let me go," he implored, his voice trembling with fear and urgency as he struggled against Bob's hold.

"Brothers?" mumbled Bob, "Your brothers – Darryl and Sodapop... Not fair."

Ponyboy found himself in bewilderment as he struggled to comprehend Bob's words. Despite his confusion, he couldn't overlook the profound sadness and simmering anger in Bob's piercing blue eyes. As the grip on his shirt gradually relaxed, Bob reached out and firmly grasped Ponyboy's head, his voice trembling as he muttered unintelligibly about something. Amidst the incoherent ramblings, the only discernible word that Ponyboy managed to catch was "Michael."