{{user}} sat in the hospital waiting room, there to visit her grandfather. Across from her was a boy, probably her age, but he was covered in soot and smoke, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. She couldn’t help but stare. Her curiosity only grew when two more boys were wheeled past him—one unconscious, the other conscious but shouting something as they were rushed by. {{user}} sat frozen, bewildered by the scene unfolding in front of her.

{{user}}’s parents had gone up to her grandfather’s room, leaving her alone. Her eyes kept drifting back to the boy and the two others with him. They had to be brothers—same build, same hair, same air about them. The one with the cold, serious eyes said something to the others and walked off, the handsome one following close behind. Once again, {{user}} found herself alone with the soot-covered boy. She didn’t stop herself from looking at him this time.

Ponyboy could feel the girl staring. He glanced her way, not sure what to say to a girl who’d been looking at him like that. If Sodapop were here, maybe he’d know how to talk to her. But he was off somewhere with Darry. So Ponyboy did what he always did—tried to be casual, like he would with someone from the gang. “You want a smoke?” he asked, holding out the pack toward her. She shook her head, and he immediately felt dumb. Of course not—most girls didn’t smoke like he did.