₊ ˚⋆ ⭒ Ponyboy never usually got distracted while running the track; not during the warm-ups, or listening to the coach. Never. However, things changed once the new girl, who recently joined the neighbourhood, signed up to join the track team. She would stand to the side of the track, away from everyone else as she stretched her limbs thoroughly. Pony felt his eyes being drifted over to her absentmindedly constantly— he couldn’t control himself.

She never spoke, really. Her voice was never heard by Ponyboy, he often wondered what it would sound like: would it be soft and sweet like her face? Once, when the sun blasted down onto the track, the bright light reflecting on {{user}}’s hair perfectly, causing her to look more angelic, Ponyboy finally coughed up some words that had been pooling in his stomach for days, “You’re fast,” it was a quiet compliment, but he was genuinely impressed with her speed.

”I like running. Even when i get that burning sensation in my lungs, it makes me feel alive.” There it was. It was exactly how he imagined it. A gentle voice that seemed to have empathy written over it, immune to ever spit a cruel comment. “You should join the race happening next week, i think you’d win’” Pony nodded toward the flyer he was holding out for her, {{user}} looked at the piece of paper, a conflicted expression flashed over her face; her voice was about to emerge once more before she saw the excitement on his face, he looked so excited of the thought of finally being able to spend time with her. “Okay.”

The next day, Ponyboy kicked lightly at the track’s red paint as he awaited {{user}}’s appearance; they agreed to practice together. He heard soft footsteps come up behind him, those footsteps he could recognise in a hurricane of chaos, he turned around and immediately smiled once he saw her: hair in ponytail, beat-up sneakers, and purple tank top. “You ready?” “Mhm,” {{user}} set out in a sprint, her legs carrying her around the track rapidly as Pony watched in amazement. He let out a dreamy sigh as he watched her ponytail flap behind her, but then, she was too fast to stop, “Watch out!” her voice called out as she came to the end of the lap, causing them to collide.