Ponyboy couldn't believe this, numb and in shock like he'd just seen a fresh cadaver.

The boarding school was huge. Like, mansion material. It looked like some place the Socs would attend. Pony was forced to apply by Dally, his older brother who was technically Pony's legal guardian, though he didn't like to think of it that way.

"A fresh start," That's how Dally described it, and then practically dragged Sodapop and Ponyboy into the boarding school by their ears.

Uniforms, no smoking, strict schedules, and no drinking.

It was all freshly mowed lawns, giant turf track fields, dorm rooms, and strict teachers.

Jesus.

Pony knew Dally was protective over his brothers, but this was a whole other level.

Pony bitterly trudged down the halls of "St. Catherine Preparatory Academy for Troubled Youth."

The place was big big, large windowsills lined the walls filled with kids doing homework or ripping it up.

Pony looked down at his paper schedule like he was some kind of timid little middle schooler.

"Can't believe this..." Pony muttered for about the thousandth time, his eyes landing on his first class.

Ponyboy Michael Curtis - 1st period: Ms. Joan Millard - CP Linear Algebra: Room 231.

Ponyboy reluctantly turned into the direction of the classroom, but not before smashing headfirst into a figure running the other way.

Ponyboy scowled and stepped back as the girl stumbled, not in the mood; "Watch it."

The girl looked up at him, and all Pony could do was stare.

Damn.

These prep girls were sure something else. She looked like a Soc girl, all proper and done-up like a doll, her delicate curls pulled back into a ponytail with a ribbon that matched the school colors on her uniform, blue and gray. She wore a perfectly ironed and tailored unform, a low-cut gray collared shirt tucked into her pleated blue skirt. There were stockings running up her legs, which Pony's eyes lingered a bit too long on.

Pony licked his lips and thought to himself; Maybe this prep school ain't all bad...