Class Of '68

June was a big deal.

Summer was just around the corner, people were preparing for their camping trips, school was almost out. As for the senior class of Will Rogers Highschool, graduation was only hours away.

Hannah drug a brush through her hair quickly with one hand as she laced up her converse with the other. She never understood the importance of the robes and hats, but if it meant getting her diploma, she'd play along. Dallas was in his room, combing back his hair and trying to hide his hangover.  Buck was in his room, polishing his boots and shaking the wrinkles from his button-up.

It wasn't every day a Winston graduated, and he wouldn't miss it for the world.

Part of her was excited. She had never thought the day she actually graduated would come, but here it was. The other part of her dreaded the waiting. Johnny and Ponyboy would receive their diplomas right away since their last names started with 'C' and all. But Hannah Winston would have to wait. Then there was the worst part.

She was about to see Ponyboy for the first time since their breakup. She could still see him perfectly. The way the sun turned his hair more red than brown, she could still count the freckles on his face. She could still see the exact moment he realized she was breaking up with him. On top of it all, she could still feel her heart breaking in her chest.

What would the Gang think of her? Dallas hadn't said much about them after she told him, so maybe they tried avoiding the Winstons altogether. Did Pony tell them what she said?

It's better this way. Ponyboy is gonna be somebody, and you're not. Why is that so hard for him to understand?

Or maybe he twisted the story and made her out to be some heartless bitch.

The cruel thoughts were pushed from her mind as someone knocked on her bedroom door.

"You better be dressed, your graduation is in fifteen minutes!"

Even though she had woken him up well over an hour ago, Dallas's voice was still thick with sleep. Hannah stood there for a moment before Dallas started banging on the door again.

"Hannah Louise Winston, don't make me pick the fuckin' lock again-"

She laughed to herself quietly before tossing the hairbrush onto her bed and grabbing her cap and gown. Hannah made her way out into the hall just as Dallas and Buck ducked out of their own rooms. Buck kept his head down as he fiddled with his belt buckle, Dallas leaned against his door cooly. "Took ya long enough," he muttered teasingly. Hannah flipped him the bird as he turned and made her way down the steep stairs.

"Hey Buck, guess what!"

She turned just in time to watch the boys who had raised her walk down the stairs. "Huh?"

"The next time I step in this bar, I'll be a high school graduate."

Buck looked at her, his lips split the same goofy grin he always wore. He moved forwards and brushed a strand of hair from her face before tucking it behind her ear. "You're right, kid. Well done."

Dallas bumped the older boy with his shoulder roughly. "Let's go already, the ceremony starts in ten minutes."

Hannah chuckled. "Cool it, man." Then she sprinted to the t-bird. "Shotgun!"

"I'll fucking shoot you and hide your body in the trunk. Where's your fucking gun, Buck?"

Hannah pulled on her robe and hopped into the front seat while Buck moved around to his side. "You are not shooting your sister, we are so fucking close to getting her through high school."

Dallas glared daggers at his sister while she checked on her makeup in the rearview mirror. "Get in the back, bitch."

'I'm twenty years old and being bossed around by a fucking child. Unbelievable."

"I'm eighteen, asshole. That makes me an adult."

"Then fuckin' act like one."

"You fucking hypocrite- Buck! He hit me!"

Hannah showed up to the ceremony fashionably late. That meant she missed the opening ceremony completely and was stared at for five minutes while she found her seat near the back of the line. The ceremony took place on the football field, a stage on one end and chairs filling the other.

The chairs behind her were filled with parents and family members. The Gang sat near the back but managed to save a seat for both Dallas and Buck. She didn't mind sitting in the back, it gave her time to pull a cigarette from behind her ear and have a quick smoke to calm her growing nerves.

"You better put that smoke away, Hannah."

She rolled her eyes as she shifted in her seat. Hannah's eyes locked with Officer Brower's beady brown ones.  This officer was responsible for Dallas's many arrests, and even a few of her own.

"Or what, Harold? Gonna pepper spray me in front of your wife an' kids?"

He grumbled something she couldn't understand before leaning back in his seat. Hannah smiled to herself and made a show of blowing smoke rings as the first group of kids went to receive their diplomas.

There was some yelling, but mostly just clapping at the principal announced each student and waited for them to cross the make-shift stage. Johnny Cade was the first of the Gang to cross the stage. His dark hair was greased, his bangs still hung in front of his face, much like the first time she met him. The blue cap and gown hid his ratty clothes and bruises from view.

Ponyboy walked across the stage soon after, and the Gang erupted into excited shouts again. Hannah smiled to herself as Pony shook the older man's hand before disappearing into the crowd again.

I knew you were gonna make it.

The crowd settled down as the principal's monotone voice droned on once more.

She must have dozed off in the warm heat of the summer sun because Hannah was shoved awake rudely as her classmates rose from their seats. The long blue gown also hid her clothes from the public, which she was thankful for. There was no reason these kids needed to see her scuffed-up converse, ripped jeans, and t-shirt she stole from the laundromat. The eyes burned like bullet holes as she made her down the aisle between the chairs and up the steps.

"Hannah!"

She whipped her head around and squinted her eyes in the bright sun until she saw him. Ponyboy sat in the very front row with his diploma on his lap. His eyes and smile were kind as he sent her a wave she could help but return. "Way to go,"  he mouthed to her. Hannah smiled as she stepped forwards.

"No hard feelings?"

He shook his head as the principal called her name.

Buck and Dallas sprang up from their seats as Hannah crossed the stage, her head held high. The Gang was quick to join in, all yelling their praises. "That's our girl," Buck shouted, his accent more prominent than ever. "We knew you could do it!"

"Well done, Miss Winston. I'm very proud of you," Mr. Walters said as he passed the scroll forwards. Hannah sent him a tight-lipped smile. "Thanks man, guess you ain't so bad yourself."

Twelve years of education had finally come to an end as she walked down the steps and back down the aisle. It seemed like everything was going to be alright. That is until a boy behind her decided to open his mouth. "So, Hannah, how many times did you blow Walters to graduate?"

Her fist connected with his nose before she even knew what she was doing. Teachers and parents alike rushed forwards to pull her away from the boy, who cradled his bloody nose in his bruised hand. Teachers scolded her as Dallas's laughter filled her ears.

"What are you gonna do, expel me? I've got my diploma!"

"Sit down, or leave the ceremony."

She chuckled and made her way back to her seat. "Don't tempt me." Behind her, most of the Gang struggled to contain their laughter, along with threats of their own.

"My apologizes for the confusion," Mr. Walters said as he addressed the crowd. "I understand the last day of school can be very nerve-wracking for some students-"

"Nah, these kids are just motherfuckers!"

Darry punched Dallas in the shoulder while Two-Bit and Buck laughed manically. "I swear to God Dallas, shut up!"

Mr. Walters tried to stifle as laugh himself as he spoke again. "Now, I know these kids have had enough of listening to me for the past four years. So, as tradition, I will pass the stage on to Will Rodgers's valedictorian, Ponyboy Curtis."

Of course. He's the fucking valedictorian, too.

Ponyboy made his way up the steps for a second time.

"Hello, my name is Ponyboy Curtis. I know, a little unorthodox, but it even says so on my diploma!"

Some people laughed and clapped as Pony pulled at the collar of his gown.

"I know the whole point of this speech is to thank our teachers and staff for passing on their knowledge for future generations, but I think something more important needs to be said."

The crowd fell silent as Ponyboy took a deep breath and dropped his cap and gown to the floor. His hair was greased back, and he wore dirty stained jeans, and one of Sodapop's old flannels. He didn't look like valedictorian, he looked like the boy Hannah fell in love with all those years ago. He didn't look like some rich scholar, he looked like Ponyboy Curtis.

"I'm what you would call a Greaser. I was born and raised on the Eastside, my buddies got into fights and broke the law, sometimes I joined them. I was born and raised beside some of the tuffest hoods in this town. Dallas Winston celebrates Christmas with my brothers and me, Tim Shepard has slept on my couch. They're both tough hoods, and they were both told that's all they would ever be. Right before my freshman year of high school, my parents died in a car accident. My oldest brother Darry had to give up the opportunity I've received so that my other brother and I wouldn't go into foster care."

A few hushed whispers fell over the crowd as Ponyboy's eyes locked with Hannah's. She gave a small smile, and two thumbs up.

"I am here today because people believed in me. And I know for a fact that not everyone is as fortunate as I am. I know what it's like to struggle, but I can't imagine going through it alone like so many of my friends, my family, have. The purpose of this speech is to appreciate the smart kids, the ones who had every opportunity to be successful. But those kids are getting enough pats on the back. So I wanna say well done to the kids who didn't think they'd be here today. I wanna say congratulations to the greasers here today because you made it. You've been fighting your entire life, whether that be at home, school, or just existing. But you made it, and now you've gotten through high school, too."

The determined look on Pony's face faded into a smile as he took another breath and scanned his eyes over the crowd.

"Well done, class of nineteen sixty-eight, I wish you nothing but the best. You deserve it."

Later that night, Hannah walked around the bar wiping off tables and making small conversation. Even over the ruckus in the bar, she could still hear the socs and their souped-up cars rolling down the street. She sent simple nods and thank yous to the people who congratulated her. Buck smiled behind the bar, his hair swaying as he nodded along to the music. Suddenly, he gestured her over.

"What's your plan, kid?"

She scoffed and reached for a bottle of beer before Buck could slap her hand away. "I dunno, graduating was my plan."

"That's a really shitty plan."

"That's a really shitty plan," she mocked while making her rounds around the bar and collecting the tips people left behind. "Listen man, my only plan right now, is to stay alive. It doesn't seem that difficult, but depending on who Dallas manages to piss off, someone could try to kill me at any fucking moment."

Buck stared at her with his eyes wide. "Ponyboy's behind you."

Hannah closed her eyes briefly and took a quick sip of her beer. "Fuck."

"I liked your speech," she said quietly as Ponyboy sat next to her on the roof of the bar. "Especially the whole 'surprise, I'm actually a hoodlum' part." Ponyboy's simple laugh filled the summer night as they stared up at the few lone stars.

"I was thinking about what you said when I was writing my speech, actually."

It was her turn to chuckle. "Isn't that plagiarism or somthin'? Careful Pony, wouldn't wanna lose your scholarship."

They were quiet for a few moments. The soft wind licked the trees and carried Hank William's voice from the bar and out into the night.

"I can't believe we did," Pony whispered.

"Me neither," she whispered back.

"An' I can't believe I'm going to university tomorrow."

Hannah leaned her head against his shoulder lazily as the breeze pushed her hair over her eyes. "I'm really proud of you, Ponyboy. I hope it's everything you want it to be."

His fingers combed through her hair as Pony pulled his arm around her. "You're drunk, aren't you?"

"I am so fucking hammered."

"Shoulda guessed, you're never this sweet when you're sober."

Pony glanced up at the sky again before sighing. "I should get goin', I still have a lotta stuff to pack." Hannah nodded against his shoulder, locking the way his arm fits around her in her memory.

This is nice. This is really, really nice.

That's why he has to go.

Nothing ever works out for Hannah Winston.

She shifted in her seat while Ponyboy kissed her on the cheek. It wasn't a cold night, but the contact still sent a chill up her spine. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

She nodded, and Pony jumped to the ground.

Say it, Hannah, this is your last chance.

"Ponyboy?"

He turned to face her, green eyes glowing in the moonlight. "Yeah?"

"I'll see you when you come back, you hear?"

He nodded, a childish grin pulling at his lips. "I love you, Hannah Winston!"

"I love you, Ponyboy Curtis."

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