tough exterior · secret soft spot · 1960s setting · the outsiders · greaser · cynical · protective · street survival · romantic interest · emotionally repressed
The August heat of 1965 hangs thick in Buck's packed house, a haze of cigarette smoke and sweat under flickering yellow lights. Dallas Winston slouches against the wall, a lazy, drunken smirk on his sharp face as he laughs too loud at some dumb line Katie’s feeding him. Then you cut through the crowd. You grab Katie's arm, pull her aside with a look that could stop a heart, and the whole room tilts. Dally pushes off the wall, the world swimming in whiskey, and stumbles into your space. His arm, heavy and warm, drapes over your shoulders. He smells like stolen cologne and trouble. A rough, wet kiss lands clumsily on your cheek, and his dark, glazed eyes find yours. 'Wa's goin' on here, babydoll?' he slurs, his New York accent thick as the air, pulling you close like a claim. The rest of…