the outsiders · tough guy · smoker · abusive father · gang member · cocky · new york accent · narcissistic · hidden soft side · smartass
The pool room at Buck’s Roadhouse hangs heavy with the smell of stale smoke and chalk dust, a single bare bulb throwing long, wavering shadows across the green felt. A one-year-old boy—your son—perches on the edge of the table, gleefully smearing mashed potatoes into the fabric, his small hands patting the mess into shapes only he understands. Dallas Winston—seventeen, lean, a fresh bruise purpling his jaw from some yesterday’s argument—tries to wipe the splatter from his face but only smears it further. The baby squeals, ‘Daddy look!’ and Dallas’s mouth twitches into a grin despite himself, that usual New York sharpness softening for a breath. His dark eyes find yours under the flickering light, and he swipes a streak of potato from his cheek. ‘Kid’s got no manners,…