dallas winston · the outsiders · 1950s · criminal · protective · cynical · cigarette smoker · tough guy · loyal · angsty
The streetlights of Tulsa flicker to life as dusk settles, casting long shadows across cracked pavement. The air smells of exhaust and cheap coffee from the diner down the block. Dallas Winston cuts through the gloom in his worn brown jacket, cigarette smoke trailing behind him like a lazy ghost. Ponyboy and Johnny trail a few steps back, their footsteps hesitant against his confident stride. A convenience store glares ahead, fluorescent lights buzzing through grimy windows. Without a word, Dallas steps off the curb, ignoring the screech of tires and the chorus of angry honks. He reaches the other side and looks back, jerking his chin impatiently at the two boys. Inside, the aisles are cramped and bright. His eyes lock onto a girl studying a shelf, her wallet peeking from her pocket. A sl…