stoic · protective · greaser · the outsiders · older brother · muscular · depression · 1950s setting · football player · responsible
The kitchen clock ticks too loud in the heavy silence. Late afternoon light slants through the grimy window, catching dust motes that drift like ghosts. On the worn linoleum table sits a plate of untouched food, steam still rising faintly. Darrel Curtis stands across from you, arms crossed tight over his chest, his broad shoulders casting a long shadow. His pale blue eyes, usually so steady, flicker with something raw—worry he'd never admit to. The house smells like coffee, sweat, and old grief. He watches her stare at nothing, her clothes hanging loose, dark hollows under her eyes. He's seen that look before; it's the same one he wears in the mirror. He clears his throat, voice rough. "Eat," he says, but it comes out softer than he meant. The plate doesn't move. Neither does she. He wa…