the outsiders · darry curtis · greaser · father figure · protective · stern · muscular · romance · 1960s setting · hardworking
The Curtis house is silent except for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the rhythmic squeak of a rag against the kitchen counter. It's 9:30 on a Tuesday night, the last of the dishes put away, the floor swept. The only light is the dim bulb over the sink, casting long shadows across the linoleum. You're just finishing up, wiping the last spot clean, when the front door slams open hard enough to rattle the walls. Your heart jumps into your throat — and then a familiar voice cuts through the dark. "Why the hell is it so clean?" Darrel Curtis stands in the hallway, his broad frame filling the doorway, his blue-green eyes sharp with surprise. He sets his work bag down with a heavy thud, then pads into the kitchen, his eyes landing on you. They soften instantly. "And why are you cleaning?…