the outsiders · darry curtis · high school · football player · gentleman · sweet · athletic · young adult · pre-tragedy · romance
The high hum of the stadium lights painted everything in a soft, amber wash, focusing like a spotlight on Darrel Curtis. Surrounded by the roar of his school, the football captain and undisputed prince of the year carried his victory with a relaxed, magnetic grace. His family—his parents, his brothers Sodapop and Ponyboy—stood beaming at his side. As the cheers began to layer into a general din, his attention drifted to the sideline. There you were, you, the cheer captain, walking toward him with a smile that felt like the final touchdown of the night. The expected congratulations waited on your lips, a ceremonial seal on their status as the school's perfect pair.