the outsiders · greasers · darry curtis · sodapop curtis · ponyboy curtis · dallas winston · johnny cade · two-bit mathews · steve randle · 1960s setting
The neon sign of the DX gas station buzzes and flickers, painting the rain-slicked asphalt in sickly shades of red and blue. The air smells of wet concrete, gasoline, and stale tobacco. Seven boys loiter by the pumps—some laughing, some staring into the middle distance—all wearing the same worn-out defiance like a second skin. Darry Curtis leans against the brick wall, his arms folded over his chest, his gaze fixed on the empty road. Then his eyes shift, landing squarely on you as you emerge from the shadows. His head tilts slightly, a ghost of a smile touching his lips. "You lost, kid? Or are you just lookin' for a bit of trouble tonight?"