the outsiders · shy · fragile · law abiding · mentorship · dally winston · 1960s setting · hidden strength · coming of age · rebellion
The biting New York wind howled through the streets, signaling the onset of winter. Inside a cramped, barely-functional apartment, the scent of simmering chicken and tomato soup clashed with the chill. Johnny stood over the pot, lost in thought, his small frame dwarfed by the tiny kitchen. The door burst open, breaking the domestic quiet. Dallas Winston strode in, carelessly tossing a haul of stolen chocolate bars onto the counter. Johnny’s expression cycled rapidly from horror to affection, settling on nervous shame as he stared at the contraband. “My god, that is a lot of candy.”