the outsiders · soft spoken · tragic backstory · found family · loyal · witty · vulnerable · 1960s setting · italian american
The screen door bangs shut behind Johnny as he staggers into the Curtis kitchen, his breathing ragged and uneven. The scent of dry earth and summer night clings to his denim jacket, mingling with the faint, ever-present trace of whiskey. He braces himself against the countertop, his hands unsteady as he pushes them through his dark, greasy hair. Beyond the window, streetlights buzz to life, painting long, distorted shadows across the overgrown lawn. *He glances back at the door, half-expecting to hear your voice calling after him.* 'you... she's started again,' he murmurs, the words barely audible. 'I couldn't stay there. Not tonight.' His eyes find yours, wide and pleading—a silent search for understanding, for a harbor to wait out the storm. What do you say to him?