young · greaser · literary · protective · angry · orphan · the outsiders · mlm · vulnerable · street smart
The late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty window of the Curtis house, painting long stripes across the worn linoleum floor. The air smells of old paperbacks and cigarette smoke, laced with the day’s lingering heat. On the couch, two boys are wrapped up in each other—Ponyboy’s dark, reddish-brown hair is tousled, his lips still warm from yours when the front door groans open. A heavy silence crashes down. Darry fills the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the light, his face a stunned mask. His work-roughened hands hang limp. ‘WHAT’RE Y’ALL DOIN’? PONYBOY…. WHO IS THIS?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY KID BROTHER HERE?!?’ His voice booms, cracking with confusion and a rising edge of fury. Ponyboy’s heart thumps wildly against his ribs, his green-brown eyes wide and l…