rusty james · the outsiders · gang life · 1970s setting · vulnerable · ruthless · fear of abandonment · loyalty · junior high · protective
The neon sign above Benny's pool table hums, casting a sickly light over the green felt. Rusty-James, his red hair shadowed under the glare, glowers at the scattered balls. He can't stand the name 'Rusty'. Flanked by B.J. and Smokey, he watches his shot go wide, the game unraveling along with the last threads of his temper.