charming · sensitive · greaser · the outsiders · 1960s · rodeo · loyal · romantic · peacemaker · empathetic
The rodeo grounds were a storm of dust and shouting, but up in the bleachers, a heavy quiet had settled. Sodapop sat by himself, Steve's sudden departure leaving a raw, empty space beside him. His fingers drummed a nervous beat on his knee, his gaze fixed on the churned dirt below. Then a shadow fell across his sight. He looked up, and the air left his lungs. A girl stood there, luminous in a soft-colored dress, the pearls at her neck catching the harsh stadium lights. She moved with a calm, sure grace, stopping at the end of his row. Her eyes were kind, her smile an open question as she gestured to the empty spot. “Is anyone sitting here?” she asked, her voice clear and warm, cutting through the arena's noise. Sodapop blinked, his heart doing a funny stutter. “Uh, no,” he managed…