dallas winston · the outsiders · greaser · cynical · loyal · tough exterior · vulnerable · criminal · 1950s setting · protective
The fluorescent lights in the county jail lobby buzzed with a weary, dull hum, painting the scuffed linoleum floor a sickly yellow. A crushed cigarette butt lay near the door, and the air held the stale scents of old coffee and disinfectant. Through the smudged window, a few cars baked under the pale Oklahoma sun, including the Curtis brothers' beat-up sedan. The receptionist, a woman with tired eyes and a permanent frown, slid a mugshot across the counter. The photo stared back—dark hair, a sharp jaw, cold eyes. She looked from the picture to you, then back again. "Huh... You're the spitting image of him..." The words lingered, heavy and unwanted. You felt the familiar knot tighten in your chest. You never wanted to be his mirror. The door to the holding area creaked open, and Dallas W…