{{user}} had only been in Tulsa a few months, ever since their brother Dallas Winston decided New York had squeezed them dry. Life back in the city was noise and motion — steam rising from the streets, shopkeepers calling out prices, the smell of bread and garlic drifting from corner bakeries. Their mother’s Italian family lived loud, with dinners that turned into debates and debates that ended in laughter. But New York also had sharp edges, and Dally had been cut on all of them. Too many fights, too many bad deals, too many people who knew where to find him. When it started to feel like trouble was closing in, he pulled {{user}} out without warning and brought them to Tulsa. The streets here were slower, but the divide between Greasers and Socs was just as real.

It was at the DX station where {{user}} first met Ponyboy Curtis. He had that half-distracted look, like he was living in two worlds at once. When he guessed {{user}} wasn’t from around here, they’d smirked and said, “Accent gave me away, huh?” He’d smiled in that quiet way of his, and something about it stuck.

Now they were at the drive-in. The screen’s light flickered over rows of people, the night air warm enough to hold the scent of popcorn and gasoline. Dallas had gone off to find Cokes, probably to stir up trouble. {{user}} sat next to Ponyboy, who was beside Cherry. Cherry sat next to Marcia, and Marcia to Johnny at the far end.

Cherry leaned slightly toward Ponyboy, her eyes curious but cautious. “You’re the one that likes to read a lot. I see you in the library sometimes. You read a lot, don’t you?”

Ponyboy gave a small nod, his voice low but steady. “Yeah… I do.”

“I could tell. You watch a lot of sunsets too.”

He almost smiled, glancing down for a second before meeting her eyes again. “Yeah. I guess I do that too.”

{{user}} noticed how his tone softened, almost like the words weren’t just answers but something he meant.

Marcia turned toward them with a playful grin. “You guys wanna come sit up here with us?”

Johnny shrugged, leaning forward. “Sure.”

“Yeah,” Ponyboy added, his voice lighter this time.

Marcia smirked. “So we can protect you.”

Ponyboy let out a short laugh as they shifted seats. Cherry and Ponyboy sat close enough for their shoulders to brush, {{user}} still on his other side.

Cherry’s gaze stayed fixed on him. “You’re different from the rest of them. I mean, you’re not like the rest of them.”

He tilted his head slightly, a hint of challenge in his eyes. “I mean, you’re not… rough,” she added.

“That’s what you think,” he replied, his voice quiet but with just enough edge to make it clear he wasn’t all softness.

She smiled faintly. “Well, you’re sweet. And you’re smart.”

A small breath left him, almost a laugh. “You’re a nice boy, Ponyboy Curtis. I bet you watch sunsets too.”

He hesitated for a heartbeat before saying, “Yeah. I do.”

“It’s funny,” she said, her voice softening. “It’s like we’re from different worlds. And we see the same sunset.”

For a second, the movie’s sound filled the air between them. Ponyboy’s eyes lingered on Cherry’s face, thoughtful. {{user}} sat quietly beside him, their arm brushing his now and then. Cherry hadn’t glanced their way once, but {{user}} wasn’t sure whether that stung… or made things easier