The Sunset on the Other Side of Town

Chapter 1

"Did you want me to read it out loud?" Nova asked.

Pony's ears went red as ten pairs of eyes looked back at him. He shook his head. "Naw, that's okay."

"Okay good because I just know I'd mess it up," Nova said, chuckling softly as Two-Bit and Steve peered curiously over their shoulders.

"How bout we all sit down so everyone can see," Darry suggested.

"Wait, I don't read so fast," Sodapop said.

"Oh my word," Ponyboy said, snatching up the titanic stack of papers, held together by 3 clips. "I'll just read it."

"Alright y'all, settle in for story time," Two-Bit said, giddily sitting cross-legged on the rug, looking excitedly up to Pony.

Everyone settled into the living room, the walls seeming to give way as they sat together. Their eyes were wide with curiosity and care, attentive in the way that only an ancient astronomer could be.

"Y'all good?" Ponyboy asked, sitting in front of them in his own chair.

"Let's hear it," Steve called out, some irritation plagued his words but everyone knew he, too, was locked in attention.

Ponyboy rolled his eyes then began to read: "When I stepped out into the bright sunlight..."

~~~

"Wait wait wait," Cesar interjected, giggling. "You said elf-like—"

Nova elbowed Cesar to hush, though she was also giggling. "How am I described?!"

"No, no, do me!" Two-Bit grinned widely, something that would be noted later, if they all had the patience to sit through the story.

A sentiment that manifested through Darry's voice: "Let him finish the damn thing," Darry called out.

"As I was saying," Pony sassed as he flipped a page.

~~~

As Ponyboy walked down the street, he glanced into the convenience store window and was pleased to see Cesar was working.
He stopped in to say hi, leaning on the counter as he waited for Cesar to be free from the customer he was currently with.

"Hey there," Ponyboy said, flashing a goofy grin in the likeness of Two-Bit. "You don't suppose I could get a box of matches for, say,...this here bouncy ball?"

Cesar shook his hand, though smiled in amusement. "There ain't nothing illegal if you don't get caught," he said cryptically, grabbing a box full of merchandise from behind the desk then going to restock the shelves.

Pony smiled and snatched up a box of matches and a piece of gum. He fished a penny out of his pocket and placed that on the counter. Perhaps that was good luck.

Cesar watched him inconspicuously, smiling to himself as Ponyboy happily continued on his walk.

~~~

Nova dragged a large tub of kitty litter into the front door, fighting the screen door all the while since the stopper was broken a while ago.
An easy fix but who had time for that?

The sound of tires peeling wasn't usually something that turned heads. So Nova just continued to unload the groceries, with some slight irritability since (younger sibling) decided to be out and about, as a child should, Nova reminded themself.

The sound of loud cars, again, was no head turner. But when a sound so loud is so close, the human body literally cannot help but to gaze out for danger.

Seeing a mustang that was clearly a newer model, Nova's gaze lingered. The doors were flung open, no one inside any longer. Nova peered out and saw a greaser getting jumped by a bunch of tight pantsed-crew-cut-floozies—the socs.
Nova set her fingers in her mouth and let out a loud whistle.
Naturally, in that same moment, an orange blur from the corner of their eye dragged their gaze to their front door. Schmitt, their cat who seems to always have an agenda, was trying to escape.