The Sunset on the Other Side of Town

Chapter 4

"What else you got on you?" Cesar laughed, fishing a penny from an inner pocket in his jacket.

"Check this out!" Roz pulled a penny from within the wrap that was on her ankle.

Cesar and Roz erupted into laughter as they slammed the pennies on the bar counter. "Mr. Bartender, sir. I'd like another beer please." Roz flashed a smile filled with charisma that nearly overflowed.

It wasn't something that was super necessary, given that Buck opened up a tab for Cesar and Roz for the night. The tab being something more of a formality than an actual bill. They were at a pay-what-you-can section of privileged arrangement.

Roz and Cesar clinked beer bottles just as a song was ending and another was being switched into the jukebox. It was at that moment that Roz heard a very familiar voice, but one that was too young to be placed as a regular here.

"I've only had two beers," Roz said. "So I'm not dreaming yet. You heard that?" Roz glanced around her, visibly confused.

Cesar nodded then locked his sights on Buck who had opened the door to Johnny and Pony. For lord knows what reason, Ponyboy was soaking wet. The both of them looked pale as all hell and scared.

"Roz!" Cesar hit her arm and pulled her attention to the door. Buck shut the door and started to make his way through the crowded place. Cesar hopped off the bar stool and made his way to Buck, taking his arm.

"What's the story there?" Cesar nodded toward the door. The streak of Roz's robin egg blue waitress uniform vanished out of Cesar's peripheral.

"I don't know," Buck admitted, "they were fixin' to get in, said they needed to talk to Dally."

"To see Dally?"

"'Ts what they said," Buck nodded, shrugging. "They seemed real adamant on it."

Cesar furrowed his eyebrows then looked towards the front door.

He turned back to Buck just in time to see Roz dragging Dally forward by the hand to the front door.

"Thanks, Buck," Cesar said, following Dally and Roz to the front door.

"Sorry to drag you from the party, guys," Johnny said quickly, his dark eyes wide and glancing all around, taking in all the stimuli.

"Nah, I was up in the bedroom," Dally said, shaking his head.

Ponyboy's ears went red.

"He was sleeping," Roz said, chuckling, then paused, noticing Pony's eyes brimming with tears. "What's up guys?"

"Johnny killed him," Pony choked out.

"What?" Cesar and Dally said simultaneously.

Dally leaned forward to hear better.

"Johnny killed a soc," Pony said.

The party around them seemed to fade a world away.

"Alright," Dally said coolly, the only thing in his voice was tiredness. "Good for you. Come on." Dally waved Johnny in then grabbed Pony by his shirt.

"Jesus Christ," Cesar sighed.

"Pony, are you wet?" Dallas asked, pulling him inside and looking around before shutting the door. "Rosalind, you comin'?" Dally started steering the boys toward the stairs.

"Up in a minute," they said. Roz went over to the phone then picked their brain for a moment before dialing up a number.

Upon Nova's sibling answering the phone and yelling "LET ME SLEEP!" Before promptly hanging up, Roz exhaled heavily then headed upstairs, gulping down a good chunk of her beer.

She knocked on Dally's door then came in after a beat. She winced with a step inside then looked with a mournful stare down at Ponyboy and Johnny.

"Be discreet, would you?" Dally grabbed Roz's sleeve then pulled her to the bed to sit down with him.

He tossed a sweatshirt at Ponyboy. "Here, that's dry. It's Buck's so it'll be a little big on you."

Roz fixed her face to be far more stoic, showing no emotion.

"Alright, listen," Dally blew out smoke, "Cesar, man, ask Buck for the car. Drive these knuckleheads closer to the tracks. Then take this one home." He nodded towards Roz.

"Dal—what?" Roz began. "Why? I'm cooling here," she said, taking a sip from her beer.

Dally flashed her a look that made her roll her eyes and stay quiet.

"And I thought New York was the only place I'd get mixed up in a murder wrap," Dally said, chuckling to himself. "Jesus Christ." He shook his head and stood.