The Sunset on the Other Side of Town

Chapter 6

"God damn it all to hell!" Roz yelled, slamming down a stack of mail into the ground.

In a near growl, she then kicked over the closest metal trash can.

The poor thing exerted its own screech of rage in metallic rattling.

At the same time, Roz keeled over onto her front steps, vaguely reaching for her ankle as she let out another scream of rage.

Dally, who had been walking down the street paused in front of her house. "What's goin' on, head case?"

Roz's head swung over to face him. "I'm not in the mood, Dallas," she snapped.

Dallas paused for the briefest second. The flurry of emotions that passed through her eyes made him double take.
He nodded slowly then went and sat beside her. "What's up?" He asked, this time with a voice that seemed more curious than teasing.

He gathered some of the scattered stack of mail as Roz shook their head.

"Nothing, just, stupid bills. Stupid bills for stupid reasons." Roz shrugged, now back to being seemingly unbothered.

Dally was looking at her, his face conveyed what Roz knew to be gears turning.

Before either of them could say anything else, a signature whistle sounded. Their heads turned at the tune and Dallas stood up.

The dogs do love to be fed.

Two-Bit was waving his arm from down the block while jogging up. Soon guys from the Curtis House piled out with Steve running over to Roz's.

"What's goin' on?" Dally called out.

"We got us a spy!" Steve called out. "Some redhead you picked up or somethin'."

"Alright," Dal whooped, and hopped off Roz's porch.

Roz gathered up her mail then stood. "I'm not goin' so yall just fill me in later."

"What?" Dally turned around to look at Roz. "Don't be lame, come on."

"Nah, go on." Roz's stone faced nature told Steve at least that she wasn't budging.

"Whatever, come on Dal!" Steve said and took off.

Dal took a beat, looking confused at Roz before taking off behind Steve.

~

"How come you ain't goin'?" Nova stood in front of Darry.

"That feels like child's play. I'm not tryin' to horse around. I'm tryin' to find my brother and keep my family together." Darry looked for a moment at Nova, long enough for her to almost get stuck not breathing. "What about you?"

"Ah," Nova shook her head. "I couldn't trust myself."

"Why?"

"I can't stand that broad," Nova said, sighing. "You know what Two-Bit heard her say?"

Darry shook his head, leaning forward, now curious.

"Somethin' along the lines of if she sees Pony at school and she doesn't acknowledge him, she said not to take it to heart," Nova said with a scoff. "Acting like it's that deep."

Darry shook his head and just sat back in his seat. "What has that boy gotten into?"

~

"I mean, Raf and I are happy to help out," Nova said, shrugging. "I don't see why you feel the need to exert yourself."

"I gotta do somethin' I mean I was off for a couple days and I feel all outta whack." Darry shrugged then pulled at his neck.

"It's cause you're straining yourself," Nova said, playfully rolling her eyes. "Come here."