The Sunset on the Other Side of Town

Chapter 8

Roz laid their head on the door of Buck's car.
Dally's driving had Cesar and Roz seated. Perhaps even white-knuckling their seats at times. But, crazy as his driving may be, they were enjoying the fresh air.

And this was literally fresh air.

No city pollutants and enough trees to fix the cigarette addiction-based clouds.

Quality.

Besides, Roz couldn't nag on Dally too much for his driving skills. After all, like Roz, he probably had to teach himself to drive.

Roz's mom at one point had been able to drive. In fact Roz knows she is—was—capable of doing so quite well.
But ever since she's been too hopped up on Mommy's Helpers to string together a sentence with more complexity than a kindergartener, that ability—amongst nearly all others ceased to exist.

When Roz closed their eyes, they were standing before their mom, their arms extended out as their mom was seemingly arbitrarily tossing around her measuring tape. A sense of calm washed over Roz. They were weightless.
When Roz turned around, the billowing fabrics of a gown suited for royalty enveloped her.

The material was cold, but not unwelcome. Silk, perhaps?

Yes, this was high class living.
This was a gown even Boston's old money crews would fawn over.

When the car slowed to a stop, Roz sat up, immediately taking note of the environment.

"You guys ready?" Dally asked, looking up at the old church on the hill in front of them.

~

"Today's supposed to be a real hot one," Nova told Darry as he got on his tool belt. "I got extra water down here, make sure to let Raf know, too."

Darry nodded. "Thanks, Nova. Be sure to keep some for yourself too. It's give and take, not just give, not just take."

Nova watched as Darry simply walked away, seemingly so unknowing of what his words mean to her. After all, there aren't many people who would actually want a true give-take balance.

Nova elected to ponder what a situation she had gotten herself in.

They hadn't addressed it yet. How could she be so naive? Darry probably just thought of her as another person to take care of, another kid sibling to worry about.

Sure, they were the same age, but what does that really mean when Nova needs advice and help and support from him?
It's no wonder that he may see her as nothing but a child. Nova paused, trying to restore logic to her line of thinking.

How should she speak for him? How dare she?

Nova looked up at the roof, catching just a glimpse of the men working up there.
Perhaps Rafael may hold more insight. After all, they have got to talk about something all day. Right?

~

"Rosalind, did you want Cesar to stay with you in the car?" Dally was looking at Cesar and Roz.

"Huh? Why?" Roz raised an eyebrow.

"Because the whole foot thing." Dally waved a hand vaguely. "That's a pretty steep hill to get to the—"

"No! I'm going too. Are you just saying this because I'm a—"

"Jesus Christ!" Dally exclaimed, opening his door. "Fine."

Cesar just nodded slowly before hopping out. "Glad we solved that one."

On the hike up, Roz completely hid the issues she had mobility wise. After all, they had to prove themself now.
As Dally was walking around the perimeter of the church, Roz leaned on the water pump, trying to play it cool through the pain of a throbbing ankle and apparently pretty shitty lungs.
Cesar stood beside her, watching as Dally came back around, increasingly frustrated.