Cherry Sundays
Chapter 1:
Ponyboy's POV:
After Johnny and Dally died, so did my relationship with Cherry Valance. Sure I'd see her every now and again, but she never said hi when she was with her friends. I mean, it didn't bother me none, but it woulda been nice for her to wave… or something.
I saw her walking down the hall toward my locker. Her wonderful cherry-chestnut red hair blowing with the momentum of her graceful stride. Of course I didn't expect her to be heading to my locker… just hoping I guess. Well, not 'hoping'… I mean, it's not like I liked her or anything. Jesus! She's a Soc, I couldn't date a SOC! I didn't want to date her alright?!
Yeah I did.
Okay, maybe not FULL ON 'dating' but even just friends woulda been nice. She was nice, that night we talked at the movies. And the night of the rumble. I wanted us to still talk.
I wanted that more than anything.
And like I totally expected, she walked right by my locker to some of her "Super Special SO Cool Social friends' " lockers. I watched her walk the whole way there. I could watch her all day. She was brilliant in every way. The other Soc girls were pretty, but they didn't talk or think like Cherry. Now, she was the Total Package.
I felt someone grab my shoulder pretty rough. I closed my eyes. I'd never hoped more not to be caught by a Soc than I did at that moment. If one of them caught me looking at Cherry, they'd make it their personal job to make sure I'd never be able to see another girl again.
"Checking out that rear huh Ponyboy?" I turned to see Two-Bit with his quirky grin on his face.
"What the Hell Two-Bit I thought you were a Soc!"
"Oh don't change the subject!... Were you nervous they'd notice you checkin' out Ms. Valance's BE-hind?" Since when did he become Detective Two-Bit?
I punched him in the gut with all my strength right there slammin my locker and stomping off in the other direction not even looking to see how he reacted to my blow.
I started off to the DX for lunch period when Two-Bit tried to catch up to me huffin' and puffin' like he'd been punched in the- oh wait - He did! I kept walking as fast as I could without running so he'd have to put in a Hell of a lot of effort to catch up to me. I'd be damned if he got out of that smart remark with just a punch.
"Pony please wait… I'm sorry I didn't mean to pick on you. Hell, I've checked her out a few times too" I heard the smile in his voice recalling the times he'd looked at Cherry. That infuriated me! Keep diggin' yourself a deeper hole Two-Bit. And while you're at it, jump in, it can be your grave.
I stopped dead in my tracks right outside the DX and I turned to see Two-Bit catching up until he was right in front of me.
Next thing I knew my right arm came back and I right-hooked the Hell outta him. He fell back and I saw Soda rushing out of the DX.
"Ponyboy, what's going on?" He sounded concerned. For me or Two-Bit? I couldn't tell. I couldn't look at him though, I didn't like hurting Two-Bit. I could usually tolerate him disrespecting every girl he met for the several years I'd known him, but NOT Cherry! I couldn't have him talking about her like she was just a body for him to toy with. NOT Cherry!
Soda grabbed me by the shoulders and turned me toward him. His hazelnut brown eyes searched in mine. I knew mine looked cold and unfriendly, there wasn't much I could do. I didn't even realize I was going to punch Two-Bit until it happened. There was no way I was going to be able to control my mood.
"Pony? Pony why'd you do that to Two-Bit?" I tried to look away but he grabbed my chin pulling my face to look at him. I couldn't explain that to him right there. Not in the mood I was in. I felt like crying. I was so angry over some girl that didn't even like me back and now I'd hurt a friend who I'd been with most of my life.
Steve helped Two-Bit up and made sure he was okay. His lip was already swelling and it was bleeding pretty bad.
"Yeah kid what the Hell were you thinking knocking up one of the gang like that? We're all a lot bigger than you. I bet Two-Bit coulda hooked you back and you woulda been out like a light. Oh… but wait! You don't have any self-control or common sense do you?"
Steve was shouting. I knew a lot of the stuff he said, he didn't mean. It was all anger and wise talk. That's the way he works. But at that point my mind was devoted to anger way before he'd started talking down to me. He didn't have that kind of authority over me anyway. What made him think he could talk to me like that? I swiftly yanked my head out of Soda's hand and spit in his direction, just missing his shoe.
"Don't you dare scold me Steve! You aren't my brother you got that?! Sure, I guess Two-Bit coulda gotten me good, but you better not talk 'cause I'd take your scrawny self anyday!"
"You listen here you son of a bit-" He came at me but Soda jumped in the way holding him off with all his strength.
I was outta there before I could see the outcome. Now I was running.
