"I know I might be wrong. But I think we should talk to Johnny at some point."
Cherry had never told anyone else about how she felt. She almost felt bad for involving Bob's kid sister in this. She was still extremely smart for a fourteen old. Cherry's parents probably would have been giving her looks if she'd started hanging out with a younger girl before. Since Carly was Bob's sister they figured she was just looking out for her. Which she was.
"We gotta tell him then."
"I don't know if he will listen."
"We need to find em and try. I think he'd listen to us. Give us a chance."
"Maybe."
"Let's talk to em tomorrow."
"I don't know."
"If we don't then will never know."
Cherry put her head in her hands knowing Carly was right. It was sad she was getting advice from a fourteen-year-old. Lately, she didn't seem to know anything. Maybe she could start out slow and go from there.
"Okay look I will try to talk to him normally and go from there. I don't want to start out this way. We need time to get to that point where we talk about it."
"Okay fine," Carly said after deliberating.
So the next day they decided to approach Johnny and Pony in between classes. The two of them were hanging out in the courtyard by themselves for once.
"Pony," Johnny said suddenly.
"What is it Johnny-cake?" Pony asked.
"Cherry and Carly are coming over here."
Pony looked in shock and sure enough, the two girls were approaching them.
"Hey, guys," Carly said sweetly with Cherry smiling and nodding.
"Hey." Pony greeted and Johnny simply nodded.
"We were going to the movies tonight and wanted to know if you'd join?"
Johnny's eyes widened. No, he didn't need to do that. He couldn't go to the movies with them. Pony was also shocked and was worried about Johnny.
"Ya sure, you want us to?" He asked.
"Of course," Cherry said smiling.
"I can't," Johnny said suddenly.
"Johnny we'd really like you to come," Carly said smiling.
Looking at her kind face he wanted to say yet. But he couldn't make himself do it. He couldn't look at her without seeing her brother. Couldn't look at Cherry without seeing him. This wasn't a good idea.
"Sorry I have to go umm thanks for the invite maybe some other time."
He turned and walked past them without a word to Pony. They all frowned watching him leave.
"I'm sorry it's hard for him. Sorry I know it must be for both of you too."
"It's alright Pony," Cherry assured him smiling.
"Yeah, we don't blame you. Either of you. We'd like to put this behind us," Carly said looking at him.
"Yeah, we'd like that too. Johnnycake just needs some time."
"Of course we understand. Do you still want to go with us?"
"Sure I mean if you want me too."
"Yes, we would love for, you too."
"Ok well, I will talk to Johnny and see if he might change his mind."
"Okay great. We can decide what to see when we get there. Say six o clock?"
"Sure, that would be great."
Pony nodded to them and turned to make sure no one noticed them making plans. No one was looking so he relaxed. He finally found Johnny outside smoking.
"Hey Johnnycake."
"Pony ya going with them? Did ya say ya would?"
"I told them yeah. Johnny, they ain't mad at us. They told me they didn't blame us for anything. They want to move on."
"Us too, we should move on. But Pony we can't be hanging out with them. I can't be hanging out with them. Especially not with Cherry. It might happen again. I can't let it."
"Johnny ya don't gotta go. But I gotta do this. I can't feel guilty. I shouldn't and neither should you"
Johnny took a drag off his cigarette.
"Johnny like I said I ain't gonna make ya go. We gotta forgive ourselves for this. Live our lives. Nothing gold can stay remember? That ain't gonna stop me from trying to make it stay. Talking to them might be the only way we get over this."
Pony started to walk away.
"Pony I don't want it to happen again. This time I want to be with ya."
"Guess you better go then Johnnycake," Pony said smirking at him.
Johnny didn't want to go but he also didn't want Pony to go alone. Why did he insist on going with them? Why did they insist on asking? Socs might be dangerous to greasers but they would take care of their Soc girls. In their minds, Pony and Johnny would be bothering them. Praying on Bob's sister and girlfriend. They hadn't gotten over his death. Johnny hadn't gotten over the part he played in his death. How could Cherry and Carly want to hang out with him? He'd killed Bob, the person they loved. They had to love him. Why did they insist on putting themselves and Pony in danger?
He didn't care about himself. Heck, he needed to get out of here. Pony was heading to class but Johnny could take no more today. He headed out of the building with plans to go somewhere. Steve had taken the school day off to work with Soda at the DX. He could go there. But there was really only one person he wanted to talk to. He headed to Bucks and sure enough, Dally was there.
"Hey Johnnycake what's up man?"
Dally asked puffing on his cancer stick. He could tell something was wrong by looking at his face.
"It's Cherry Valance and Carly Sheldon."
"The Socs? That Socs girlfriend? And his kid sister?"
"Yeah well, they ain't really bothering me. It ain't that at all actually."
"Cherry is a good looking broad. So it Carly but the kid is a little young for me. "
"They invited me and Pony to the movies with em."
"Why would they do that?" Dally asked curiously. He was very interested now.
"Pony said they wanted us to know they didn't blame us and they wanted to move on."
That's unexpected. Ya, sure they're not trying to set you up or something?" He asked suspiciously.
"Cherry's not like that I don't think. I don't know Carly that well."
"You don't know Cherry that well either." He lit another cigarette and looked at Johnny.
"Don't tell me you're considering it."
"I haven't considered anything yet. Just thinking."
"There's nothing to think about. Yer either thinking bout it or your not. Normally something I think against makes me want to do it. In your case, you probably shouldn't. Ya have to think then ya probably shouldn't do it."
"Pony told them he'd go."
"Of course he did. Darry and Soda know about that? He shouldn't go either."
"We do need to move on from it."
"Yeah, and you can do that on your own without sticking your neck out for some soc girls ya barely know."
"Man there's nothing wrong with going to the movies. We do it all the time. Can't help if they show up there."
"Look, Johnny, I know how you are, believe me. The redhead was his girlfriend. The other girl is his kid sister. Ya don't think they don't hate ya both? It's not fair cause it was his fault. They won't see it that way. Blood is thicker than water. Cherry was his girl. Even if this Carly is different remember she's still a kid. Like Pony is a kid. Like yer a kid. They can talk a kid like that into things. "
"Dal I think they do want to move on. I don't think they'd set us up."
"Okay let's say you're right. Ya said Cherry hated fights right? Carly might be innocent. That don't stop other people from seeing ya. They ain't gonna take to kindly to you hanging around Bob's kid sister and girlfriend."
"I didn't want to at first. I think we gotta do this."
"Well, then I'm gonna tag along. There's any trouble I'll be there."
Johnny didn't argue because the thought of Dally being there was comforting. Well, until he pictured them with the girls. He didn't know how Cherry and Carly would feel about that. He pictured Bob that night again. He didn't want Pony getting himself hurt and possibly killed. Or taken away from Darry and Soda again. Plus they could also endanger the girls. Granted they probably wouldn't hurt Cherry or Carly. Likely they would think they were protecting them or something. Regardless he and Pony would probably be in more danger than them.
"What are ya thinking kid?"
"Dal we gotta do it. If its just once. If ya got to go just try to be polite and not bother em so much. Cherry cared about Bob a lot. Loved him even. And Carly's just a kid."
"Johnny I ain't about to be hitting on some fourteen-year-old kid. Even I'm not that bad. I ain't gonna mess with them cause we don't need anything started with the Socs this soon. I wouldn't mind having it out with them again. But you and Pony ain't ready for that. I saw him at the last one ya know. You was in the hospital, both of ya could have died. Though the hood in me wants to run into some Socs tonight."
"Thanks, Dal," Johnny said patting him on the back.
Afterward, Johnny explained everything to Pony.
"Well, I can't say I ain't a little worried about Dal being there too. But I sure do feel better bout him being there if we run into some Socs. I don't want him bothering the girls since he says he want then that's good."
"Ya said we were meeting at six right? At the movies?"
"Yeah, that's right. Figured it would be safer for us."
"Okay, good deal."
"Think they will be okay with Dal being there?"
"Don't know. Cherry can hold her own we know. Can't say for sure but from what we saw the other day she might be able to do pretty well herself."
"I hope so."
"I really hope he shows tonight," Cherry said as she combed her hair.
"Maybe he will."
"You nervous?"
"Not really. I mean it's only the movies."
"That's the spirit," She said grinning. "Now let's go to the movies."
The two girls got in Cherry's stingray and headed to the movies.
"I can't wait till I can drive a car," Carly said resting her head on her arms.
"Your parents going to get you one? Mine didn't get me one till I turned sixteen."
"They're going to give me Bobs. Not that I consider that a good idea."
Cherry frowned pictured the car she'd ridden in so many times. It was possible she could get attacked by some dangerous hoods. But she couldn't worry about that now. At present Carly was a fourteen-year-old kid who wasn't going to be driving a car, at least legally. They made it to the movies and Carly smiled.
"Cherry he came."
Cherry looked in surprise as Johnny Cade was there with Johnny. She was incredibly happy they both came. Then she frowned seeing Dally there as well. Even from her car, she could see the smirk on his face. Why was he here? One of the last times she'd seen him she'd been afraid he was going to hit her or worse. Then he'd been back to torturing her with his comments. She wasn't really bothered about seeing him. She felt protective towards Carly. No matter how much of a greaser she was.
She wanted to look out for Carly for Bob. It was the only thing she could really do for him now. She didn't know if she wanted Dally around Carly or not. She decided they'd be fine when she pictured Johnny standing up to him. Yeah, Johnny like Pony was too sweet looking to scare anyone. But she knew he wouldn't let anything happen to either of them. Even if it was against Dallas Winston who he respected.
Cherry and Carly got out of the car and approached the guys.
"Hello Dallas I didn't expect to see you here," Cherry said determined to not let him get to her.
"Thought I'd join the fun. Not a problem is it?" He asked smirking.
"Of course not. Besides you won't be bothering me tonight."
She stated it confidently which made him curious.
"Oh, really why's that?"
"Johnny will stand up for me like he did before."
Other than Marcia, Carly was the only person she'd told about that. Cherry had a motive in bringing it back up. She wanted Johnny to know she wasn't afraid to address him. That she was thankful and appreciated it. That he was brave and could stand up for himself. Dally was as shocked as everyone. Carly thought she saw Johnny smile briefly out of the corner of her eye.
"So you must be Dallas Winston then?" Carly asked.
"The one and only, ya ever heard of me before?"
"A few times."
"Most people have."
After taking their seats Cherry was seated in between Dally and Carly. The girls had the idea Johnny wasn't comfortable sitting next to them. Pony was sitting between Carly and Johnny. Dally decided to mockingly flirt with Cherry. For once she wasn't annoyed by it. It took her mind off everything. Pony and Carly discussed the movie while Johnny listened. After a while, they went to get popcorn.
"Pony I know it might be hard to talk about. How long have your parents been gone?"
"Not too awful long. Seems like its been a long time. Been about a year now."
"I'm sorry. I've never experienced loss up until my brother."
She didn't dare speak his name.
"I'm sorry about that. Loss is hard," Pony said.
"Yeah it is, So tell me about your original name? I believe your brother is Sodapop?"
"Yeah, my dad was very original."
"Your mom was okay with that?"
"Yeah she was, was happy if he was happy."
"My parents would never be like that. My dad's word is gospel in my house."
"My parents always worked together mostly."
Pony wondered how bad the loss of Bob affected her parents and her home life. He remembered what Randy had told him about them.
"Pony we don't have to talk about anything if you don't want to. But ya don't have to be afraid to say stuff to me. I might agree with ya about it."
Cherry was really hoping Johnny would at least say something to her.
"Johnny do you like the movie?"
He looked at her with wide eyes as if not sure what to say.
"Yeah, it's fine."
"Thank you for coming tonight.
"Welcome."
"I'm really glad you did."
Johnny nodded.
"I don't think he's interested in you," Dally chuckled.
Cherry rolled her eyes in response. Pony and Carly arrived back chuckling about something. At least they were getting along. Cherry was still grateful to him for coming. She knew it had to have been hard on him. She'd never killed someone. It would take time for him to open up. Cherry found herself willing to wait. She was a very patient person. Dallas sighed putting out his cigarette and throwing it to the people in the next seat. They started to say something then realized it was him. They stayed quiet and turned around in their seats.
Dally couldn't understand these people. Cherry was obviously trying to get Johnny to talk to her. Trying to and failing miserably in his opinion. It was kind of entertaining to watch. Ponyboy and Carly were hitting it off. They two hadn't stopped talking the entire time. Yeah, this was going to be a fun night.