Disclaimer: You know the drill, neither the book nor the movie, belong to me. Sometimes this fact makes me sad…

Chapter Fourteen

The Beginning Of An End

Cherry had handed in her English paper to her teacher after lunch. Then she managed to sit through her next four periods, take notes, and even volunteer the answers for a few questions in her Algebra class. Her day seemed to be going pretty well. She still wasn't sure about her paper, though. She had taken a different approach, instead of doing the traditional book report, she had written it in the main characters perspective.

After her last period of the day, Cherry decided to hang around after school, maybe help the janitor clean up the hall ways. She used to do that in sixth grade, before labeling and all that had gotten started.

Marcia and Maggie had gone shopping after school, and Karen and Elizabeth were busy planning a party that was going to be thrown at Elizabeth's house for Halloween. Cherry was left all alone at her locker when the final bell rang, but it didn't really bother her. She just gathered her books and applied a new layer of lip gloss. She said 'hello' to a few people who she passed on her way to her car, and couldn't seem to erase the smile from her face. She was back to her normal self, and she was glad.

On her way home, Cherry stopped at the DX as usual, only now she had one more item to add to her list. Dally.

"Cherry Valance, how nice to see you again today," Soda's voice came from the back room and Cherry laughed at how he already knew it was her. "I didn't think you'd be stopping today, you're a little late." Soda emerged from the cluttered room and smiled brightly at her.

"I know, I just decided to take my time today, that's all." Cherry looked around the store to see if Dally had already gotten there. When she didn't see him, she looked at Soda to ask him where he was, but he already had her answer.

"Dally's late, too. He said he had to make an important stop before he came," Soda smiled even wider. He was so glad that Cherry and Dally had finally gotten together. "What else can I get for you? A Cappuccino? Gas?" Cherry laughed and waved her hand in the air to dismiss the conversation.

"I'll just take a cappuccino, please." Soda smiled and placed the cup on the counter.

"Well, help yourself Miss Valance." Cherry laughed and made he way to the machine to fill her cup with the caffeine that she needed. As soon as Cherry pulled her cup away from the dispenser, the ding of a new customer sounded, and she and Soda both looked to the doorway. Dally walked in holding a paper bag in one hand and a ten dollar bill in the other. He nodded at Soda and then glanced to the corner of the store to spot Cherry, who although she tried to hide it, was extremely excited to see him. Dally's grin on his face was enough to say that he was excited to see her too.

"Hey, Dally. You need something before you get on your way?" Dally pried his eyes away from Cherry to look up at Soda.

"Uh, yeah, Soda, I need a pack of cigarettes." He said it quietly, as though he was doing something illegal, but Cherry knew it was only because of her. She smiled and walked over to him, sliding her arm through his. He seemed surprised, but acted calmly as Soda handed him the white box of Kools. "Thanks, man." The two said 'bye' to Soda and left the store.

Cherry climbed into the driver's seat while Dally carefully opened the door to the passenger's side of Cherry's Sting Ray. It always seemed like Dally was afraid he'd break something when he was with Cherry. Once they pulled out of the parking lot, Cherry turned the radio up loudly. Dally's eyes were laughing, even though he kept a straight face.

"So, I was thinking, maybe we could go to the park for a while? I mean, we don't have to if you don't want to," Cherry's eyes were directed toward the road, but Dally's were planted on Cherry. He sighed and nodded in agreement. Yesterday, the two of them had met at the park, only to find a troublesome group of junior high greasers.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter," Dally's voice was now at the tone that Cherry had heard so many times before this week, and after a while she liked it. She laughed and began singing along with the music that was blaring from the radio. Dally began laughing hysterically. This made Cherry laugh, too, and before they knew it the entire car was bursting with the sound of laughter.

Three minutes later, Cherry pulled her car into the parking lot right across the street from the park. She opened her door and pulled her sweater around her tighter. It was almost Halloween, so the weather was getting colder and colder. Dally only wrapped his arm around her as though he was used to treating girls like they were his prize possession. The couple made their way to a nearby tree and slid down beneath its leaves.

"Oh, before I forget. You might want this," Dally pulled the brown paper bag out of his pocket and carefully pulled out a small silver chain. In the center of the chain was the ring he had wanted to give her three days before. Cherry smiled, and felt her heart beat wildly as she realized for the first time that he really wanted her. He held out the chain, but after thinking twice, unhooked it and placed it around Cherry's neck. He smiled as she examined closely.

"Thank you!" Her voice was so filled with happiness, that Dally couldn't help but laugh. Soon after, though, he regained seriousness and placed his hand on Cherry's cheek. He was beginning to experience the same feelings that Cherry had felt the week before, confusion, excitement, happiness, and fright. He wasn't exactly sure how she felt about him, and he wasn't sure how to ask her either. He also wasn't sure how to tell her how he felt about her, and because this was all new to him, he wasn't sure what the next step was. Slowly, he inched his hand down to the side of her chin, and then carefully pulled her closer to him. He hoped Cherry would read his emotions through the kiss, but doubted it was possible. He let himself get sucked into the power of her soft lips on his, but was soon shaken out of it when they heard a voice just above them.

"I thought you two weren't together." Karessa, the girl from the bar was standing above them holding an ice cream cone. She had an awful smirk on her face and Cherry couldn't even imagine what she was thinking. "Well, seems that you two changed your minds awful quick."

Ah, cliff hanger.. kinda. Okay, to be honest, this chapter has been on my computer for a while, and just now, when I went to finish it, I realized that it would be a good way to end it. Haha so sorry about not posting in a while. More will come, once I figure out a way for the story to end.