Disclaimer: I do not own West Side Story or any of the characters contained therein. Raquel, however, is mine, so please don't steal her!

Author's Notes: Thanks to those of you who have read and reviewed! It makes me happy! lol. This fic is too much fun... BTW, notes to reviewers are at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 9: The Date

Raquel and Baby John followed the other couples into a restaurant a little later.

A waitress directed them to a table in the corner with just enough space. They were all sitting close, Raquel pressed tightly between Baby John and Ice.

Baby John smiled at Raquel, and then spoke softly, so that only she could hear him. "Why did... Why did you tell A-Rab that you were going to eat with me?"

"Maybe I don't like A-Rab like he thinks I do."

"Huh?" Baby John was still confused.

"Listen, John," she said softly. "You've been a good friend. And you didn't try anything with me when we met. And... Well... I kinda like you a little."

"Gee," Baby John said. "You do?"

Raquel had never been so sincere. "Yes. I do."

Baby John smiled. A bright, happy smile. A smile that hadn't been seen in a long time. Since before the night of the rumble. He hadn't smiled that way since the last time Riff had led the Jets in making fun of Officer Krupke.

Raquel smiled right back. She had to. A smile like Baby John's was contagious.

They ordered their meal, and when it arrived, they worked it over pretty well. None of them had eaten well in a while. Or at least, none of the ones who had been living on what they could in the Jet's hideout. The guys payed, and they left. They took Graziella, Velma, and Pauline home before heading back to the hideout with Raquel.

After Ice, Action, and Gee-Tar went inside, Raquel and Baby John went on a walk.

After walking a fair distance from the cellar, Baby John shyly reached for Raquel's hand. She felt very strange. Something was happening. She felt like her heart was melting, and along with it, her resolve to kill. "No..." she thought. "I cannot do this!" She felt the tall blonde boy tighten his hand around hers. "I've come too far!" she thought. "I can't change my mind."

After they had walked awhile, they sat down on a bench. As they sat there, silent, Raquel heard all of the sounds of the city around her. An ambulance's siren, a car horn, the barking of a dog in the distance. The sounds of a couple fighting in an apartment nearby.

"You know," Baby John said softly, as if afraid to add to the noise. "This is what I've always hated about Manhattan."

"What?" she asked, feeling him stroking her palm with his thumb.

"It's never quiet. You can never hear your own thoughts. You know how people say, 'never a dull moment'? Well, the truth is that, sometimes, I'd give my right arm for a dull moment or two."

Raquel nodded. "Me, too. In Puerto Rico, I could go outside and climb a tree, and just enjoy the silence. But not now. Never here."

Raquel looked at Baby John, and he looked at her. "Raquel?" he said, slowly putting his arm around her.

"Y...Yes?"

"I think... I think... that... I... I... I think I'd like to kiss you."

Part of Raquel wanted to protest, to push him away, to make him pay for being a Jet. But another part of her couldn't. She spoke, and again, the words were true. "I would really like it if you did."

Baby John pulled her close, and kissed her, though a little awkwardly. But the innocence in his kiss brought tears to her eyes. And before she knew it, they were rolling down her face. All of her resolve, her will to make the Jets pay... It was all completely gone. And she found herself thinking that if all of the Jets had started out as innocent as Baby John, then maybe there was hope for them yet.

Baby John felt a tear touch his cheek, and he drew back from her. He cupped her chin in his hands. "Gee... Did I do something wrong?"

"Oh, no!" she replied. "You did everything just fine."

"Then... what's wrong?"

"Nothing. In fact, you just kept me from doing something wrong."

"Like what... I mean, if you don't mind me askin'?"

Raquel looked into his eyes, ashamed. "John... I lied to you. To all of you."

He was holding her now. "About what?"

"Everything! Indio and Pepe don't want to kill anyone. They are sorry that anyone died at all. They are trying to keep the other Sharks from staying angry about it and starting fights. Toro and some others are still angry, but even they are not angry enough to kill."

"Why did you lie?" he asked.

"Because," she said, tears streaming down her face. "I wanted the Jets to take me in so I could... could... k...kill you all!"

As tears continued to stream down her face, Baby John hung somewhere between shock, sorrow, and sympathy. Raquel looked into his eyes. "If you never forgive me, it's OK. I will understand."

After a long silence, Baby John smiled. "I can forgive you. I mean, you told me the truth... and...you didn't kill anybody. So..."

Raquel smiled. "Thank you, John," she said as he leaned in to kiss her again.

She took the small pistol and the switchblade from her sash, and handed them to Baby John. His hands trembled as he took them from her, as he thought of the fact that they could have been used to kill him.

"If you never want to talk to me again... That's OK, too."

Baby John shook his head. "How could I not talk to you?"

"If I were you, I'd never speak to me again."

"B...But, Raquel..." Baby John stammered.

Raquel touched Baby John's cheek, and her cool hand soothed him. "What is it?" she asked.

Baby John smiled. "I... I really think... I'd like to get to know you better. I mean... I think I... I like you...a lot.

Raquel smiled. "I like you, too, John. I wasn't lying about that earlier."

Baby John smiled. "Well... Gee... You really mean that?"

"Yes," she said, touching his cheek. "I do."

Baby John sighed happily as he pulled her close. She smiled, but a sudden though stopped her in her tracks. "Wait!" she exclaimed.

"What is it?" Baby John asked, worried again that he had made a mistake.

"I must go! I need to see Chino!"

"Huh? Chino?"

"Yes, Chino! He'll never forgive me for missing his sentancing..."

"W..." Baby John wasn't quite sure just what to do with this fiery, excitable girl.

"Oh, John! Chino is my brother... I must see him before he... Before they..."

Baby John shook his head in disbelief. "OK. Let's go."

Raquel and Baby John took off at a run before Raquel realized that the boots she was wearing weren't made for running. She turned her ankle, but thankfully, it was not enough to really hurt her. She was glad Baby John was there to catch her, or she would have fallen on her butt.

"You better slow down there," Baby John said. He reached out for her hand, and smiled when he found it without even looking. "We'll get you to Chino. I promise."

They went back to the Jets hideout, where Ice was having a heated discussion with Action.

"Fellas," Baby John interrupted. "We got a problem."

OoOoOoO

A/N:

Eaglegirl- Lol. We'll see!

Tonyboy- Thanks. Eight is your fave number? Seven's mine, so, you know how it is. lol. Elvis and Me... My mom's seen that, but I haven't. I love Elvis, though. I always knew he was really dedicated to his mom and all. I think him and Priscilla was OK, but he and Natalie would have been a cute couple. I wonder why his mom didn't like her. I've heard Anger Management was funny, but far from clean... Which most likely means I won't be allowed to see it. But anyway... I still wanna see Adam Sandler sing that song. I'm guessing you based the doctor in "I Will Love You Always" on the choir pastor, right? I think that's cool that he played Tony. He seems like a really cool guy, and one who was quite deserving of that role. I hate it when teachers play favorites, although in all but two classes this year, I was the favorite or one of the favorites. lol. Good luck with the job thing. But, one thing, don't let voice lessons interfere with your voice's beauty. I knew a girl who had an awesome voice, and she took voice lessons, and now she doesn't sound good. But I'm sure you'll do great! Adios, amigo!

Ash- Thanks! Your reviews are so nice! I don't really like Graziella much either, mostly because she's with Riff, and I WANT RIFF! lol. Yeah, I'd think she'd possibly get nicer after the rumble, when she realizes that maybe the world doesn't revolve around her. (Obviously, it revolves around Tony and Maria, which works much better for me. lol) Aw. Poor A-Rab... I'm not sure whether or not I'll put some A-Rab/Anybodys-ness in here, but it's a good thought. I know it was my thought, but still... Putting it in here wasn't. lol. But, yeah... Anybodys would be able to keep A-Rab in his place, huh? Yeah, it's really hard messing up friendships. Especially when I love the friendship Baby John and A-Rab have. You need to hurry and update. lol. I wanna see what happens in "Flare Up." Yeah. That sad pathetic Baby John face would do me in anyday. lol. I don't know why I did Action/Graziella, but I figured, Action always seemed to be ready to take everything from Riff, like his leading the gang and all, so why not his girl, too.