Ice wasn't the happiest guy around, either. He slumped down onto a bench in the park and kicked at some dead leaves that scattered the ground. He wanted to rumble tomorrow night, he wanted to let the Sharks know that they didn't belong...but he didn't want to fist-fight Bernardo. Sure, Ice was tall, buff, and had a mean glare. But Bernardo was just as tough. Either opponent could be easily beaten. He rapped his forehead with his knuckles and sighed in exasperation.

"Ice. I've been searchin for ya."

That sweet, dark voice broke the silence. Ice opened his hands and lowered them from his face, only to be greeted by the face of his girlfriend, Velma, right near his. She touched his nose with her's, then sat next to him on the bench.

"You ain't talkin, babe. Did something go wrong at the war council?" she asked, rubbing his shoulder reassuringly.

Ice shook his head, trying to 'play it cool.' "It's gonna be a fair fight...Tony suggested it and Bernardo n' Riff agreed to it. I fight Bernardo tomorrow night..after dark...under the highway."
Velma pushed her bouncy blonde hair behind her ears and patted her boyfriend on the back. "It's a fair fight...it ain't gonna be as rough!"
"Yeah, but you can't rumble without getting rough n' tough."

"If you get rough n' tough, someone could get hurt!" Velma insisted, nudging him gently. "You know I'm right."

Ice looked at her with a cold stare. Her eyes were sad and dissapointed, but also sparked with persistence and rage. He gulped. He could tell that all she saw in his eyes was revengeful hate. Velma turned her head and smoothed down the folds of her bell-shaped skirt. Ice tugged at his tie a bit to give him some air, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.

"I won't do them no harm. Promise." He announced as gently as possible.

Velma lifted her face to look at his. "You swear it?" she playfully pushed his head. "I don't know if I should be trustin' a gangster."

Ice raised an eyebrow. "You definitely trust me...you've started using lingo like us Jets." He put a finger to the dimple near his mouth and batted his eyelashes. "Obeleeoooo!" he squeaked in his highest mocking-Velma voice. She gave him a silent gasp--something she did quite often--and then thrust a finger out and puffed her cheeks as if she were going to vomit and said in a low, gruff voice, "Cool it, boy! Stay cool!"

They looked at each other and burst out laughing, but muffled their laughter in passionate kisses.

Velma let out a little noise to get Ice's attention, and he broke the kiss. Velma stroked his face, and said quietly, "Make sure the rest of them are safe, too. Riff and Action and Baby John and A-Rab, and---well, you know. ALL of 'em."

Ice gave her a half-shrug of assurance. "Stop ya worryin', chickadee. We'll all live. Now, I believe we have some unfinished buisiness to complete."
And their lips met once again. She hesitated, then slowly opened her mouth and gave him one hell of a kiss. Instead of breaking the kiss this time, Ice lept back in shock.

"Gee, you sure can kiss a fella!" he laughed.

Velma grinned in a perky manner, then they both stood up, wrapped their arms around one another (Ice's arm on Velma's waist, Velma's arm around Ice's back,), and walked back to her place.