Disclaimer: I don't own The Outsiders, but Maggie is all mine Same with any other characters that aren't from the book. Yeah, yeah, yeah..

Chapter Two- Someone Like That

Cherry, Maggie, Marcia, Elizabeth, and Karen were all sitting together at the lunch table, chatting about the Homecoming Dance. Cherry didn't really say much, she wasn't all that excited for it. She just smiled and nodded when someone asked her a question. Elizabeth, Karen, and Maggie all got up to talk to some guys that were sitting at a table only a few feet away from the girls. They claimed the boys must be new, because they'd never seen them around before. Marcia moved over to sit in the seat next to Cherry, who was spinning her fork around in her peas.

"What's wrong?" Marcia asked as Cherry put her fork down. When Cherry didn't answer Marcia thought she'd might as well pry for an answer. "Come, on. Something's up, you don't normally play with your food." Cherry only shrugged and took a sip of her ice tea.

"I had an interesting conversation with Bob this morning," Cherry said without any emotion. Marcia raised her eyebrows. Cherry put her ice tea down and laughed at Marcia's goofy look.

"Really? Are sparks flying again?" Marcia hit Cherry's shoulder and grinned so widely, Cherry thought she was going to burst. She shook her head.

"No, no, no, no! It's nothing like that, it's like the opposite of that, actually." Marcia's smile faded and she rested her elbow on the table. "Marcia, what is your opinion on the whole North side, South side thing?" Marcia laughed.

"It's not a big deal, we're just separate groups. Why?" Cherry shrugged again. Karen and Maggie came back to sit down, ending Marcia and Cherry's conversation.

"That one boy was real cute!" Karen said giddily. Cherry smiled falsely and then stood up. Maggie's smile faded as she watched Cherry carry her lunch tray to the garbage cans. She looked at Marcia who shrugged, then both girls turned their attention back to Karen who was still talking about one of the guys.

Maggie slammed the door of Cherry's car. "Personally, I think Bob's an idiot and you shouldn't listen to anything he says," Maggie said as she reached in the back seat for her text books. Cherry laughed and took the key out of the ignition.

"Yeah, well that's not what Marcia says." Maggie bent down so she was looking eye level with Cherry, who was still sitting in the car.

"Marcia's dating Bob's best friend, of course she wants you and Bobby to get back together!" Maggie laughed and then walked around to the other side of the car. "Hey, thanks for the ride back, Cher." Cherry waved as Marcia looked back.

Cherry reached for the radio and turned it on full blast. She stopped at a gas station on her way home, she needed a high dose of cappuccino and some gas. "Hey, Cherry Valance," Sodapop Curtis said as she walked in the store. She always stopped by on Mondays, and Soda was Ponyboy's brother, so they were well acquainted. Cherry smiled and nodded at Soda before laying a five dollar bill on the counter.

"It's for the gas and the cappuccino," she said quietly. Soda nodded and handed her a paper cup. Cherry thanked him and walked to the other side of the store to fill the cup.

"Miss Cherry Valance, you have a bad day?" Soda asked cheerfully. Cherry forced a smiled and shook her head. Soda smiled and then turned back to the cash register. He was counting money or something.

"See you later, Sodapop," Cherry said as she walked out of the store. The bell on the door dinged as Cherry walked back to her red Sting Ray. She climbed into her car and started it up. She had homework to do, and then she was going to go shopping for her dress for the Homecoming Dance. Not that she wanted to go, but she was running for queen, and she had to look her best.

"Mom, dad, I'm home!" Cherry said as she opened the heavy white door. "If you care," she added in a whisper. There was no answer, and Cherry just walked up to her bedroom. She tossed her books on her bed and then went back down the steps to the kitchen. She went to the refrigerator to get a glass of milk, when she noticed there was a note from her mom.

Dear Cherry,

We went to Texas with Sue and Brian, your aunt and uncle. We will be back in three days. There is money in the desk in the den if you need it. We'll call tomorrow. Have a good week!

-Mom and Dad

Cherry crumpled the note and tossed it in the garbage. Figures, her parents were always doing stuff like that, leaving at the last minute. She poured a glass of milk and sat down at the kitchen table. Outside the window, the leaves were blowing in the wind, some softly falling from the trees. Cherry swallowed the last sip of milk and then put the glass by the sink. She went back upstairs to start her homework. She had to write an essay on a book they'd read in English class, she didn't really pay attention to the book, so it was awful hard to think of something to write about. Frustrated, Cherry tossed her pencil down and walked to her closet, she grabbed a jacket and her purse and headed out her door.

St. Marks Formal Wear, Cherry read to herself. The store was popular among the girls in her school, so she figured she'd give it a try. She looked at many dresses, red ones and blue ones mainly. Red looked good with her hair, and blue was her favorite color. "May I help you with something, miss?" The store clerk was standing behind her as she held up a red gown with gold trim. Cherry shook her head.

"No, I'm fine, thanks," she said placing the dress back on the rack. The man smiled and nodded before moving on to the next customer. Cherry sighed and walked to the next rack, she rummaged through, not exactly sure what she was looking for. She looked up at the door when she saw a manikin wearing a gold dress with tiny imbedded flowers lining the bottom and sequence around the top. She walked over to it, examining it carefully. It was strapless, and the material was soft and silky.

"Excuse me, sir," Cherry said motioning to the clerk. He came over to her with a pile of dresses over his arm. "May I please try this on?" The clerk nodded and smiled.

"Yes, but this is the only one we have," Cherry nodded and looked at the tag. It was her size. She smiled to herself as the clerk shimmied the dress off of the manikin. "There you go, miss," the clerk handed Cherry the dress and she nodded a 'thank you' before heading to the fitting rooms in the back of the store.

Cherry shoved the plastic-covered gown into the trunk of her car. It was only six o'clock and she was already exhausted. She pulled out of the parking lot and turned onto her street, the radio still blaring. She thought of all the old people who were probably cursing her and her loud music. The thought made her laugh as she slowed the car in front of her driveway. She glanced at her house, then at the clock and sped it up again, completely passing her house by.

"Well, Miss Cherry Valance, you're back again," Soda said as Cherry walked back into the DX. Cherry smiled and leaned against the counter. She loved how Soda always used that proper tone with her. He didn't do it because she was a Soc, he did it to everyone her knew. "You know, too much coffee isn't good for you." Soda's voice was brotherly and Cherry laughed.

"Thanks for insight, but I just needed someplace to hang out," Cherry said looking around the store. It was deserted. "Looks like you need the company." Soda laughed and walked out from behind the counter.

"Yeah, Ponyboy and the rest of them should be here soon. They like to hang out here around this time." Cherry nodded and glanced at the clock. She tapped her fingers on the counter nervously. She knew who 'them' was. Soda reached for a rag that was hanging on a hook above the counter. "I gotta clean the place up, probably close early. What's up with you, Cherry Valance?" Cherry laughed again. She couldn't ever remember a time when Soda had just called her 'Cherry'.

"My parents went to Texas," she blurted. Soda turned around abruptly. He gave her a questioning look. Cherry shrugged and then looked at the clock again. "My friend, Maggie, talked me into running for Homecoming Queen." Soda laughed at this comment. Then he stopped, pondering.

"Maggie, is she the one with the dark hair who comes in here with you sometimes?" Cherry nodded. Soda smiled, "Yeah, she's a looker." Cherry laughed and playfully hit his arm, sending Soda laughing even harder.

The ding of the bell on the door interrupted their laughing fit as Ponyboy, Two-Bit, Johnny, and Dally walked in. Cherry looked at the counter and pretended to be studying her hand. "Sodapop, hey Cherry," Ponyboy said as he walked through the isles. Cherry winced, he had to notice her. She looked up and smiled.

"Hey, Ponyboy. Hey, Two-Bit." Two-Bit gave a little wave and walked over to the drinks to grab a beer. Cherry stood up straight and bit her lip.

"What are you doing here?" Ponyboy asked. Cherry shrugged and began to walk toward him.

"Didn't feel like going home," was all she said. She walked past Dallas who lit a cigarette and stared after her.

"Hey, tell me about, right Johnnycakes?" Two-Bit said laughing at his own joke. Johnny nodded and then walked over to stand by Ponyboy. Cherry never really heard him talk.

"Well, I better get going," Cherry said as she opened the door. Soda looked up and waved at her, Ponyboy smiled and Two-Bit didn't even seem to notice. She walked out and stuck her key into the side of her car.

"I hear you're running for Homecoming Queen," Cherry froze at Dally's voice behind her. Had he followed her outside? Apparently, and he was walking closer. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. She turned around to face him and folded her arms across her chest.

"Yeah, so?" Her voice sounded harsh, just the way she wanted it to. Dally shrugged and tossed his cigarette in the dirt before putting it out with his foot.

"Figures," he said looking straight ahead. Cherry rolled her eyes and then turned back around to her car. She opened the door but before she could get in, Dally had her by the arm.

"Let go!" she screamed, but Dally's grip was too tight to wriggle out of. She flicked her eyes up at him and saw him smile. It wasn't one of Dallas's smiles that meant mischief, or even one that meant danger. It was genuine smile.

"Sorry," he said letting go of Cherry's arm. She gave him one last glare before shutting her door and driving away, with him watching after her. She took a deep, shaky breath as she drove past all the large mansion-like homes on her block. Dally made her so nervous, and she always had to act tough around him, she had to stand her ground. But she always hated leaving him, she hated the thought of being away from him. Her car pulled into the driveway and she stepped out, her gold dress slung over her shoulder. Sometimes she almost wished Dallas could care, so she wouldn't have to pretend. But the truth was, she wasn't supposed to be with someone like that, anyway.

Ooh, I like this chapter, too. I have a really good idea now. Hopefully, this will turn out to be a really good story, but y'all gotta review!