Disclaimer: I never did and never will own The Outsiders…
Chapter Six- When Worlds Collide
Cherry sat uncomfortably in the library after school. She needed to finish her report for English, it was due on Monday. She tried so hard, but couldn't seem to keep her mind on the book sitting in front of her. There was no one else in the library, but she kept drifting off into other thoughts. It was 6:00, she'd already skipped cheerleading practice, and knew she might not even be able to cheer at the homecoming game on Friday. Her stomach growled and she closed her eyes tight, she thought that if she didn't think about being hungry, maybe it would go away. She was wrong. At 6:45, she gave up completely and closed the gigantic text book she had been reading. She stuffed it back on the bookshelf and stuck the page of notes back into her notebook.
Cherry tossed her books into the back seat of her car and left the top down. She didn't care how cold it was, she needed a good shock. She started the engine and pulled out of the school parking lot, which was now completely empty except for a yellow Mustang that belonged to one of Bob and Randy's friends.
The wind hit Cherry hard, blowing her long, red hair behind her. Cherry pulled her green sweater tighter around her with one hand, while keeping the other one on the steering wheel. She drove by the DX, and thought about stopping, but decided against it. It was probably best if she didn't anyway, she didn't want to get to close to her greaser friends. Or Dally.
She stopped her car in front of Marcia's house. She knew she'd probably be angry with Cherry for skipping practice, but she'd had a good reason. If she didn't finish her report, she'd get an 'F' and be kicked off the squad. Cherry rang the doorbell, the door opened a second later. Marcia stood in front of Cherry in white silk pajamas and a pair of white slippers.
"Hey, you weren't at practice today. What happened?" Cherry looked at her feet and Marcia stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
"I was in the library. I haven't finished my report for English class yet. Actually, I haven't even started it. I'm sorry," Cherry swallowed hard. She felt hot tears come to her eyes and quickly began to blink them away. Marcia shivered from the cold wind.
"Oh," Marcia's voice sounded disappointed, but not angry. "Are you going home?" Cherry shook her head and leaned against the white siding of the huge house. Leaves blew off of the trees all around them, and Cherry felt as thought they were part of a movie. She stared into the distance at the sun setting behind the hills and thought of Ponyboy. A tear escaped from her eye and landed on her nose.
"I think I might go to the park, or somewhere. I don't want to go home, it's so lonely." Marcia nodded in understanding and folded her arms over her chest to shield herself from the cold.
"You can stay here, if you want." Cherry shook her head and wiped the tear away.
"Thanks, but I'll be okay," she turned and walked down the steps to her car. Marcia stood by her large white door and watched as Cherry got into her car and drove off. Something was wrong with her, but nobody could figure out what.
A few minutes later, Cherry was parked in front of the DX again. She cursed herself for have coming yet again, but she needed someone to talk to, and Soda was always all ears. She leaned her head back against her leather seat and took a deep, quivering breath. She felt like she was going to break, and she tried to hold back her tears. She felt a drop of rain hit her forehead and looked up to see tiny droplets of water falling from the sky. She got out of her car and quickly put the top up, before running inside the gas station.
Cherry tucked a piece of hair behind her ear as the bell on the door dinged behind her. She looked over to the checkout counter, but Soda wasn't there, Steve was, with a little brunette hanging on his shoulder. He had a cigarette in his mouth and was staring wide-eyed at Cherry.
"Soda's sick today, sorry," he said as Cherry began to walk forward. "But you'd better stay away from him, you know. You're not his type." Cherry continued walking forward and the brunette jumped up and slid over the counter.
"Yeah, Sodapop has a girlfriend anyway," she said, chomping loudly on a piece of bubble gum. Cherry stopped and cocked her head to one side.
"No, no, no, no. Look, I'm not after Soda, I'm after an escape. This place is my escape," she said looking around the tiny building. The brunette just stared at her, eyes wide.
"Look, I don't know what the hell you are talking about, but unless you're looking for a good jumping, you need to get out of my store." Steve's voice was loud and Cherry could see his fists balled up. She nodded and smiled at him before turning and running out of the store. She gave up holding back the tears and let them slide along her cheeks, letting out loud sobs with them. The rain pounded hard on the ground and Cherry sat down on the curb. Her heart was pounding and her hair was plastered to her face. She couldn't think of any reason to go home, so she stayed there for two long hours, sitting in the rain.
"Cherry?" Cherry looked up when she heard the voice to see Dally standing in front of her. Her sobs had stopped by then, and her tears came slower and slower, but her eyes were bloodshot and her cheeks were stained. She stood up and took a deep breath.
"I was.. I was.." She stopped as another tear fell from her eye. Dally's eyes grew wide and he walked closer to her.
"Are you alright? Are you crying?" Cherry shook her head and turned away. Dally continued to stare at her. Why was Cherry Valance sitting on the curb at the DX, in the rain, crying?
"I'm fine," She said, her voice quivering. She swallowed hard and turned back around to face Dally. "I have to go." She turned and walked quickly toward her car. Dally ran in front of her to stop her.
"Look, I don't know why you are out here, and I don't know what happened. But I know something is wrong. Socs like you don't sit in the rain, crying." Dally said looking at the gas pump. Cherry's eyes blazed. She had had enough of the classifications.
"Don't ever call me a Soc again!" She screamed and shoved him to the side. He caught his balance and looked at her shocked.
"Why, that's what you are, isn't it. You can't call yourself a greaser, and you definitely aren't middle class." Dally's voice rose and Cherry looked at him, her cheeks growing the color of her hair.
"You don't know what it's like to live my life, Dallas Winston, so you just shut the hell up!" She screamed so loud she felt like her lungs were going to burst. Dally blinked and looked at her with confusion.
"I don't know what your life is like? Well, at least your dad comes home, and you've never been in prison." Dally tried hard to keep his voice steady. He hated discussing his life with anyone, especially Cherry. Cherry shook her head and glared at him.
"My parents are never home. Ever. They don't even care. And at least you have real friends, not just people who follow you wherever you go because you're a 'Soc'." She turned around and put her hand on her car, but Dally grabbed her hand again, and spun her around to face him. She opened her mouth to say something else, but as she did, Dally's lips landed on hers. She froze, every inch of her body froze. She had always imagined Dally to kiss hard and strong, which he did at first, but then the kiss softened. Cherry gave in and began to kiss back, tears still running down her cheeks. No, she didn't need a stupid label, she didn't care what people thought, but for the first time in her life, it felt like two worlds colliding. Dally pulled away and stared at her, trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"I have to go," he said letting go of her hand. Cherry smiled at him before he turned away, and she swore she saw him smile back. She stared after him until he was completely out of sight before getting into her car and driving away. Maybe all she needed was to start over new. Maybe Dally was the way to do that.
Eeek, so maybe this chapter is a little short too, but I totally love it! A lot happens, and I absolutely love the ending! woott.. anyway.. reviews are very much appriciated, considering i don't have many. And the next couple chapters will be awesome, i promise.