Cherry Bomb and Curly Fry

Wendy

Walking home from school with Pony I rolled my eyes as he rambled on about Cherry Valance. Even after all this time he still had a major crush on the red head. She was nice enough I guess, but I hated how she treated him like a dirty secret, ignoring him in school, and only speaking to him in public if it was just she and Marcia around. It was a shame that after everything that had happened things hadn't really changed. Randy talked to him every now and then, and Marcia dug okay, but the other Socs I wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

"I just wish she's notice me Wend, I mean I know I'm not good enough for someone like Cherry, but at least she could think I was cute and flirt with me like all the soc's do with Soda."

"Who says your not good enough?" I asked linking my arm through his as we neared the house.

"You're a great guy Pony boy and if she cant' see that not only is she blind, she's missing out. "

"Sides you know that's just how it is around here, it's nothing personal," I said happy when he smiled.

"Yea, I guess you're right."

"Of course, I'm always right," I said laughing when eh playfully tugged my hair.

Id' been here for about six months, and Pony Boy had turned out to be the best friend I ever had. Even though he was a guy there wasn't anything I didn't know about him, and nothing he didn't know about me. It was an unspoken between us that when we spoke it was honestly and open. I could talk to him about anything and not feel embarrassed or awkward. I had never felt so connected to anyone except my Father. He told me he felt the same way about me, and that he'd only been this way with Johnny cause he seemed to always "Understand" too.

"Feeling better?" He asked smiling when I nodded yes.

I had nearly bite Two-Bit's head off on the way to school this morning, and Pony had kept his mouth shut since. I was normally cheerful, but I was on the last day of my cycle, and bitchy today. Pony knew me well enough to know what was going on, and had treaded lightly the past few days. Tossing my book bag next to the couch I sprawled across the chair debating with myself about what we would do tonight. We normally would catch a flick or hang out at the Dingo, but I had some very valuable information I knew he would want to hear. I was tired of hearing him whine about Cherry, and I happened to know she was going to be a party thrown by a middle classer tonight. I wasn't sure what it was about her that irritated me so much, but if it would make Pony happy I'd bite my tongue.

"Pony boy you really dig Cherry right?"

"Yeah…"

" Well I happen to know where she'll be hanging out tonight, and it's some where we would be welcome too," I said feeling nauseous a dreamy sigh escaped his lips.

The though of him fawning over him while she played high and mighty made me see red. He deserved someone who'd appreciate him for who he was, and I knew instinctively that Ms. Super soc head cheerleader wasn't that girl.

"Where?"

" Senior Party that Frankie D is throwing, but there's a catch."

Pony

"What?" I asked frowning at the expression on her face. Whatever she had to say I wasn't going to like.

" Well Frankie told me to invite Soda, and we could come too if we wanted, but you know, where Soda Pop goes.."

"Steve follows," I mumbled rolling my eyes.

Steve and me had never really gotten along, but now that he was pursuing Wendy it was worse. I would have been fine if she liked him as well, but she had no interests what so ever. I ended up telling him to cool it once when he went over board, and he'd had a certain level of respect ever since. It also showed the guys that when it came to my Wendy I wasn't messing around. Kind of like Dallas with Johnny, I thought of her as "mine" to protect. He'd been sitting too close to her, making her blush, and whispering Lord, knows what in her ear one night, and when I told him to back off. When he asked me who I thought I was I had replied simply. " Her best friend, and I don't savvy anyone messing with her."

"It's a neutral party so it should be pretty wild," She said winking as she wiggled her eyebrows the way Two-Bit had taught her.

"Sounds fun, you up to it?"

"Yeah, today's the last day anyways," She said as I nodded amazed that we could talk about something so personal with ease.

I knew what we shared was special, and I also had the feeling it was a forever kind of thing. Which was why we never sweated the small stuff.

The gang wasn't used to being around a girl so much, and there was an adjustment period for her and them for a while. Now though it was like she had always been around. Darry had been so taken with her sister he actually started to court her. We gave him a tough time about it occasionally, but really were all just happy to see him enjoying life and acting his age again. Leaning back against the couch I smiled, Darry would let me go. He had changed a lot over the past few months, and our relationship was completely different. He didn't think of me as the immature little brother who didn't use his head, and I didn't think of him as the over bearing killer of fun. We were more like he was with Soda know, I let him know where I was going, who I would be with, and he told me when to be back by.

" I guess I'm going to go get dressed," She said standing to leave.

" Cool, I'll hop on in the shower then, when do you think we'll leave?"

"The boys get off at six, so probably around six-thirty, Steve will want to start drinking as soon as possible," She said rolling her eyes like a mother with an impossible child.

She'd become like Wendy from the book to use in a way. Like the gang was her own personal group of lost boys. I couldn't count the times she'd bandaged bruises, listened to troubles, sobered drunks, and given advice. It was nice to have a woman's touch around, and we all loved it when she and her sister cooked for us. Hell even Shep had taken a like to her and Tim never liked anyone. She hung around Ang since she moved her, but I actually thought she was a good influence on the other girl, instead of it being the other way around.

Thirty minutes later I was pulling on a fresh black shirt to match my black chuck's, and jeans when I glanced at the clock.. It was almost six, and I hadn't seen Wendy Yet. She never took this long to get ready, but I guess she was a teenage girl going to a party and wanted to look her best. We were so close; I forgot she was a girl sometimes. She wasn't confusing, teasing, or scheming like most girls around here so I simply thought of her as my Wendy.

"Yall going with us tonight?" Steve asked as I walked in to the living room tucking in my shirt. They must have gotten off early today cause he was all ready changed, and dating

"Yeah," I said scowling at the hopeful expression in his eyes. No way in a million years would Wendy date him. They were just too different.

"She should be here any minute actually."

"Speak of the devil," Soda said whistling as he came from the laundry room pulling on cleans jean with his white tee.

Turning my mouth dropped as I took in my best friend. She was dressed in black pedal pushers, with a tight pink button up that stopped at her hips, and black slip on sandals. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, and her face was just barley touched with make up. At times I forgot just how much of a looker she was.

Wendy

Laughing at the Boys reaction I shook my head and continued in to the living room.

"You look great Darling," Soda said making me giggle as he used his pet name for me.

He just couldn't get over the fact that my last name was also an endearment.

Pony look stunned, but I swore sometimes he forgot I was a girl at all.

"Thanks Soda," I said laughing as I lifted Steve's jaw, and went to stand next to Pony boy.

"You're beautiful Wendy Moira Angela Darling," He said grinning as I giggled.

"You're quite handsome yourself Pony Boy Michael Curtis," I said laughing when Steve's expression soured.

"You guys are so lovey dovey it makes me sick, and you aint even going steady!"

" No charm," Pony said shaking his head as Soda agreed.

"What's the occasion?" Darry asked smiling as he took in the get ups.

He had a date with Estella tonight and I could tell by his smile that he was excited.

"Frankie's throwing a party and invited us with Soda, is it ok if we go?" Pony asked making me smile because he included me in the question.

I had all ready asked my sister, but she did have Darry help her with decision making sometimes.

"Sure, you guys just look out for each other, and be back by one," he said smiling as he took in my outfit.

"Your outfits missing one thing honey," He said heading in to his room, to return with silver locket.

"I know my Mom would have wanted us to give it to some one special to all of us, and that's you, you're family to use and you'll always have a place here," He said smiling as I fought back tears.

Inside the locket was a family picture and I new instinctively that I would put one of my family on the empty side.

"Welcome to the family sis it looks good on you," Soda said kissing my cheek as he hugged me.

"You're the little sister I think we all wanted," Darry said lifting me off the ground as he spun me.

" I love you guys!" I said laughing. I had lost my blood family, but I had gained another one in its place.

When he finally set my down I smiled and stepped in to Pony's out stretched arms.

"You're and me," he whispered.

"Always and forever," I said whispering the vow we'd made each other.

When we married, had kids, graduated, when we had heartbreaks, or birthdays, it would be together. We head learned what it was too lose people, and we were going to do everything in our power to make sure we weren't separated. I couldn't stop smiling as we piled in to Steve's Chevy that night. I felt lucky and alive. Like the tragedies in my life were behind me. Clutching Pony's arm as we stepped from the car to join the party that had spilled in to the lawn I couldn't help but feel nervous. I had never been to a party like this.

"You okay?" He asked wrapping an arm around my waist as we made our way through the crowd.

I spotted Cherry and Marcia the minute we stepped in. Chatting happily with their crowd of admirers they waved at us. At the same time I spotted Two-Bit standing with the Shepard's nodding at me. Holding up a finger to them I turned our course towards the socs telling myself if was to make Pony happy.

"Hey girls," I said leaning against Pony Boy as he said a shy hi.

" Hey, first time we've seen y'all out," Marcia said as Cherry smiled that million dollar smile that made me want to give her a fist sandwich.

"Yeah this is my first party since I've been here, we came with my bro- I mean Soda," I said laughing when Cherry giggled.

"I didn't realize you guys were so close."

"Yeah Wendy lives about three houses down, she's pretty much a member of the family," He said letting her know he was available.

I was able to stand a few more moments with them, before excusing myself, and kissing Pony's head before heading over to the corner where my friends we're boozing it up.

"Pony's still over there?" Ang asked sneering at the super Socs he was chatting with.

"Yeah I had to escape Soc land before I broke out in hives," I said giggling when Tim snickered.

"He still got it bad for Cherry huh?" Two - Bit asked laughing as he handed me a beer.

"Yes," I growled rolling my eyes dramatically as I threw myself at Curly who'd just gotten out of reform a few days earlier.

"The things I do for my friends" I said giggling when he picked me up and spun me around.

"You're looking good tonight Wendy D," Tim said laughing when I blushed.

" Well Thank you Timothy," I said as we all burst in to laughter.

Angela was probably the second closest friend I had here, and I knew Tim liked me so much cause he thought I was a good influence. We did the things girls our age were supposed to do like shopping, and sleepovers and learning dances. I was over there a lot, and they had gotten used to me, so it was known if you messed with me you messed with them. I was amazed at how many relationships I had developed since moving here.

"So you and him aint a thing?" Curly asked looking shocked when Two- Bit spit out his beer and roared with laughter.

"Those two are so platonic you'd think they were brother and sister," He said shaking his head as I grinned sheepishly.

" I know we're together a lot, but he's my best friend ya know?" I said feeling like a heel when Tim looked pain for a moment, more than likely thinking of Dallas Winston.

"Yeah, hold on to that kiddo," he said ruffling my pony tail playfully before he went of to hunt some action.

Sipping on my beer I gestured for Curly to set me down, and went to stand beside Ang. I know most people thought he was just some dumb hood, but he could be sweet as sugar if he liked you.

"What are we doing over here?" Steve asked making me roll my eyes, as I smelled the liquor on his breath.

"Watching the show," Angela said making me give her a grateful look as she ran interference.

"So, you're looking pretty good tonight Wendy, not that you don't every day," he said making me want to hurl.

Steve was an okay guy really; I just didn't dig him that way.

"Yeah, she does doesn't' she?" Curly asked making me laugh when he threw an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his side.

Blinking he looked from me to Curly and swore before walking off, and finding the nearest blonde.

" I think that'll be the end of that," Curly said kissing my cheek as I giggled.

We always flirted, but it never really meant much. He was an action man, and I was a good girl. The two didn't mix well.

Pony

I almost panicked when Wendy left, not sure what to say to the two girls in front of me I could never talk to them they way I did her, and I was worried I'd say something wrong. Relaxing as we talked about school, sports, and music I wondered what impression I was making on Cherry. I knew she'd thought I was a doll when I was younger, but I was a lot older now. Sixteen was a far cry from barley fifteen, and I'd been through more than most people my age.

" Is she dating Curly?" Cherry asked wrinkling her nose in disgust.

"Nah Wendy's just real close to Angela and them, she didn't really know anyone when she moved, and they took her under their wing," I said feeling the need to defend the one person closest to me.

"They look mighty friendly," She said snippily making me frown.

She'd always seemed so cool to me, yet her she was talking about my best friend like she was just another greasy girl who slept around.

"Well I'm sure they're real nice once you get to know them," Marcia said sensing that I didn't take kindly to any one even remotely insulting Wendy.

"Oh I'm sorry Pony, I didn't mean to sound judgmental, Wendy's so sweet and quiet

I was just surprised to see her with the Shepard's."

Nodding my head I talked with them for a while before heading over to the others wondering If she was as great as I had made her out to be in my mind.

"Hey honey," Wendy said sounding all the world like a sister.

" Hey! You having fun?" I asked laughing as she and Angela danced together, clearly well on their way to being drunk.

"Uh huh."

Nodding I talked to Two-Bit and Curly while I watched over her noticing the looks he kept sending her way every so often. Looked like Curly had a crush on her, but I didn't mind him so much. I mean he wasn't good enough for her, but he'd take care of her, and hurt anyone who so much as looked at her wrong.

"Well its about time for us to head out," I said laughing as Wendy pouted and began her goodbyes.

"Come see me tomorrow Angela!" She said laughing as I scoped her up and started for the car.

"We'll go shopping, if Curly will drive us," She said quickly putting her brother on the spot.

" See you tomorrow around 1:00," he grumbled breaking in to a smile when Wendy grinned up at him.