Chapter 9:

Cherry's P.O.V.

I was asleep until the weight on the bed was light. I looked around and said, "Hmm?"

There was Soda putting his clothes on from yesterday night. He turned around hearing my moan and said, "Hi, sweetie." He went onto the bed and kissed me.

Even in the mornings his kisses were nice. "Hi." I streched and said, "Work already? What time is it?"

Soda looked on his watch and said, "Seven thirty. I gotta go now."

I leaned back on the bed again and he came over to kiss me once again before leaving.

He put down a dollar on the table and said putting his DX coat on, "Thats the tip for spending the night. Don't forget to give it to man up front. Love you, sweetie." And in a split second he shut the door.

I sat up and I looked at the dollar he left. Making sure it was enough. It was a ten dollar bill. I grabbed my purse and put the ten in my wallet.

Soda's P.O.V.:

This whole time for the past two hours I have been thinking about Sherri. Its like if she put a spell on me or something. I don't want to go home and see Darry. I just want to see Sherri. But I have to check on my little brother.

"Hey!" The mysterious man yelled his southern accent showing. "I checked to see if you were home! You weren't there. What was you doing last night?"

I turned around and saw my best friend Steve. "Nothing much. Went out for awhile. Spent the night at a motel."

Steve grinned and said, "Hey I know what happened. Picked some chick from yesterday night, right?"

I blushed a little because he found out what happened.

"Don't think I didn't see you walking out with that red head, I saw you." Steve laughed. His laugh fading he asked, "So how was she?"

I got up and smiled, "Steve, you know I'm not going to tell you that."

"So! She was good!" Steve said through bites of chocolate cake.

I sat down and blushed a crimson red thinking about that thought. I sighed and said, "This ain't some casual sleep and go girl, you know. I really love her. Like I did Sandy. I want her to be in my life. I am going to wait a couple months. See how things are doing and I will marry her and start a family. I really want to, Steve."

"You just met her yesterday." He said trying to sound like I was stupid.

"I know that. But just somewhere deep inside I feel like shes the one. She told me... She told me that if she were Sandy, she would marry me no matter what our parents said. That really means a lot to me Steve, and I don't know about you, but I sure ain't going to marry someone like Sandy."

"Do what you want. But how do you know shes not playing with you or something?" He said leaning onto the gas pumps.

I quickly shouted, my voice sounding louder than it was before, "What are you talking about?"

"She seems really lonely you know. With Bob being dead over four years now and all." He said smirking.

My ears started getting hot anger and frustration and yelled, "Stop talking bad about her!"

"Soda, it's your loss. You could be getting other girls than her... Fine with me. Just don't com'a talking to me later on." He turned around and went back inside.

I clenched my teeth hidden from my closed mouth. I can't believe he would say these things about her! He barely knows her!

I thought of her for a couple minutes until I heard a car coming in. It was a pick up truck with cars around the back. Loads of broken cars, boy, this day was going to be stressful.

3:30 P.M.:

Nothing can be harder than this. It was hot out this afternoon, one of the first real hots days of the year. The pavement of the sidewalk seemed to shimmer and distort in the hot air.

I would say it was about 87 degrees, outside. I fixing cars non-stop. It was soon coming close to fall, getting more repairs on cars and filling up cars with gas aswell.

Sweat dripping on my face, I scooted backwards underneath the beaten up blue truck, carefully going out not to hit my head. I got out to get a water.

I got the bottle out of the cooler and in the blazing sun, already water sweating wetness onto my hand, cool, earthy, bland gulps.

I walked inside now on my break telling Steve that I was going out to hang out with Two-Bit or some of my old (best) friends (they were not really best friends like the gang were but just school friends.)

I walked from the inside, finding Steve at the counter, probably reading some magazine about cars.

"Hey. I am going to go out for a bit. See you in thirty minutes."

Steve quickly looked up, "Alright. Too bad we can't have the same lunch break. I would work a little extra so I can get paid well, Edward (their boss) told me I would get paid more. So yeah, see 'ya."

"Alright. See ya later." I said waving with my back facing him walking out outside which again felt like a million degrees.

"Hey!" someone yelled from behind them. "Hey, Soda"

I turned, surprised, seeing Sherri visiting me. She smiled sweetly at me, showing her shiny white pearly teeth. "Hey, sweetie!" I huged her real fast and pecked her on the lips. She grinned. "Hey, didn't know you would be out here." She said slightly laughing.

"I didn't know I would be seeing you either. Hungry? Let's get something to eat. I am on my break." I said smiling, hands in my pocket.

"Sure why not!" She said grabbing my hand.

I opened the car door on her side and helped her inside. With a surprised look, she said, "Thanks!" And smiled.

I walked up infront and got in. Now being in the car together, I was wondering where we should go. I asked, "Where do you want to eat?"

"How about Penningtons? I heard that they had some new burger out. I want to give it a try!" She said looking at me. "It's just seven minutes away."

"Sure, anything for you." I said

He rested his hand on my knee, his thumb making small circles on the inside of my leg and then we drove out of the parking lot and we were now on our way to Pennington's.

Finally we were there. I was starving! Who wouldn't be starving when you are outside fixing cars all day? We got out and once again being polite, I opened the door for Sherri.

As she stepped out I took her hand and she said, "Thank you."

"No problem, sweetie." I put my arm around her shoulder, "I am hungry lets get in." We ran a little getting to the the restaurant.

He opened the door, the smell of burgers and fries flooding the air. A waitress led us to a booth and handed us some greasy coated menus. I was absorbed in mine and there was all sorts of other things like "broasted" chicken, corn dogs, hot dogs, hamburgers, wings and fries.

Wde ordered our drinks me pepsi and Sherri having a cola and a BBQ sandwich with large fries and a shake, while she got some wings and shake. We shared the fries.

"Hows your wings?" He said laughing.

"Good. Hows your burger?" She asked smiling.

We talked about how our day was going and trying to pick up whatever could go on our minds.

By now, we finished our meal and got out giving the waitress a tip.

We got out and we decided to drive to Riverside and walk about one-third of the way down the pedestrian bridge just to have fun and talk.

As we got to the bridge, we stood there seeing the sunset shining onto the water leaving sparkles in the water.

We stood there for about ten minutes just talking away. I pulled her closer to me as she leaned near me looking at the river going by.

"Thanks for today. It was fun." She said looking up at me.

"No problem. Thats what I do best to make my girl happy." I said smiling and pulling her into a short but memoriable kiss.

"We should start going now. My boss would kill me if I am not on time." I took her hand and we walked to the car.

We left fifteen minutes early, knowing that I had to drive Sherri home. I didn't have to but it would be nice enough.

Cherry's P.O.V.:

As we got to my neighborhood, I told him to stop because I didn't want my parents seeing him dropping me off, if I got out of a car with someone that wasn't that rich, I would get in trouble. And when are on my moms bad side, things can get pretty tough.

"Why? He asked cocking an eyebrow.

He pulled over and I grabbed the door handle and said, "I don't want my parents seeing us..." I said looking at him.

He smiled a little and said, "Don't worry, I understand. See you tomorrow or try to call me." He put his hand on my cheek and I leaned over to lightly kiss him.

"Okay, I will try. Bye!" I said getting out. I shut the door and began walking to my house. It was just a street away.

As I walked to my house, I looked around the neighborhood comparing Soda's neighborhood to mine. It was way different. We had nicer streets, kids were nice around here, they were pretty decent and we all had big fancy houses with fancy cars while in Soda's neighborhood, they had people that were alcoholics, shop lifters or anyother sort of people there. They had old houses that would look like they could fall any minute and they had beaten-up cars. I thought life was tough for the guys on the east side but it's all the same no matter if one part of the town is rich and then theres another side thats poor.

I got up the stairs and got my key out of my purse.

As I was about to put my key into the door, my dad opened it for me.

"Hi Sherri." My dad smiled and opened the door wider for me for me to walk in.

"Hey, dad." I said smiling.

"Why were you walking? It's so hot out. You need to be more careful."

"I am fine. I am tired, going to take a nap. Okay?" I said while walking up the stairs.

"Okay sure, honey. Sleep well."

I went to my room and I was so tired that I didn't even bother taking my clothes off.

Shortly after laying on the bed with covers ontop, I soon fell asleep.

-Next chapter will be out soon! I hope you liked this one! Bye for now!