Ponyboy's POV

Cherry walked out looking mad and didn't say a word to anyone. Marcia was still here, looking so out of place. She had her purse clutched to her chest tightly.

"I'll go get her..." Marcia mumbled and got up.

"Ponyboy, make sure they get home safe," Darry said to me. I walked out to follow Marcia. She was looking lost, like she had no idea where Cherry went.

"You okay?" I asked Marcia, shoving my hands in my jean pockets. It sure was chilly out. Man, I wish I had brought a jacket. I don't think.

"Fine, fine." She turned to me and smiled weakly. "Just worried about Cherry is all." Silence filled the air.

"I can walk home by myself just fine. Thanks, Ponyboy." She started walking off the the west side. I was surprised she remembered my name. I walked back into the house. Pretty much everyone was asleep, so I decided to head to bed too.

I walked to school with Johnny. We talked about the sunset we saw at dawn, and the book I was reading to him. When we arrived at the school, he left and I went inside the building. My first bell was History and we were learning about the Revolutionary War.

"Okay, all this week, I will choose a partner by random and you will work with them to re-create a scene from one of the battles," the teacher said. Everyone in my class was a Soc, so I had no friends.

"Ponyboy and Marcia," the teacher announced. I looked over at Marcia. Her and her friends were giggling. I turned back around.

"Ponyboy! Ponyboy!" I heard a name call me after school. I whirled around to see Marcia waving for me to come over. I did.

"Hey, partner!" She exclaimed and patted me on the back.

"Hey," I said awkwardly.

"Where should we go to work on our project?" She asked.

"The library?" I said, unsure.

"No, silly, whose house?"

"Um...yours?" I said. She nodded. We hopped into her tuff white car and drove down the street. We finally reached her house. It was pale yellow, with a white picket fence and a perfect lawn. This is what I imagined all Socs houses to look like. I called Darry at work on her house phone to tell him I was studying at a friend's house. I hung up right when he said, "Okay, but...". We went up to her room and cracked open our textbooks. Suddenly, the door opened and in came Cherry Valance.

"Hey, Ponyboy, what are you doing here?" She asked. She had obviously taken a shower. Her red hair was wet(she was drying it off with a towel), and her clothes stuck to her. I tried not to stare.

"We're study buddies, Cherry!" Marcia giggled. Cherry chuckled softly.

"Hey, Pony, has Dally asked about me?" Cherry asked me while she was combing her hair.

"No, not really." I wondered why she cared. She just nodded stiffly and walked out. Marcia was on the phone the whole time we were supposed to be 'working'. She drove me home afterward, and then sped off when she saw Two-Bit on the sidewalk. I just acted like it didn't happen. I walked inside to see Johnny sitting on the couch, watching TV.

"Hey Johnnycakes where is everyone?" I asked.

"At The Dingo. Dally asked for you." He pointed to the kitchen and I walked inside.

"Hey Dal," I said, and took a look in the ice box. There was a half eaten chocolate cake.

"Hey, Pony. I need to ask you something," Dally said.

"Okay," I said reluctantly.

"Is Cherry acting weird at school? Is she dressing different?" He was twiddling with his thumbs, something I've never seen him do.

"Well, no. She just dresses normal. She doesn't really talk anymore. But when I was studying at Marcia's house, she was there." I proceeded to cut a piece of the cake.

"Well, can you tell her to come to the empty lot tomorrow? I gotta discuss some stuff with her," Dally asked.

"Sure, Dal," I agreed. What did they have to discuss?