Chapter 5: The Dance Pt. 1 (Tony & Maria POV)

*Italics are to be their thoughts they're have at that moment

(Tony POV)

Riff made good on his promise and came back a few days later to convince him again. Tony tried again to make Riff understand why him going back to the Jets would only end in destruction, but Riff wouldn't hear of it. All he cared about was putting an end to the Sharks. Just after Riff left, Valentina came out from the back.

"That boy always been trouble. Even as a kid, he just attracted bad things."

"What does that make me?", Tony asked.

"Even when you were a kid, you always had promise. You never wanted trouble, it just found you. But you never stopped being that boy with promise.", she said matter-of-factly.

Tony scoffed, "Yeah, I'm sure that's what the officer who arrested me last year thought, too." He grimaced at the memories of that night.

Valentina frowned and came from around the counter and grabbed his hand. "Tony… You are not that person anymore. You have to start forgiving yourself for what happened."

"Val, how can I forgive myself for that night? I nearly killed somebody! I mean… if that cop hadn't pulled me away… if I had hit him one more time…", Tony couldn't even finish the sentence.

"Tony, look at me.", Valentina placed her hands on his face, "You can't change who you were before or the things you did. You served your time and realized what that kind of life would do to you. It's time for you to begin a new life. Punishing yourself forever will bring you nothing. Learn from your mistakes and move forward."

Valentina dropped her hands and went downstairs were she had storage. Tony contemplated what she had just said. Was it even possible for him to have a good life after what he had done? Why did he deserve anything after that? Nothing good should ever happen to him after what he did.

Then, Tony realized something; something good already happened to him. Maria happened. Just meeting her had already had an effect on him. Looking at her made the world seem like there were infinite possibilities; possibilities he'd never known before. If someone like her can look at him and make him believe again, then maybe Valentina was right and it was time to start fresh. And he knew exactly where to start.

As if reading his mind, Valentina came up with one of Doc's old suits. Going to the dance was probably the only place he could find Maria again. Riff said everyone would be there. Tony just hoped he was right, and she was there. If the world wanted Tony to have a better life, then Maria would be there, and he would tell her exactly how he felt. Nothing and no one would keep him from the girl he was falling for.

(Maria POV)

Why did Anita make it white? A white dress is for church and praying; this was a dance! Maria threw the dress on the bed in disgust. Between the dress and never getting to see the boy Tony again, life wasn't so great for her. She had wanted to go by Doc's every day since they last met, but she couldn't get away; at least without Bernardo and Anita questioning it. A part of her hoped Tony would be at the dance, but only trouble could come if Bernardo saw them together.

"Why aren't you dressed? Nardo and Chino will be here any minute.", Anita said coming in and seeing the disarray of the dress. Anita picked it up and started putting over Maria's head.

"Could we not dye it another color? Por Favor, Anita! This is my first dance! I will look like a baby.", Maria exclaimed.

"I promise, you will not look like a baby. Here, put this on and let down your hair.", Anita handed her a red belt. Anita grabbed her blush and rubbed a small amount on both her cheeks, then grabbed her lipstick and filled out Maria's lips. After checking her work, Anita spun her around to the mirror. Instead of she herself, Maria was shown a young woman. She finally looked like a lady.

"I love you!", Maria spun back to Anita and hugged her tight.

"I love you, too. Now, come help me finish. Help me put this necklace on."

Maria clasped the necklace, then handed Anita her perfume. While she finished, Maria contemplated asking the questions she had been dying to ask Anita since that day at Doc's. Finally finding the courage, Maria spoke up.

"Anita, what do you feel when you're with Bernardo?"

Anita looked over to her coyly, "Why do you want to know? Could it be a special boy in your life?" Maria blushed.

Anita smiled, "It feels like heaven. He makes me feel like a queen and never is shy to show me so," she winks at Maria, "Mostly, he makes me feel happy to be alive. Does that answer your question?"

Before she could reply, Bernardo and Chino came in. It was time for the dance.