Chapter 7: One Hand, One Heart (Maria POV)

Short chapter, but worth it :)

Maria was sitting on her bed trying to understand how everything that was so wonderful had turned incredibly wrong so fast. After Bernardo pulled her and Anita out of the gym, he ordered for Chino to escort them home. She wanted to argue that it was her first dance that he ruined with his brawling, but she knew it wouldn't matter. She walked home defeated, knowing that it would officially be her last dance. What hurt worse was knowing she would never see Tony again. He's one of them, and I'm not. The pain in her chest felt like her heart was breaking into a million little pieces. Not even tears continue soothe her pain.

Maria had finally decided to ready herself for bed when she heard someone calling outside her balcony. As she opened the window and peaked, her heart lurched and began beating out of her chest. Tony was here…TONY WAS HERE?!

"Shhhhhh…?", she shouted to him trying to be undetected.

Tony grinned up at her, "Maria!"

"Shhhhhh… Are you crazy?! They will hear you! You need to go…"

"Please. I need to talk to you. Come down just for a minute."

Maria replied, baffled, "I can't! They'll see us. It's too dangerous… you have to go, now."

Tony shook his head no. "Not until I talk to you. Forget it, I'm coming up, then."

"WHAT?!". Before Maria could tell him no, he was scaling the fire escape effortlessly. Suddenly he was in front of her, and she couldn't speak. Again.

Tony cleared his throat. "Listen… tonight at the dance… I never wanted to get into the middle of that. It's just…"

"They're your friends. I understand… you didn't know who I was, so you can't…"

Tony grabbed her hand, "That's not it. I'm not with them anymore. I was once, but not now."

"Why?"

Tony had a look of fear fall over his face. "Let's just say something happened to make me change."

Maria left it at that. "Okay, but why are you here now? If Bernardo sees you…"

"I don't care what Bernardo thinks. I care only what you think.", Tony paused and took a breath. "Maria… I feel… a connection with you. That first day when you bumped into me… I haven't been able to get you out of my head. I stood outside of Doc's everyday hoping I would see you. Which reminds me, you never did tell me your favorite candy.".

Maria and Tony both chuckled at this. "The white ones with red stripes."

"You mean peppermint? That's a good choice. I prefer caramels, myself.". Tony smiled, and Maria felt that familiar weak in knees.

Tony leaned closer and whispered, "I want to know more. I want to know you. Have dinner with me."

Maria was bewildered. Does he mean a date? How can we when everyone will see us. They'll ruin it. What if Bernardo finds out? What if he hurts Tony? Thoughts continued swirling in Maria's head, leading her having to say no. There was no chance for them. Then, Tony leaned in a gave her a searing kiss. It was tamer than the kiss they shared under the bleachers but held the same passion; if not more. Maria reached up to his face and pulled him closer, neither one coming up for air. When they finally did, Maria grinned at Tony and said, "Yes."

"Really? You will?". Tony's grin was a mile wide, and more beautiful than Maria could stand.

"Yes, I will. But we will have to go somewhere no one will see us. If Bernardo or Anita knew…". She shuddered at the thought.

"Okay. Meet me at the backsteps at Doc's. Tomorrow. When can you be there?"

Bernardo and Anita usually went to bed by 9:30 so they could be up for work. Maria would have to sneak out the window. "I can come at 10."

"10 it is", Tony whispered close to her, "It's hours away and yet it feels like an eternity."

Maria blushed and leaned in for one more kiss. "Goodnight"

"Goodnight, Maria. Dream sweet dreams." He gave her one more kiss on her forehead that fueled the fire in her body. Maria admired him as he climbed down. As he landed on the pavement, Tony looked back and continued to watch her as he walked away. Even once he was out of view Maria watched after the boy who took her heart with him.