Chapter Five: Slutty & Satanic Soc Girls

Featuring:

Cherry Valance*

Marcia*

Kyle Bowey:

Beverley:

Olly (Olivia):

Emma:

Jules:

Sodapop Curtis

Dallas Winston*

* = featured character narrates part or all of the chapter

/ = character isn't ever physically present in chapter but is still featured

: = original character that wasn't in the original book, movie, or musical and was created for this story

Cherry Valance:

I called my girls over to have a sleepover. Maybe hanging out with Socs will be enough to get the East Side out of my head.

I called Marcia.

"Oh- hi Cherry. I was just gonna get going to your place-"

"I'm in love with Dallas Winston."

"What?"

"You heard me."

Marcia came earlier than everyone else did, I wanted her to. "Are you sure it's love?" Marcia harshly asked. Even though it was my first time admitting it, I knew.

"Positive, it was never like this with Bob."

"Because Bob was right. Right for you, right for us, right for the Socs, right for everyone! And Dallas is- just not! How can you be in love with Dallas Winston? What about Bob?" I sighed. I trust Marcia with all of this. I know I can, but I knew there was going to be a little confusion, and stubbornness.

"Bob wasn't good to me Marcia, you saw how we used to be. I know it's not ideal. But I know what I'm feeling." I looked at her with that sure look in my eyes. I knew she saw it. And she nodded.

"..Okay. But nobody can know about this, especially not the girls. Or anybody really."

"Of course not." I wasn't a fool. I was stupid for ever letting myself like Dallas Winston, so much as love in the little time we spent together. But I knew I couldn't tell any other Soc.

Marcia went silent and I got worried. What if I couldn't trust her? "What?" What if I lose her? And I won't have anyone on my side when it all hits the fan. "Sorry!" She was smiling. Smiling.

I tilted my head. She giggled. The same way she did when she talked to Two-Bit. "What?" I persisted covering my laugh, her laughs were really contagious. She giggled some more "I'm sorry!! It's just that- you're not doing what's right."

I covered my face in shame, nodding. I wasn't proud of my feelings for Dallas, I knew I shouldn't be. "No but that's good! You always do the right thing. We all always do the right thing. And we all knew this was right for you. I'm proud of you Sher-Sher." She smiled a really big smile.

"Maybe you'll do what's right for you too." I wasn't sure if saying that crossed a line. She put her head down, because she agreed but couldn't say anything. Randy left town after the rumble, he never really did end things with Marcia but she got the point. He didn't want any scraps of Tulsa. Even Marcia.

And it was like she didn't even notice Randy left her. I know she was still hung up on Two-Bit. Marcia's a fun girl, she's always got some kind of joke in her head. But Soc girls aren't supposed to crack any kind of jokes.

I think that's why she liked Two-Bit, because he had those same jokes, only difference was he could say them out loud.

They might've been together if he ever called her. Although Marcia says she regrets ever handing him her real number, but I don't think she really means that, she's just upset he didn't call her. She wasn't blonde, which was an automatic setback to ever being Two-Bit's girl. All the girls that Two-Bit dated were blonde. And Marcia knew that.

Sometimes when it's just me and her alone she'll make jokes about wanting to be blonde. "Blonde would just ruin my natural hair though, how bouta wig?"

"Marcia don't just change for a guy, much less a greaser." She rolled her eyes the same way she always does when I take her jokes too seriously. "I know, I know." She slumped over and groaned.

Marcia can't have Two-Bit, same way I can't have Dally. But she just won't admit it. She's in too deep. Marcia moved here from Europe and all those Soc girls really got to her head. She's more like me than she thinks, but she won't show it.

Rather than going to the other side and finding Two-Bit the same way I found Dallas, Marcia avoids him. Instead of him, she strings along a Soc boy, Kyle, who looks a lot like Two-Bit but acts nothing like him. Everyone knows she'll never actually date him. But she'll do everything else to get her mind off a greaser.

She calls Kyle on the phone. And I try not to eavesdrop. Kyle isn't fun whatsoever, unless he's got alcohol on him. Marcia always gives him beer at parties, I think it's because Two-Bit liked beer, but I'll never know for sure.

Marcia tries to work with him, but he won't ever be Two-Bit, and she shouldn't be trying to fix him into something he isn't. And someone he should never want to be. Marcia knows that.

The doorbell rings, and I walk over there hurriedly. It's not Soc-like to run to the door unless you're running to your boyfriend. My daddy's home and he won't like hearing my feet stoppin'.

My daddy and my mother aren't 'together', but they live in the same house and won't get divorced. My mother is out at parties most weekends. And my daddy stays home, drinking alcohol in the backyard. They would leave each other if they weren't Soc parents.

Adults on the West Side don't use those terms, but everyone knows they'll still mentally abide to them. They'll still think less of a greaser on the East Side. But they won't jump them the way a teen Soc would. My mother isn't like that though. She'll love anyone, greaser or Soc. That's why I love her.

I opened the door to the rest of the girls, I expected them to come over in a group. There was Beverly, Jules, Olly, and Emma. They were all looking pretty, even in the late evening. But that was more of an expectation than a shock for a Soc girl.

Jules was brunette, she wore makeup that looked ahead of her time. Jewels and glitter. She always pulled it off though. She was sweet, but she had a big mouth. Always sharing things that weren't for her to share behind our backs, we all act like we don't know it was her, but we all know.

Olly was different for sure. Her full name was Olivia Jean. She acted like she didn't care, going for the guys she knew weren't ever going to be husband material. But she's a Soc girl, and all Soc girls care. Even her.

There wasn't much to say about Emma. She checked up on you, but no one ever thought of her as genuine. Even though there's nothing to prove that she isn't. She tries her best to listen. But everyone accuses her of not hearing.

Then there was Beverly. I didn't like her. Everyone else did. She did her own thing behind everyone's back, thing about her is she hardly ever gets caught. She moves in on the boys she shouldn't be moving in on. She'll steal candy from children for kicks. She'll put down anyone as long as they're in her way.

And anything she says will go. Hypocrisy is always in her favor. She messes around with Sodapop, the greaser. She'll string him along as far as he'll let her. Soda's naive, so he'll let her go far with it. And she'll never let it spill that she's got her very own boyfriend on the other side.

But the second someone else goes near a greaser, "Is that the greaser girl? What's that hood going to think of you after seeing this Soc-y little home?" She never looked me in the eye, but it was obvious she was talking to me.

She must've seen me there while she was at Sodapop's place. I knew I should've been careful. I just knew this was going to be the talk of this sleepover. "Ohhhh who has a new guy now? Here I was thinking you weren't over the one who's six feet under."

Olly always makes those wisecracks, Soc girls aren't supposed to be funny, so she covers her jokes up with insults. So you never really know if she wants to be funny or hurtful. "Hi Olly." I didn't smile at her.

But I smiled at Emma, who put her hand on my shoulder. "You have a pretty home, Sherri." She whispered. She never really does use her speaking voice. And she never calls me Cherry, god knows why. Jules walked in quietly, nodding at what Emma said.

"Liv, it's Dallas Winston. Known to have a criminal record. Had that on n' off relationship with Sylvie for the longest time." Beverly said. Olly doesn't like being called Liv or Olivia but Bev refuses to call her Olly because it's not feminine enough.

And no one tells Bev what to call them. You just don't. "Ohhh the hot one? He's a catch Cherry." Olly said sounding mischievous the way she always does.

"How about we talk about something else?" I said trying to think of something that'll take their minds off the current subject.

Marcia:

We had all said good night to each other by now. And it was hours from midnight. I hadn't had more than a wink of sleep.

If Cherry can be (relatively) open about her love for Dally, why am I settling for Kyle. There's nothing wrong with Kyle. He's good lookin' you bet, and he's a serious guy. But that's the problem. How am I gon' get along with a serious guy?

I sighed audibly. Hoping no one can tell I'm awake and somehow think I'm plotting something being up this late. Two-Bit would've laughed at that.

There's something about that guy. He's just like me, but stupider. And he lets me be stupid. Like Cherry, but Cherry's only okay with it, Two-Bit gets it.

I need to see him again. I can't be stuck with stick-in-the-mud Kyle Bowey. He won't even spend time with me, being a stupid intern is stupid, Bowey.

The phone began to ring. I was scared to have the girls wake up and ruin my night of thoughts and Two-Bit and more thoughts. Wait, thoughts of Two-Bit, and Bowey. I just can't stand Bowey.

I picked it up. It was Soda, sounding wideeee awake. Typical. "Hey, Bev here? She left some pearl thingys over here at Buck's." Probably pearl jewelry that she couldn't care less about. Bev has multiple pearled necklaces and bracelets that all look the same.

"Soda, leave her."

There was silence for a second, besides the background noise. "What?" Soda never understands anything when you first say it. I don't know him well but I know that much. "Leave her. You know she'll never stick around. She's got a boyfriend Soda. Don't make the mistake of obsessing over someone from the other side."

Cherry was doing that. Soda hung up after someone called his name. I leaned against the wall getting lost in my head again, till I heard loud rustling in a red sleeping bag.

"Sher-Sher? Why are you up?" She must've been really tired because she didn't bother to ask me the same question. "D- Water." Then she walked off. Slumped over, hair still looking perfect of course.

I already got back to my sleeping bag by the time Bev followed Cherry. "Hey greaser girl what're you doing up?" She scoffed. Cherry's awful fond of scoffing, I like to mock her for it.

"I'm getting a glass of water. Why are you here?" Beverly knew Cherry didn't like her, she just likes to get a jab out of poor Sher-Sher. "Look, greaser girl. Life isn't better on the other side. You're too soft for the East Side."

I wasn't in the kitchen with them, but I could feel the tension. I could feel Cherry start to get angry. "I know more than you think Bev, and just because I'm not fooling around with poor greaser guys like you doesn't mean I'm in for anything."

Bev was standing her ground alright. She's a stubborn one, "Dallas Winston has a bad rep for a reason. You can't handle it Cherry Valance. You're soft, Dallas is rough. He loves nothing, and the way you're acting like you have a chance is pathetic. I suggest that if you want to keep that reputation of yours that you'll stay away from him."

Now Cherry was fuming, she was hysterical. "Beverly you're a bitch to Soda and Jack Hugo! You're stringing Soda along while you cheat on Jack! You're sick you know that? Don't think you know everything when really you don't have a clue what's going between Dallas and I."

Then Cherry stormed out of there. She was so angry she left her own house in the middle of the night. In a satin night gown with lace on the hem. She didn't look back once.

Dallas Winston:

"Soda you ain't gon' cry. Don't be a bawl baby over a broad. Ya hear?" Soda don't ever invite me over. I knew he wasn't ever too fond of me, I knew most the gang wasn't. Johnny was the only opinion that did sumn' to me so I never tried to get anythin' real with the others.

But Sodapop was awful sad t'night, and he's in the gang, gang members just don't leave each other in times of need. Even if it was for a broad. Soda knew I could harden him. The others would let him cry. But I ain't gon' let him.

"A whole 'nother guy, I mean, what's he gon' think?" That was always Sodas problem, worried about any other blasted person's feeling 'fore he worried bout his own. "Who gives a damn? I mean cmon, she was a Soc girl. A slutty Soc girl. Just like the rest of 'em."

He choked a little on his tears, but there wasn't anymore flowin'. "Even Cherry Valance?" He seemed as clueless as he'd always been, but it bothered me some. "You keep that trap of yours shut." He nodded, because he was too depressed to be cocky.

"I'm gon' git now. I'll be 'round the creek, if you're still hacked off later come by." He nodded again, smiling. He really liked smiling. I knew if I started I would get addicted to it, so I didn't smile. A smirk was the best you could ever get outta me most the time. "Bye Winnie." The blasted fool said.

I stopped, considering jumping him. But he had just been played by a Soc girl so the thought didn't last. He hadn't called me Winnie before, no one gives me nicknames, and I liked it that way. "Get it? Cause your last name's Winston?"

I don't know how Darrel and Pony deal with this. I thought bout jumping him again, but again decided to leave it alone. "Yeah, I get it." He smiled with his teeth. His heart deserves more than what Tulsa's got to offer. He's gotta have someone who don't cheat or leave. There's gotta be sum kinda happy endin' for someone so pure in such a brooding world. Don't God have something better for Soda?

It wasn't as bad comin' here this time, loning it, I mean. It was awful peaceful with the crickets. But peace don't ever last on the East Side. Sure enough I heard crashing footsteps.

It was flats so I knew it had to be a Soc, and there's only one Soc girl who runs here. It hadn't even been a week since she's last been here. And she's got a knack for coming by real late. "Ya got another excuse for missin' me?" She didn't scoff this time. She grunted. I don't think I've ever heard her do that.

"Soc girls are satanic. Unbearable. Diabolical. Awful. Awful!" She grunted again, which sounded kinda funny with her kind of feminine voice. "All the Soc girls, 'cept you?" I smirked, it wasn't s'pposed to be but, it was a little funny.

"Except me." She threw herself onto the grass beside me, and little closer than normal. I knew she wasn't happy 'cause of how ungraceful she was being.

We there in silence for a while, I thought about makin' conversation since I was runnin' outta cancer sticks, but she's the one who's not talkin. "You aint gon' say what's got you so hacked off?" I asked, resisting the damned urge to get another cigarette outta my pocket.

"No." She was real serious about it. Serious enough that I let it go, for a good 5 minutes.

"Cmon just tell me what the hell happened." I looked at her this time, which I often chose to not do, I don't why I did it this time, I don't know why I do a lot of things. It's really just about what feels right.

"What is up with you? What do you want from me? What do you get out of this? Are you here to bother me or are you here because you want to be near me? What the hell do you want? Do you let me come by because it's fun to see me like this or do you want to get something out of this? What do you want Dallas Winston?"

I considered sayin' something, that's what she would've wanted. But it didn't feel right, so I hadn't. Somethin' 'bout silence must really mess up Cherry Valance. I grabbed another cancer stick but she got to my arm 'fore the cigarette could get to my mouth. And her lips got to mine way before that cigarette would've ever been able to if I had tried to break free from her grasp.

I didn't get much of a chance to do anythin' really, she broke off me the second both of us knew what the hell was happenin'. She didn't say anything before she ran away. Her expression said nothin' whatsoever.

But that kiss, dammit that felt right.

Cherry Valance:

I ran and ran and ran back home. It was the first time I didn't care about running in flats, that didn't stop me or even slow me down. I made it back home fast enough to not think about what I just did.

I ran right into Marcia who was standing outside my home. I nearly knocked her over because of how fast I was goin'. "Sher-Sher, where'd you go?" I was breathing in and then out and then in again.

"I just kissed Dallas Winston." She pushed me away from her grasp at a good enough distance to look at me. I know she was searching for some kind of sign that I was lying, I knew she wasn't going to find one.

"You what?"

"You fucking heard me." I've never cursed in my life.