Pretend (johnnyboy & curtis sister x cherry)

Chapter 18: Somebody Pinch Me

~Time skip to the first day back from school after Thanksgiving break~

The first day back from Thanksgiving break is always hectic. The winter formal is in three weeks and everyone is asking people to be their dates. I'm a little sad that I will probably never have a date to a school dance. If two girls showed up as dates, everyone would just about have a fit. As Johnny and I walk down the halls in school we see everyone paired off into couples. I see in his eyes that he is sad too.

"It's gonna get better for us. Someday we might even be able to legally get married to the people we love." I whisper in his ear. He cracks a slight smile.

Johnny and I go through our day. It's really rough on us to see all of these happy couples and know that neither of us will probably ever have something like that.

Johnny and I have a few classes together. One of them is history. We both get good grades in that class actually, so we are in the A-class. Ponyboy and Cherry are in our history class, too. It's both mine and Johnny's favorite part of the day. We have it in the seventh period.

I'm sitting in the back with Johnny. Ponyboy is sitting directly in front of Johnny, and Cherry is in the front row. I don't pay much attention during class today because I am distracted by Cherry. She looks extra pretty today. She is wearing a new pink skirt and a grey sweater. Her hair is tied into a ponytail with a pink ribbon that matches her skirt. I wonder if she has a date for the dance. It's not like she'd even go with me anyway... She quickly turns her head to the back of the room to look at the clock. Our eyes meet. I feel my face get hot. She knows I was staring. She just smiles and turns back around and continues taking notes on the lesson.

Fifteen minutes later, the bell rings. Johnny and I walk together to Math. When we get to the classroom, we sit down next to each other in the middle row.

~Time skip to after school at a student council meeting~

"Hey, Lavender, right?" I hear a voice say, behind me. I turn around and see Cherry. Why is she talking to me?

"Yeah, that's me," I say not trying to sound too excited.

"So, what did you think of Mr. Harrison's history lesson? I thought it was pretty interesting." Did she have to ask about the one class I didn't pay attention to today? "Maybe sometime we could meet up and compare notes. You seem like a really nice person and I'd like to get to know you better." She says.

"Oh wow- I mean yeah- that would be great." Cherry Valance... Wants to get to know me better? Somebody pinch me I must be dreaming!

"I don't have cheer leading practice tomorrow. How about we go over to the diner after school and get milkshakes?"

"Sounds perfect. I'll meet you at the library after eighth period."

"See you then!"

I can't believe that I am meeting up with the love of my life tomorrow after school! What am I going to wear?!

~Time skip to later that night~

I've been waiting all day to tell Johnny the good news. Now that everyone else is asleep, I finally can.

"So, Lavender. What's the news?!" He asks excitedly.

"So..." I start, "I'm sitting in a student council meeting."

"Where."

"Um... At a desk."

"Obviously. But like, which desk?"

"Oh. Middle row closest to the window, Ms. Denison's room."

"Okay"

"And I'm sitting there and I hear someone say my name. I turn around and freaking Cherry Valance is talking to me!"

"Really?"

"Yeah. And she said that she wanted to get to know me better, and now we're getting milkshakes tomorrow after school!"

"Oh my gosh, Lav, that's great! She's totally into you!"

"I don't know. She probably just wants to be friends."

"But she asked you on a date!"

"She never said it was a date."

"I'm so jealous of you right now, man. The boy I like is too interested in someone else and doesn't give a shit about me."

"I've seen the way Pony looks at you."

"I haven't!"

"Of course, you haven't. Does Pony ever see you stare at him?"

"Oh, I guess not.... But do you really think he likes me?"

"Definitely."

"So when he and I get married, what sounds better, Ponyboy Cade or Johnny Curtis?"

"Woah, Woah, Woah. Don't get ahead of yourself. Same-sex marriage isn't even legal yet. And definitely Ponyboy Cade. Johnny Curtis sounds like a soc name."

"I agree."

We sit in another comfortable silence, and then Johnny falls asleep.

~Time skip to after school the next day~

Cherry and I decided to meet at the library. I get there first. I wait there for about five minutes before she comes in. I give her a wave and a smile. I don't want to look too desperate.

"Hey, Lavender!" She says cheerfully.

"Hi Cherry!" I say. I'm so excited to spend the afternoon with her.

"I'm gonna drive us to the diner"

"Sounds good." We both start walking out to the parking lot. God does she walk fast!! When we get to her car I'm just about out of breath from trying to keep up with her.

Cherry and I get in the car. Our shoulders touch. I love being this close to her.

"This is a really tuff car, Cherry," I say trying to start a conversation.

"Thanks! I got to pick it out myself." Cherry responds. "You know, you and Pony really do look alike."

"You think so?" I say, shocked. Like I've said before, I didn't think we looked like each other at all.

"Yeah. You guys have the same eyes. They're really pretty." Cherry thinks my eyes are pretty! I get butterflies.

We spend the rest of the car ride talking about all sorts of things. I see what Pony says now. Greasers and socs really aren't that different.

When we arrive at the diner, I see that Marcia is already there and found us a booth near the window. I am a little upset because I thought that it would only be me and Cherry, but I don't mind sitting with Marcia. Marcia and Cherry sit on one side of the booth, and I sit on the other.

"Hello," says Marcia "you're Lavender, right?" I nod my head. "Lavender. That's a really pretty name. Y'know, Two-Bit has told me so much about you." She states. I am taken aback by this. I knew that Marcia and Randy broke up after Bob died. But I had no idea that she had started seeing Two-Bit. Two isn't a very secretive guy. Why would he hide this? And what did he say about me? Marcia must have noticed the look of worry on my face because she quickly says "Oh don't worry he didn't say anything bad about ya." and I laugh with relief.

"So should we get to it?" Cherry asks eagerly.

"Get to what?" I ask.

"Cherry, you didn't tell her?!" Marcia asks angrily.

"I'm sorry! I was afraid she wouldn't come if I told her the real reason..." Cherry says while glancing over at me. "Sorry, Lavender."

"Why did you guys bring me here then?" I'm so very confused.

"Because... well..." Cherry starts, "You see... I don't really know how to say this but... I want to ask Ponyboy to the dance, but I have no idea how to do it. We thought you could help me out."