Pretend (johnnyboy & curtis sister x cherry)

Chapter 41: Student Council

~time skip to the student council meeting that week~

Since the Student Council is in charge of all school dances, at this meeting we are finalizing the plans for the Winter Formal. We picked out the theme back in late October, which is "Red & Green". It sounded pretty boring and basic to me, but everyone else liked it.

At the end of the meeting, Cherry and Marcia approach me.

"Hi Lav!" Says Cherry.

"Hey!" I say back.

"Are you doing anything before the dance on Friday?" She asks.

"No, why?" I respond.

"Cause Cherry and I are getting ready at her house and we were wondering if you wanted to join us." States Marcia.

"Sure! I'd love to go! Thank you!" I respond.

"It's no problem. We like hanging with you." Chimes Cherry. "Do you have a ride home?"

"No, I'm gonna walk."

"In this snowy weather? Hell no! I'll drive you."

"Are you sure Cherry? I don't want to bring you any trouble."

"It's totally okay. I need to go and talk to Ponyboy anyways. We haven't been able to speak to each other much since Darry put him on lockdown. What'd he even do to get grounded?"

"I'll tell you in the car."

~time skip to in Cherry's car~

"So what did he do?" Asks Cherry curiously.

"He said a homophobic slur."

"Oh my gosh. That's awful. I-I can't believe he said that."

"Me either"

"What was the context?"

"He said that he wasn't an f-slur."

"Does he at least feel bad about it?"

"Very."

"Okay, good. I've never understood why people have such problems with gays. Love is love. It doesn't matter if it's a man and a woman, or two women, or two men. It's all love."

"I agree."

"Can I tell you something Lavender, that you promise you won't get mad at me for?"

"Yeah, sure Cherry. What's up?"

"I think Ponyboy might be gay."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"He always talks about Johnny when we're together, and it's not in a friendship sort of way. I'm not mad if he is gay for Johnny."

"Wow."

"But honestly, dating him wasn't what I thought it would be. It's hard being so popular. I'm not saying that to sound conceded, it's true. I'm always having to live up to everyone's expectations." Cherry starts to cry. "I joined the cheerleading squad, but I'm still not enough. I was elected student council secretary, but I'm still not enough. I used to date the most popular boy at school, but I'm still not enough. I never even liked Bob. He was so awful to me. I only dated him because I felt like I had to fit in. And I did like Ponyboy, but it's just not working out with him. I'm sorry I know you probably don't care."

"No, Cherry it's okay. I do think you need to break up with Ponyboy, though."

"I'll do it after the dance."

"Okay."

"I'm starting to think that I actually might not even like guys at all, and that girls are more my type. Or maybe I do like guys but I just prefer girls. I don't know. I'm just so confused. I'm sorry. I never should have told you, 'cause you're gonna hate me now. I'm sorry."

"No Cherry, of course not," I say, trying to hide my excitement.

"You won't tell anyone, right? Cause everyone will flip out if they find out that 'little miss perfect' is gay. I'm still not even sure. What if I'm just making it all up?" She starts to cry more.

"Cherry. It's okay. I get it." I reassure her.

"How could you possibly get it?" She asks and my stomach takes a dip. Shit. I shouldn't have said that. Now I've got to tell her.

"Cause I'm a lesbian." I blurt out.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry."

"That I'm a lesbian?"

"No no. I guess just- I don't know. How did you know for sure?"

"Well, I fell in love with a girl. And I couldn't possibly imagine spending the rest of my life with a man."

"I might be somewhere in the middle of straight and gay. I don't know. I'm really confused."

"Cherry, it's okay. You don't have to figure anything out yet."

"Thank you for being so nice to me, Lav. Don't tell Ponyboy, but you're my favorite Curtis." I blush when Cherry says this. "But Lav, if you know you don't like guys, why are you dating Johnny?"

"To hide my gayness."

"That's actually smart. Does Johnny know?"

"Yeah, he's the first person I told."

"Aw, that's actually so cute. Who else knows?"

"Two-Bit and Marcia. But Two figured it out on his own."

"Is Johnny gay too?"

"N-no." I stutter. I don't want to out Johnny without his permission.

"Oh that's too bad. He and Ponyboy would have made a cute couple."

"Yeah."

"Lav I know you're lying. You're really bad at it. Don't worry, I won't say anything to anybody. I kinda always thought Johnny was a little gay. I won't out you or him."

"Thanks, Cherry."

"Do you know if Johnny likes Ponyboy?"

"Yeah, he does."

"Oh that's perfect! Cause Pony definitely likes him!"

"Pony was even talking about crushing on Johnny in his sleep."

"Oh my gosh, we have to set them up!"

"Me and Two have been trying to. If you break up with Pony now, then maybe he and Johnny will get together at the dance."

"That's a good idea," Cherry says as we pull into my driveway.