Just One Day (Ponyboy) (Casual)

[thenerdherd]

Cherry hummed lightly to herself as she walked down the street. She had been almost everywhere today, her first stop had been the movies. It had been some romantic comedy that hadn’t interested her at all the entire time, but it had made her giggle sometimes, she owed the movie that much. After her trip to the theathre she had walked around the park, admiring the color of the trees and the sun up in the sky. Nature was so beautiful sometimes and it was nice when Cherry could just enjoy it without having to worry about anything. Her day had been lonely for the most part, though she had to say that she had expected to run into Ponyboy like she normally did, he always made her day a bit brighter and more fun.

The girl ran her fingers through her hair and added vocals instead of humming, singing quietly as she walked. It was so…boring at the moment. There was nothing to do and no one to do it with. Marcia was somewhere at home while Cherry was enjoying the day outside. []“Rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop. When the wind blows, the craddle will fall…”[/] she sang. Then she noticed a figure and her heart beat a little faster in her chest. ”Ponyboy?” she called out as she walked closer to see if it was who she thought it was. It would be ironic if it was though it would make her day that much bette and much less boring. ”Ponyboy.” she sighed in relief, ”Do you know how embarrassing it would have been if I were walking to some random stranger calling them you?” she asked with a laugh.

[eastsidesunset]

Running in Central Park was a whole lot better than running around the streets of Windrixville, I decided right then as I stopped for a break and a drink of water. For one, there were real pretty trails and loops designed specifically for the purpose and secondly, it was normal. People looked at you and would think: Just another runner. Maybe even a smile if they were in a good mood. That definitely beat getting glared at after every "excuse me" on the sidewalks by a mile.

Of course I'd forgotten a water bottle, so I drinked from the fountains scattered around the park and it was one of the best days I'd had in a while. The sun shone brightly as kids played in the background and it was like nothing could go wrong. Greasers and Socs didn't exist this far from Windrixville, and I could pretend for a day they didn't exist anywhere. I sighed a breath of contentment and rubbed the last of the grease still in my hair from the morning. I'd been running long enough that most was gone anyway, and I didn't want a single reminder of what I was labeled as back home.

Just when I almost decided to start running again, someone called my name and I jumped, turning around. I grinned widely when I saw who it was. Cherry. What a surprise to top off the day of freedom from the chains that normally bound me, bound all of us.

"Cherry," I greeted happily with a wave, even as my heart skipped a beat at the sight of just how beautiful she was. I'd managed to get used to that by now, or as much as anyone could at least. "Definitely. 'Specially with a name like mine, they'd probably call the cops." I winked, happier and more open than I'd been since the last time I saw her. Then I remembered something. "Was that you singing? Man, I didn't know you could sing. Another thing to add to that list, huh?" I laughed, finding conversation easier to make than usual.

[thenerdherd]

Cherry finished making her way to Ponyboy and embraced him, it was so nice to be away from the prejudges that were back in Windrixville. Not that Cherry was afraid of being seen with Ponyboy, no, she had thrown that away when they had first met. 

A fake mask of horror washed over her features, "Oh no!" she said, "Then you must be my hero for the day, saving me from sent to jail for calling people 'Ponyboy.' Of course, then I'd tell them you were my accomplice of some crime so I wouldn't be alone in there." she winked at him

A light crimson swam onto Cherrys features, he had heard her singing? Well, she was thankful he didn't hear her singing too badly, that would be mortifying. "I don't sing often." she told him "When I watch the little boy across the street I often sing him to sleep, but I never really sing anywhere else." In truth, Cherry wouldn't mind singing for Ponyboy though, she trusted him.

Cherry laughed and nodded, "You know what else you can add to the list? I often end up wearing something that matches an object around me." she stared at the blue of her sweater and stared up at the sky, "Camoflauge!" she smirked

Then Cherry turned to him and grinned, "So what are you doing in Central Park, today? This has to be the last place I'd think of bumping into you." 

[eastsidesunset]

I rolled my eyes with a grin, imagining the strange picture of Cherry being in jail. As if that was ever gonna happen. I knew I couldn't truthfully mind being in jail with her, though, and I looked away for a moment just to cut off the thought. When she said she didn't sing very often, my smile widened and I reached a quick hand out and mussed her hair, before saying with as innocent an expression as I could manage, "Well then, that little boy across the street's right lucky." I laughed. "You're good. You should sing more often."

"Nah, even with your "camouflage" you're more than noticeable." I winked, and couldn't help but stare at her hair. Brighter than any dye could ever manage. At her question, I responded, shrugging, "Running. Track season's coming up and it's so rare there's a day like this one. Central park was the first place that I could think of." I sighed happily, gazing around the park and just taking it all in. "Great place, this park. Like there ain't no worries in the world today..." I said the last part so quietly I doubted she even heard me.

"What 'bout you?" I said, trying to brighten my tone. "Whatcha doin' 'round here today?" Before she could answer, I remembered something. "Come, I wanna show ya something," I said excitedly, and I tugged a bit on her arm and started at a run towards the place I always went to when I had a chance to come here by myself. I didn't think anyone else knew about it, but that was why I liked it. In the always-chaotic NYC, this place was like a haven, and for the first time I wanted to show someone. No, not just someone. Cherry. I smiled, and motioned for her to follow me.

[thenerdherd]

When Ponyboy reached forward and mussed her hair she looked at him teasingly, ”Now you’re going to get it, Curtis.” she told him with a wink. Cherry laughed, “He’s sure not happy when he’s tired, takes forever to get him up in bed and sing to him.” she said before shrugging, “I suppose I would, but there’s no one to sing for. Other than myself in the mirror that is and I’m not a very good audience to myself.”

A warm smile washed itself over the redheads features again, normally Cherry just thanked someone for a compliment but it felt different hearing something like that from him. It felt…special. ”Thank you,” she said, ”that means a lot.” Cherry felt her eyes widen a bit in surprise, ”You do track?” she asked, ”I’ll have to come watch you sometime. I‘m not very good at things like track, that‘s why I‘m a cheerleader.” she shook her head and laughed. The teenager followed in Ponyboy’s lead and looked around the park, ”It’s gorgeous.” she breathed

Cherry turned her gaze from the brilliant green of the trees back to Ponyboy, who seemed to be very excited about something. She raced up to him(careful not to trip over anything and fall face first) and grabbed his hand so she wouldn‘t lose him, letting him lead her to wherever they were going. ”I just tried to get out of the house today. I went to the movies then I stopped by the diner for a minute or two and then I came here. Just to enjoy the day while it’s sunny.” she said, ”The cherry was just put on top by running into you.” then she paused for a second, ”No pun intended. Where are we going?” she asked

[eastsidesunset]

The feeling of her hand in mine sent warm chills down my spine, and I slowed down a bit so she wouldn't have trouble keeping up. That, and because the moment was so sweet I wanted it to last forever. We walked in a comfortable quiet for a while before I answered her earlier question about track with a crooked grin. "Why the surprise? What, do I not look the type or somethin'?" I laughed. "My oldest brother was always the football star of the family. I never went out for it but I can run, so track was the natural thing." I sighed, thinking about how Darry could never play quarterback in the school team again... all for me and Soda. Remembering that always drove an icicle into my stomach and made me feel guilty as hell.

Trying to get back the blissful mood of only a minute ago, I told Cherry a bit too quietly, "There's this place I found a few years ago. Amazing it even still exists here of all places, but I guess the construction guys forgot about it. You'll see." I gave a small smile. "It's a surprise." Even as I talked, we got closer to the place until only a thick patch of trees blocked it from view. Over the years I'd found a tiny path that I guessed was used to reach it once, but now it was overgrown with weeds and nearly impossible to tell apart from the small forest surrounding it. This was the outskirts of the park and there was nobody close by, as was the norm. You could hear the sounds of kids playing, but as I ducked beneath tree branches and held them up a little for Cherry, even those dimmed like we had closed some kind of door.

And then, there it was. I smiled at the familiar little run-down playground and was relieved that for one more day, at least, it was still there. And now Cherry could see it too. A tire swing still hung precariously on a tree branch, and some old playground stuff that looked like it was out of an old '60s movie sat in a corner. In the middle, there was an open space with a small table that had it's fair share of holes (and a broken leg), as well as a collapsed bench.

"This is the place," I nearly whispered, then cleared my throat and continued in a slightly louder voice, (It always felt weird to talk loud here) "Found it when I was thirteen." Just a month after my parents died. But she didn't have to know that- and besides, the place helped me accept that they were gone. I dunno how. "It's not much, but it's... a nice change from all the lights around here. Peaceful, almost." I shrugged. "They'll probably take it down soon. Might as well let someone else know about it before that happens."

[thenerdherd]

Cherry laughed along with him and leaned against him, "I didn't think of you as the track type, more of the...chess club." she teased with a grin, "Well I guess when I come to watch you I'll be your own personal cheerleader." she laughed and gave Ponyboy a tiny nudge. Cherry wrapped her arms around him as they walked, it was nice not being judged here. Where there were just people and not Socs or Greasers. She was just Cherry Valance while he was just Ponyboy Curtis.

"I swear, Ponyboy Curtis, if it's something scary or disgusting like molding cheese you are going to get it." she told him with a tiny smirk. The deadhead followed him and thanked him quietly when he held the brush up for her. She had never been around here before, it was exciting...and a bit frightening. Cherry grabbed his hand again and stuck close to him as they walked, if she got lost in here she was doomed. The sounds of kids playing warmed her heart a bit, one day those would be her kids and she would be chasing them around the park until they all collapsed laughing and giggling. The picture made her smile, one day things would all fall into place. 

Cherry smiled at the little playground that was in front of them. It was a little old and broken but it was still peaceful and...perfect. It helped that Ponyboy was standing beside her, and that he had showed her this place. "Maybe we could fix it up, then if they do find it they won't tare it down." she said quietly, staring around the park. 

Cherry tugged on his hand and let go, making her way over to some rusty swings before taking a chance and sitting on it. "It is peaceful, no one exists here but us. No Socs, no Greasers. Could you imagine?" she asked, "If for just one day our rivals didn't exist and we were just people? Just Ponyboy and just Cherry. Not Ponyboy, that Greaser kid or Cherry, that goody-two-shoes Soc." a sigh escaped her lips, "I long for that day." she whispered 

[eastsidesunset]

"Chess club?" I arched an eyebrow, trying to force my face into a hurt expression and failing miserably, "Aw, that stings. Don't tell anyone you said that or you'll ruin my whole reputation as one of the no-good hoods from the bad side of town." I winked at her and laughed, then leaned against one of the ancient-looking trees the swing hung on. The swings didn't look safe... but it didn't look like it'd collapse on top of Cherry anytime soon either. I exhaled a long breath, and slid slowly down the tree until I was sitting on the slightly damp forest floor, arms wrapped loosely around my knees.

"Maybe," I said quietly, thinking about her comment about how maybe they could fix the place. "But then it wouldn't be the same." I sighed, running a hand down the rough, mottled bark of the tree. "Dunno what's better, having that risk there or having everyone come down here and ruining the quiet." I turned back to her and for a moment, simply met her eyes and we stayed like that for a second that lasted longer than it seemed possible.

I nodded, finally looking away thoughtfully into the top of the trees that made a sort of canopy above the clearing, letting tiny rays of sunlight show through. "I've wondered for years what that'd be like. One day. Hard to imagine..." I trailed off, then wondered aloud, "What would you do? If there was just one day where you could do anything at all, when nobody hates nobody and everything's right with the world." I had no clue what I'd do-- the scenario seemed so impossible that it was hard to think about seriously.

[thenerdherd]

Cherry giggled and shook her head, "Of course no one could ever find out that Ponyboy Curtis isn't all the badboy he's made out to be." she tilted her head in wonder at him, "Maybe I'll just tell a few people about your sudden love for Chess club." she smirked at him 


"Thats true." she answered quietly, the swing creaking slightly as she shifted her weight. "I like it here, no one is judged, there's no prejudges. Thank you for sharing it with me, Ponyboy." Cherry's eyes met his and her heart skipped a beat or two. Who knew that being scared out of her wits one day would have let her meet someone she considered a friend. 

If you had asked Cherry a few weeks ago if she would ever be found around a Greaser she might have said no because of the crowd she was around. But she would have pulled you aside later and explained that she would if they weren't like the sterotype everyone made them out to be. Cherry would have never noticed Ponyboy in her English, and she felt that if she had never met him she wouldn't have someone who she considered a very good and caring friend.

When he broke their gaze Cherry let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding and turned her gaze up to the sky. Or what you could see of it anyway.  

Cherry looked from the sky back to Ponyboys face, "What would I do?" she asked, "Goodness, I'd do so many things. But I think at the top of my list," The girl rose from the swing and sat down beside Ponyboy. "I would do this."she took his hand and held it in her own.

Cherry's heart was thumping wildly in her chest though her outside feautres seemed to show she was calm and collected. Ponyboy brought out these feelings in here that felt stronger than the time she was with Bob, he was different from anyone she knew and she hoped, just hoped that he could possibly feel the same way. "Then," she whispered, "I would do this." Gently, she turned the boys face to her and brought her lips to his. Cherry lingered there for a second before she wrapped her arms around him and kissed Ponyboy softly again. 

(ooc: Squeee!!)

[eastsidesunset]

The world might've collapsed around us for all I would've known when Cherry kissed me. Actually kissed me. My first reaction was just to stand there as frozen as a statue, eyes wide as saucers. Then I saw her, really saw her like I'd never really seen her before, and some sort of hidden instinct took over my body and washed away the shock like it'd never been there in the first place, like this was the most normal thing in the world. "Cherry," I breathed, heart nearly pounding out of my chest. There'd be trouble, we'd regret it, we couldn't do this, a voice hissed in the depths of my mind, but something a lot stronger had taken roots in the front of my brain. Something that squashed the voice into nonexistence.

And so when she kissed me the second time, I kissed her right back, pressing my lips on hers gently like I'd done this a million times, when in reality there had never been a girl I liked enough to even try. I ran a hand carefully through her long, impossibly red hair and the smell of that shampoo... it was hypnotizing. And finally, after a moment where everything seemed to stop, I pulled away and stared down at the ground, down at my worn out tennis sneakers and her expensive-looking flats, and colour rushed into my face as I fully realized what I'd done.

I'd kissed a Soc.

"Oh, no," I groaned, covering my face with my hands and shaking my head a little, backing up a step. They were gonna kill me at best. Them, as in the Socs, as soon as they found out. And they were gonna find out, no matter what we said or did. "Jesus Christ," I muttered, still shaking my head as if that would somehow cancel out the whole thing. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. But then I finally found the guts to look her in the eye and somehow, I calmed down, amazingly. "Cherry..." I whispered again, trailing off. Maybe it was worth it, a tiny voice said in my head. Just maybe.

[thenerdherd]

Cherry couldn't believe she had gone through with it, she couldn't believe she had kissed him. Her eyes were closed as she sunk into bliss, enjoying the few seconds she had before he pushed her away. She faintly heard her name and the only response she could think of was: "No," she breathed not daring to open her eyes, Cherry didn't want this kiss to end ever. She didn't want this to end the way she was afraid it might, Ponyboy not returning the feelings she had for him.

These fears and questions were all wiped away in the next few seconds, he was returning the kiss! A smile wanted to make it's way on her lips, he was kissing her back! The teenager tangled her fingers in his hair, deepening the kiss and not wanting to ever let go. Eventually, Cherry needed to breathe and at that excat moment he pulled away from her. She watched him stare at the ground and she wished she knew what was running through his mind. It may or may not have been the same running through hers.

She had just kissed Ponyboy Curtis. Cherry probably should have been afraid of the consequenses that could happen, but her mind wasn't working that far into the future, it was stuck right here, right now. That was a first kiss....or at least what her first kiss should have been like. Cherry snapped out of her revverie when she heard his voice.

Immdiaetly, Cherry could feel the hurt evident on the features of her face. Oh no? Why oh no? He took a step away from her and she ran her fingers through her hair. At that moment when he looked at her, she understood. Her mind had started to function again and she knew excatly what 'Oh no.' had meant. 

Cherry was a Soc and the boy standing near her was a Greaser...and she had just kissed him. It was something you heard in fairytales, one side hates the other but two people bring them together at the end. Though it was highly doubtful the Socs and Greasers would EVER get along. "Oh no." she said so very quietly, almost as if she had said nothing at all  

"Kissing you," she whispered, "it didn't feel wrong. I don't regret it." Cherrys voice became even more quiet at her next sentence, "And if I could I'd do it again."

  

[eastsidesunset]

At her words, my heart hammered even more quickly than before. Then and there I made up my mind- if she didn't care, I wouldn't either. To hell with whoever tried to stop me. So I threw caution to the winds for just one day, and pretended for all I was worth (which wasn't much, I had to admit, but it was all I got) that this could work. That the fact that she didn't regret kissing me was all that mattered, not the Socs or the gang or even my brothers. For just one day. And so the corners of my mouth stretched into a small smile as I said very softly, "That's the thing, though, ain't it?" The smile widened just a little. "I think... I would too."

And because I was pretending that nothing in the world could go wrong today, I leaned in with a surge of rare confidence and kissed her again, pressing my lips to hers for a long moment before pulling back again and saying with a grin, "And y'know, I can't seem to get myself to regret that a whole lot either, so I guess we're even." A ray of sunlight escaped through the heavy cover of the trees and shone straight in my eyes, and I laughed for almost no reason at all.

You think this is worth getting people hurt- hell, even killed? Remember what happened to Johnny? And that wasn't even for a real reason. You really want that to happen to you? What's Soda gonna say? Darry? He's gonna kill ya, you know. The back of my head buzzed with worry, but I ignored it all. That could wait. Right now that wasn't what mattered. Cherry was what mattered. It would be alright.

Right?

[georgie]

Meg was so bored. Another day off from rehearsals meant the little ballerina had nothing do to. The corps de ballet (aka the Ballet Rats), which Meg was a prominent part of, ALWAYS practiced, day or night. Even if it was midnight after a performance. Her mother, Madame Giry, had them rehearse. They had to be perfect. She could hardly remember a day where she went to bed before 3am after a performance. That was just the "glamorous life" of a Ballet Rat at the Paris Opera House...or any Opera House they performed at because even when they performed in Vienna while a new Opera House was being built, it was the same thing....only minus the fear. Fear of the unseen Phantom of the Opera, who killed anyone who didn't please him. That was why Meg practiced even more than they other Ballet Girls. She didn't want to be killed. Now there was no threat of death and they told her to take a day off because her Romeo had one and "What's Juliet without Romeo?"

Clad in a pale pink sun dress, gray sweater and light pink-ish gold flat, Miss Giry sighed as she pulled her tan bag across her and headed to the park to wander around for awhile. That's what she did in Paris (or Vienna) whenever she had free time. Honestly, if one saw the pretty Miss Meg Giry with her blonde curls falling to almost the small of her back and her cute little sun dress, sweater and flats combo, you'd be sure she was a Soc, as they said here. But she was an honorary Greaser...who happened to be a ballerina. She found the Greasers (minus Dally) to be the nicest people she'd met in a long time...as long as Two-Bit didn't call her "Peggy". She loved being around her new friends and she thought maybe some would be in the park which is why she came there. She'd been so busy with rehearsals that she hadn't seen any of them recently.

After sometime of just wandering around the park, Meg was almost convinced she wouldn't see any of her friends. She was sad by that. She really missed them...except Two-Bit if he was going to call her "Peggy" and especially not Dally. Soda was the one she missed for her own special reasons. She missed Ponyboy dreadfully too. He was like her first friend in the city. She would probably be lost without him. She couldn't even remember the last time she saw him...and then suddenly, she saw him. She knew it was him even from the back...well, she was pretty sure it was him... "Ponyboy?" she called out, her voice was soft as always and it was brushed very lightly now with a French accent. She was working on getting rid of it for the most part so people could understand her. It wasn't completely gone but it gave her voice some character.

[thenerdherd]

Cherry’s heart fluttered when he kissed her again, she couldn’t believe this. It was all just like a dream…it was just like that one day she was always hoping for her. This was her dreams rolled into one, the redhead didn’t want to leave this spot with him. She smiled back at him and laughed along with him, taking his hand in hers. ”Remember what you said about just one day?” she asked quietly, she felt that if she spoke normally it would disrupt the moment that she was so engulfed in. ”I don’t want just one day, Ponyboy. I want many, many, many of them, with you.” she was sure her cheeks had a pink tint to them but she didn’t care right now. It was Ponyboy, she didn’t care about anything or anyone else except for the boy in front of her.

Cherry wrapped her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, holding herself close against him. If it was a dream, as she feared, then she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could before she woke up. She lifted her head from his shoulder after a few minutes and kissed him again.

”Ponyboy?”

Someone else was there. Cherry had no idea whether to stay next to Ponyboy or jump away from him, even if it was someone he knew. Neither side would take their…relationship? Was that what it was? She hoped it was. Anyway, no one would take their relationship very easily. A Soc and a Greaser wasn’t something that was ever supposed to happen. Deciding she would rather him not get in trouble Cherry gave his hand a light squeeze from quickly removing herself from him and taking a few steps to the side.

[eastsidesunset]

Was it possible for my heart to pound faster than it was without it becoming a heart attack? I listened to her words and hesitated before saying anything, squeezing her hand in mine a little. As she leaned her head against my shoulder, I wrapped my arms around her and gazed up at the canopy of leaves above us as I said, my voice barely a whisper, "The funny thing is that... I do too."

It was the truth at its barest, so why did I feel like what I was saying was something horribly wrong? Because, I knew in my gut, it wouldn't work between us, a greaser and a Soc, it never would. Like trying to convince yourself that Romeo and Juliet had a happy ending, like trying to force what you knew to be a disaster to turn out okay.

Something ached deep in my chest and I had to pull back after another kiss, step back into reality. I was about to say something resembling 'maybe this is a mistake' but I guess my timing was perfect because she stepped back hurriedly at exactly the same time I did, though for a completely different reason. Only then did I realize someone who wasn't Cherry had said my name.

I turned around in surprise- in all the years I'd visited this place, I'd never seen anyone else around- then realized with a start that it was Meg. For a moment, embarrassment at being seen flooded through me and I felt my face heat up. "Meg, uh, hi," I managed pathetically, talking in a rush,"Wasn't expectin' to see ya here. This is, um..." I gestured awkwardly at Cherry, "Cherry Valance." Man, I thought, wishing I could crawl under a rock or something, Of all possible places, why here? Why now? Maybe it was good that she was here, though. Maybe it'd bring me back to reality, even though reality was a place I hated more and more these days.