Throughout the next couple of weeks, Cherry and I grew much closer. I had even hung out with her and Marcia a couple of times. I also kept going on dates with Christian, despite Cherry's previous warning. We were only going out in secret, though. I think Chris was partially scared of Dallas, though he'd never admit it.
It was a Friday afternoon sometime in fall and Chris and I had been sitting on the steps of his front porch. He reached across me, pulling a pack of cigarettes out of his jacket that he had draped over my shoulders. He offered me one and when I agreed, he lit both of them. He then wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me closer.
"Y/N," he called softly, looking down.
"Yes," I answered, making eye contact.
"What do you say we make it official, baby?" he asked.
Sure I was still slightly hung up on Cherry, but it was never gonna happen so why not try and move on.
"Okay," I answered.
He grabbed my chin and pulled me in for a kiss. The butterflies I got from him didn't compare to the ones I felt when I was near Cherry, though.
I'm fucked, I thought.
-
Cherry had invited me over that same weekend, and of course, I agreed. I had also decided to tell her about my relationship. I couldn't hide it from her forever. I knocked on her door, nervously fidgeting with my fingers while waiting.
"Hey, Y/N," Cherry greeted.
"Hey," I said shyly, still fidgeting.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked as we walked into the house.
"No," I lied.
She didn't believe me, I could tell, but she let it slide for now. We hung out like usual though the thought of telling Cherry about my relationship still lingered. Towards the end of the day, she decided she had had enough and wanted to know what was wrong. She dragged me onto the couch and put my hands in hers.
"Come on, Y/N, you know you can tell me anything," Cherry assured.
I took a deep breath in and sighed, preparing myself.
"You know how I had gone on a date with that Christopher guy?" I asked.
"Yeah..." Cherry nodded
"Well, I know you said he had a bad past with girls, but he told me he changed. And honestly, he didn't seem like that bad a guy," I began
"Long story short, we went out a couple more times and yesterday night he asked me to be his girlfriend and I said yes," I ranted quickly, not taking breaks between my words.
A look of pain flashed across her eyes, so brief I had almost missed it. Once it was gone, she sat there shocked, her mouth was slightly open.
"Cherry?" I asked
"Are you out of your mind?" she yelled
"Wha-" I began
"I- I mean, seriously, do you have a death wish or something? He's a manipulative piece of shit. I told you this and- and you still kept going out with him. I can't believe it," she ranted, pacing around
"Cherry, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. People change," I said.
"Not him," she said simply.
"Come on, I'll take you home," she said, grabbing her keys.
I didn't argue and followed her into her car. The drive home was silent and Cherry was mad. Her hands gripped the steering wheel, her knuckles white, and she was clenching and unclenching her jaw. She didn't speak a word to me, she didn't even look at me.
"If I knew you were gonna get so upset over it, I wouldn't have told you," I muttered angrily, arms crossed over my chest.
"You're just like your brother," she scoffed and stopped the car by the Curtis house. I walked out and she immediately drove away, not even waiting for me to get inside like she usually did.
Shit, I thought. I knew that saying what I did wouldn't have helped, but I said it anyway. Maybe she was right, maybe I was like Dally.
I walked up the steps and entered the house. Everyone was gathered in the living room besides Darry and Soda who were making dinner. I walked into the kitchen and offered them help, but they refused. I plopped down onto the couch with a sigh, sitting with my back against the inner corner.
"Is everything okay?" Two asked.
I nodded sadly, looking down.
"You sure?" he double-checked to which I nodded in response.
He refocused his attention on the TV and mine went to my fingers. I fidgeted with them, doubt and worry consuming my thoughts.
"Dallas, what's up with your sister?" Two asked. I had heard him ask, but hadn't really processed what he said.
"How am I supposed to know?" Dally answered.
"Well go ask, you idiot," Darry scolded from the kitchen. If it had been anyone else, Dally wouldn't have listened and probably would've started a fight, but he was slightly intimidated by Darry, whether he liked to admit it or not.
He walked over to the sofa and sat down next to me. He examined me for a couple of seconds before speaking.
"What's wrong with you?" he asked kind of harshly.
I was snapped out of my thoughts with his question. I looked at him confused and surprised with my brows furrowed.
"Dallas!" Darry scolded yet again.
"What?" he yelled back.
"You could've picked a nicer way to put it," Darry said.
"Sorry," Dally mumbled sarcastically.
"Are you okay?" Dally yelled slowly to make sure Darry heard.
"Yeah," I answered, though my tone said otherwise.
"She says she's fine," he yelled.
"Do you believe her?" the oldest one yelled back.
"No," Dally answered.
"Okay, so..." Darry said.
"Well if she says she's okay and she isn't then it's not my problem," he yelled again, acting as if I wasn't right there next to him.
"Yes, it is. Remember what we talked about," Darry said, piquing my interest.
"Do you wanna go to a party?" Dally asked me.
"Yes!" I answered ecstatically.
Obnoxiously loud music, alcohol, drugs and sex. Wait no, not sex, cheating on Chris after telling Cherry we're in a relationship would be stupid. Obnoxiously loud music, alcohol and drugs. What better way to get my mind of everything. I wouldn't be able to think straight for the next couple of hours.
Dallas got up and began to walk to the door. I followed. We walked next to each other silently.
"So..." I lead off.
"So..." Dally copied.
"What exactly did you and Darry talk about?" I asked nosily.
"Nothin'" he answered.
"Oh, come on," I urged.
"I'll tell you if you tell me why you're upset," he bargained.
"Fine," I agreed.
He pulled his hand out of his jacket pocket and held out his pinky. I followed, wrapping mine around his. We had been doing this since we were kids and we wouldn't dare break a pinky promise we made to each other.
"Darry was trying to teach me how to be a better brother, more considerate about your feelings and stuff like that, y'know?" he said, looking at the ground.
"Awww. God knows you need it," I joked, earning a playful push from Dally.
"Yeah, yeah," he smirked, "now what's wrong with you?"
"Cherry and I are in a fight," I said.
"Oh," Dally said.
"Feel... better?" He said uncertainly, patting my shoulder.
I appreciated his pathetic attempt at comforting me and strangely enough, it helped a bit. We walked the rest of the way to Bucks with his arm wrapped around my shoulder.
"Remember; don't take drinks from anyone, no hard drugs, and if I see you go any further than just talking to a boy, I'll lock you in the Curtis house for the rest of your life," Dally lectured as we arrived at the party.
The rest of the night went just as I thought. By the end of it, I had been both extremely high and extremely drunk. There were a couple of creeps here and there, but nothing could top the feeling of having no important thoughts for a while. I had the chance to let go and I did.