Chapter Text
Ponyboy was wandering down the train tracks. The midday sun burned in the sky, making Ponyboy sweat underneath its golden rays.
He and Darry were trying not to fight for both Sodapop’s sake. Ponyboy had brought home a B- on his final report, and Darry nearly went ballistic. It wasn’t Ponyboy’s fault that math wasn’t his best subject, he understood everything else way better.
That’s why Ponyboy was here. He was blowing off some steam, wandering by the train tracks. He had run all the way here, trying to run from his problems in the literal sense. Ponyboy didn’t know what he was doing now, toeing the line between Greaser and Soc territory. Darry would scold him for not using his head, but he didn’t care at this point.
“Ponyboy!” A voice calls from behind him.
He turns around to see a red Stingray crawling to a stop beside him. It was a real tuff car and one that only one Soc owned in all of Tulsa.
Cherry Valance.
They had first met in the drive-in on the fateful night, talking about their shared intellectual interests. They hadn’t talked much after the rumble and trial, mostly out of their differences in social class. Eventually, both Ponyboy and Cherry deemed it somewhat safe to hang out. They were constantly getting looks from Greasers and Socs alike.
It was hard enough getting the gang to accept Ponyboy’s new friends. One wrong step was all it took before the gang immediately became suspicious.
“Can you meet me at the diner in half an hour?” she smiles at him, “I have to run some errands.”
“Sure,” Ponyboy sighs, “Just me?”
Cherry raises her eyebrows, but doesn’t push the matter, “Yeah, I’ll see you there.”
Ponyboy looks up to the sun. He wasn’t too pleased with all the time he had, and now this added news wouldn’t make it any better.
This was going to be a long summer.
Half an hour later…
Ponyboy sat at a booth alone with a shake and some fries, waiting for Cherry to show up.
What was this news?
Ponyboy spots Cherry walk in, and waves her over.
“Hey!” Cherry’s face lights up when she sees Ponyboy.
Cherry slides in next to him, stealing one of his fries.
“I need to ask you something crazy, you can say no if you want,” Cherry tugs on a lick of her vibrant red hair.
Ponyboy begins to sweat.
What exactly was this crazy idea?
Cherry sees the look on Ponyboy’s face, “It’s not something bad, I promise. My parents got me tickets to a Beatles concert!”
“Cherry, that digs!” Ponyboy liked the Beatles.
He had heard about their upbringing, and they seemed tough enough. He wouldn’t be caught dead listening to them around the gang. To them, the Beatles were Soc music, a symbol of their class and superiority.
She smiles, “They got me two tickets. I was going with a friend, but she pulled out at the last minute.”
“Ah,” Ponyboy mutters in sympathy.
Ponyboy knew the reason the Soc girl had pulled out was probably not because of busy schedules, but because of who Cherry hung out with. The “gang” they had formed seemed to have left all of Tulsa shocked.
“I was wondering if…you wanted to come with me?” Cherry asks nervously.
“Of course, Cherry!” Ponyboy blurts without thinking.
“Really?” Cherry smiles genuinely.
“Are you sure though, going with me?” Ponyboy begins to have second thoughts.
“Of course I’m sure,” Cherry’s eyes harden, “I better get back to my house. Meet me at the park at 4 am.”
“Right,” Ponyboy tried to swallow the lump in his throat that came up whenever he thought about the park.
Cherry waved and walked out of the diner, leaving Ponyboy. Once, she left, Ponyboy realized how many questions he forgot to ask.
Where was this concert?
How on earth would he sneak out?
Would Darry even allow this?
Ponyboy laughs out loud to himself at the prospect of the situation, drawing a few stares. Of course, he would sign up for this. This trip was his ticket out of Tulsa, even for a day.
Maybe this summer wouldn’t be so bad after all.