( 𝘨𝘪𝘧: 𝘫𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 )

It was Cherry's first day working at Taylor's new Olde Fashioned Soda Shoppe and she was not looking forward to it. Now she was divided between shifts there and at the market, which meant less time spent with her best friend, Dean. The only upside was that the Soda Shoppe was right next to Luke's, so she could have lunch peacefully with no rush or fear of arriving late.

Cherry plopped down on her usual counter seat, as Luke poured her a cup of coffee. "So, what are you having? And don't say pancakes, that's breakfast food, not lunch."

Cherry pouted. "But why must you be so mean and deprive me of my source of happiness? Are you the Grinch or what?" Luke rolled his eyes, deciding it wasn't his battle to pick, and ordered Ceasar to cook some pancakes for the blonde, who grinned as she settled down. Rory soon arrived in her Chilton uniform and sat down next to Cherry, who smiled at Rory's friend.

"Hey Rory, who's your friend?" Luke asked as he poured the two newcomers two cups of coffee. The girl narrowed her eyes at him, setting the menu down before speaking.

"You're the owner here?" when Luke nodded, she added "You get a lot of truckers around here? You know, guys on the road who are lonely and are looking for company. It's pretty common knowledge that dinners are breeding grounds for prostitution and drug dealers." Cherry bit back a laugh when she saw Luke's face of disbelief.

"I like this one!" Cherry said as she pointed at the girl, who straightened her posture and gave her a small smile.

"Thanks, but I'm just stating facts here." at Cherry's expectant face, she added. "I'm Paris Geller. I go to Chilton with Rory."

"I guessed. I'm Cherry Doose. Oh! Please continue harassing Luke, it's very entertaining." Luke threw Cherry a glare, who shrugged amused. 

Jess suddenly appeared from the stairs that led to the upstairs apartment in a camoflauge shirt, and Paris raised her eyebrows and pointed at him. "Where'd he come from? What's up there? Is that where you keep the girls?"

"Wow, I think she got you, Uncle Luke. You better give it up." Jess immediately played along, a smirk sitting on his lips as Cherry leaned back in amusement.

"Do not add to his insanity!" Luke pointed an accusing finger at his nephew. 

Jess approached the group by standing behind the counter. "An innocent boy like me should not be raised in an atmosphere like this. I want to be good, life's just not letting me." Jess lifted his arms in defense and Cherry decided it was her turn to add a comment.

"And you see my hair, Paris? It's in this state of frizziness because of all the drugs that have been slipped into my food and drinks. What university will accept me now that I'm a drug addict?" Cherry pretended to weep in her hands as Jess pretended to comfort her, shaking his head at Luke who had watched everything in disbelief.

Paris turned to Cherry, who seemed to be giving her the most information, reliable or not. "Okay, Cherry, what about the boys? Any cute ones? Any drug dealers? Tell me everything and anything."

Cherry smirked, tapping her finger on her chin as she pretended to think. "Tommy Hilton is pretty hot, with his leather jacket, but he adds to much gel on his hair. Dean, you know Rory's boyfriend?" Paris nodded. "He's cute, but too tall and lanky. Sorry Rory. Besides, he's my best friend and it's weird to think of him like that. And then there's new boy Jess! He's got that hot bad boy vibe, but...he's just so antisocial."

Jess crossed his arms over his chest, raising an eyebrow. "You know I'm right here?" Cherry smirked at him, nodding her head enthustiastacally. 

"Get her to leave." Luke snapped as Rory nodded, grabbing Paris by the arm as she attempted to drag the blonde away from the dinner. 

Paris widened her eyes wildly. "What are you hiding? Why do you need me to leave? Cherry, call me and tell me more details!" Cherry shook her head in amusement as the two Chilton girls disappeared through the door, the bell above the entrance chiming. 

"I'm too old for this..." Luke shook his head, grabbing a cloth and 

"Title of your sex tape!" Cherry added, making Jess cackle as the two high fived. 

Luke frowned, looking between the two. "Since when have you two been civil to each other?" 

Jess frowned, stepping away from Cherry. "Me? Civil with her? No way. She's got a moustache thicker than a Middle Eastern dictator." 

Cherry gasped, pouting slightly. "May you always attack me with words?"

Jess raised an eyebrow at her. "Want me to use rocks?"

She frowned, and pulling out a few dollars from her purse to pay for the consumed lunch, Cherry threw it on the counter. "Keep the change ya filthy animal!"

∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎ ∎

It was late evening. The first day working at her grandfather's Soda Shoppe was finally over. Cherry smiled, taking off the ridiculous hat she was forced to wear as part of the uniform and leaving it on the counter. Approaching the glass door, she flipped the sign to 'closed'. Finally, some peace and quiet. 

A record player sat in the corner of the counter. Taylor had thought it would be a good idea to let customers decide what music to play for a dollar, which was quite reasonable until someone played 'The Thong Song' by Sisqo, which Taylor wasn't happy about. Cherry had a faint idea who could've done it ( cough jess cough ). But now the store was closed to customers, Cherry had access to whatever music she wanted to play. And who else but ABBA?

Putting the vinyl on the record player, it's slightly scratched before it started to play 'Dancing Queen'. Adjusting the volume to be louder, the lyrics blasted out. Cherry grinned, and as she grabbed the broomstick to dust the floor. Dancing around the store, she sang the words loudly, and it was safe to say Cherry wasn't built to be a professional pop singer. "You are the dancing queen, young and sweet, only seventeen!"

Jess Mariano had also been cursed with a late shift. As the dinner closed, Luke ordered Jess to wash the plates and put the chairs on the table as he climbed upstairs, leaving a frustrated teenager. As he cleaned the dinner, he winced at the loud song that blared from the neighbouring store. It was safe to say Jess couldn't stand ABBA.

A glass wall separated the two stores, so Jess had visual access to the Soda Shoppe. He wanted to be angry, but the sight of Cherry's terrible dance moves as the curls on her head bounced around were too amusing that Jess had to fight of the amused smile of his face. Approaching the glass wall, Jess knocked loudly. "Hey! Turn that crap down!" 

But the music was too loud, and his pleas went unheard. Sighing loudly, Jess dropped the cloth on one of the tables before storming outside, the door rattling as it shut behind him. Approaching the shop, he knocked, but when Cherry kept dancing, oblivious to Jess, he opened the door, the bell above him chiming. "Cherry! This is way too loud-"

"Jess!" Cherry stopped dancing, a grin on her face as she grabbed his wrist and pulled him along. "Come, dance with me!"

Jess scowled, shaking his head as Cherry forced him to waltz around. The corner of his lips pulled upwards when Cherry stepped on him twice. "I pity whoever you marry. You've stepped on me twice in five seconds."

"Who says I'll ever marry?" Cherry raised an eyebrow, daring him to contradict before twirling around. "Besides, I'm not that bad of a dancer!"

"Trust me, I think Baloo can dance better."

"Are you comparing me to an animal, Mariano?"

Jess smirked. "Maybe."

The only light that iluminated the dancing teenagers was the one from the ice cream refrigerators. Cherry threw her head back laughing, snorting like a small child when Jess stumbled over as he attempted to dance. Jess frowned at her, but couldn't help but laugh along, shaking his head as he remained sat on the floor. Looking up at Cherry, who kept shimming and singing off key to ABBA, he had a sudden thought he would never admit out loud.

Maybe it wasn't so bad being Cherry Doose's friend.

so the dance sequence at the end of the chapter was inspired by the song all too well 'we danced around the kitchen in the refrigerator light' and i knew i had to add it

just to add, but jess will like rory before he realises his feelings for cherry. but i'm conflicted on whether have jess buy rory's basket ( in the basket picnic thing scene ) or have him buy cherry's bc no one else would, so they like, bond and stuff. what y'all think?

𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒

" keep the change ya filthy animal! "

- home alone 1990

" i think baloo can dance better "

-the jungle book 1967