Friday, December 15, 1951
The bottom of my rubber shoes clicked and scuffed across the concrete as I rushed my way on the sidewalk. It was eight at night and I had just finished my shift; I had picked up some more hours to pay for a nice gift to Riff for Christmas. He didn't know this, though. I used the excuse that Valentina just needed more help since Tony left and I'm fulfilling my duty as a faithful niece. Because of Riff's upbringing, I'm well aware that he isn't used to receiving gifts, so I have to make sure it's perfect and ready for him.
I hugged my coat around me tighter, feeling a cold winter breeze press against me, giving me goosebumps that crawl on my skin. It has now been four months since the rumble, and I'm so thankful. It was hard at first, he would have nightmares that recalled the night in his mind. He would refuse help, trying to prove he wasn't weak and that he didn't need medicine.
'I've gotten this far without it, why should I need it now?' he would pout
But finally, after some trial and error, he accepted the help and began his road to recovery. His stab wound fully healed in early November and he is finally back on his feet once again, bouncing around the streets of New York and causing trouble wherever he goes.
Speaking of trouble, we haven't seen much of the Sharks. And when we do, it is either in no man's land or in their territory. The rumble was to determine who ruled the streets but since there was no true victor, Bernardo forfeited. Not only for the sake of his little sister to be with Tony, a romance that slipped by me while consumed with Riff, but because I think Bernardo is scarred by what he had almost done. After talking to Tony, he sympathized, explaining the way he felt after almost killing the one boy before being sent away for a year. I think Bernardo truly regrets that night despite Riff living. I think that's why he forfeited; because he realized there is more to life than rumbling. The Jets have realized this as well, and because of this, the two gangs have learned to coexist.
The Jets are still rambunctious and wild, so they still create little annoyances for Krupke and Schrank. Melissa tells me about how red Schrank's face gets when Riff and the boys pull a little stunt in the night. According to her, his face turns into a cherry-red tomato being squeezed in the palm of a hand, his eyes seemingly ready to pop out of their sockets. I have to assume we all get this with age, but she says that Krupke has this vertical vein on his forehead that becomes prominent when frustrated, and god I wish I could see it for myself.
Melissa and I have begun to grow closer than ever, and despite her reservations, she has begun to warm up to Riff. Though, she still doesn't appreciate him dripping blood onto her floors when he comes to our place to get patched up by me. I don't have a lot of medical experience, but I know the Jets aren't made of money, so I do my best to help them where I can without having to resort to hospitals. I guess that's another perk for working at Doc's: employee discount.
Although I would have preferred to go straight home after work and eat the dinner Melissa had prepared and made for me, Riff had instructed me to go somewhere else. He wanted me to come to the docks. When he first asked me to show up there, I assumed it would be Jet business considering it was one of their main hang-out spots. But he insisted that no Jets will be involved in whatever he has in store for tonight. So with that, I agreed, and that's where I'm headed.
I had never been to the docks before seeing Riff; I had no reason to. But I had to admit, in its own unique way, it was peaceful and beautiful. Sure, it was dusty and dingy and it was infested with Jets, but it held so many beautiful memories. It was a safe space, a place that took your secrets and locked them tight. You sit on the docks and just gaze out, the ocean water going for miles on end until it meets the sky in a blur of blues. It was truly a place unlike anything I had seen before.
I had arrived at the docks and made my way further in, knowing exactly where Riff would be. I followed the gravel decline, passing the large mounds of scrap metal and tires, passing the ripped-up couch that I could usually find Balkan napping on. I continued my path to one of the docks that had an overhead. Not all of the docks had overheads to protect you from the sun during the day but this specific one was the only one to not be destroyed.
As the wooden structure came closer into view, I could make out Riff's silhouette leaning against one of the posts. I couldn't help but feel the corners of my lips rise, the little butterflies in my stomach never seeming to cease despite being around him often. I approached him quietly- well, as quiet as I could be considering the creaky wood below my feet. He heard me coming and turned around, wrapping a hand around the post. A smirk crept onto his face as I padded over to him. When I was close enough, he engulfed me in a warm embrace, kissing my lips eagerly in the process. I couldn't help but try to stifle a giggle. I wrapped my arms around his neck and tangled my fingertips in his hair, playing with it gently. He pulled back before going in for another kiss, this time gentle and loving. When satisfied, he pulled away a second time and placed his hands on my hips.
"Hey girly-girl, how was ya shift?" he asked looking down at me
I smiled, "It was good, easy today," It made me happy when he asked about my day, it showed he cared in such a simple way.
"Good, cuz I got somethin' to top this night with a cherry," he smirked
"And what's that?" I ask curiously, tilting my head to the side slightly
He pulled back slightly and pulled me with him, keeping one hand on my waist and the other taking my hand in his, spinning us around gently. It was a full moon tonight, and it shined bright. Brighter than a thousand stars, illuminating the sky and all that's below. Its light reflected on the surface of the ocean water, illuminating our faces gently. He continued to dance with me on the dock, playfully humming as he did so.
I giggled, "What's this for?" I asked
"You know I ain't made of money, so I have no nice gift to give ya. But I want to take this moment to thank ya," he said simply with his charming accent, never taking his eyes off me
"Thank me? What for?" I pressed further
What could he possibly be thanking me for?
"For everythin'. For lovin' me, takin' care of me. I'm not sure if I'd be here without ya..." he said earnestly, still refusing to break eye contact. I looked into his eyes; he was speaking from the bottom of his heart. Riff wasn't very good with words but this much was true: even the simplest words could make me melt.
I feel my eyes well up slightly and the grin on my face grow, blooming with joy, "Oh, Riff, I don't know what to say, I-"
"You don't gotta say nothin'. Just... don't leave," he said, finally diverting his eyes down
This man is gonna be the death of me...
I tilt my head and take my hand up to his face, cupping his cheek tenderly. I rub the pad of my thumb across his cheek, brushing the scar that lay on it. He leans into the touch, "Te quiero," I say.
Riff raises his eyes at me and slightly furrows his eyebrows, "What does that mean?" he questions
His eyes brightened up with joy, remembering that we had never exchanged these words before. These little vows that said 'my heart is yours'. He smiles wide and pulls me in, kissing me deeply with such a fiery passion. To that, I return the kiss with my own loving ferocity. At that moment, nothing else mattered; just me and him. Nothing mattered but the way his lips melted and molded perfectly to fit mine. The way he bit my lip, asking for entrance to a place he didn't need to ask for.
Eventually, we parted our lips, so desperately needing air that none of us seemed to have. He pressed his forehead against mine and closed his eyes with a smile, holding me tightly. I closed my eyes and sighed in contentment, the two of us slightly rocking back and forth.
