Our New Story- Riffnardo (West Side Story)

Getting a Dog

1961, New York, Alphabet City

Bernardo's POV

Riff was really upset yesterday, so I decided to steer clear of him for a while. I took a walk around town. I found a really nice floral shop and bought a bouquet of calla lilies and hyacinths. When I arrive back at the apartment, Riff is laying on his back on the floor, just staring at the ceiling. I step over him, fill a vase with water, place the flowers in it and set it on the table. I then cross over to Riff and crouch next to him. "Well?" I ask. He sighs. "I want a dog." I nod. "Okay." He sits up. "What?" I nod again and stand. "Okay. We'll get a dog. I'd like one, anyway." He stands. "Wait, are you serious?" I nod for a third time. "Yes, I'm serious." Riff beams. He grabs his sweatshirt off of a hook and pull it on over his head. "Let's go." I grab my jacket as Riff yanks me out the door. The fall day is crisp and cool. Riff pulls his hood up and retracts his hands into the sleeves. He calls these 'sweater paws' and he is obsessed with them. He nuzzles his face into his hands. I kiss him on the cheek. He smiles and takes my hand. We walk to a pet adoption center a few blocks away. Inside there are cats. And there are birds. And there are hamsters. And there are dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. I look to Riff. He pulls me down and aisle. All the dogs bark and jump up, putting their paws on the glass walls of their pens. One dog, a husky puppy, sits quietly in his pen, his tail wagging. He pants as Riff approaches, looking up at him. On closer inspection, he has two different colored eyes. One of them is bright green, the other sparkling blue. Riff places his hand on the wall. The puppy puts his paw agaist it his hand. Riff turns to look at me, smiling. "This one," he says. An employee takes the dog out if it's pen and places it in Riff's arms. The dog licks Riff's chin. I fill out a few forms, purchase a few things, and we head out. "What are we going to name it?" I ask. Riff shrugs. "He's a dog. It doesn't have to be complicated. We'll just call him Dog." I laugh. "I love you." He kisses my cheek. "I know." 

Riff is curled up on the couch, Dog tucked under his arm, both of them asleep. I smile at them. Dog nuzzles his nose into Riff's hair, sneezing in his sleep. I laugh. Riff's eyes flutter open. He smiles and pets Dog. "Remeber the dance?" He asks. I smile. "Yeah." He sits up. I snuggle next to him on the couch. He kisses me on the top of the head. "I think that was the night that I realized that I wanted to spend the rest of my life you." 

Riff's POV

It was March. We were in Doc's basement, preparing to head to the dance. I couldn't find my tie, and had realized that I was fifteen minutes late to meet Bernardo. I pulled it on as I ran. I shouldered open the door and hurried inside. "Doc, where's-" Doc nodded to the basement. "Thanks." I took the stairs two at a time. Bernardo was pacing. His head snapped up as I arrived. I opened my mouth to explain, but his mouth had already collided with mine. I stumbled backwards slightly before taking his face in my hands. As soon as he pulled away, I started talking. "Hi. Are we ready for this?" Tonight was the most important night of the plan. Bernardo was bringing his sister, and I had convinced Tony to come. He would flirt with Maria and kiss her to 'anger' Bernardo, giving me a reason to challenge the Sharks to a rumble. Bernardo nods. "We can do this. I love you." I kiss him again. "I love you." I headed upstairs and met Grazy outside her apartment building. Diesel was already at the gym. I held out my arm. She wrapped her fingers around my biceps. I glance over my shoulder. I saw a dark figure walking down the street to a bridal shop. He met another figure outside and the two headed inside. Grazy tugged on my arm, and we started walking to the gym. She talked the whole way there. I let her speak, interjecting every now and then with a 'uh huh' or a 'mm hm' or 'okay'. Inside the gym, the Sharks and the Jets were grouped on opposite sides of the gym, with a good amount of space between them. Grazy ran off to talk to Velma and Minnie. I met Bernardo's gaze across the gym. He nodded ever so slightly. Music started to play. Grazy was at my side before I could turn around. We danced together until the song ended. I walked over to speak to Diesel. I looked over my shoulder. Bernardo nodded again. We started to walk towards each other, Diesel flanking me, Chino following Bernardo. He had a mask of seriousness on, almost convincing me that he really did hate me. We were inches apart. I could have kissed him, but that would have given everything away. Glad Hand forced up apart. Glad Hand was the dance chaperone and a bumbling idiot. He had a totally unrealistic-at-the-time hope of uniting the Jets and Sharks. "Okay, okay!" Bernardo and I backed away from each other. "Now, I know we're all a little tense, so we're gonna have a few get-together dances!" Two of the Shark guys, Luis and Pepe started skipping in a circle together. The Sharks laughed. Krupke gave them a stern look and they stopped. Glad Hand continued. "Now, we're gonna form two circles, boys on the outside, girls on the inside. When the music stops, each girl dances with whichever boy is in front of them! Okay? Okay! Two circles kids!" He clapped twice in a hyper, over excited, goofy way. We all clapped twice, mocking him. He looked hurt. "Well it wouldn't hurt you to try." Action stepped forward. "It hurts! It hurts!" He clapped two hands over his chest and collapsed. It was our turn to laugh. Krupke smacked his nightstick threateningly into his hand, and Action got to his feet. I decided that someone had to step forward. I cross to the middle of the gym. I hear little whoops from the guys. I look at Grazy and jerk my head to the side. She struts over to me. The guys wolf whistle, and the girls giggle. We jerk our heads to the side, challenging the Sharks. Bernardo walked to stand next to Grazy, facing me. Grazy crinkled her nose. He stomped his foot on the ground and held out his hand. Anita pulled off her shrug and glided over to him. "Ay, ay! Anita!" The Shark girls crooned. Bernardo twirled her around so they switched positions. We stared at each other. I felt passions mounting between us. I wondered if he wanted to kiss me as badly as I wanted to kiss him. Without speaking, we each raised our arms and snapped. Our gangs fell into position. On either side of me were Bernardo and Chino. The music started. "Round and round she goes, where she stops? Nobody knows!" The girls and guys walked in opposite directions. I extended my hand behind me ever so slightly. I felt Bernardo grasp it for half a second before releasing. A shrill whistle blew. I looked up. I was standing in front of Anita. Bernardo was with Grazy. Anita's nose crinkled in disgust. I spun away from her and extended my hand. Grazy spun into my embrace. Anita and Bernardo retreated to their side of the gym. The Jets and Sharks paired off and returned to their respective sides. Glad Hand watched in dismay and disappeared off to somewhere. We danced the Mambo in a heated competition with the Sharks. By the time it was finished, we were all sweaty and tired. I wiped off my forehead and nodded to Tony. But he hadn't needed a cue. He had actually fallen in love. Slowly, he approached Maria. They talked for a moment before kissing. Bernardo made a beeline for them and ripped them apart. "Go home, American!" They shouted at each other for a bit before I interjected. "If you characters wanna settle this-" Krupke came over then, causally swinging his nightstick. I threw an arm around Bernardo's shoulders. His hand found my shoulder. We walked for a bit before Krupke disappeared. I hesitantly seperated from him. "We challenge you to a rumble. Jets and Sharks." Bernardo nodded. "Let's take this outside," I said. "I will not leave the ladies alone," Bernardo said. I turned to face him. "Fine. Meet us tonight at Doc's shop, and no jazz before." Bernardo got in close to my face. "I know the rules," he spat, "native boy." He turned on his heel and walked over to the Sharks. He spoke to Chino and Anita for a moment, and Chino pulled Maria away. Tony's eyes followed after her, his gaze filled with longing. "Maria," he whispered. I jerked my head. Grazy came over and wrapped herself around me. Diesel and Velma followed. "Tony!" I called. "We'll see him at Doc's!" Diesel said. I sent A-Rab, Action, Baby John and Anybodys to wait inside Doc's, and Minnie, Diesel, Grazy and Velma to wait outside. I ran to an alleyway to meet Nardo. I smiled as soon as his face came into view. He rushed forward and hugged me. "We did it," he whispered in my ear. We were now able to fake our deaths at the rumble. We were finally able to get away.