Ponyboy realizes that Cherry and Marcia “weren’t alike.” What is the reasoning for this claim?

In chapter 2, Dally Winston gives Cherry and her friend a difficult time at the drive-in movies by acting rude and purposely interrupting the film. Cherry reveals her no-nonsense personality by challenging Dally and telling him to leave them alone. Dally responds in a sarcastic manner before offering to buy them Cokes. Cherry responds to Dally's offer by saying,

"I wouldn't drink it if I was starving in the desert. Get lost, hood!" (Hinton, 20).

Cherry and Marcia then befriend Pony and Johnny and enjoy a brief conversation before Dally returns with two Cokes. Cherry proceeds to throw the Coke back in Dally's face while Marcia graciously accepts the drink. After Dally leaves, Pony, Johnny, and Two-Bit get to know the Soc cheerleaders and Cherry asks him to accompany her to the concession stand. Pony then asks if anyone wants anything and notices that Marcia is finishing the Coke that Dally bought her. Pony then mentions,

"I realized then that Marcia and Cherry weren't alike. Cherry had said she wouldn't drink Dally's Coke if she was starving, and she meant it. It was the principle of the thing. But Marcia saw no reason to throw away a perfectly good, free Coke" (Hinton, 28).

Ponyboy believes that Cherry has more integrity and means what she says, which is why she refused to accept Dally's Coke. Her refusal to accept Dally's Coke also portrays her strong-minded, stubborn personality.

In chapter 2 of The Outsiders, Ponyboy, Johnny, and Dallas go to a drive-in movie where they encounter two girls, Marcia and Cherry. The boys sit behind the girls where Dallas proceeds to talk inappropriately. Ponyboy recalls that he would not have been so embarrassed by Dallas's actions if the girls were "greasy girls." Cherry shows no tolerance for Dallas's behavior. When Dallas offers the girls a Coke, she replies, "I wouldn't drink it if I was starving in the desert." When Dallas leaves and returns with the drinks, Cherry throws her drink at Dallas. Ponyboy later notices that Marcia is almost finished with her drink. For this reason, he believes that Marcia and Cherry "weren't alike." Marcia sees no problem in drinking the Coke even though Dallas is the one to give it to her. With Cherry, however, it is "the principle of the thing." Cherry means what she says.