Question for The Outsiders chacter3

Cherry told Ponyboy why she wouldn't say hi to him at school, so as not to hurt his feelings. She couldn't be seen associating with him, especially by her parents.

"I know," she said quietly, "but we'd better go with them. Ponyboy... I mean... if I see you in the hall at school or someplace and don't say hi, well, it's not personal or anything, but..."
"I know," I said.
"We couldn't let our parents see us with you all. You're a nice boy and everything..."