Page 16 of Greased

“God, I miss hearing your voice, even if it used to be the bane of my existence,” Rhodes laughs.

“You will have to get up on stage with some of the girls and play a couple of songs for us.” My father smiles at me.

I sit with what he says for a moment. Normally, my singing has been completely restricted to the shower and the occasional round of car karaoke with my friends but I’ve never sang in front of a crowd. Or at least haven’t in the last ten years. While the idea scares me slightly, I nod at him. It’s time I start taking risks. Live my fucking life. Not let simple things like stage fright get in my way.

“Pinks’ Lounge is also a front for our sex trade as well. The Pinks wanted to take ownership of their bodies and Dad allowed them to do just that. They now run the show, we just provide the muscle.” He lifts his arm and flexes his muscles. After these past few weeks, it's been blatantly obvious that Rhodes loves himself sick.

Laughing, I smack him in the belly.

“God, you are so full of yourself.”

He justchuckles like I didn't say anything at all, “Anyways, you will be the Pinks’ new prey. They’ve also got a little initiation task that you will have to complete.”

Rhodes rolls his eyes and scoffs as he mutters to himself under his breath

“What? What’s the initiation?” No one said anything about an initiation. I’m instantly on guard.

“Every chick that joins the Thunderbirds automatically is initiated into the Pink Ladies no matter the status they hold within the Birds. I guess it's another part of them taking control of their bodies, but each woman is required to perform a strip dance in front of the entire club. In their lingerie.”

Well shit. Not quite what I was expecting.

“Don’t worry Scar, I’ll introduce you to Brandy. She will be able to show you around the club and fill you in on everything.”

I nod my head in answer. But I’m far away from the current conversation. While I am completely comfortable in my skin, the thought of stripping down to what I imagine will be barely enough fabric to cover anything in a room full of horny men is just a little bit intimidating.

Shit, who am I kidding? I’m already nervous and trying to think of ways I can get out of doing it.

For the rest of the drive, this initiation is the only thing that consumes my thoughts. My family talks around me but I can’t hear them.

My hands fiddle in my lap. Why the fuck did my father not warn me about this? Isn’t this something he should be concerned about? His daughter swinging around on a pole practically buck-ass naked.

I’m dragged out of my thoughts as we pull up to a set of gates. The fence stands at least ten feet high with rolled barbed wire around thetops. It’s like a high-end prison. Bougie but secure. Just from what I can see, I notice six cameras each pointed in different directions as well as a handful of fully armed guards. I raise an eyebrow at them. Are they truly necessary? My father apparently thinks so.

The driver rolls down the window and nods at the guard walking over to us. He glances in the back of the car where the four of us are all sitting. Surprise lights in his eyes as he nods his head in respect. I don’t know whether he realises just who Mum and I are, his facial expressions not giving much away as he schools his features again.

“Prez, Rhodes. Welcome back.”

“Thanks Tom.” My father nods to him.

As we drive through the gates into the compound, I can’t help but hum in surprise. Rydell is nothing like I thought it would be. To be honest, I’m not even really sure what I envisioned the community to look like, but it certainly wasn’t this.

When thinking of members of gangs, the last thing I could see them living in is beautiful two-storey all American houses with white picket fences. Children run around in front yards and play with their friends. Neighbours are leaning over fences and gossiping.

The scenery starts to change as we get further along. A range of different shops begin lining the streets. I notice a coffee shop that I commit to memory.

We turn down another street and a massive home appears in front of us. Another set of gates set at the beginning of the driveway. More heavily armed guards line the outside of the property.

“Welcome home Scarlett, Bonnie,” My dad says.

Home.

My family.

The place I grew up.

The place where it all came crashing down around us.

I’m finally home.

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