Page 22 of Greased

I’m brought into a big hug. Shelly holds me tight to her as she hiccups through low sobs.

“Oh, my girl. Your voice has just gotten more beautiful with age. You must get up on that stage and sing for us. I won’t be letting such raw talent be wasted.”

Her compliments bring the biggest smile to my face.

“Thank you, Shelly. There’s no way I wouldn’t get up on that stage,” I say with determination. Any shred of nervous energy dissipated the moment I sang that first word in front of them.

“Well shit Australia. I’m impressed.” Maxie stands up and pulls me over to the lounges to sit.

“What other songs do you know? You’ve got to come up on stage tonight with us. It would be the best welcome home you could have,” Jan says right before she goes back to hooking into the food spread out on the table.

“I will leave you girls to it then. Scarlett, my girl, if you need me, I will be floating around the club somewhere, but I trust these girls.You’re in good hands here. Remember ladies, show time is in 30 minutes.” Shelly gives each of us a kiss on our cheeks. With one last look at me before she walks out the door she turns around and says, “It's so good to have you home, my girl.”

The girls and I sit down and organise a small set of songs to play tonight. We decide on five songs. Starting withNobody’s Home by Avril Lavigne, Gasoline by Halsey, U + Ur Hand by Pink, GAY 4 ME by G Flip and Lauren Sandersonthat both Maxie and I will sing together. Rippy eyed me when I agreed to sing it with Maxie. It's clear the girl isn’t my biggest fan, but fuck her.

We then decide to end withDecode by Paramore. Working out what songs to sing that we all know is fucking hard. We all promise to sit down before the next gig and organise a better setlist. Ideas of songs already start swirling around in my head.

“So, Scarlett, tell us the goss. Is there a man or woman in your life?” Brandy asks with a wiggle of her eyebrows.

“Well, I mean there were a few guys I met back home. Funnily enough they are from America too,” I reply. A pang goes through my body at the memory of the boys and the absolute mess it's now in.

“Tell me more, tell me more.” Brandy leans over and puts her head in her hands. Her face is eager as she looks up at me. I can’t help but chuckle.

“So, there were these five guys. So goddamn cute.” I reminisce, trying to ignore the pain in my chest.

“I was swimming down at the beach from my house on the night of my eighteenth birthday. Suddenly, these guys just come bounding into the water and lift me out and carry me back to the shore. Complete show-offs.”

“Was it love at first sight?” Brandy asks with stars in her eyes.

“How much dough did they spend?” Jan asks with a wink.

“Ugh, they sound like a drag,” Rippy says, rolling her eyes.

I snort, shaking my head.

“It was honestly the best summer of my life. I mean things are a little bit different over in Australia with how our holidays all work, but it was magic. We hung out basically every day.”

“So did you hit it?” Rippy asks as she imitates giving a blow job.

I roll my eyes.

“I mean…” I pause, letting the innuendo catch. The girls all squeal and begin peppering me with more questions. “It wasn't just about that though. They genuinely wanted to get to know me.”

“There ain’t no such thing.” Rippy shakes her head at me as she begins filing her nails.

“It was romantic. It was the best few months of my life.” My mood turns sombre, remembering how it ended.

“Then I guess it started to turn cold and they had to come back home. They promised to keep in contact, but I still haven’t heard from them. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

“True love and they barely laid a hand on you, sounds like a bunch of creeps to me.”

“Well they weren’t.” I snark back. She can think what she wants but I know them. Well, I think I do. Or did.

“Well, tell us their names. Do you have any photos with them?” Maxie asks as they all lean in waiting for me to reply. Rippy even leans over slightly.

I pull out my phone, opening up my photo album and clicking on a folder full of our photos. I find the first photo we took together. I tilt my phone so they can all see.

“Dawson and Nicky Zelko, Dacre Miller, Sonny Martinez and Pike Taylor,” I say, pointing at each of them.

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