Page 45 of Greased

“You are making a big fucking mistake staying here, Scarlett.”

“And you are making a big fucking mistake by thinking my whereabouts have anything to do with you. You think that this is a position I can just turn down?”

The anger in his eyes seems to heat then as he closes the distance between us. If we weren’t so pissed off at each other, our lips would be close enough to touch.

“You can. Give it to Rhodes. It's what he has spent the last ten years training for!”

“What, you think I can’t handle it?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest.

He chuffs, a cruel smile overcoming his features. “No, I don’t think you can. Maybe the old Scarlett could have, but this new one?” He shakes his head before taking a small step back and looking up and down my body. “No, this new Scarlett is weak. The first sight of blood and she will be running back home to Daddy crying.”

“That’s where you are wrong,sweetie. When the day comes that I draw my first blood, you just better hope that it's not yours.”

His face darkens as he steps further away. I see a flicker of what looks like heartbreak but it's gone before I can be certain. He doesn’t say anything else. Just nods before turning and walking away. I give his back the finger. Even though he can’t see the action, it satisfies the beast inside of me. The one desperate for a win.

“What was that all about?” Pike questions as he makes his way over to me followed closely by Sonny, Nicky and Dacre.

I shrug my shoulders, “Seems like your brother is determined to run me out of town,” I say, looking from Pike to Nicky. He frowns but I know his issue isn’t with me, it's with hisbrother.

“What the fuck is his problem?” His question isn’t directed at anyone in particular. I couldn’t answer him even if his question was aimed at me. I watch as he looks over in the direction Dawson strolled off into. “It doesn’t make sense. He was just as conflicted in what we did to you as any of us were. Jesus, he hasn’t stopped talking about you since we left.”

I quirk my eyebrow at that but remain silent. I could rack my brain all day wondering what Dawson’s problem is with me. I could make up charts researching it, but I still don’t think I would come to a final conclusion. The man is an enigma. One I have zero interest in figuring out any more.

The doors to the gym slam open then and a smile lifts the corners of my mouth as I watch Brandy, Jen, Maxie and Rippy walk through. Brandy instantly spots me and an honest to god squeal escapes her lips.

“Scarlett!” She yells, causing the attention again to be diverted towards me, yet again. She practically sprints to get across to me. Brandy nearly knocks me over as she engulfs me into a hug.

“Hey babe! Ugh, I am so excited to have you here. Last night was epic! We have to meet up again before our next gig and organise some songs. I have been bursting with ideas, I’ve barely been able to sleep.” I just stand staring at the woman in front of me as I watch as she talks a million miles a minute. “I know, I know, I know! We can have a sleepover this weekend to start planning. Now that I know you can hit those high notes there is no stopping us from doing someEvanescence.I have been dying to do covers of their songs. I mean, we did try it but Maxie couldn’t quite hit those notes like I know that you will be able to. No offence Max baby.”

Brandy turns an apologetic look Maxie’s way. She is unfazed by it though as she stands there with a lollipop in her mouth, which makes a popping noise as she pulls it past her lips.

“Brandy, and I say this with so much love pumpkin pie, but shut the fuck up. You are talking a million miles a minute and poor Scarlett can’t understand a single thing you are saying.” I notice what I am guessing from my limited knowledge of America, is a slight southern twang to Maxie’s voice. It mustn’t have gotten my attention after the absolute chaos that was last night, but I definitely notice it today.

Maxie walks over towards me, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Come on hon, let’s go finish getting ready for this bullshit class. Once we are done, we will talk, ‘kay?” She turns and smiles at me, before shooting a look at everyone else.

I notice the guys each have a scowl on their faces as they look at where Maxie’s arm sits on my shoulder. Rippy also has the same look on her face. Why would she be jealous? I know why the boys would be, but Rippy has no reason to be. Surely she isn’t one of those possessive friends. A shudder runs at me at the thought, eugh.

I still can’t wrap my head around Rippy. If a person could be a black cat, it would be her. A constant resting bitch face has adorned her face from the moment I have met her. It briefly lifted last night while we played at Pinks’ and again momentarily when she indirectly complimented me but it is firmly back in place.

It actually makes me think that her and Dawson would actually make a good couple. Both cranky motherfuckers living happily ever after. Why does that stupid thought send a pang of hurt through me?

Dawson has been nothing but an asshole since the moment he saw me again. Dawson has always been a bit of a closed book. Even whenhe eventually opened up to me back in Australia, it still never felt like I never got all of him. I knew I would have to take a pickaxe to his walls to finally see the guy underneath but now, I know that will never happen.

He has completely shut himself off. With the way he is going, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if he does the same thing to Dacre, Nicky, Pike and Sonny. It also wouldn’t surprise me if they shut him out themselves. If they are being honest in their determination to get back into my good books, with what I know, they aren’t going to take his shit for much longer.

Then again, I also didn’t think them to be the kinds of guys that would have ghosted me after practically confessing their love for me. So really, what do I actually know?

The gym teacher finally makes an appearance, much to my relief which must be saying something because something tells me I’m not going to love this class.

“Right, gather around everyone,” He calls out to the class before looking at me. “If you losers hadn’t taken a second to look up from your book faces and tok tiks or whatever bullshit application you have wasted your precious teen years on, we have a new student. Don’t be assholes and make Miss Scarlett Crux welcome. I’m Mr Green. If you have any questions, don’t ask me,” he says but his tone remains completely uninterested.

He quickly turns his attention back to the class. It shocks me as I hear the way he speaks to the class. It's also kind of refreshing. But what shocks me more is the verbalisation of my name. I vaguely remember Rhodes using it last night but hearing it from someone else jars me.The stark reality of my situation sets in. I have to reinforce myself so I don’t break down right here in the middle of the gym.

Sonny leans over to me, snapping me out of my resolve and whispers in my ear, “Mr Green is also one of the trainers. He mainly teaches weapons. I did once see him break some guy’s finger from a single touch. Nice guy though.”

I snort, which has Mr Green snapping his head in my direction. I wince as his gaze narrows one me. I mouth a ‘sorry’ before giving him my full attention again. Fucking Sonny. Not even the first day and he has already directed the attention of one of the teachers at me, and not in a positive way either.

Mr Green’s attention lingers on me for a few more seconds before he looks back down at the clipboard in his hands.

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