Page 52 of Greased

Noah just replies with a hum. I can imagine just how raw some of this information is for him. His story isn’t a pretty one but it’s not mine to tell. I will leave that to him and when he is ready.

“That’s not all though.” I wince.

“Fucking hell. What next?”

“Um, well. Obviously, Dad is the President of the Thunderbirds. There’s a hierarchy that sees the first born child claiming their parents position once they become of age. If there isn’t an heir I guess it all goes to a vote within the club.”

I let my words settle for a moment. Waiting for Noah to fully process what I am trying to say on his own.

He lets out a brash laugh, “Nah.”

“Yeah,” I whisper in reply.

“There’s no fucking way,” he chuckles. “My little Scarlett Smith. A motherfucking President of a gang,” he says in absolute disbelief. “Do they know that you have a hint of crazy?”

“I think that's what they are wanting from me,” I laugh.

“Shit, Scar. I knew you didn’t know what you planned on doing after school, but becoming a gang member wasn’t in my top ten picks.”

“Top one hundred at least?” I question. I can’t help the way a giggle escapes as I say it or the way it turns into a full blown laugh as he replies.

“Top twenty for sure. Although, I would have pegged Grace to be up there. That girl is a full fledged psycho.”

He is so true. Ever since she learned of Nicky, Pike, Dacre, Sonny and Dawson; she has been planning at building a harem of her own. Much to her disappointment, the guys she has been talking to aren’t really in the ‘sharing’ scene.

“Surprised?” I ask once the laughter has settled.

“That’s a good way of putting it,” he says.

“You aren’t mad?”

He pauses for a moment. I can’t help the anxiety that fills my chest. Noah and I don’t fight. Sure we will bicker here and there, but the thought of having an actual fight with him makes me feel physically sick.

“I could never be angry at you for something like this, Scar.” I let out a breath of relief as he continues, “I just want you to be safe. If things get too much, you jump on the first plane home. I know I’m not much but I will lay down my life to protect you. Do you hear me?” His voice is firm and there is no room for joking around. Noah has been a fierce protector from the moment I met him. If he wasn’t firmly in the friend zone, I would have stayed true to our childhood pact and married him right then and there.

I nod, even though he can’t see it. “Okay.”

“Promise me, Scarlett.”

“I promise,” I say with all the sincerity I can. It settles something in my chest knowing I have some form of escape plan. I didn’t realise I even needed one, but now that I have it, I will keep it close to my chest.

“Right, well this is heavy as fuck,” he laughs after a moment.

I laugh too as I pick up my bag and begin heading out of the locker room. It’s completely empty now. The girls all left after hearing me cackling.

I open the door and begin to step out but as I do, I hit a brick wall. Or what, in that moment, feels like one. I let out a yelp in surprise. Hands grab my waist to help steady me and as I look up, instead of it being a wall, it's Nicky looking down at me with just as much surprise on his face.

I clutch the hand that doesn’t have my phone in it to my chest as I try to calm my racing heart. “Jesus, Nicky. You scared the fuck out of me.”

“I’m sorry, baby girl. We were just getting worried since you hadn’t come out yet. Just wanted to check and make sure you were okay,” hesays, as he slowly steps back and his hands drop from their place on my waist.

He looks over my entire body, like he is checking for injuries before coming back to my face. He then sees the phone and gives me a questioning look. Before I can say anything to Nicky, what sounds like a growl comes from down the line.

“Put that motherfucking dog cunt on the phone, Scarlett. I have a few choice words to say to him.” I giggle, shaking my head before pulling the phone away from my ear.

I look at Nicky, letting my features become as sweet as I can muster. “It’s for you.”

He looks at me with a questioning look but I just hold my phone out to him, letting my features give nothing away. He grabs the phone out of my hand and slowly lifts it to his ear.

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