Page 61 of Greased

“You may not understand that. You can stand up and yell at me until you are blue in the face that you don’t want this for me but I am finally seeing my true calling. A path that I can slip straight into and be successful. I can make a difference in this world, Dawson.”

It's almost as though he can’t hear a single thing I’m saying. I watch his body tense as he shakes his head.

His anger overcomes him as his stormy eyes darken, “No, Scarlett. You almost fucking died once!” he yells, his body shaking with anger, “I’m not going to stand by and allow you to drag us back in just to watch them take you again. Because this time, I know you won’t come back.”

Dawson doesn’t give me a chance to bite back as he storms away, leaving the five of us staring after him.

Iblow out a breath as I watch Dawson walk around the corner leaving the five of us stunned. My heart skinks. I thought we had come to some kind of agreement. An understanding of sorts.

My place in the Thunderbirds isn’t optional. I thought he was coming to understand that, even if he doesn’t like it, but I was wrong. I know Dacre, Sonny, Nicky and Pike don’t like it; but unlike their idiotic friend, they would prefer to stand beside me and win me back.

I berate myself for letting Dawson have his way with me, especially after preaching to myself all day about how I wouldn’t let him, or any of them for that matter, back in. I build back up the fallen wall around my heart slowly after yet again, allowing him to break me.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

I look at Pike who is looking at me with a solemn expression, like he already knows exactly what I’m feeling. He walks over to me and collects me in his embrace.

I take a deep breath in of his cologne. That manly scent of his filling my nostrils. I don’t even mind that he has been sweating. I need his comfort right now. I should refuse it, push him away. I haven’t forgotten the way he hurt me too but if he stands by his words, I will be selfish and take what he is giving.

I know that I can’t stay mad at Pike forever. The first of my men.

That day on the beach lives in my head rent free. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing his face for the first time. The concern that was etched into his features that seems to be perfectly replicated on his face right now as he takes a step back to look at me. He keeps a hold of my shoulders as he looks at me intently.

“Are you okay, Princess?” His voice is soft as his hands run over my shoulders in a comforting way.

I give him a small nod, “I will be. I don’t know why I expected anything better from him. He is never going to be okay with me being here. I can’t just leave. I have my brother back…” I swallow, fighting the tears that threaten to fall. Pike brings his hand up and cups my cheek. I know he means to be supportive but it makes fighting the emotion even more difficult.

I look up at Pike, “I have my Dad back. I have you back.” I then look at Sonny, Nicky and Dacre, “I have you all back. How could I let that go now just because he’s scared?”

Pike steps closer to me, our bodies touching in so many places that I can’t help the hitch in my breathing. His hand stays firmly on my cheek. His thumb slowly caresses me.

“He is a fucking fool. I have regretted every single day of the last nine months. I have tortured myself day in and day out looking at the photos of us. You have consumed my every waking thought.” Iwatch as he swallows, he gives a slight shake of his head, “I fucked up, Princess. We fucked up. Walking away from you was–is–my biggest regret. It has always been you.”

The tears that have been threatening me finally fall. Pike catches them with his thumb, instantly rubbing them away.

“I’ve got a lot to make up for. I hurt the most precious thing to ever walk into my life. I promise you I will crawl to the ends of the earth to make it up to you. You are my life. You are every breath I take. My salvation. My bright light in the darkness.”

He looks at me intently for a moment. I return the stare. Looking into the eyes of a man who with a precious few words has all but brought me to my knees. Screw sticking it to The Man. At this point I wouldn’t even be able to see The Man if I bumped into him in the street.

“I know you aren’t going to make it easy on us,” Pike chuckles, and I hear Sonny, Dacre and Nicky all chime in with chuckles of their own, “I don’t expect you to either. We deserve to bow at your feet. To accept whatever scraps you give us. You deserve the world, Scarlett.”

Words evade me as I stare up into Pike’s eyes. Those bright blue orbs suck me into their depths. I don’t bother to give a verbal reply. I know he deserves one after the way he spilled his heart out to me but I know if I tried, it would just be a sob.

I bring my hands up, gripping his face and bring his lips to mine. I communicate everything I’m unable to say through words into our kiss. How much I appreciate him seeing me. His understanding of how I feel and not just pushing me away like Dawson. By vowing to fix the hurt he caused.

I let him know just how much he means to me in return. Just how much I have missed his golden smile. Missed his soul which now feels so intertwined with mine, it’s hard to find where I end and he starts.

We eventually break away from each other but Pike doesn’t stray far. Bringing his forehead to fine. He takes a deep breath, one I follow.

“I won't leave you ever again, Princess.”

“Promise?” I whisper, not trusting my voice.

“I promise.” Pike lays another gentle kiss on my lips before pulling away.

I take a step away from him reluctantly, needing space to pull myself together. I turn to look at Nicky who takes a step towards me. I open my mouth to speak but he beats me to it.

“Saturday,” he says, taking the words out of my mouth.

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