Page 62 of Greased

I nod, making him smile.

“Come on, we don’t want to keep Shelly waiting. She may have missed you but she will still give you hell if you're late,” he says with a grimace. My eyes widen, realising just how much time has passed.

“Shit,” I say, looking around at the guys who just nod. Sonny grabs my hand, pulling me down the hallway back towards the now empty training room.

“I’ll drop you off if you like,mi estrella?”

A shiver runs down my body at the sound of the nickname rolling off his tongue. He notices my reaction but doesn’t comment on it as I mindlessly follow him out of the clubhouse.

Sonny and I fly through the streets of Rydell. He was adamant that I take the helmet instead of him. He muttered something about not wanting to be scrapped off the side of the road from Dacre blasting his brains out. An image that made me cringe at the thought.

He drops me off at Pinks’. When he offers to walk me in I decline, knowing I need a little bit of space to collect myself. I still feel vulnerable and it makes my skin feel itchy. That barrier I spent months reinforcing seems to fracture around these men. While I know I will eventually let them back in, it makes me feel anxious at the thought of just willingly giving them my heart again, or whatever pieces are still left of it. Even the bits and pieces I seem to be giving them even sparingly, set me on edge. I know I shouldn't. I know it's just giving them more of me they could break but I’m apparently a sucker for pain.

He lets out a breath in disappointment, but he nods his head as I hand him back his helmet.

“I’ll see you tomorrow, at school?” he asks, an almost hopeful look in his eye.

I lean down, kissing his cheek slowly before pulling away. Before I even go to answer, a bright smile takes over Sonny’s face.

“Okay, perfect. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I watch as Sonny carelessly throws his helmet on. He revs his bike a few times, watching me before giving me a sly wink and taking off. I shake my head, watching the tail end of him turn a corner.

Pinks’ is dead quiet this time of the afternoon. The only inhabitants are the few bartenders who rush around getting everything ready for opening time and the dancers currently practising on the stage.

It gives me a chance to really take in the establishment. The tables are all clean of glasses and bottles. The entire place is completely lit up from the house lights. If I wasn’t so familiar with the setup from last night, I would feel lost. Compared to the clubs back home, this place is immaculate.

As I take a few steps towards the centre stage, I notice the absence of sticky residue on the ground. Yet another difference between this club and the ones back home. Or is this home now?

Can they both be my home?

Shelly instantly spots me, “Scarlett, baby!” she yells, taking the steps one at a time until she is engulfing me in her embrace.

“Hi, Shelly.” Her arms are locked tight around me so it's nothing more than a wheeze. Eventually she steps back from me but barely as she takes me in.

“My girl, you’re even more beautiful in the daylight. Dacre was nearly senseless when he came home last night. Since he came home from Australia, he has non-stop spoken about this girl he met.” She rolls her eyes as she folds her arms over her chest.

“That little shit was way too ominous about the details too, but last night, it was like this light had come back on in his life,” she chucklesas she looks at me intently, “This whole time, it was you. I know this is forward of me and I shouldn't be sticking my nose in your business but I wouldn’t be his Momma bear if I didn’t tell you this,” My heart skips a beat as Shelly grabs my hands, her eyes feel like they pierce my soul.

“That boy is in love with you. His world was all but destroyed when he thought you had died. My story is for another day but I have been through it. My demons haunt me everyday. But I've been able to handle them. But Dakes?” She blows out a breath and I watch the tears slowly begin to well in her eyes. I can’t help the way my own eyes start to blur.

“That boy of mine wears his heart on his sleeve. His soul has been lost for ten years. I can’t count the amount of times I dreaded coming home at night. The thought of my boy not being here still makes me sick. But now that you are home,” she sighs, letting go of one of my hands as she wipes away a lone tear, “It’s like all of that is gone now. That light is back in his eyes and I know it's all because of you. You have been the star in his dark sky.”

A tear slips out of my eye as I stand there stunned. I knew the depth of Dacre’s love for me. It has been clear to me from the moment he told me he was all in with me. But hearing this from his mother, it feels somehow deeper. I just nod, unable to give a verbal answer. Shelly gives me a sad smile as she reaches up and wipes my face.

“I know what those boys did to you. Dacre was very forthcoming with the details last night.” She gives me a serious look that pulls a chuckle from me. “Give them hell.” She smiles before we both burst out in laughter.

I shake my head, “I didn’t think you would ever tell me to bust your son’s ass for the way he treated me.”

“Are you kidding? I raised that boy better than to ghost women just because of some fragile masculinity bullshit. If he doesn’t treat you like the queen you are, you tell me.” She gives me a pointed look, letting me know just how serious she is.

I nod, before looking over at the stage as a few of the dancers swing around on the poles. My eyes bug out as I watch one of them hang upside down and slowly spin.

“Impressive aren’t they?” Shelly says and I note the hint of pride in her voice.

I nod my head before turning a worried look to the woman standing next to me, “You don’t expect me to dance like that for my initiation?”

Shelly turns to me and laughs at the expression on my face, “God no! Your feet will be staying firmly on the ground.”

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