Page 73 of Greased

“Oh my girl. You will be fine. You are made for this life. Rhodes told me about the other day during training,” he says, raising an eyebrow. I can’t stop the cringe before it escapes.

“Did Rhodes also tell you about my panic attack?”

He gives me a look of sympathy. It looks strange to see that look on his face. To be honest it seems weird to see any kind of look on his face, let alone see him in the flesh at all. It still doesn't seem real some days. Like I will wake up one day and all of this will have just been some fucked up dream.

“It will be common for you to have those kinds of flashbacks, Scar. Your body was trained for years to harness those muscles. When put into a situation where you need to use them, they will make themselves known,” he sighs seeing the look on my face. I watch as he gets a far away look on his face. A smile creases his face as he turns back to look at me.

“You had this insanely raw talent. From the moment you stepped into the training room, it was like it lit a fire inside of you. You took to training like a fish to water. I see that spark in your eye even still.” He puts a hand on my shoulder, “You were made for this life. You are a Crux. It's in your bones.”

I nod but I’m filled with doubts. It helps to reassure me that he has faith in me and my skills but that life still seems so far away. Panic fills my chest at the thought of the way I took Dawson down on the mat the other day. The way my body just took over.

I take a deep breath as I stand up, allowing a false bravado of confidence to fill me. Maybe if I tell myself that I can actually do this enough times, maybe I might be able to.

The drive to the clubhouse feels like it goes by within a blink of an eye. The clubhouse is full tonight. I instantly spot Nicky, Pike, Dacre, Sonny and Dawson. The latter completely ignores me. Which doesn’t surprise me at this point.

Sonny gives me a wave, smiling from ear to ear, his face completely lit up the moment he sees me. Pike shakes his head at his giddy behaviour, elbowing him in the ribs before giving me a slight wink. My lips twitch back at him allowing myself to react towards them for the first time today.

Dacre’s smile is shy as he sees me. Nicky doesn’t bother with a smile, instead coming straight over to us and engulfing me in a hug. It honestly surprises me that he refrains from spinning me around like he normally does.

I take in a breath of him. I needed this. I needed him. After doing my best at ignoring them today which was near impossible, I didn’t realise that this would have actually helped.

He steps away from me after a moment. His face is serious as he looks down at me. “Are you okay, baby girl?”

I nod, not being able to find the words for anything else.

He shakes his head, “No, that’s not good enough. I need words, Scarlett.”

I draw in a breath as I look down to where my hands are clenched. He brings a finger under my chin, lifting it with a softness I forgot he possessed.

“I take that as a no,” he smiles sadly at me.

“I just feel really overwhelmed. There’s so much happening right now and I feel like I haven’t had a chance to really breathe yet.”

Nicky nods his head in understanding, “When you need to breathe, I’m here.”

I nod my head knowing I will take him up on his offer. He finally takes a step away from me before turning his head to my father who’s giving us a curious look.

“Pres.” He nods, my father instantly returning a nod. He looks between us a few times, both Nicky and I waiting with baited breath. For approval? A scolding? I’m not sure, but the hum he finally gives us certainly wasn’t it.

After one last look at Nicky, he turns to me wrapping an arm around my shoulders, almost as if dislodging me from Nicky’s hold as he ushers me to the room known as Church. I don’t know why I expect a full alter and pew setting but the large conference table seems to surprise me.

At the front of the room, a table large enough to seat the leadership members looks out over the chairs scattered around. A couple of members lounge around but quickly shoot to their feet as we walk through the door. Mumbled acknowledgements are heard as we walk to the front of the room. It feels as though we attract more curious looks. Each person desperate to get a look at me after all these years.

My father pulls out a chair for me at the table, gesturing me to sit. It feels as though the moment my ass hits the chair, I’m finally able to let go of the breath I had been holding.

Slowly, the room starts to fill with more people. I watch as a man who seems to draw the attention of the entire room to him walks through the doors.

I can instantly tell he is Nicky and Dawson’s father, seeing how he is a spitting image of the former, if not just a good twenty years older.

The moment he sees me, a smile lights his face. Making a beeline straight for me, he rounds the table before coming to a stop right beside me.

“My God, I never thought I would get to see that beautiful face ever again,” he says, looking at me with a mixture of awe and disbelief, “I’d say you don’t remember me but I’m Rick, Dawson and Nicky’s Dad.”

I stand up, “Hi, it's so nice to meet you.” I grimace, “Or see you again I guess.” I chuckle, feeling awkward at my blunder. What do I say to these people? It’s not like there’s a handbook available for this kind of thing.

Rick instantly puts me at ease though as he laughs, putting a hand on my arm. From any other male, this kind of familiarity would be uncomfortable but there is something about Rick that puts me at ease. Whether it’s some part of my brain remembering him from all those years ago or if it's just his aura that is able to set people at ease, I’m not too sure.

“Sit.” He nods at the chair I just vacated, “We’ve got plenty of time to catch up. Your father here,” he grumbles, slapping said man on the back hard enough to make him groan, “loves keeping us all in the dark apparently. I expect a cook up at your place this weekend.” He shoots a pointed look towards my dad..

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