Page 9 of Greased

“You were always walking around belting out some song at the top of your lungs,” he laughs.

“Honestly not much has changed.”

We both laugh. A warm feeling settles over me. It feels strange to laugh with him like this but in another way, it feels so right.

We both turn our heads as we hear Mum’s car pull up outside. Rhodes is the first to stand nodding towards the garage door.

“Come on, let’s go give them a hand. If what you said is true, I’m sure they will need our assistance.”

I nod my head and follow him towards the door.

I pause when I come face to face with my father. We stare at each other for a moment. Neither of us utter a single word.

“I’m sorry, Scarlett,” he says, finally breaking his silence.

I nod at him. I can’t say things like ‘it's okay’ because it's not. It's not okay. It's not okay that they lied to both Rhodes and I for ten years.

Led each other to believe we were alone in the world. Deceived us so greatly that I fear the mark will be buried too deep.

My father looks at me, like he’s searching for something I don’t know what he’s hoping to find. Maybe the, now healed, wounds from my ‘accident’.

Mum takes that opportunity to make herself known, clearing her throat to get our attention.

Her arms are full of grocery bags as well as Rhodes’ who resembles a pack horse.

My father runs over to her, collecting the bags from her arms.

I watch them both closely. It always stumped me on why my Mum hadn’t moved on after ten years. No matter the amount of encouragement from me, she would flat out refuse to date other men. There was always an excuse.

But now, looking at the way she smiles up at him like the world begins and ends with him, it all starts to make sense. She never moved on because that wasn’t an option for her.

My father was still hers and, hopefully, she is still his.

Mum looks over at me with a sad smile, “Why don’t we go inside and make some dinner? Have a talk.”

I nod my head and turn my back on the three of them. Anger still fuels my every move.

Seeing them out there trying to play happy family like my life hasn’t completely imploded on me.

Like they didn’t just take everything I know and crush it into pieces.

What even is real anymore?

Fuck, is my name even Scarlett Smith at this point?

Turns out my name isn’t Scarlett Smith. I should have seen it coming but fuck, I didn’t expect them to stoop that low. To the point of changing my identity that greatly.

I push away the hot chook roll. The normally delicious meal now tastes like ash in my mouth. I force myself to swallow the mouthful I had just taken.

I sit there for a moment in complete disbelief. They aren't kidding are they? This isn't some bullshit episode of pranked? No this is real life.

I look up at them, raising an eyebrow, “Enlighten me then. What is my actual name? For God’s sake let it not be some bullshit like Karen.”

Knowing my luck today, that would be my name.

“The only thing we changed is your last name. Your name is Scarlett Crux.”

I frown, damn. That's actually not that bad. Thank God. It’s actuallykind of cool.

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