Page 21 of Greased

“It can’t be.” The pink haired girl finally chokes out.

“It sure is. Our girl is alive and she is home.” The smile that Shelly gives me is bright. Like she is proud to show me off. I’m not going to lie though, with this many eyes on me, I kind of feel like a deer in headlights.

“Shit you are right, Shell. Looks exactly like Rhodes.”

The brunette girl that was sitting down at the makeup table says as she gets up and moves towards us. She puts her hand out for me to shake.

“I’m Maxie Maraschino, like the cherry.”

She gives me a smile as she turns to the girl with the pink hair who is just standing there gobsmacked still looking at me. Maxie nudges her with her elbow, knocking her out of her trance.

“Oh my god. I’m so sorry. It's just we’ve heard so many stories about you from everyone that it's just surreal that you are actually standing in front of me right now. I’m Brandy.”

Instead of shaking my hand like Maxie did, Brandy brings me into a tight embrace similar to the one she gave Shelly when we walked in.

“I can just tell we are going to be best friends.”

I chuckle but I can’t help but feel like she is right. Not for the first time today have I felt a sense of home and comfort in a person. It's obvious that I’ve never met Brandy before by the way she reacted to me. It's refreshing. Meeting so many people that knew you from before is daunting. I feel like I have some kind of expectation to live up to. One I’m worried I won’t.

But Brandy has that air about her that makes it impossible for you to not want to be around her. She reminds me of Grace in a way.

The girl that was sitting on the couch quickly gets up while wiping her hands on a towel.

“Oop, sticky,” she laughs, quickly finishing wiping her hands and throwing the towel back onto the table.

“I’m Jan.” Jan extends her hand to shake mine but thinks better of it and gives me a quick hug.

The pin-up girl finally makes her way over to me. There’s a hardness in her eyes. Like she has seen some shit.

She extends her hand to shake mine.

“Hi doll, I’m Rippy.”

She squeezes my hand much tighter than the normal female handshake instantly reminding me of two males trying to assert dominance. I silently scoff at her alpha bullshit. Rippy eventually steps away and crosses her arms over her chest. I turn from her to not let her get under my skin like she clearly wants to.

“So, Scarlett, we've heard so many stories about your voice from Rhodes and it just so happens that we need a new singer. Think we could get a little sample?”

A deep chuckle sounds behind me. I turn and face Rippy who is just shy of pissing herself laughing at Brandy’s question.

“I don’t know Brandy. I think this Aussie Sandra Dee is a bit toopureto be a Pink. I don’t really feel like playing some Taylor Swift bullshit.”

“Hit me with a song then Rippy,” I snark, crossing my arms over my chest. While I’m not a massive Taylor fan, the girl does have some bangers.

The sinister smirk I get in reply tells me all I need to know about her. She is way too comfortable being a grade A bitch.

“I will give you something easy. All I Wanted by Paramore.”

My own lips turn up in a smirk.

Little do these girls know, the only thing that has stuck with me is my complete and utter obsession with Paramore. Some days I feel like their music was the only thing that kept me going through relentless therapy and doctor’s visits.

Not bothering with any further conversation, I begin to quietly sing the verse leading up to the chorus. I close my eyes to help keep me in the zone. I give a slight pause right before the chorus. Slowly, I open my eyes again, looking directly at Rippy I suck in a deep breath and sing. Her eyes bug out of my head at her surprise at just how well I can hit the high notes.

Yeah, how’s that for this little Aussie Sandra Dee. Fuckhead.

Once I finish the last note, I take a deep breath and look around the room.

All the girls have shocked but impressed expressions across their faces. Brandy starts jumping up and down clapping.

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