"Eww, what's that smell," Steph said fake coughing and wafting her hand in front of her nose as Paulette took a seat behind her in biology. "I'm being gassed."

"It's Chanel no. 5," Paulette said fluffing her hair. "Marilyn wears it all the time but I know you prefer the smell of gasoline."

"I prefer it to that shite."

Chanel my ass! Sharon's right, it is more like Chantelle no 5, no way is it the real thing. It suits Paulette though, it goes well with her dyed hair, false nails, and padded bra. She's such a phoney.

"So have I missed anything?" Paulette asked leaning between her and Johnny. She gave him a simpering look that should have pissed Steph off but she was used to it. "I got held up reapplying my lipstick in the bathroom."

"You've got a bit on your teeth," Steph said in a stage whisper. "You might wanna rub it off."

"Thanks," Paulette said, flushing deeply. "I don't know how I missed it."

You didn't you idiot!

Johnny gave her a look.

"What?" she asked chewing her gum and slowly blowing a bubble, knowing it annoyed him.

"Stop doing that," he hissed. "It ain't cool."

She ignored him and got her magazine out, opening it on top of her biology book. Mr Spears was sat with his head down at the front of the class, his glasses skew-whiff as he appeared to be marking papers. Whatever he was doing he wasn't watching the back of the room.

"Hey, get a load of this," Johnny said elbowing her to get her attention. He indicated to Davey who was crouched near the lab rats, surreptitiously trying to open a cage. He glanced towards the front of the room, the students around him snickering, and then slipped his hand into the cage reaching for a rodent. 

She rolled her eyes. "Is this supposed to be funny?"

"Wait, it will be."

A bored expression on her face, she watched as Davey passed the rat to a student in the row in front of him, who passed it forward until it finally reached Goose's clutches. He was sat on the front row, and Steph shook her head in disbelief. How could Mr Spears not notice something was amiss when the slackest student in the room was sat to attention?

Cackling under his breath, Goose crouched down onto his knees and shuffled forwards, the rat in his hands. Everyone but Mr Spears, who was polishing his glasses, watched with bated breath as Goose put the rat on his desk, pushing it forward, before hurrying back to his seat.

"What the? Oh my..." Mr Spears flew back in his chair, visibly shaken.

I guess the rumours are true. He really is at the end of his rope, or he will be if Judy doesn't stop shrieking.

The rat scurried down from the desk and there was pandemonium in the classroom. Several girls were standing on their chairs, their screams loud enough to crack glass, and Mr Spears sat with his hands trembling.

"Hey, where are you going," Johnny said, grabbing Steph's arm when she stood up.

She shook his hand off and strode towards the corner of the room where the rat was attempting to hide. She knelt down looking at it. Think of it as a hamster, it's harmless, but she still hesitated to reach out. As if sensing her dilemma, Eugene appeared by her side.

"You keep it cornered and I'll sweep in from behind," he said stuttering.

She nodded gratefully and he blushed, it was probably a rare day that a girl so much as looked at him. Despite his nerves, he scooped the rat up, almost cradling it as he took it back to his cage.

"Thanks, Eugene," she said and he blushed even more deeply.

"Someone's got a crush on you Zinone," Goose said smirking at her and she flipped her finger in reply.

"Why'd you have to spoil the fun," Johnny grumbled under his breath when she sat down. "Spears was gonna have a breakdown."

"And that's fun?" She raised her eyebrows at him, challenging him.

"Yeah it's fun, he's a teacher for christ sake."

"Whatever." She picked up her magazine but Johnny reached for it, lowering it down.

"Is something wrong?" She tried to bite back her annoyance; he was her guy, she was his girl, they were the envy of the student body.

"Dimucci's flaked out on us," Johnny said keeping his voice low, no doubt aware Paulette was eavesdropping. "He can't make it tonight, he said his dad's got him working on his car. I call bullshit."

She glanced over at Rhonda, no wonder she had a face like a slapped ass, Dimucci was getting into the habit of bailing on her. "Is he messing her about? Cos if he's seeing someone else then I'm not covering for him."

Johnny shook his head. "I don't think so. He probably is helping his dad but I bet his arm hasn't been twisted."

She let out a sigh, "Great, more drama."

"It was your idea to get them together," Johnny reminded her. "I told you I didn't think he was all that interested but you said they made a good match."

"Did I?" She frowned, flicking her hair over her shoulder as she wondered whatever had possessed her to attempt to match-make. "You should have told me to butt out."

"Yeah, I should have but you have a way of winning me over Stephanie." He leaned closer and she could feel his breath down the back of her neck. "Anyway, I think we'll have a better time by ourselves."

She sat up straighter, inclining her head away from him. "Actually Johnny, my dad's pretty shorthanded at the service station, I should help him out."

He groaned. "Oh come on, Steph."

She looked at him with wide-eyed innocence. "It's Wednesday night, and we'll spend most of the weekend together. It's no big deal."

"Not to you," he said his voice sulky and her resolve hardened. She didn't particularly want to see Johnny that evening, she knew how a date alone with him would pan out. He'd spend most of the night pawing at her, occasionally taking a break to talk about himself, before resuming his efforts to get her in the sack. And that was not going to happen, she was not some dumbass who was gonna get knocked up before graduation.

"Look, I'll see you at the weekend," she said smiling softly in an attempt to cajole him. "Please don't make a scene." Behind her, she sensed Paulette was listening to their every word and Johnny must have had the same thought since he turned around and caught her eye. He gave her the once over, blatantly leering, and she basked in the attention.

Steph glared at him.

"What?" he asked feigning innocence.

"Nothing," she muttered under her breath. "But if you wanna get with the class bike be my guest."

He gawped at her. "Jesus Steph, what's gotten into you? You know I ain't interested in anyone but you."

She smiled at him through gritted teeth but she wasn't disappointed about their cancelled date, she was relieved. She tried to kid herself that they were just in a rut but she recognised it for the bad sign it was. And the timing couldn't have been much worse. They were all set to lead next year's T Birds and Pink Ladies, Johnny was already wearing the jacket even though they were still juniors. If they split up now their plans for twelfth grade would be in tatters.

But I'm not sure if I love him? I'm not even sure I like him, in fact, most of the time he annoys the hell out of me. Maybe I should let Paulette take him off my hands, she obviously really likes him, probably more than I do. Maybe.

                                         ~~~

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