"Hi," Louis said awkwardly to Rhonda. "I wasn't expecting to see you." She was stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, mouth pursed, and it would have been funny if the sakes weren't so high. She's gonna blow it for me with Sharon, she's gonna make sure I don't get with her. That's what's really pissing her off.

"So what are you doing here?" Rhonda demanded, pushing past Louis to stand in front of Sharon, her eyes blazing.

"Don't mind me," Louis said fake coughing. "It's not like it's my room or anything."

Rhonda flushed. "I wasn't speaking to you."

Sharon gathered her books together before turning to Rhonda, meeting her head on. "Louis was just giving me a hand with something," she said dismissively. "But we're done now so I'll get going."

Rhonda took a couple of steps back so she was blocking the doorway. "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"No, of course not," Sharon said opening one of her books. "I can't get my head around this math work we've got, and Louis was helping me, that's all." She flipped to a page that had a lot of crossings out on it and waved it under Rhonda's nose.

Rhonda glanced at it, and then back at Louis. "Well, you can't blame me for jumping to conclusions," she said, still sounding suspicious.

"No, but I have to get going," Sharon said, scooting around her. "I'll catch you guys tomorrow." She was gone before either of them could stop her.

"I guess I make her nervous for some reason," Rhonda said stepping back into the bedroom. "So why was she really here? You could have helped her with her math work at school or something."

"I could have," he said, not hiding his annoyance with her. "And I could help her at home, what difference does it make?"

"None, but why help her at all?"

"Why not?"

"It just seems weird that you'd want to waste your time on school work that's not even your own." She shrugged as if trying to feign indifference. "So do you wanna hang out?"

He held back a groan; Sharon was right, he should have broken up with her properly. "We're on a break, so no, I don't want to hang out."

"What?" She looked offended and he couldn't hide his impatience.

"Why are you here?" he snapped. "We're supposed to be giving each other some space."

"But how can we sort things out if we don't see each other?"

He chewed his gum for a moment, pretending to think it over. "We can't Rhonda, don't you get it?" She looked at him blankly and he groaned. "We can't sort it out cos I don't want to. I thought you'd have worked it out by now."

"But why don't you want to?" she asked stuttering.

"I dunno." He looked away from her trying to hide his annoyance. "I think you should go home before we split up on really bad terms."

She gaped at him. "Does this mean I'm dumped?" she asked in a small voice.

"You can say it was mutual."

"I can say it was mutual?" she said dumbfounded. "Wow, that's...thanks a lot!" She turned on her heels and ran down the stairs, slamming the front door behind her.

Thank god she had gone.

~~~

Rhonda furiously dialled Stephanie's number and after a couple of rings, she answered. "Hey, what's up?"

"He's dumped me, he's actually dumped me." She clamped a hand over her mouth realising she was shouting.

"Rewind," Steph said, sounding not at all surprised. "Dimucci has dumped you? When did this happen, I thought you were taking some time out."

Rhonda swallowed down the lump in her throat. "So did I but I went to see him and he was with Sharon."

Steph inhaled sharply. "With Sharon where? On a date?"

"They were in his bedroom together." She left the words hanging so they'd make the worst impression.

"In his bedroom? Oh my god, what were they doing?"

Sharon, I could destroy you, I could absolutely destroy you. Your reputation would be in tatters. And Louis you'd, no you'd be fine, you'd be getting slaps on the back.

"They were hanging out," she admitted not able to lie. "Sharon said he was helping with her math work."

"That sounds so ridiculous it must be true," Steph said with a small laugh.

"Or maybe she's just after my guy."

There was a long pause. "I don't know what to say," Steph said hesitantly. "I mean, he isn't your guy any more. And if he's not, and he likes Sharon, I don't think there's anything you can do about it."

"So I should just step aside and let them go for it?" The thought sickened her but she knew it would probably happen. He'd dumped her, nothing was standing in his way now.

"Rhonda I'm sorry," Steph said sounding undecided. "I told Sharon not to go there but I don't think there's anything more I can say. It sucks, and I'll think badly of her if she gets with him but they're both free agents."

"So what about girl code?" Rhonda asked bitterly. "Is it okay for her to get together with my boyfriend, I mean my ex-boyfriend?"

"No, but there's nothing you can do about it."

"Great, that's just great." Her hand tightened around the telephone receiver. "So what's the point of being a pink lady then? It sounds like we can screw each other over if it keeps the T birds happy."

"That's pretty much how it is," Steph said with a weary sigh. "The T birds call the shots."

"That's, that's...stupid."

"I agree, but I didn't make the rules."

"Well, I'm still gonna tell Sharon a few home truths." Princess Perfect is going to know exactly what I think of her.

Stephanie cleared her throat. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. You need to be cool and act like you don't care. Don't make a fool of yourself over some guy, at least keep your self-respect."

"I guess," she said, but Louis and Sharon had already made a fool out of her. Sharon especially. She wouldn't be forgiving her anytime soon.

~~~