Stephanie stood beside Johnny in the bowlarama, her eyes flitting around the room as they watched the games playing out, the most interesting of which had nothing to do with bowling. Sharon was sat keeping score, Louis looking over her shoulder, while Rhonda took a shot.

"I hope you've told Dimucci to keep away from Sharon," she said to Johnny, indicating her head in their direction.

Johnny's eyes narrowed. "If he likes her there's nothing I can do about it."

"You can tell him to unlike her!" She gave him a pleading look. "Come on, Rhonda's feeling really low right now, the last thing she needs is to watch him get together with someone else. Especially if that someone else is her friend. Can't you tell him to back off for the time being?"

Johnny looked over at Sharon. "Why don't you tell her to back off? It takes two to tango."

"I have told her but she says nothing is going on." Johnny shrugged losing interest in their conversation, and she turned her attention to Rhonda who had taken the seat next to Sharon and was whispering furiously in her ear. Uh oh, I don't like the look of this. She nudged Johnny and he grimaced, Sharon's high pitched voice carrying over to them.

"Look, if you've got something to say then say it," Sharon said scowling. "I'm tired of your snide remarks."

There was a moment of silence and Steph could see Louis trying not to smirk while Rhonda's cheeks turned pink.

"You could at least say you're sorry," she spluttered.

"Sorry for what? I haven't done anything wrong."

Steph looked at Rhonda, willing her to shut up. Sharon wasn't going to apologise or show contrition, she'd double down, believing herself to be the injured party.

"I don't believe you," Rhonda said looking around the room for support.

"She's right," Louis said standing up and shoving his hands in his pockets. "So leave her alone."

"Oh god," Steph mock groaned. "Is he for real?" She jumped when Johnny pushed past her to join the altercation.

"Enough," he hissed rounding on them all. Sharon's eyes widened but the focus of his attention was mostly Rhonda. "You need to butt out and stop making a scene. You can't tell anyone here who they can or can't go out with."

Rhonda's face was now scarlet. "I-I never..."

"Drop it." He adjusted his shirt collar and made his way back to Stephanie.

"Did you have to do that?" she asked. Poor Rhonda looked stunned, and Sharon far less smug than she'd have expected.

"Someone had to set her straight," Johnny said shrugging. "It's no good sugarcoating this shit."

"But-"

"That's my final word."

She opened her mouth to retaliate but what was the point? She stormed over to the lane and grabbed a ball, imagining it was Johnny's head she was aiming for.

~~~

Goose looked at Rhonda and suspected she was trying not to cry. Jeez, Johnny was an asshole sometimes. Why did he have to go pick on a girl?

"You wanna cigarette?" he asked sitting down beside her and holding his packet out.

"Oh?" She looked at him, almost pitifully. "Thanks."

"No problem." They sat and smoked in silence, Rhonda every so often looking over at Sharon who seemed to be absorbed in keeping score of the game. Louis was sat behind her and every so often he'd lean forward but they weren't particularly chatty.

"I think you're reading too much into things," Goose said clearing his throat.

"He's barely left her side all night."

"I don't think she's his type." Louis was laid back, Sharon was intense, he'd never have put the pair of them together.

"It doesn't matter," Rhonda said turning to him. "I'm not his type either."

He opened his mouth to disagree but what could he say? She was a nice girl but Louis wasn't interested, they hadn't even been going steady. "Forget about him," he said awkwardly. "It's his loss."

"I think Johnny made it crystal clear I have to put up and shut up," she said with a flash of anger.

He shuffled closer to her. "Johnny was being an asshole."

She smiled slightly. "I'm glad someone else thinks so."

He nodded but said no more as he remembered Johnny once joking that Dimucci was being charitable taking Rhonda out. At the time he'd laughed along, however now, looking at her downcast face, he felt ashamed. He hadn't been brought up to disrespect girls, his mom would be disgusted and his dad would whip his ass.

~~~

Louis leaned closer to Sharon, his breath tickling the back of her neck. She tried hard not to react, knowing everyone watching them.

"Come out with me tomorrow night?" he whispered in her ear.

She glanced down at the scorecard. "I can't."

"Why not?"

"I'm going to a sleepover at Paulette's," she said pulling a face.

"How old are you?" He chuckled, and she tried to shush him up.

"Sorry but come on, can't you get out of it?"

She bit her lip thinking. "I probably could but where would we go? I wouldn't want anyone to see us together." She was already on shaky ground with the girls, if word got out they'd gone a date, her protestations of innocence wouldn't cut it. They'd make her life hell.

"Get out of the sleepover and leave the rest to me," he said standing up since it was his turn to bowl. "I know somewhere discreet."

She nodded, paying him no more attention. Now and then she caught Rhonda's eye, and her unease grew. They were all single, it shouldn't be a problem but thinking like that was naive.

~~~

Sharon pulled Paulette to one side in the bathroom, glancing furtively around to make sure they were alone.

"I think I'd better give your sleepover a miss," she said as Paulette reapplied her makeup.

"Why?" Paulette asked holding her lipstick mid-air, a slight frown on her face.

"Rhonda's been off with me after everything that's happened, and that's putting it mildly. I think I should give her some space."

Paulette's frown deepened. "It was hardly your fault that you had to kiss Louis, the point of the game is to kiss someone you normally wouldn't. I mean, I kissed Johnny and Steph didn't lose her shit over it." She smiled wickedly. "I sorta wish she had."

Sharon couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, and I bet Steph knows that. Plus she wouldn't give Johnny the satisfaction of seeing her get jealous."

"I know, she doesn't appreciate him."

Sharon rolled her eyes, they were getting way off-topic. "So anyway," she said opening her handbag and taking out her hairbrush. "Going back to Rhonda. It's really awkward the way Louis dumped her right after what happened at Davey's. The timing is terrible." She sighed for a good effect. "And tonight, she made it pretty clear that she blames me."

"Well, maybe it'll give you a chance to clear the air," Paulette said as she added a final coat of lipstick.

"But while she's still upset, it might make things worse." She tugged the brush through her hair, yanking out a knot. " And actually, I'm a bit tired of hearing about it all the time. No one cares how I feel. I pretty much had to kiss Louis for Johnny's entertainment, and now everyone's saying I broke them up!" She upped the outrage and it gave Paulette pause for thought.

"I did think Johnny was out of line for insisting the bottle was nearer to you," she admitted in a rare show of censure. "But at least he made up for it tonight."

Sharon shook her head. "I think he went too far, Rhonda's probably even more upset now."

"I guess it was a bit embarrassing," Paulette said, pouting in front of the mirror and admiring herself from different angles. "Okay, skip the sleepover and I'll talk to Rhonda and try to help her put it in perspective. Boyfriends come and go, friends are for life."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it," Sharon said sweetly, pleased she'd got her way so easily. She carefully applied a fresh coat of lipstick, her thoughts turning to what she'd wear for her date with Louis.

~~~

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