Stephanie glanced at herself in the mirror one last time before heading downstairs. In her pink lady jacket, with the collar turned up high, she looked the epitome of cool. In that respect, she matched Johnny well. They were the perfect pair. A loud knock on the door snapped her out of her musings.

"Hurry up Steph," Paulette shouted from outside. "We're all waiting."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming," she yelled, running a brush through her hair one last time. She heard her mom tutting in the background about all the noise they were making, and she willed her to shut up. We're seventeen, give us a break.

"So how did it go with Johnny?" Rhonda asked as soon she jumped in the car and she let out a silent groan. She so did not want to go there right now.

"Look me and Johnny are cool, I was just sounding off the other night."

Rhonda and Sharon exchanged puzzled looks, clearly not believing her.

"Are you sure Steph?" Paulette asked sounding a little despondent. "It's just you guys don't seem all that happy together."

Yeah, you wish.

"Look I am happy, so stay out of it," she said with more force than she'd intended.

Paulette pulled a face and Sharon quickly changed the subject much to Stephanie's relief.

"Did I tell you all my mom's going away next week?" she said quickly, keen to avoid an atmosphere. "She's going to visit my aunt in Florida so I'll be all on my lonesome."

"Hold up, she's leaving you behind?" Steph asked surprised. Sharon's mom was pretty overprotective, way more than the other moms were. "What about Sam? Where will he be?"

"Well, Sam will be here with me mostly," Sharon admitted pulling a face. "But he's going to a party next Saturday night so technically I will be home alone for some of the time."

"For one evening," Rhonda said sarcastically.

"So why aren't you going to Florida with your mom?" Stephanie asked ignoring Rhonda.

"My aunt doesn't have a lot of room. If I went I'd have to sleep on the floor and Sam doesn't want to miss this party his friend is having."

"I think I'd take Florida over a party, even if I was sleeping on the floor," Rhonda said. "Is he crazy?"

"It depends on the party," Paulette said fluffing up her hair. "But if Sam's not going to be there on Saturday night we could have a sleepover, like old times?"

"I guess," Sharon said sounding cautious.

"Oh, I'm sorry, did you plan to invite Louis around for some alone time?" Paulette suggested wiggling her eyebrows at Stephanie. "I can't say I blame you, that's exactly what I'd do if I had a boyfriend."

"I wasn't planning to, no," Sharon said quickly and Steph wondered if that was exactly what she'd been intending to do.

"Great," Paulette said. "We can invite the guys around and have our own little party!"

"I don't know," Sharon said faltering. "My mom will kill me if the place gets trashed."

Paulette rolled her eyes. "It won't get trashed. Johnny wouldn't let things get out of hand, would he Steph?"

Stephanie shook her head. No way was she was taking responsibility for Johnny or the other T birds. If they wanted to throw a party, on their heads be it.

~~~

"So when's your mom going away again?" Louis asked sidling up to Sharon and slipping his hand around her waist.

She looked up at him biting her bottom lip. "Next week."

"That's good to know," he said smiling. "And is Sam still staying at his friend's house on Saturday night."

"He is," she said moving back from him slightly. "But Paulette wants me to have a sleepover. As soon as she found out I had the house to myself she pretty much arranged it with the girls."

A shadow fell across his face. "Seriously?" He couldn't hide his annoyance. "Why'd you tell her?"

"It just slipped out, it's not like it's a secret or anything. We were just talking on the way here." She drifted off, and he suspected it had deliberately slipped out. He pulled a face which caught Goose's attention.

"What are you two talking about?" he asked joining them, Rhonda following two feet behind him.

"Nothing," Louis said giving Sharon a stern look which she returned with a pout.

"Oh, did Sharon tell you we're having a party at her house when her mom goes away?" Rhonda asked and he suspected she was trying to wind him up. Do not react, ignore her, do not react.

"Now I didn't agree to that," Sharon said quickly as everyone's ears picked up at the word party. "We were talking about having a sleepover but nothings been decided."

"Come on, it'll be fun," Paulette said with a big smile. "If we have a party then the boys can join in too. Stop being so uptight."

Sharon scowled. "I'm not being uptight!"

"You sound uptight."

"Hey!" Louis said coming to his girlfriend's defence. "If she doesn't want to have a party then it's not happening." But a private party, just the two of them...

"What's this about a party?" Johnny asked, his ears perking up and Louis groaned.

"Sharon's mom is going on vacation and she'll have the house to herself next Saturday night," Paulette said explaining the circumstances to Johnny. "I was just saying she should have us all over, we could have a party."

"My mom will skin me alive if she finds out," Sharon said plaintively.

"But we won't make a mess or anything so she'll never have to know." Paulette looked up at Johnny, giving him her usual doe-eyed gaze. "And Johnny will make sure it doesn't get out of hand, no one will get through the door without his say so."

"Yeah, that's right," Johnny said. "I'll be invitation only for the select few."

Sharon looked at him helplessly. "I really don't think it's a good idea."

"Leave her alone," Louis snapped. "If she doesn't want to-"

"Will you both lighten up, already?" Johnny said, in his 'I call the shots' voice. "We're having a party and it's gonna be cool, got it."

Sharon shrugged. "I guess, but you had better make sure it doesn't get out of hand. My brother is in charge and if he comes home and finds anything broken or anything out of place..." She left the threat hanging in the air and Johnny paused.

"Nothing will get damaged," he said but Louis noticed his jaw twitch ever so slightly.

Yeah, you'd better be nervous Nogerelli. Sam will snap you like a twig and I might just join him.

"Sharon, you are worrying about nothing," Johnny said with a smarmy smile. "I'll handle the guest list and crowd control. No one will get past me." He then left to play on one of the pinball machines before she could respond.

"It looks like I'm having a party," Sharon said to Louis, her voice resigned.

"I guess you are." He grimaced not sure who he was most annoyed at. Sharon should have kept quiet but where did Johnny and Paulette get off taking over like that? They could throw a party at one of their houses if it was such a good idea.

"What's the big deal?" Goose asked seeing his face.

"Nothing," he said glowering at Johnny. "It's just Sharon had the house to herself." He didn't continue, and Goose smirked picking up on his thoughts.

"That's bad luck," he said grinning. "Really bad luck."

Louis nodded, it certainly was bad luck, if only Sharon hadn't opened her big mouth.

~~~

"Sharon if you don't want to have a party, then you don't have to," Stephanie told her while she was sat keeping score. "I wouldn't if I was you."

"So long as it doesn't get out of hand, it's okay," Sharon said in a flat voice which left Stephanie unconvinced. Johnny overheard them talking and joined in.

"It won't get out of hand," he said giving Sharon his most charming smile. "You chicks aren't usually so boring, what's up with you?" He laughed but Stephanie glared at him furiously.

"Who are you to call us boring? Just cos we don't wanna do what Johnny Nogerelli says." She could feel herself getting riled up and she didn't do anything to stop it.

"Chill Steph, you're making a scene," Johnny hissed under his breath.

She pulled a face, so what if people were watching, he'd started it.

"Oh get over yourself. I'm tired of you bossing everyone around all the time." He looked at her affronted, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from the bowling lanes.

"What is it with you?" he said gesticulating wildly. "I'm not gonna have you speaking to me like that in public. You're embarrassing me."

She was about to snap back but she felt the fight leaving her. "Maybe this isn't working out anymore?" she said, almost stumbling over the words in a rush to get them out.

He looked at her uncomprehendingly. "What's not working out?"

"Me and you." She was relieved to finally say it. "Don't you feel it? Like we don't click these days? It's as if we're not on the same wavelength." She looked at him, imploring him to understand but he stared back at her blankly.

"No, I don't feel it." His face twisted in a mixture of anger and confusion. "We've probably hit a bit of a rough patch, spending so much time together. That's all it is."

"I think it's more than that," she said searching his eyes. You must feel it, Johnny? Surely you do?

"Nah it's me," he said awkwardly adjusting the collar on his jacket. "I've been sniping at you, I guess the heat has turned me into an asshole." He tried to laugh. "I'm sorry Steph, this whole T bird leadership thing's gone to my head as well. You have my permission to kick my ass. Not too hard though." He gave her a winning smile which almost broke her heart.

"I dunno, I think it goes deeper than that." However, she hesitated even though she knew their problems were more than Johnny getting a bit too big for his boots.

"Come on, we'll go to Sharon's on Saturday night and have a good time. Like the old days yeah." He put his arm around her and tried to pull her into a hug. "Don't forget, come September we're gonna rule the school."

She nodded and tried to return his smile. Okay, I'll hold off for now but if we don't enjoy the party, it's game over. I can't go on like this forever.

~~~

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