Sharon steeled herself as she walked into the Bowlarama, it was the first time she'd appeared in public since the fiasco at the party. Fortunately, most people were unaware that anything had been amiss, but her friends - and she used the word loosely - knew all the gory details. Rhonda had at least called and apologised, amusing Sharon with her excessive grovelling. However she hadn't let on she was no longer angry, Rhonda could stew just a little while longer.

"We can go somewhere else," Louis said seeing her looking over at Paulette and Rhonda.

She took a couple of deep breaths. "No it's fine, I'm not going to hide away."

Louis nodded but the smile left his face when he caught sight of Goose. "At least let me hit him," he said flexing his fist. "Just once."

Sharon laughed, some of the tension leaving her. "Don't be silly, we have the upper hand. Why throw it away."

"I guess," Louis said looking at Goose who was trying badly to look unperturbed.

"Besides you don't want to catch scabies or rabies off him do you?" she said tongue in cheek. "Let's go say hello to the vermin."

Louis chuckled under his breath as she made her way over to Rhonda and Paulette. "Hi guys," she said smiling broadly.

"Hey," Rhonda said pushing her wavy hair out of her eyes. "We were wondering if you'd show up." Sharon arched her eyebrows questioningly. "It's just Steph's not coming so we weren't sure if everyone else would." Her voice faltered but Sharon decided to be magnanimous.

"Oh, we got held up, that's all." She shrugged taking her cigarette holder out of her purse and waving it aloft. "I don't blame Stephanie for wanting a bit of space though, Johnny has been a nightmare."

Paulette's eyes widened. "He has?"

Sharon lowered her voice. "He won't stop calling her, she's had to get her parents to intercept his calls. Even though they've told him she doesn't want to speak to him, he still won't back off."

"Poor guy." Paulette looked over at Johnny who was standing alone at the bowling lanes. "He doesn't deserve it."

"Do you think one of us should go and ask him if he's alright?" Rhonda suggested as she watched him through narrowed eyes. "He does seem kinda despondent."

"Maybe Paulette should," Sharon said smiling at her conspiratorially. "He might like some company."

"Oh, I don't don't know," Paulette said fluffing up her hair. "What if he gets upset?"

"Then you can let him cry on your shoulder." She gave Paulette a gentle shove. "Go on."

Rhonda laughed as Paulette made a beeline for Johnny, catching Goose's attention.

"What's so funny?" he asked joining them, keeping his eyes averted from Sharon and Louis.

"Nothing really," Rhonda said glancing at Johnny.

"Hey, don't be talking shit about Johnny." Goose lowered his voice and gave Rhonda a warning look. "It'll come back to bite you."

Seriously, Sharon thought catching his eye. You're trying to give us advice.

"I'm just saying," Goose said, shifting uncomfortably under her gaze. "It's not cool the way you girls are digging him out all the time."

"Digging him out?" Rhonda said looking up at Goose questioningly.

"Yeah, he's just been dumped, or he might have been, and you're all acting like it's the best news ever."

"But surely it is good news for you," Sharon said having a flashback to a conversation they'd had at her party. "Now you don't have to share him with Steph."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Goose demanded his temper predicably flaring.

Sharon raised an eyebrow. "I think you know what I mean." Louis put his arm around her, making his allegiance clear.

"You got a problem?" he asked, his voice hard.

"No, no problem," Goose replied hastily, and Sharon smiled watching him back down.

"Let's get a drink," Rhonda said casting a nervous look at Louis before she quickly pulled Goose away.

"You didn't have to back me up," Sharon said looking up at Louis. But thank god I have a boyfriend I can rely on.

"I'm not having him speak to you like that," Louis said frowning in Goose's direction. "The only reason I haven't put him in a hospital bed is cos you said not to."

Sharon laughed. "He's not worth it." She wasn't going to suffer any more embarrassment because of Goose, she had to look at the bigger picture. Now that Stephanie and Johnny were over, she and Louis would easily be the coolest couple in school. Literally the uncrowned king and queen. No one else could compete.

                                                                                            ~~~

Paulette tentatively made her way over to Johnny. He was sat by himself and looked a little lost without his buddies surrounding him, hanging off his every word.

"Hi," she said tentatively sitting down next to him.

"Hey, Paulette." He gave her a half-hearted grin, his usual swagger absent.

"So are we gonna play a few games tonight?" she asked struggling to start a conversation. He could be kinda intimidating and it didn't help that she liked him so much. "It's just we're all sitting around and if we're gonna do that, then we might as well go somewhere else."

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Johnny finally said, deep in thought. "Although it doesn't much look like anyone wants to play." He looked over at Dimucci, his lips locked with Sharon's, and Goose seemed more interested in Rhonda's company.

"Goose and Louis are easily distracted," she said lightly, trying to keep the envy out of her voice.

"They're whipped."

She laughed although she wasn't amused. "I think the girls will be happy with your assessment."

"Yeah, they've all got coupled up," he said sourly.

"Not me. It looks like I'll be stuck on the shelf forever." She fluttered her eyelashes, fishing for a compliment but Johnny seemed to be immune to her attractions.

"You'll meet someone," he said, picking up on her hint. "You could have any guy you wanted."

I want you.

"I doubt it," she said willing him to say something heartfelt but he was more preoccupied with his cigarettes.

"Relationships ain't all there cracked up to be, believe me, I'm speaking from experience."

She coughed, clearing her throat. "Johnny, we've all heard about you and Steph." She reached her hand out, touching his arm.

He lit his cigarette. "What have you heard?"

"That you guys have split up." It would be a mistake to say he'd been dumped, it would hurt his feelings and his ego, and that was the last thing she wanted to do.

He sucked on his cigarette, taking a few drags and she suspected he was playing for time. "We've not split up really. Steph's just got some dumb idea in her head about wanting to be single. You know how moody she's been lately?"

"Yes, she has," Paulette said, her good mood deflating. "So you guys are still together?"

"She said she needs some space." Johnny shrugged. "As I said, she's in a bad mood."

Paulette nodded. "Well, we all need a bit of time to ourselves now and again." Not that I would if Johnny was my boyfriend. "Are you okay with her wanting some space?"

"Sure it's cool," Johnny said, flicking the ash from his cigarette onto the floor. "Maybe I could do with some space from her anyway."

Paulette resisted the temptation to smile like a loony at this news. "There's no harm in taking a bit of time out," she said choosing her words extra carefully. "Why don't we round the others up and play? I don't think Davey's here either so we've got equal teams."

"We'll play shortly," Johnny said and he fixed his eyes on Paulette, really paying her attention. "Can I speak to you privately? I don't want this to go any further."

Her heart jumped, pounding loudly in her chest, is he going to ask me out?

"Look I know you're Steph's best friend," he said avoiding her gaze. "And I don't want to put you on the spot."

"That's okay, I don't mind." She was breathless - genuinely so, not Marilyn style - and it took a mammoth effort for her to appear nonchalant.

"The thing is, has Steph said anything to you?" Johnny asked leaning closer. "About me and her I mean, cos I don't know what she's thinking."

Her shoulders sagged, and she let out the breath she'd been holding. "No Johnny, she hasn't," she said, her smile now forced. "I guess she's moaned a bit, but not about anything major. I just thought it was the usual relationship gripes."

"So she didn't tell you she wanted to finish with me?"

He sounded desperate, searching for a bit of hope to cling on to.

"No, I don't think we ever talked about anything like that," she said, not admitting that she had heard something along those lines from Sharon and Rhonda. "Steph never told me she wanted to end your relationship."

"Okay, thanks." Johnny awkwardly patted her arm. "I shouldn't have put you on the spot."

"It's fine, it's not a problem," she said giving him what she hoped was a sympathetic smile. "You know if you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

He looked at her for slightly too long. "Thank but I'm supposed to be the leader of the T birds, I think I'll leave the heart to hearts to you chicks."

She forced herself to laugh. "Sure thing, but you know where I am if you need me." She winked at him, hoping he'd pick up on the hint. That he'd finally see her. She'd waited a lifetime for him to become available, she wasn't going to lose her nerve now and have some other lucky girl snap him up.

Absolutely not!

                                                                                      ~~~~

Thank you for reading, votes/comments much appreciated.