"Hmm," Paulette said loudly, linking her arm through Sharon's as they walked across the sports field. "I've been thinking."

"You have? I thought I heard something," Sharon said trying not to smile. "Okay, hit me with it." She wasn't in the mood to play twenty questions.

"It's about the code, specifically about being T Bird property."

Sharon bristled. "I struggle with the 'property' label."

Paulette nodded impatiently. "Forget about that for a minute. We can only date T Birds right? And we're not exactly spoilt for choice, to say the least. So say Johnny and Steph split up, ordinarily, I couldn't go there, it would be against girl code."

"But you think the pink lady code gives you the green light?"

"It makes it less problematic, in a weird sort of way," Paulette said her eyes brimming with excitement. "Steph couldn't hold it against me under the circumstances. It's not like I'd be going after her guy when I had the whole of the student body to choose from."

The whole student body... Sharon held back a laugh. "You just fancy Johnny and nothing is gonna stand in your way." She looked across the pitch which was now mostly empty apart from a few footballers who were hanging back to watch the cheerleaders finish their routine.

"That could have been you," Paulette said mischievously as the cheerleaders formed a tower, Gracie standing smug on the top.

Sharon grimaced. "I'd rather chew razor blades." She watched Gracie squeal as she fake stumbled to the ground, looking helplessly around. "Could she be more pathetic?" She turned away as Steven pulled Gracie to her feet.

"Is that the green-eyed monster talking?" Paulette asked slyly. "Maybe you still like him more than you let on."

"Don't be stupid," she snapped, and Paulette took a step back. "Sorry, it's just my mom would love me to be a cheerleader or something much like that." She still felt guilty when she remembered how disappointed her mom had been when she'd quit dance classes and performing arts a couple of years ago. "I think she thought she was going to get her wish when I started dating Steven."

"It sucks to be your mom," Paulette said, and she couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, it does but it's my life."

"Sharon?"

She groaned as Steven tapped her shoulder.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

"Must we?" She exchanged a look with Paulette.

"Give me two minutes," he said standing in front of her and crossing his arms.

"Fine," she said in a tone that suggested otherwise. She glanced at Paulette. "Can you tell Rhonda to wait for me, I'll literally be two minutes."

Paulette nodded before walking away, and Sharon looked at her watch pointedly.

"So you've still got your heart set on being a pink lady?" Steven said quickly. "It's just I think you're making a big mistake. You're throwing away your potential and isolating yourself from most of the school to be part of some dumb clique."

"The only mistake I made was getting together with you. Now that was a mistake." She ignored the hurt look on his face, she had to shut this down. "Football's your life, I get it, but I don't want to spend my senior year sitting in the bleachers watching you play, watching you train-"

"I wouldn't expect you to."

She shook her head. "You're missing my point. If I wanted to be with you, then I'd be happy to do all of that but the thought fills me with dread. I can't imagine anything more boring."

"So what do you want to do instead?" He gave her a hard look. "Join a girl gang and hang out with a bunch of delinquents."

Here we go, I bet he's going to try and get my mom on his side if he hasn't already.

"Those delinquents are my friends," she said in her best haughty voice. "I choose them."

"You are so gonna regret it. You'll end up in trouble." 

"It's none of your business." She looked at her watch. "Your time's up and I've got a ride to catch."

He reached for her arm and she shrugged him off. "Goodbye Steven, you won't see me later."

~~~

"Thanks," Steph said to the freshman holding the door open for her, and he turned pink in reply. Poor kid needs to work on his confidence. She stepped outside feeling a weight lift from her shoulders as it always did on a Friday afternoon. She didn't hate school but there were so many other things she'd rather be doing. She made her way to the parking lot and her eyes honed in on Johnny standing astride his motorbike as he chatted up two girls. They can't be more than fifteen!

"Hey," she said walking over and the girls stood back looking down. They recognised her and were suitably embarrassed, but Johnny turned around with the half-smile, half-leer he'd been trying to perfect.

"Wanna smoke?" He reached into his pocket and held out a packet of cigarettes to her.

She snatched the packet from him while remaining stony-faced. "Girls you might wanna leave us," she said giving them a withering look which sent them scattering.

"You're scary when you're angry," Johnny said while she lit a cigarette. "Those kids will be having nightmares tonight."

"Exactly, they're kids," she spat. "So why can't you leave them the hell alone? You wanna make a fool out of yourself then go ahead but you are not gonna make a fool out of me."

He gawped at her dumbstruck. "Steph I was just talking to them, being friendly. I can't believe you're getting jealous-"

"I'm not jealous!" She inhaled deeply then blew out a plume of smoke. "I'm not jealous but it's embarrassing when you flirt with everything that has a pulse. Especially girls who are still wearing training bras! Do you have any idea how sleazy you look?"

"Hey, it's just a joke," he said holding up his hands. "No one takes it seriously, it's just a bit of fun."

"It's not cool." That brought him up short, Johnny was supposed to be the epitome of cool.

"Okay, point taken," he said brushing his hand through his perfectly styled hair. "But you ain't so perfect yourself."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Typical Johnny, always trying to deflect.

He cleared his throat and she sensed he was buying time. "Well, you haven't been making much of an effort lately. You bailed on me on Wednesday."

"I explained!"

"Yeah, your old man comes first."

"That's not fair. He works damned hard to keep the service station going and one day it will be mine." If it doesn't go under first. "Not many girls get the chance to learn a trade, I'm lucky he's teaching me. It's my mom and dad's livelihood and it's my future." 

"Yeah, I guess it is," Johnny said, looking deep in thought. "One day we'll run the place together and we'll turn it around."

Her mouth dropped open. "I didn't mean..." Shit, was Johnny that serious about her?

"It's okay, I know you don't mean to let me down. I get that you're being pulled in different directions but don't neglect our relationship."

She gulped. "I'm not neglecting anything. I'm seeing you tonight, and we'll get together sometime over the weekend." She wouldn't be giving him her whole weekend, despite what she'd previously told him.

His eyes narrowed as if he sensed she was retreating from her earlier promise. "There are other girls who'd kill to be in your shoes, Stephanie."

She saw the threat for what it was and had to bite back her annoyance. Maybe she was being unfair and taking him for granted? "Yeah, I know they are," she said placating him for now. "And I think my bus just left so are you going to give me a ride home?"

He paused, pretending to contemplate. "I guess I'll have to."

She elbowed him. "Don't pretend like you have a choice Nogerelli."

He laughed, momentarily dropping his act. "Yeah, you click your fingers and Johnny boy comes running."

"And you love it," she said as they climbed aboard his bike and she wrapped her arms around his waist.

"And so do you," he said looking over his shoulder and winking.

She rested her head against him, inhaling the scent of his leather jacket as he kick-started the bike. He took off, heading out of the parking lot at speed and she held on tighter as the wind whipped through her hair. I love this, moments like this, but is it enough?

~~~