After Stephanie's team had won the game resoundingly, Louis was picking up on more than a bit of tension between Rydell High's golden couple. Like serious tension. Only Paulette seemed happy with how the evening was progressing, everyone else was on edge. Goose and Davey were joking with each other, trying to get Johnny to join in, but his brusque replies were killing their banter.

"I wish I'd stayed at home," Davey muttered under his breath as he took a seat in the dining area of the Bowlarama. Louis gave him a warning look, Johnny was on the warpath and it was best not to make yourself an easy target.

"He's just s a sore loser," Sharon joked as she sat down next to Stephanie. "No offence, Steph."

Stephanie looked over at Johnny, waiting in the queue, and she pulled a face. "None taken. I'm getting a bit tired of his bullshit."

Sharon's eyes widened and Louis whispered in her ear to keep it down. Johnny was heading their way, his face belligerent.

"I put your order in," he said to Steph, almost snarling at her.

She flicked her hair over her shoulder, ignoring his attitude. "Did you ask for double ketchup?"

He glared at her. "Don't I always? I know you can't eat without a goddamned tonne of tomato sauce."

"Just checking," Steph said lightly as if she wasn't aware he was in a mood.

Johnny glanced over at Paulette and Rhonda who were still in the queue and cleared his throat. "You should have picked Rhonda for your team. She's with Louis, it wasn't nice that you separated them like that."

Steph burst into fake laughter, and Louis quietly applauded her.

"We are not five years old!" She looked around the table, catching his eye. "Hey Dimucci, do you have a problem with me not making you buddy up with your girlfriend?"

He gawped at her, exaggerating his expression. "I don't care." He glanced at Sharon. "It's only a game."

Stephanie nodded, satisfied.

"You went all out to win," Johnny said under his breath. "That's kinda...well it's not cool, I'm your boyfriend."

Louis exchanged a look with Goose, both of them clearly thinking the same thing. Shut up Johnny, you're embarrassing yourself.

"If you are so concerned about our relationship status," Stephanie said licking her lips. "Then you should have insisted on us being on the same team." Johnny's mouth slackened but he was saved from replying by the arrival of Paulette and Rhonda at their table. Everyone shuffled around to make room for them.

"I wish we could go somewhere that has healthier options," Paulette said as she sat down between Goose and Johnny. "I'm trying to watch my figure."

Louis nearly told her that she maybe shouldn't have a cheeseburger with fries, and a chocolate milkshake, if she was that concerned about her figure but he bit his tongue. He didn't want to sound like an ass in front of Sharon. No, Rhonda, I don't want to sound like an ass in front of...oh who am I kidding, it's Sharon I'm trying to impress.

"Your figure's okay," Goose said looking at her, his face breaking into a smile. "It's more than okay. Why are you dieting?"

Paulette preened. "I'm not but any extra pounds go straight to my boobs and that gets kinda embarrassing."

Goose smirked, and Paulette was rewarded by Johnny finally looking at her. Really looking at her.

"You look great, doesn't she Steph?"

Stephanie raised an eyebrow but she didn't react, and Louis mentally gave her another point in whatever game they were playing. It was a strange relationship they had, they were weirdly competitive.

The waitress brought their food over, and whilst she was dishing up, Louis took the chance to pull Davey to one side seeing everyone else was distracted. "I hear you've been chasing after Sharon?" he said casually being careful not get anyone else's attention.

"I asked her on a date," Davey said biting into his burger. "It's no big deal."

"You've asked her like ten times, that's not cool Davey."

Davey frowned looking at Sharon who was more interested in playing with the straw in her milkshake than drinking it. "What's it got to do with you?" he asked narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

"Nothing, but I'm kinda surprised. I mean she's totally annoying, don't you think?"

Davey shrugged. "Yeah but she's cute, so I can take annoying." He gave Louis a sulky look. "It's okay for you, you've got Rhonda."

"Yeah, don't I know it," Louis muttered under his breathe. He'd been trying to phase her out but she wasn't taking the hint, if anything she was digging her claws in even deeper. It wasn't that he didn't like her, he just didn't see them going the distance. "Look, can you leave Sharon alone? She doesn't like you in that sorta way and you're gonna make it awkward for the rest of us if you don't let up."

Davey's eye's widened and he stared at him slack-jawed. However, Stephanie's raised voice ended their conversation.

"You said you asked for double ketchup," she exclaimed, giving Johnny a murderous look. "How can I eat a hamburger like this." She held her burger aloft, before dropping it dramatically as if it was a piece of shit.

"Jesus Steph," Johnny said, his face reddening. "Will you lighten up, I'll go get you some more." He left the table and Stephanie shook her head.

"I bet he didn't even ask for extra ketchup," she said to Sharon and Rhonda.

"It's only tomato sauce," Sharon said with exaggerated patience. "Give him a break."

Stephanie scowled at her. "It's the principle, he knows I need extra ketchup but he can't be assed to remember." Sharon shrugged while she glowered at his retreating form, and Rhonda shuffled over to Louis.

"What is it with everyone tonight?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper. "We should have gone somewhere by ourselves."

"Don't let Johnny get to you," Louis said.

"Yeah, I think he's got his period," Goose murmured to the huddled group and Rhonda giggled.

"Why don't you come to my house when we're done here," she suggested to Louis.

Inwardly he groaned, and he couldn't help but lean away from her. "By the time you drop all the girls off, it'll be late. I mean they don't look like they wanna leave in a hurry."

"Yeah, typical," she chuntered so only he could hear. "I guess Steph could get a ride home with Johnny but that would leave Paulette and Sharon stranded." She let out a deep sigh. "Honestly, I feel like I'm little more than a taxi driver to them sometimes."

"That's what friends are for," he said stretching out and ignoring her disgruntled expression.

~~~

Rhonda dropped Sharon and Paulette off first as they made their way home from the Bowlarama.

"You've come the long way around," Stephanie said.

"Have I?" Rhonda said playing dumb. Usually, Stephanie was the first drop off when they left the Bowlarama since she lived in the opposite direction to the rest of the pink ladies. By taking the other girls home first, she was having to drive back on herself.

"I feel like I'm being made a fool of," Rhonda finally said, her words hurried. "Like tonight, I'm probably being stupid but I can't help thinking..."

Stephanie stared at her blankly. "What do you mean? Can't help thinking what?"

Rhonda tapped the steering wheel but she thankfully kept her eyes on the road. She was a shit driver. "Have you noticed anything between Louis and Sharon? Do you think he likes her or she likes him? Has he told Johnny he likes her?"

Stephanie sank back in her seat, taken aback by the interrogation. "No, why would you say that? The thought's never entered my head." That could be because I've not been paying attention though...I've got my own shit to deal with.

"Tonight he was hanging around her, paying loads of attention to her," Rhonda said her mouth set into a grim line. "I've never noticed it before."

"They were on the same team!"

"Well, he should have been on my team," Rhonda said taking her eyes off the road and making Stephanie nervous.

"Sorry but I'm not sorry," she admitted. "I wanted to win. I wanted to get one over on Johnny."

"I get that," Rhonda said, paying attention to the road again. "But don't you think Louis was all over her? He lit her cigarette, he-"

"I think you're reading too much into what is nothing more than harmless flirting. This is Dimucci we're talking about."

"Well he should be flirting with me," Rhonda snapped, hitting the steering wheel. "He's supposed to be my boyfriend."

"Oh, you know what the T birds are like. He's probably trying to make you jealous," she said waving her hand dismissively. "I get this shit all the time from Johnny and do you see me getting upset about it?" Talk about overreacting.

"But how do you stand it?" Rhonda asked after a long pause. "I'd want to want to kill Johnny and Paulette if I were you. Paulette especially since she's supposed to be your best friend."

Stephanie inhaled on her cigarette before slowly blowing out the smoke. "I guess I'm not the jealous type." And no way will I give Johnny the satisfaction.

"Well I am the jealous type," Rhonda admitted with a small laugh. "And it doesn't help that Louis thinks I'm out of his league, as in I'm lower league." Steph opened her mouth to object. "It's true Steph, I don't think he's that interested in me, and now Sharon's single it looks like he might be interested in her."

Steph's face broke into a broad smile. "Nah, Sharon's far too straight-laced for him. You have no worries there." She let out a laugh but Rhonda didn't join in.

"I'm not so sure about that." Rhonda took a deep breath. "Maybe he likes the challenge, she's turned a lot of guys down since she split up with Steve. If Louis was the one to win her over..."

Stephanie shook her head. "You're overthinking it, and Sharon wouldn't do that to you anyway, she's not that kinda girl." At least I don't think she is.

"I guess, you're right," Rhonda said with a slight nod but Steph could tell she wasn't convinced. She didn't blame her really, she knew if Johnny ever became available Paulette wouldn't let their friendship stand in her way. It was dog eat dog. She suspected that if Sharon was interested in Dimucci, she wouldn't see Rhonda as an insurmountable obstacle either.

~~~ 

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