Rhonda spent the morning in bed, despairing after the events of the night before. Every time the phone rang her heart pounded hoping that it was Louis calling to apologise, and each time she was disappointed. She couldn't believe he'd just let her walk out of Davey's like that - she'd waited a good ten minutes for him to come after her - and she couldn't believe the way he'd kissed Sharon. Okay, it was a game and she'd kissed Goose, but she hadn't exactly got into it. She'd played along, no more than that.

He likes Sharon and everyone knows it!

She heard her mom calling from downstairs, and she shouted that she was doing homework while she flicked through a magazine.

"Rhonda, it's the phone for you," her mom hollered even louder.

Finally, she thought getting to her feet, Louis had certainly taken his time in calling. She rushed downstairs and took the receiver from her mom.

"Hello," she said, once her mom had left the room.

"Hey Rhon," Steph said cheerfully. "How are you?"

Her heart sank. "Pretty much how you'd expect me to be," she said sinking to the floor with her back against the wall.

"Don't let Dimucci get you down, you know what the guys are like. I mean look at the way Johnny kissed Paulette. I ain't upset about it." Rhonda remained silent. They all knew Johnny was only using Paulette to make Steph jealous, no one thought Louis was playing that game with her.

"So how did the girls get home?" she asked instead. There was a pause on the line and she wasn't sure if Steph had heard her.

"The guys took them home on their bikes."

She didn't miss what Stephanie hadn't said; Louis must have taken Sharon. It made sense since he lived closer to Sharon than Paulette but it showed he had no guilt about how he'd acted.

"Right," she said trying to sound breezy. "Did Louis say anything after I left?"

Steph cleared her throat. "Nah, he was acting like it was all a joke, I guess it was really. Don't let it upset you."

"I'm not upset."

"Good."

"Steph, can I ask you something?" She took a deep breath. "Do you think Sharon's interested in Louis? I mean he kissed her like he was really going for it, I thought she'd have slapped him." She could just about believe Louis was acting up for the guys, but Sharon?

"The way Johnny pushed her into it, I think she might have been making a point," Stephanie said hesitantly.

Rhonda scoffed. "Well, some friend she is making a point at my expense!" Goose and Johnny's goading might have pissed Sharon off but still, their friendship should have come first.

"Don't fall out over it. If anyone's in the wrong it's Louis, it's him you should be mad at."

"I am but since he hasn't called me I can't express it," she said in an attempt at humour. "I bet he's with Sharon now."

Stephanie laughed. "I'm sure he isn't, she's not his type, and he's definitely not hers."

"I dunno..." Rhonda wound the cord around her hand contemplating.

"Look, I'll have a word with Sharon," Steph assured her. "I think you're way off the mark but if you're not, well she knows the code."

Rhonda sighed heavily. So Sharon's gonna keep away from my boyfriend cos of some code? Somehow I doubt it, especially if he's making moves on her.

~~~

Sharon sat in a booth at the back of Frosties by herself; as usual, she was early and Stephanie was typically late. She pretended that it annoyed her but in fact, she felt it gave her the upper hand. She was ready, prepared, Steph was wrong-footed and disorganised. She sipped her coke as she contemplated what was going on. Louis had said he liked her, liked her a lot, and while she was inclined to believe him, he hadn't actually finished with Rhonda. Until he did, it was best that she keep her distance from him. Seeing Stephanie approaching her, she forced her face into a friendly smile.

"Hey, how are you after last night?" Stephanie asked sitting down opposite her.

"I'm fine."

"I'm sorry Johnny put you in that situation, I guess he is a pig to you girls at times."

She rolled her eyes. "I am totally embarrassed but I'll get over it."

"I don't think Rhonda's so blase about it," Stephanie said with a tight smile. "She's pretty upset as it happens."

Here we go, put the blame all on me.

"It was a game Steph. She kissed Goose first and Dimucci didn't lose his shit over it."

She could see Steph was weighing it up as she incessantly chewed her gum.

"So what happened when he gave you a ride home?"

Her face heated up and she lightly touched her cheeks. "He dropped me off, that's all," she said, remembering his lips on hers, their tongues touching.

Stephanie cleared her throat. "Look I'm sorry, I feel like an idiot saying this, but I have to remind you of the code. You can't move in on another pink lady's guy."

"Seriously?" She gasped, mock outraged. "Personally, I'd be more concerned about that kiss between Paulette and Johnny if I were you. I take it you are going to remind her of the code."

Stephanie shook her head. "Johnny was being a jerk and everyone knows what he's like. Paulette's a dumb ass bitch to let him use her like that but it's her problem. I'm not losing any sleep over it."

Sharon gave her a questioning look. "And who are you to decide?" she asked a little angry. "Maybe Louis was being a jerk kissing me, and you're making mountains out of molehills."

"Well Dimucci is a jerk," Steph said, flustered. "And you'd be a fool if you got involved with him. Plus Rhonda's your friend-'

"I haven't done anything wrong," Sharon snapped. "I kissed Louis because your boyfriend insisted! I said the bottle was closer to Rhonda, I wanted her to kiss him. And he only took me home because Rhonda was having a toddler tantrum." She upped her outrage daring Stephanie to disagree.

Steph chewed her gum once more, blowing a bubble. "Just be careful okay, I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Sharon rolled her eyes again and then smiled seeing Johnny and Goose standing in the doorway. Thank god, the cavalry's arrived.

~~~

"What the hell are you doing here?" Steph demanded as she blocked the doorway. Johnny knew I was meeting the girls, why does he always have to try and muscle in?

"I'm getting something to eat," Johnny said adjusting the collar on his leather jacket and Goose followed suit.

At one time she would have found it amusing the way Goose imitated Johnny, it was second nature to him after all this time. Funnier still, Johnny was flattered, however, he drew the line at Goose copying his clothes, only he was allowed to wear all black.

"Are you sure you're not checking up on me?" she hissed. Out the corner of her eye, she could see Sharon watching them curiously. She grabbed Johnny's arm pulling him out of the doorway. "Can't you go and eat somewhere else? Like anywhere else?"

Johnny looked at her slack-jawed. "I like the burgers in here."

"Yeah Steph, we like the burgers they do here," Goose said backing him up on cue. She glared at him and he backed away.

"Johnny I'm trying to sort your mess out here," she said almost pleading with him. "I'm sure you're the second last person Rhonda will want to see right now."

Johnny smirked. "You chicks get so over-emotional," he said running his hand through his hair.

"Maybe we do." She let out a deep sigh. "So if you could just cut us a bit of slack."

He leaned back, his face breaking into a smile. "Okay, we'll go somewhere else. You only have to ask, babe."

"Thanks," she said through gritted teeth, leaning forward to kiss him.

"No problem." His arm reached around her waist, squeezing her ass, he was easily pleased. "But sort your chicks out, we don't any scenes, do we?"

"Nope, no scenes," she said taking a step back. "So you guys better head off now." She waved him away and went back inside, relieved that he didn't try to follow her. He was worse than a clingy girlfriend, god forbid he give her a bit of space!

~~~

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