"Well this is cosy," Johnny said as he parked up at the drive-in. "Half the gang ain't here."

"Does it matter?" Paulette asked with a smile. She couldn't help being happy that Stephanie had dropped out, but when Davey heard Sharon and Louis couldn't make it, he'd made his excuses as well.

"You're missing the point," Johnny said irritably. "What is it with everyone?"

"I dunno," Goose said. "They're not loyal."

"I think it's nice just the four of us," Paulette said quickly but Johnny scowled.

"We're supposed to stick together. This wouldn't have happened in Danny Zuko's day, the jacket meant something then."

"Yeah, the leader of the pink ladies bails and half the T birds," Goose said shaking his head. "They're out of line."

"You can't blame Davey," Paulette said. "It's no fun being the only singleton." She could well remember how that felt.

Johnny frowned. "He wouldn't have been the only singleton if Steph hadn't quit on us. And what's Dimucci's excuse?"

"That's down to his chick," Goose said, and then yelped when Rhonda elbowed him in the ribs.

"Sharon's not disloyal," Rhonda said. "Louis wanted to take her out by themselves."

Goose jeered but Paulette could see Johnny was mollified. She knew it was Steph's absence that was disappointing him.

"Can we just drop this and enjoy the movie," she said pushing her dismay at yet another confirmation that Johnny was still hung up on Stephanie to one side. "If they don't want to spend time with us why are we even talking about them?" She knew her argument would appeal to Johnny's ego and he put his arm around her on cue. She rested her head against him, grateful to have his attention.

"I'm gonna get some popcorn," Rhonda said as the credits began to roll. "Come with me Goose."

"Do I have to?" he said but he hopped out of the car anyway.

"You're not really upset that Stephanie's not here are you?" Paulette asked Johnny hesitantly. She suspected Steph wasn't far from his thoughts but they'd been spending a lot of time together and that surely had to count for something?

"Nah not really," Johnny said giving her his trademark smile. "But it's disrespectful, she's supposed to be the leader of the pink ladies but she's not acting like it. I've got a good mind to take her jacket off her."

Paulette gawped at him. "You can't do that!"

"Why not? There are plenty of other chicks who'd like to take her place. What about one of the girls Sharon got to join your act?"

Her stomach dropped, making her feel nauseous. Relegating Stephanie was one thing, Johnny bringing in her replacement was something else. He was bound to pick a girl he had the hots for, otherwise why bother?

"But Johnny, it's late in the day to find a new pink lady," she said trying not to sound rattled. "And you know me, Sharon and Rhonda, we don't get along with any other girls as well as we do with Steph. It would spoil our group if we didn't click."

"I get that," Johnny said giving her his full attention. "But Steph's damaging our reputation, she's always bad mouthing me for one thing."

"No, she isn't," Paulette insisted, rapidly backtracking on everything she'd told him. "It's just hard for her because you're not together anymore. She probably doesn't mean what she says."

Johnny's face broke into a smile. "You think she's being bitchy cos she still likes me?"

Her heart sank. "I think she finds the situation difficult, and she says the wrong thing. Like she still respects you and everything but I don't think she likes you in that way." Fingers and toes crossed.

"Well, she's gonna have to change her attitude or I will take action," he said sounding surly.

"Don't do anything hasty." She touched his arm, desperate to connect with him. "You wouldn't want people to think you were acting out of spite."

"If I act, I'm acting to protect our reputation."

Paulette nodded hoping it was all talk. The last thing she wanted was another female joining the group, especially when she was so close to getting Johnny all to herself.

~~~

Louis took Sharon out for dinner at a small Italian restaurant that was intimate but casual. He'd left his T bird jacket at home and was on his best behaviour. He wasn't going to be pushy; he was sure she wanted to be with him, she was just scared and needed convincing. The gentle touch should do it.

"So what was up with your mom tonight?" he asked, trying to show he was a considerate boyfriend. "She had a right face on her when I picked you up." That wasn't so unusual for Mrs Cooper but he'd borrowed his dad's car knowing she didn't like Sharon going on the back of his motorcycle.

"She's moaning that I'm going out too much," Sharon said with an exaggerated sigh. "She's been giving me a really hard time about not studying enough."

"But you get good grades. What's the problem?"

"She doesn't approve of how I spend my time or who I spend it with," she admitted twirling her spaghetti around the fork. "It's one of the reasons I agreed to take part in the talent show. It's an extracurricular activity that she approves of so it keeps her off my back a little bit."

"So that's why you're so hell-bent on winning." He couldn't help thinking she was borderline obsessive; if only she'd turn her fervour in his direction.

"The talent show serves a purpose, and I want that prize!" she said her eyes gleaming.

"Now you sound like Johnny," he said his brows furrowing. None of them could understand where he was coming from, a talent show wasn't exactly cool. If anything, it was the definition of uncool. "I don't know why he's got us to enter, we totally suck. We'll only win if everyone else drops out."

"Maybe he's trying to impress Steph?" Sharon said lowering her fork. "Maybe he's trying to show her he has hidden talents."

"I guess that's a possibility." Johnny didn't talk to them about Stephanie but they all knew he was still hung up on her. "Plus he gets to keep tabs on her during rehearsals."

"Exactly," Sharon said playing with her food again. "It's not fair that he's using Paulette in the meantime though."

"Do you think he should just sit around waiting for Steph to change her mind?"

Sharon paused, not offering an immediate opinion for once. "I think if he's not over Stephanie, then he should wait for her," she said carefully. "I don't think it's right that he lets Paulette think they're pretty much in a relationship when he'd dump her the minute Steph clicked her fingers."

"It's not that straightforward though," Louis said but without the same certainty. "Steph might never change her mind, and he can't keep his life on hold. I mean you have to live for the here and now, don't you?"

"I don't know," Sharon said hesitantly. "I mean you do, but how Johnny's behaving doesn't feel right to me."

"Think about it," he said getting into his stride. "Think beyond Stephanie and Johnny. You watch the news, right?" She nodded. "Well, we're living in dangerous times, like Kennedy says we gotta be prepared for war. So imagine you waste your time waiting around for someone, not living your life, and then the bomb drops?"

"I guess."

"It's true Sharon," he said reaching for her hand. "You can't put things on hold thinking you'll get the chance to do them later cos who knows what's gonna happen."

She pulled a face, and he wondered if he'd overplayed his hand.

"I don't think the possibility of nuclear war is reason to treat people badly," she said looking down at the entwined hands.

"No, it isn't, I'm not saying that," he said watching her closely but she wouldn't meet his eyes. "Johnny shouldn't treat Paulette badly and if it's Steph he wants then he should go for her. But if he has no chance with Steph then he'd be dumb to let Paulette slip through his fingers."

"That sounds really cynical to me," she said frowning. "I'd hate to be in a relationship on that basis."

He shook his head. "I'm just saying it's best to live for the here and now. Tomorrow might not happen."

"If tomorrow isn't happening, I guess there's no point worrying about this stupid talent show then," she said flippantly.

"No, the talent show's just a bit of fun," he said holding her hand tight, not letting her dismiss the conversation. "What I'm trying to say is you've got to do what's important now, while you can." He paused, hoping the penny would drop. "Don't put things off that you could do today cos you wouldn't want to have regrets later."

"Hmm," she said looking away and playing with her food again. "I guess I would hate to have regrets should some kind of catastrophe happen."

He tried not to smirk. He was sure she knew what he meant - she was one of the smartest chicks in school - and he'd win her around eventually.

Be patient Dimucci, it's just a matter of time.

~~~

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