VANILLA, BABY • KENICKIE

TEN

CHAPTER TEN - boys & their toys, baby

The morning hallways at Rydell were always a warzone of lockers slamming and gossip ricocheting off the walls, particularly on a Monday morning. Everyone was catching up and there was nothing worse than a Monday morning. Ducky strode in with Jack by her side, laughing at something he said about his math teacher,. God, he was so easy to talk to.

It didn't take long for eyes to turn, this was an interesting sight to see. Ducky with a guy who wasn't Kenickie, had she finally decided to move on?

The T-Birds lounged near their usual spot, leaning against the lockers, looking around like they owned the place. Kenickie's gaze snapped to her immediately, and for a moment, Ducky caught herself pausing but she didn't falter. Not anymore, she couldn't, she needed to move on - he had. She adjusted her pink jacket and pretended he didn't exist. She kept walking, Jack chatting easily beside her.

Kenickie's jaw tightened. He and the others exchanged quick glances, the tension barely masked by their casual postures. Ducky noticed him flicking his wrist, signaling something to the others, but she was too caught up in Jack's laugh, the warmth of his hand brushing hers in passing as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder walking down the school hall.

By English literature, she had settled into her seat next to Danny, who gave her a knowing look. "You're extra chipper today," he whispered as the teacher stepped out to deal with younger kids causing havoc in the corridor.

"Just enjoying my life, I guess," Ducky said, trying not to sound smug, though she definitely felt a spark of triumph. She had survived the summer, survived Kenickie, and now she had someone new. She needed this.

During a quiet moment, Danny, nudged her. "You're really just ignoring him?"

Ducky shrugged. "I've got better things to do than talk to a guy who doesn't deserve the energy. He's going to learn I don't care anymore one way or another. He's fucking Rizzo, for Christ sake."

"They haven't slept together, from what I've gathered." Danny left her in on the secret.

"Who cares." She rolled her eyes.

The bell rang, signaling the end of class.

Kenickie was already halfway across the hall, muttering under his breath, throwing a glance back that was all sharp edges and frustration. Ducky scoffed just slightly, feeling the tension, feeling alive.

This was going to be a long term of school. She knew that. But she also knew something else: she wasn't the same Ducky anymore. She wasn't the girl he could toy with. He could fuck right off.

And if Kenickie wanted a war, she'd fight on her terms.

The autumn air outside Rydell's gym smelled faintly of wet leaves and engine oil. Ducky was heading toward her locker with an apple in her grasp when she noticed Kenickie step from behind a corner, blocking her path. Her eyes immediately widened but she kept her stride slow, deliberately unbothered.

"Ducky," he said, tone low but sharp, "what's your deal with Jack?"

She stopped, hands on her hips, studying him like she would a mildly annoying insect. "My deal?" she asked, arching an eyebrow. "I guess I found someone else to fulfill my needs. Just like you found Annette and Rizzo."

Kenickie's jaw tightened. "You don't get it. He's a scummy guy, Ducks."

"Oh, please," Ducky shot back, shrugging. " You use people, you play games, and somehow you think the world revolves around your dick. I'm done with it."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Ducky, listen. You don't know what you're doing. All jocks are the same. You'll get hurt."

She tilted her head.

"Nicky, that's the thing. I already got hurt. Summer taught me that. And now? I'm not your problem anymore. You lost your hold, and I'm not looking back."

He clenched his fists, frustration written across every line of his face. "You think Jack's different?"

"I don't know. Maybe he is. And maybe he isn't. But at least he's not you," she said coolly, stepping around him and giving him one last sharp look before walking off, heels clicking against the pavement.

Kenickie stayed frozen, staring after her retreating figure, a mix of disbelief and fury flickering across his features. Ducky, for her part, smiled faintly to herself. She felt alive, untouchable in a way she hadn't in months. She had reclaimed her power, and she wasn't afraid to wield it.

The next two weeks flew by, she had been hanging out with Jack a lot more, he had took her to the movies and actually kept it PG, not that she had wanted to. She had wanted to take it further but a small part of her was scared. She was scared to let someone else in, she had only had sex with Kenickie and maybe, she wasn't over him.

Maybe she was all talk.

Who was she kidding? She knew she wasn't over him and she tried so hard to get over him.

Jack had been nice, a little pressure to have sec and she didn't like that. She was her own person, she would decide when she would have sex, she wasn't going to let a guy try and talk her into it.

No, thank you.