VANILLA, BABY • KENICKIE

THIRTEEN

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - give it a try

A month slipped by in a blur that consisted of homework, cigarettes, and whispered drama. The air was colder now, crisp with October, and Ducky buried herself in schoolwork. She kept her head down, hands ink-stained from essays and notes. Frenchy had left Rydell and was in beauty school although she had coloured her hair more times than Ducky could count and their parents were not impressed.

Ducky was doing so well at school and that surprised her but she was determined to do good to prove to her dad. Her father didn't ask questions, he didn't press her about friends or boys. For once, he seemed content to see her grades climbing, his daughter back at the top of the class. A model student again. And if Ducky stayed late in the library or locked herself in her room with textbooks, he called it focus.

The couples had fallen into place like puzzle pieces. Sandy and Danny, inseparable now, making doe eyes at each other across the cafeteria. Doody with Frenchy before she left. Sonny with Marty - kind of. Putzie chasing Jan and actually winning her over. The biggest plot twist, Kenickie had broke things off with Rizzo.

Rizzo had made a big song and dance about it but Kenickie had said that they were never exclusive which didn't sit right with Rizzo. And Ducky? She stayed away. She avoided Kenickie at school, ducked out of conversations, filled the space with work. If she starved herself of him, maybe the craving would die.

It absolutely didn't.

The diner buzzed that Friday night, jukebox blaring, plates clattering, the air thick with smells and chatter. The Pink Ladies claimed their usual booth, sliding in all except Sandy.

Ducky was the last to arrive, her books still tucked under her arm.

"Look who finally joined us," Rizzo drawled, sipping her Coke.

"What's the matter, Ducky? Studying too hard to slum it with the rest of us?"

"Some of us actually care about school," Ducky shot back, sliding into the booth beside Marty. "Not everyone's got time to swap saliva with every guy in town."

Frenchy giggled, hiding it behind her straw. Marty smirked. Jan nudged her pie closer to Putzie. Rizzo's eyes narrowed, but she didn't fire back. Not yet.

The bell above the door jingled and The T-Birds swaggered in, their laughter too loud. They headed straight for the table and slid into normality with the girls.

Kenickie trailed behind, his eyes sweeping the diner. He caught sight of Ducky and froze for just a beat too long. Then he shoved his hands in his jacket pockets and stood behind her. She twisted round so she could see him, she wasn't surprised but she sort of welcomed him with a small smile as they continued to talk.

"Do you want to order anything?" She politely asked.

"Nah, I'll get something later, Ducks."

Hearing his voice could make her drool if she really thought about it. She wanted to jump his bones outside, it wouldn't be the first and it absolutely wouldn't be the last time.

In the flash, they all saw Danny dragging Sandy into the dinner and rush past them to get to a table in the far back. Ducky raised her eyebrow and looked at Frenchy who looked at the boys. They watched as he put menus up to hide them.