VANILLA, BABY • KENICKIE

NINETEEN

NINETEEN - Things are Okay

January air bit at their cheeks as Ducky and Kenickie pulled into the Rydell parking lot, his arm slung casually over her shoulders. Heads turned instantly, whispers flitted down the rows of cars like sparks racing along a fuse.

But neither of them cared.

For once, they weren't sneaking glances or walking ten steps apart. He opened the door for her, carried her books without being asked, even brushed snowflakes out of her hair before kissing her temple. The T-Birds wolf-whistled, of course, but Kenickie just grinned and flipped them off, pulling Ducky closer to his side.

At lunch, she sat with the gang; Danny, Sandy, Frenchy, Marty, Jan, all of them squeezed together in their usual booth. Ducky leaned against Kenickie, his arm draped around the back of the seat. His thumb traced lazy circles against her shoulder, grounding her in a way that made her want to melt into him.

Even Rizzo was there, sliding into the corner with her tray, but she kept quiet. No biting remarks, no icy digs. Her eyes lingered on them a little too long, but for once, she didn't have anything to say.

Danny cracked a joke, Doody nearly spat his soda, Marty rolled her eyes, and Sandy smiled so wide it nearly split her face. For the first time in what felt like forever, it was simple. Easy. Like they all belonged here, exactly where they were.

Ducky glanced up at Kenickie. He was already looking at her.

"What?" she asked, smirking.

"Nothing" he said, shaking his head, though his grin betrayed him. "Just can't believe you're mine again."

Her chest tightened, heat rushing to her cheeks. She leaned up and kissed him quick, not caring who was watching. When she pulled away, Danny groaned.

"Christ, get a room, you two."

Kenickie smirked, squeezing her hip. "Don't tempt me."

The laughter around the table rang louder than the cafeteria chatter, drowning out every whisper, every stare. For the first time since summer, Ducky didn't feel like a ghost. She felt alive.

She felt home.

Ducky chewed her lip nervously as she walked with Kenickie toward her house. The winter air was sharp, her breath curling in little puffs, but her nerves kept her warm enough.

"My dad invited you," she reminded him, clutching his arm. "That's a good sign."

Kenickie tugged at the collar of his shirt, the only clean one he owned that didn't have a grease stain. "Yeah, sure. Or it's a trap."

She laughed and bumped his shoulder. "If it was, I wouldn't be walking you in the front door."

When they reached the porch, Kenickie hesitated. Ducky squeezed his hand, a few moments later, the door swung open, and there was Lorenzo, standing tall, stern as ever. For a moment, the silence was heavy, thick with memory.

Then Lorenzo exhaled and extended his hand. "Kenickie," he said evenly. "About that night, I acted out of fear. I did what I thought any father would do. But I shouldn't have handled it the way I did."