VANILLA, BABY • KENICKIE

TWENTY

TWENTY - Thunder Road

By June, the air around Rydell was sticky with summer and restless energy. Every classroom buzzed with half-hearted lessons and daydreams about freedom. The seniors barely pretended to pay attention anymore, teachers counting down the days as much as the students.

For Ducky, the last five months had flown by in a blur of Kenickie's laughter, stolen kisses behind the auto shop, and nights spent out later than she probably should've been. Every fight, every heartbreak, every tear shed last fall felt like another lifetime.

Now, all anyone could talk about was the end-of-year fair. Posters plastered the hallways, bright with promises of carnival rides, funnel cakes, and fireworks. It would be the seniors' last night together, the unofficial send-off before everyone went their separate ways.

But for Kenickie, the fair wasn't the only big event. Word had spread: he'd agreed to race the Scorpions at Thunder Road. The whispers followed him everywhere, the T-Birds buzzing with excitement, the Pink Ladies rolling their eyes but secretly intrigued.

Ducky tried to smile through it, but her stomach knotted every time his name was mentioned in the same breath as Thunder Road. She'd seen that glint in his eye before — reckless, hungry, needing to prove something.

"You worry too much," he told her one afternoon, leaning against his car in the parking lot as she shoved her books into her bag.

"Somebody's got to," she shot back, narrowing her eyes. "You wreck that car, you wreck more than just metal, Kenickie."

He softened, pulling her in by the waist, lips brushing her forehead. "Hey. I'll be fine. You'll see. After the fair, after the race, it's just you and me, Ducks. Whole damn summer ahead of us."

And though her chest still ached with unease, she nodded, because she wanted to believe him. Needed to.

That night, stretched across her bed with Frenchy flipping through a magazine beside her, Ducky stared at the ceiling, heart pounding.

The end of the year was here. Everything was about to change.

And she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

The night air was thick with the smell of oil and burnt rubber. Engines growled like wild beasts caged and ready to strike. Headlights cut sharp beams across the cracked stretch of asphalt known as Thunder Road. The Scorpions were already lined up, their laughter echoing through the underpass, throwing taunts across the dark like knives.

The T-Birds stood tall, leather jackets gleaming under the moon. Danny's smirk didn't waver, but his eyes darted to Kenickie, who was practically vibrating with restless energy.

Ducky stayed close to Frenchy at first, nerves tight in her stomach, she was trying to swallow down the fear. It was just a race, she told herself. Just a stupid race. But she knew better, this was about pride, reputation, about proving something none of them could ever quite put into words.

Kenickie threw her a grin, cocky as ever. "Don't worry, Ducks. I was born for this road."

She rolled her eyes but stepped closer anyway, pressing her palm briefly against his chest. "Just... don't do anything stupid, okay?"

He kissed her forehead before sliding behind the wheel. "Stupid's my middle name."

The crowd gathered tight, voices buzzing. Scorpions revved their engines, shouting insults. The air thrummed with anticipation.

And then — chaos.

As Kenickie adjusted his seatbelt, one of the T-Birds slammed the car door too hard, the edge clipping his temple. His head whipped back against the seat with a sickening thud.

"Kenickie!" Ducky cried, darting forward.

He slumped, dazed, trying to shake it off but clearly in no shape to drive. She grabbed his face, her heart breaking at the sight of his half-lidded eyes. "Stay still, baby, please. Don't move."

The T-Birds shouted in panic until Danny shoved through the chaos. "Move over. I'll drive."

Kenickie tried to protest, mumbling something incoherent, but Ducky pressed her hand to his chest, tears threatening her eyes. "No, Kenickie. Let him. Please."

Danny slid into the seat, revved the engine, and within seconds the roar of cars swallowed the night. The race was on.

Ducky stayed crouched beside Kenickie, brushing his hair back, whispering his name over and over. The sounds of tires screeching and engines screaming echoed across Thunder Road, but her world had narrowed to the boy beside her.

Minutes stretched like hours. And then the headlights appeared again, Danny's car flying ahead, crossing the finish line with the Scorpions behind,

The T-Birds erupted in cheers, the Scorpions cursing into the night. But Ducky barely noticed. She kissed Kenickie's temple, voice shaking. "It's over. You're okay. You're okay."

Kenickie groaned, trying to sit up, and managed a crooked smile. "Told ya, Ducks, born for this road."

She let out a broken laugh, hugging him tight. He hadn't driven. He hadn't won. But he was still there, making her laugh and that was victory enough.

The race was over, the Scorpions long gone, the T-Birds buzzing in triumph. But Ducky refused to let go of Kenickie's hand. She kept her grip tight as the others hooted and hollered around them.

"Baby, I'm fine," Kenickie insisted, his voice rough but teasing, trying to mask the faint bruise already forming at his temple.

"You got knocked out by your own car door," Ducky shot back, her eyes fierce, though they glittered with tears. "That's not fine."

He chuckled, leaning back against the seat, exhaustion softening him. "Bet it looked cool, though."

She smacked his chest lightly. "You scared the hell out of me."

For a moment, it was quiet between them, the noise of the road fading to background static. Ducky's thumb traced his jawline, lingering where she could still feel the faint stubble. He caught her hand, pressing it to his lips.

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her against him until the rest of the world slipped away. For the first time that night, her heart slowed, steady against his chest.