CHARLIE ZUKO

4 | Dance off

I heard a whisper in the toilets that Rizzo was going to the dance off with Rodriguez. I was annoyed so as soon as I saw Kenickie, which was in the lunch queue, I told him I'd changed my mind.
"Hey, Kenick?"
"Yeah?" He says, turning round.
"Maybe I will go to the dance with you."
"'Kay." He smiles. I turn to go but then he says, "Oh, Charlie?" and I turn back. "I'm kind of going with someone else as well?"
"Okay... who?"
"Oh, you wouldn't know her."
"Try me." I say, while crossing my arms.
"It's a girl from St Bernadette's."
"Oh god, it's not that Cha Cha, is it?"
"Oh, yeah, it kind of is."
"Well, is it her?"
"Yeah. Yeah."
"Thanks a lot, bean."
"You'll still come with me though?"
"Yeah, I guess."
I smile and walk off to the Pink Ladies' table, where I sit down next to Marty and Sandy. Rizzo sits down just after me, next to Marty and Frenchy. As far away from me as possible.
"Hey, Riz, Charl, what's up between you?" Marty says, looking between us.
"Hm?" I say, looking confused.
"Nothing." Rizzo says.
"Oh, don't give me that."
"Honestly, Marty, it's nothing." I say.
"Okay..." She shrugs.
"Hey Marty, have you got a date for the dance yet?" Frenchy says.
"No. The biggest event of the year and I still don't have a date!"
"Meet me in the parking lot after school." Rizzo says. "I know someone."
"Okay. Riz, do you know what you're doing?"
"What we're doing."
Marty shrugs, "Okay."

After school I make my way outside and see Leo, the leader of the Scorpions. He's on his own for once but as soon as he pulls up in the car park, Rizzo and Marty run out and get in.
"Oh shit." I say to myself. I sit down heavily on the bench and light up a cigarette.
Patty walks by with a few other girls. I hear her whisper to them. "That's her! Y'know, the one who's date to the dance already had a partner. The one who's boyfriend is going with her best friend! Poor thing." Then she says louder, to me. "Hello, Charlotte." She pats me on the shoulder.
I light up another cigarette and stub the other one out under my foot. I put my sunglasses on. "Hi."
Patty whispers again "And she's addicted to cigarettes, bless her."
I roll my eyes as she goes to walk off. "Hey, Patty?"
"Yes?" She smiles, turning round.
"You know I'm not deaf, don't you?"
"Pardon?"
"I can actually hear you."
"Oh, I-"
"And who cares if Kenickie has a date already? I'm going with him to- well, to make Riz angry. And she kind of is my best friend and yes she's going with my "boyfriend" but I don't see why it's any of your business. And I'm not addicted to cigarettes; they just happen to be a great stress reliever. So please don't ever talk about me, or to me, again."
"Can I-"
"Go, please."
She turns to walk off with all her little friends.
I shout over to her, "Nobody likes a gossip, Patty. And gossips rarely succeed."
She pauses and flounces off. I roll my eyes, still thinking about what she said.

I meet Frenchy at the mall later that week for dress shopping. We visit a few shops and Frenchy finds a yellow dress. I need to find the perfect dress so we keep looking. Eventually I see a red wrap dress with a low cut neck and small black dots that's perfect. I pick it out and buy it. We go to a small café.
"Charlie, are you and Rizzo still friends?"
"I don't know, French. I mean we were pretty tight but now it just seems like we fell out just because of a boy. I mean no guy is worth that, is he?"
"I think you should talk to her sometime. Tell her how you feel. Riz isn't really one to hold a grudge."
"Maybe I will. Thanks French, talking to you always makes things clearer."
"Glad to be of assistance."

It's the evening of the dance off and I'm at Frenchy's house getting ready. I slip on the red dress along with a leather jacket and black (very) high heels. I do my makeup and pop a fresh piece of bubblegum in my mouth.

Frenchy, Doody and I arrive at the dance just after Riz, Leo, Rodriguez and Marty. I'm not really sure what the situation is with their dates. Marty is no longer with the group, but is eyeing up Vince Fontaine. Kenickie and Cha Cha arrive and Kenickie walks over to me.
"You look pretty tonight. Scratch that, you look hot." He whispers in my ear, leaning down.
"You sweet talker, you."
"I'm not trying to chat you up, Charlie, I mean it."
"If that's a line, I ain't bitin', Kenick."
"Charlie-"
"You know why I'm going to the dance with you? 'Cause - well because of Rizzo and Rodriguez and - you know."
"Yeah."
"And you and Riz, you-"
"I know, Charlie. Come on, we'll go in now." And he wraps his arm around me, pulling me into him. He also grabs hold of Cha Cha's arm and we go in together. As soon as we get in, Cha Cha walks away, to go and eye up Danny from a distance. Kenickie lets her go, and then turns and kisses me full on the lips, hard. Eventually we pull apart and I see Riz standing at the other side of the room with Rodriguez, who she pulls round to kiss her.

Rock 'n roll is here to stay, it will never die
It was meant to be that way, though I don't know why
I don't care what people say, rock 'n roll is here to stay

The dance is going brilliantly - apart from Cha Cha dancing with Danny to win the dance off, and Sandy getting upset and running off, and the boys mooning - I've danced with Kenickie all night and as the evening draws to a close, he pulls me close to him and kisses me, before pulling me out to his car. Cha Cha looks at us before shrugging and dancing with Leo another time. We get in his car and he kisses me even harder. We fall down on the seat.
"Betty, Betty-"
"Charlie."
"Huh?"
"I'm Charlie."
"Ugh, shit, Charlie, Charlie."
I smile as he reaches into his pocket.

Words: 1086