Kenickie's Girl (UNDER HEAVY EDITING AND RECONSTRUCTION)

•Pinky Lee•

"Mom, I'm meeting the guys at Frosty Palace, can I have some money?" I ask, skipping downstairs. "Sure, honey. Hand me my purse." She said, setting a spatula down. "Do you want me to make you a plate so you can eat when you get home?" She asked as I places her bag on the counter.

"I don't know if I'll be hungry, but sure. I'll use it for lunch tomorrow, if I don't eat later." I shrugged. She handed me a 20, "get some gas, too." She shrugged. I modded and kissed her cheek, "I'll be home later. Bye, Cody." I say, walking past him.

I make the drive and park, noticing that the place was packed. I walk in and see nearly everyone. I sit next to Frenchy at the bar, noting the orange cloth on her head, "bad hair day?" I ask. "Oh, James, it's awful." She said, pitifully. I smirk, "French, if anyone could pull any type of hair off, it's you."

She smiled, "really?" I only nodded, nudging her. "James, where you at?" Kenickie asked, coming over to me. "I'm here, Kenickie." I smirk and Frenchy wiggles her eyebrows.

"Come sit over here." Kenickie said, pointing to his table, with a angry looking Rizzo. "Uh, by the looks of that girlfriend, I'd be overstepped my boundaries." I discreetly point to Rizzo. He snorts, "she won't bite. C'mon."

I looked to Frenchy, who shrugged. I sighed, and followed Kenickie's to his table. The guys all swapped high fives as I walk past them and I sat across from Rizzo. "Sup, Riz?" I ask. She only smiled at me, before I noticed Danny and Sandy bolt through the crowd.

Putzie pulls me from my seat and i could hear Kenickie faintly groan and Putzie spins me around to whatever song was play. I tried to keep up but it was hard when my ribs hurt from so much laughing.

"Anyone see Zuko come in?" Kenickie asked, cutting in. I point to the table and he smiles, "c'mon." He walked to where their table ways and I followed behind him.

He pulled apart the menus that were in the way and burped, making me laugh. "How ya doin', Zuk? Huh? Nice?" He asked, a huge smile on his face. "Hey Danny." I smile.

"Hey Riz, how are you?" Sandy asked, looking to Riz. "Peachy keen, jelly bean." She replied as I helped Kenickie push the table to theirs. "You got any quarters? We could split an Eskimo Pie." Kenickie asked Riz as he sat down. "My Dutch treat days are over." Rizzo replied, also sitting down. "You plan on staying home a lot." He answered.

"Greetings, pals and gals." I heard Sonny say. I wave to Doody, who smiled back at me. "Anybody got 23 cents? Wanna chip in for a Dog-Sled Delight?" Sonny asked, to no one in particular. "I don't know where my money goes." Marty threw her wallet down, "A dime here, 15 cents there." She complained. I laughed as Kenickie picked up her wallet and started looking through it.

"In a couple of months Frenchy can take us all out. A working girl with income." Doody said, getting Frenchy a seat. "Y'know, they don't pay that much to start with." She said, sadly. "It's more than we make. Ante up, I don't get my allowance till Friday." Doody said. I chuckled, "You get an allowance?" Kenickie said, nearly reading my thoughts.

"When I'm a good boy, I do." Doody replied, sarcastically. I laughed at his face, "you stay broke all the time then, huh?" I ask and he rolled his eyes, laughing, "shut up, James."

"Viola, a Dog-Sled Delight with four spoons." Sonny yelled, "and an Eskimo Pie with a knife." Kenickie said.

"Hi, gang." Jan said, coming up with Putzie. He smile at me and I wiggled my eyebrows. "Here you are. Grab it and growl." Vi said, placing a tray of food down before walking away. Kenickie growled as he took a burger from the tray.

Rizzo looked at me before she checked her mirror, pointing out her hickies, "I got so many hickeys, I look like a leper." She stated, obviously to get under my skin. I simply glare at her in return. "Cheer up, uh, a hickey from Kenickie's like a Hallmark card." He said, "When you care enough to send the very best." He finished, growling as he bit into the berger. She stares at him, "You pig!" She said, strongly. "I love it when you talk dirty." Kenickie replied with his mouth full. I swallowed the lump in my throat as Rizzo gave me an innocent smirk.

"My parents want to invite you to tea on Sunday. Wanna come?" Sandy asked Danny. We all looked at him, awaiting his response. "I don't like tea." Danny shrugged, causing Sandy to laugh, "You don't have to drink tea." I sighed, as Danny looked around at us, "Well, I don't like parents."

I saw the obvious hurt expression on her face but said nothing. "Oh man, I'm gonna be a senior forever if I don't study for that algebra test." Marty exclaimed, getting her things ready as she stood up. "You're in luck. You got an armed escort home." Sonny smiled, proudly. "It's not the arms I'm worried about, Sonny. It's the hands." She said, pushing away from his grasp. She walked away and Sonny looked at us, still smiling, "She loves me." He said, before walking out.

"You coming, French?" Doody looked down to Frenchy, who moved to Marty's spot. "I don't think so. I think I'll hang out a bit longer." She answered. I knew this hair thing had really been bothering her. "Alright." Doody shrugged.

"Well, I have been dieting all sat long, my mom's apple pie is better than this stuff. You wanna piece?" Jan asked, looking to Putzie. "Sure." He laughed, throwing his berger down. As Jan walked away, Doody stopped him, "hey Putzie. Fifteen minutes."

Putzie hit his arm and we all laughed as he walked way. "I'm worried about this dance-off. What if they dance differently than we do back home?" Sandy asked Danny but Rizzo answered and I couldn't hold back they eye roll. "Don't worry. Maybe we'll invent the Kangaroo Bop." She looked to Kenickie, throwing a sarcastic 'hehe' and Kenickie wasn't amused.

"Let's get out of here, Sandy." Danny said, standing up. "I'll see you later, Zuk?" Kenickie asked. "Bye Danny." I said, taking his seat. Kenickie sighed, "Great. I'm stuck with the check again. Give me money." He held his hand out to Rizzo, who just gave him a look. I reached into my pocket and gave him my twenty. He smirked at me, before turning back to his girlfriend, who was glaring at me. "Okay, what's with you tonight? You got the personality of a wet mop." He said, cross his arms on the table. "Don't start with me." She snapped.

"Okay, sure. Fine. Eureka! How about I finish with ya, huh?" Kenickie said, leaning against me. "Finish this!" She yelled and I moved in time to dodge the milkshake spatter.

"To you from me, Pinky Lee." She said, throwing his jacket before walking out. I caught his jacket, so it wouldn't land in the milkshake mess and Kenickie jumped up, completely outraged. I quickly followed him, knowing he'd need a ride.

I didn't see him, but I heard his argument with Riz. I lit a cigarette and waited by my car. Eventually, he walked over and got in, huffing. I got in and drove slowly, looking for something to say.

"You wanna wash that off at my place? It's probably real sticky." I say, handing him a cigarette. He nodded, "thanks kid."

We walked into my house and I quietly lead him to the bathroom and got him a washcloth. He cleaned myself off, wearing a dangerously calm face. "do you.. uh, did you wanna talk about it, or.." I trailed off, biting my lip. "I'm done with Rizzo, James." He mumbled.

"Do you want me to drive you home?" I asked. He shook his head and no amount of his hiding could mask the broke look on his face. I held my head down, "Kenickie.. I'm so sorry."

He didn't say anything, he didn't have too. I hesitantly pulled him into a hug, which he didn't return at first, but he held me tight and I thought he would actually cry.

He pulled away and I walked him to the door, "your jacket's in the car." I whispered. He nodded and he looked at me, "thanks, James." He kissed my forehead and left after grabbing his jacket.

It happened as suddenly as it left and I thought I might have dreamed it ever happened. The spot had been on fire and I couldn't stop smiling to save my life.

"You're late." Mom said, making me jump. "I'm sorry, I um.." I trailed off, and she took in my smile, "what happened?" She asked, pulling me inside.

"I'll tell you tomorrow, I'm hungry and exhausted." I admit, grabbing the food she'd made and going upstairs. Kenickie has kissed my forehead and it meant the absolute world to me.

•••

{officially edited March 23, 2018}