A Fateful Night
Chapter 1
It was a warm night; the stars were out, and the T-birds and Pink Ladies were driving to Lover's Lane in the Pink Ladies' car, which was considerably roomier than Greased Lightning. Rizzo, who'd been drinking, let a sober Sonny drive. They'd been having a party at Frenchy's house to celebrate their recent graduation, and now they were going to do some winding down.
"Hey did anybody else see Putzie jumping out the window?" Danny said as he bounced Sandy on his lap.
"Yeah! What a goof!" Sonny exclaimed. "Also another goof has his brights on. 'Scuse me while I turn 'em down." Sonny turned off his high beams for the approaching traffic.
"Danny!" Sandy giggled as he started kissing her neck. "There are people around!"
"Yeah, get a room!" said Kenicke. "Honestly!"
"What? Nothin' you and Rizz don't do!"
Everybody laughed.
When the car stopped at Lover's Lane, the after-party commenced.
"You get nothing, Sonny," gloated Marty as she uncorked a bottle of wine, pouring herself a glass. "Hate to say it, but you are the designated driver."
"Hey, it's cool," said Sonny casually. "I got soda." He pulled out a coke and started drinking it.
Sandy, who had changed since graduation, indulged in some of Marty's wine.
"Yeah, drink it out of the bottle," Marty drawled. "Oh that's real class, Sandy."
"Come on, live a little!" She passed it to Danny, who took a long swig.
"Come on, this is the only bottle I got!"
"Miss Maraschino," said Kenicke in a mockingly stern tone, "I trust you intend to share with the rest of the class?"
Marty groaned. "Come on…" she said pleadingly, finishing her glass. She took the bottle and scoffed. "Ew! Who backwashed in this?!"
Everyone looked at Kenicke.
"What?" he drawled indignantly.
"You drink it!" Marty cried.
Kenicke did so, smiling. "More for me!" he shouted jovially.
Sandy, who was now pleasantly buzzed, was giggling as she and Danny started necking in a shadowy spot.
"Come on, Marty," said Sonny gamely. "let's do what they're doin'!" The two stole off.
Kenicke sighed as he walked towards Rizzo. "Rizz, there's somethin' I gotta tell you."
"Yeah? What's that Nicky?"
"Betty, I…"
"Come on guys," said Danny, "let's go!"
By this time, the gang had been "winding down" for several hours, and they headed out, with Sonny driving, of course, being the only truly sober one.
As they were heading back to Frenchy's to drop everyone off so they could go home and sleep off their alcohol, Doody took out his guitar and started to sing, albeit a bit drunkenly, a rendition of "Those Magic Changes."
"God who's killin' the cat?" Danny asked mockingly.
"Shut up!" Doody said with a scoff.
"Geez," said Sonny, "That guy's goin' awful fast."
Frenchy gasped. "And he's in our lane!" she cried.
"Shit!" Sonny swerved to the right, but the other car just kept coming.
"God, is he drunk?!" Sandy fretted.
"No, no, no!" Sonny shouted, gripping the steering wheel.
Danny held Sandy very close, throwing himself on top of her. "Sandy!"
Marty screamed and threw her hands up.
Kenicke looked Rizzo in the eyes and cried, out, "Betty Rizzo, I wanna say that I lo…"
CRASH!
A couple minutes later, a very dazed Doody groaned as he woke up. He found himself on the side of the road, a few feet away from the now mangled car. He dusted himself off, his body aching, and looked around. Marty was curled up against a nearby tree, shaking her head and whimpering.
"French!" Doody called out. He saw her lying by the car and gasped. "God no," he muttered, running over to her. He turned her over, cradling her in his arms. "Frenchy," he said gently, shaking her as he caressed her cheek. "Come on Frenchy, come on sweetheart!"
Frenchy groaned and opened her eyes. "Doody…?" she said weakly.
"That's right," he whispered. "Stay awake, sweetie. Keep talkin' to me."
He turned his head. "Help me!" he shouted. "Help us!"
Frenchy gasped and started to softly cry.
"Shhhh…" Doody whispered, holding her small frame closer. "Shhhh…"
Sirens could be heard in the distance as a police car spotted the flames coming from the car the other man was driving.
"Sandy…" Doody could hear Danny groan. 'Sandy, they're… they're comin'. Don't… don't close your eyes, honey… they're coming…"
Sandy managed a weak "Danny…" before falling unconscious.
"Sandy," Frenchy whimpered.
"She'll be okay," said Doody softly. "God, my whole body hurts… she's okay."
Frenchy gasped, clinging to Doody's shirt. She placed her mouth near Doody's ear and whispered softly before her body went limp and she lost consciousness, "My real name… is Francesca..."
The paramedics arrived a few moments later, and Doody watched as his friends were placed on gurneys. That drunken bastard had quite possibly been responsible for the deaths of eight people! Doody's mind raced as a paramedic told the policeman who'd stopped originally, "Both drivers are dead. They died as soon as they collided."
Doody fell to his knees. Sonny… was dead?! This couldn't be! At least that bastard who'd crashed into him and cut his life short had gotten what he deserved, he consoled himself.
As soon as Marty heard the paramedic's voice, she raced over. "What?!" she cried.
"Marty," Doody said softly. "Sonny… Sonny's gone."
"Shut up!" she barked. "He's not!"
"I… I'm sorry, Miss, but… he died as soon as he crashed into that other car. His head hit the steering wheel and…"
"Marty?" Doody said frantically as Marty started to faint. He caught her and gently set her down. "Marty!"
"We'll take her," said another paramedic.
"Meanwhile, are you okay?"
Doody sighed. "You may want to check me out when the others are taken care of. I ache all over and I'm afraid something might be broken."
"Alright."
Doody watched the ambulances leave, one after the other, as a chorus of sirens filled the air. A paramedic looked him over and said, "We're going to take you to the hospital so a real doctor can look at you, alright?"
"Sounds fine," said Doody. For his own sake, he hoped no one else died… he'd already lost Sonny… he couldn't lose anyone else… and he certainly couldn't lose his Frenchy! As he rode in the ambulance, Doody felt fear gnawing at his belly. "I know I don't pray much," he thought, "But God, if you're up there… please let everyone else live. You've already taken Sonny… I can't let you take Frenchy!"
