"Why did you do this?" Paulette demanded angrily (once Johnny had ridden away, plainly wanting to be left alone), her accusing eyes on Danny and Jett. "You could've gone about it better than this! You didn't have to be so cruel to him!"

"He's not five, Paulette." Miss Mason replied with some incredulity, her eyebrows raised high, and even Mr. Stuart looked surprised, regarding Paulette closely – What are you about?, he wondered. "If he wants to get past high school, he needs to – "

"You don't know him the way that I do!" Paulette flared. "He just needs someone to listen to him, he has plans, and none of you here are even trying!"

Sharon wondered if Paulette had taken a complete leave of her senses, while Rhonda and Stephanie glanced at each other, then stared. She's obsessed.

"Plans for what?" Andrianna demanded, surprised and carefully eager. "What is it that he wants to do with his life?"

"Well, he's going to try different things, until he finds what makes him happy. He said it might take a while, but he figures he's got time." At Andrianna's answering expression, she demanded, "What's so wrong with that?"

Christina shook her head, while Andrianna's eyes darkened with anger. "That's not really a plan, Paulette, dear. Just aimless wandering, with nothing to fall back on. And what happens if Johnny decides to leave the city, or the state, in this trying of the different things? Does he expect you to join him? What are your plans?"

"Beauty school." Paulette answered, uncertainly.

"So you'll put your life on hold to please him." Stephanie clarified dryly. "Oh, please, oh, please, let me be there when you tell your mom that."

"How is it you got to be so interested in him in the first place, if you don't mind my asking?" Edrie said, before Paulette could start snapping out responses. "From all that I've heard, he seems rather childish and selfish."

"He's not. He's just uncertain about things. I've had feelings for him since last early April. It surprised me, too. There was an ass hounding me at the Alley's Club and Johnny was there and chased him off. He took me for a ride over to Santa Monica, we sat up talking all night and ever since then ... " She blushed and shrugged a little. "He comes to see me when he needs to talk." She looked at Stephanie. "For a while I was giving him advice on how to handle situations with you, but lately ... "

"How to handle situations with me?" Stephanie echoed, going still, her expression turning dangerous as cold realizations dawned.

Head's up, Sharon thought, while Michael turned his full attention to Stephanie.

Paulette, you freakin' idiot, Rhonda thought. What the hell did you do?

"Oh, well ... damn." Miss Mason murmured, gripping Mr. Stuart's hand, the two of them watching.

"Were you sleeping with Johnny before he and I split up?" Stephanie nearly whispered, her lips barely moving.

Paulette immediately began shaking her head. "No, no, I swear. I wouldn't do that to – "

Everyone held their breath, watching. Even Goose, Louis, and Davey understood that a line had been crossed.

"He was talking to you about the fights we were having." Stephanie said, in a low voice that shook with fury. A thought burst through the livid. "Did he talk to you about what happened back on June twenty-first?" Then she paled, flushed with rage. "Of course he did. That's what you meant that day, back in September. When you said that at least with you, he wouldn't want for anything. Cos I never told Sharon or Rhonda about that, or you. I didn't wanna talk about it. I should've realized what you meant, but I was too upset with you for thinking the same thing that he did, that I'm a prude. But he told you everything. What was his argument for being pissed that I didn't want to fuck him?"

Idly, she wondered how she wasn't screaming. Yet.

Paulette didn't know what to say, and averted her eyes, trying to choose the words carefully, part of her mind cursing her tongue for lack of control. "I – "

"YOU BITCH!" Stephanie let loose, shooting to her feet, knocking over her chair and a few drink cups on the table in the process; Paulette shrank back, paling, while Stephanie's knee banged sharply against the table edge; Stephanie didn't even care. Peter and Audra started whimpering again and she didn't care about that, either. "What was his argument?!"

Good thing that little asshole isn't here right now, she'd murder him. Jake thought. I'd help.

And it was another love poem to add to the pile (there were four so far): Burn this world, let me take you away, let's go, let's live, every look in your eyes sets me free. Michael shook himself – Later. I must be insane.

"He said it was cos it was the anniversary of your first kiss ... " Paulette answered in a high, rattled voice, eyes enormous. "And that after two years, having sex should be considered."

Michael's heart hurt for the answering look on Stephanie's face, and Rhonda spoke, reminding everyone, "This was after he went sniffing around Ivaleigh Strom for sex when Steph wasn't talking to him for that week in February. So what about that, Paulette?"

"Don't you freakin' dare say it was cos he was drunk, that pig knew exactly what he was doing." Sharon added coldly, before Paulette could reply.

Helen and Rizzo, seeing no other option, stood to take their fussing children inside, Rizzo knowing that she would open up the backroom window so that she could listen in on the rest of whatever "conversation" was coming. Kenickie stood and followed after Rizzo, and Helen gave Stephanie a sympathetic gaze before departing.

Flush-faced with anger, Jake breathed tautly, "A good thing that two-timing asinine punk is gone, I'd be smacking him senseless right now." He caught Andrianna's and Duran's eye. "He was undeserving of my daughter in every way."

"True. But leave him to us, Giacobbe, we'll handle him." Andrianna responded gently, firmly.

Jake's head wobbled in a nod, before he returned his attention to Stephanie, who now looked like she was going to be sick. There was a small flurry of motion at her side, and she looked over to see Michael straightening her chair. Meeting her eyes, he said quietly, carefully, "As I am suddenly the new head T-Bird ... ?"

Vaguely, she understood what he meant, and after a long moment, whispered numbly, "I will let you know."

Wisely, Goose, Louis, and Davey all kept their mouths shut, while Sharon and Rhonda stared at Paulette.

Michael nodded, giving her a small smile, and Stephanie muttered unthinkingly, "You have feelings for me. Tell the truth."

I love you more than anything. He regarded her expression and mood for a moment, then replied, "I have respect for you. I consider you a friend. And I think we have larger issues to resolve than whatever anyone here believes I feel for you."

She looked up at him, almost glassy-eyed, and he continued with, "And in any case, I recall you mentioning being in want of someone who has skills on a motorcycle. Which I do not." And he wasn't about to tell her, not like this, when she was at her limit and hurting so badly. He wanted her to be able to choose him of her own free will.

"So I'm supposed to stick to my original plan?" The fire was coming back to her voice. Wait, what ... ?

Please stay to your original plan, I want to do this for you. "I didn't say that. You're a woman, I know you'll change your mind whenever it pleases you. That's simply what I recall you saying. Motorcycles seem to mean a great deal to you."

"Um – " Stephanie inhaled deeply, confused again, still trembling, something, several things, swelling, burning from the inside out – It's not about the –

"You don't need to be getting with anyone right now anyway, bluebell." Jake offered gently while moving to stand in front of her, shooing Michael away, his expression nothing but worried and patient when she looked up at him. "You're not in a frame of mind for it. I think if you did start dating now, it would only be in reaction to Johnny and what he's done." He guided her around to his side of the table while he spoke, and now gently urged her down onto the seat that Helen had vacated.

"She couldn't if she wanted. Code Two ... and Paulette, do you have any idea how you've violated Code Six?"

Wanna bet, Sharon, shut the hell up, I'll date whoever I fuckin' goddamn well please – !

"Oh, put a sock in it, Sharon, I didn't violate anything! Giving advice to Johnny trying to salvage his relationship – "

"Is interfering!"

"Johnny didn't care, why do you?"

"Fuck the Lady codes." Stephanie ground out, not really wanting to think anymore, only wanting to lay down, close her eyes, and shut out the whole world, and all the noise in it. "We agreed to them when we thought we knew what we were doing. We aren't who we were."

"She's got you all there, even I'll drink to that! When the codes got writ, I don't think the Ladies or Birds of whatever generation it was saw somethin' like this happening." Rizzo called from her kneeling position on the sofa in the backroom, her ear nearly to the window screen, while Kenickie cradled a sleeping Audra close, his cheek to the top of her dark-haired head. On the other couch, Helen was feeding Peter, a soft blue blanket draped over her entire upper self while he nursed sleepily.

"It was my generation." Jett answered loudly, earning a few surprised and pleased looks. "And you're right, Rizzo, we didn't. Times change, the codes should change with them."

Stephanie and Michael looked at each other, two pair of eyes contemplating.

"Paulette, what the hell were you thinking?!" Rhonda demanded tightly.

"You all talk to each other all the time – "

"We don't spill every last dirty secret! And we sure as shit don't use it against each other!" Rhonda snapped.

"I apologized for that! And Johnny needed someone to talk to!"

"And you were looking at him like he's a hero." Sharon derided.

Paulette's eyes flashed. "Heroism had nothing to do with it. He needed someone to talk to. It couldn't be Stephanie, she spent too much time blaming him for everything." She looked at Andrianna and Duran, not missing a beat, ignoring the thoroughly pissed off look on Stephanie's face. "He hates coming home anymore. He hates that you're always comparing him to Jett and Galvan, and finding him lacking." She glared at Jett. "And it didn't help that you didn't ask him a moment back if he wanted to be the best man. Did you even stop to consider him?"

Jett flustered for a moment, while Galvan looked a little shame-faced. "Yes, but it would require a suit and tie. Since you talk to him so much, you know he hates getting dressed up – "

"That's not the point!"

"He had you thinking the other night you're a slut, it's pretty much what he called you to your face, and you're still defending him?" Rhonda demanded.

"He apologized, twice. He was angry, and we were both wrong. People do make mistakes, Rhonda."

He apologized because I shouted in his ear to do so … didn't say to do it twice, though, Andrianna ruminated, keeping the fact to herself.

"There's making mistakes, and then there's being a belligerent jack-ass, Paulette, don't you understand?" Sandy said coolly. "Take Stephanie not talking to him for a week for the way he messed up Valentine's Day, so he goes up to Los Angeles and tries to pick up a girl to have sex with. There's not an excuse for it. And God bless Ivaleigh for having the decency and sense to say no. And who's to say he didn't go sniffing for someone else afterwards? Or take the time Stephanie really wanted to go to Sturgis, and he kept handing her excuses as to why he wouldn't – "

"Because I didn't want him to. I felt it was too far away." Andrianna cut in unapologetically. She looked at Stephanie, a gleam of regret in her eyes. "He didn't tell you that?"

Stephanie shook her head, looking for a moment like she honestly wanted to cry. "That would've been all he'd had to say."

"So instead of being honest about his mother's wishes, he went hiding behind his pride and lied to Stephanie. Smart." Frenchy clarified. "Add that to all his other transgressions. In trying so hard to be cool, he's turned into a bully."

"Danny." Michael posed. "May I?"

Danny shrugged, sitting back to watch. "Paperwork's been signed, you're the boss."

Michael glanced at Louis, Davey, and Goose, then looked at Stephanie. "Miss Zinone, for the first order of business. I'd say the codes actually are due for an update. Do you agree?"

Stephanie took a deep breath, trying to focus, staring almost blankly at Michael. She closed her eyes. "What was the question?"

Michael waited until her eyes were open and on him again before replying. "The T-Bird and Pink Lady codes. Should you and I update them?"

"Yeah, how long do ya think that'll hold up? Cos Johnny'll just put it all back once he's leader again." Louis stated. He's probably shittin' bricks right now ...

"Not if Stephanie doesn't consent to it, he can't." Marty reminded him.

"And that's if he comes back as leader, or stays bein' a T-Bird." Sonny filled in. "Mike's in charge. He can toss Jack out anytime, for any reason."

"Don't." Paulette entreated, eyeing Michael pleadingly.

Michael stared back for a moment, then looked over at Stephanie. "This is your call, miss."

Stephanie leaned her head back, folding her hands together and pressing her thumbs to her (aching) forehead, closing her eyes. "I wish I'd never started dating that asshole in the first place."

Paulette opened her mouth, and Sharon and Rhonda both hissed at her to shut up.

"He seems to be a classic narcissist. And why did you?" Michael asked, trying not to stare at the graceful line of her neck.

Stephanie exhaled deeply. "Dad, you tell him. My head hurts just thinkin' about it."

Jake patted her arm. "She was running around with a different boy then, for about two months. Derrick Ridley. Turns out there were illegal things he wanted her to do, that she wasn't interested in, so she dumped him. He decided to get revenge by trying to rob my service station. Little punk came in with two guns blazing. Eddie, my co-manager, took one to the shoulder, but he's a big guy, bullet didn't do real damage. Steph was there, and Derrick had one gun in her face, telling her to come with, no one move, no one gets hurt ... here came Johnny, needing to use the bathroom, he shoves the door open, knocks Derrick flying. It was interesting to watch. There's a part of me that's forever grateful to him for being there ... the rest of me thinks ungentlemanly thoughts. Ridley's still in prison, far as I know."

A good place for him. Michael thought.

Stephanie lowered her head, straightening herself. "It was all right with Johnny, in the beginning. He made me laugh. I liked his energy. Then he got that jacket and ... " She shook her head, making a disgusted face, then looked at Michael. "Yes. The codes need updating."

She exhaled a short breath and looked at Paulette, with the air of someone who had come to an abrupt but irreversible decision, her eyes hardening to ice. "Paulette, I want to you to leave the Pink Ladies. Give me your jacket."

Every other Pink Lady there glanced at each other (Sandy's eyes met Rizzo's through the window screen, a heartbeat before Rizzo withdrew to murmur something at Kenickie), while Paulette paled, shrinking further, dark eyes wounded and frightened while her mouth worked soundlessly.

Sharon started rambling. "Steph, we have to put it to a vote. And also, she's playing Summer. I know Mom took a hike but I want to see the skit through for the show. The costumes will be finished in another month or so. It's too late to get someone new, the outfits have already been sized – "

"Sharon, calm down!" Rhonda barked.

"That'll be Paulette's decision." Stephanie looked back at Paulette, expression like ice, eyes on fire. "Give me your jacket."

"I protest." Paulette managed in a small voice after a short, ringing silence.

Stephanie arched her eyebrows, cold and not particularly interested.

"I was helping him. He was trying to figure out how to get it right with you. And – "

"Paulette, I think you should shut up now." Sandy cut in with forceful gentleness. "Cos every word out of your mouth about how Johnny came to you about his problems with Stephanie, instead of talking to Stephanie herself and trying to fix it that way, is just making things worse."

"Trying to figure out how to get it right with me?" Stephanie repeated acidly. Her mouth twitched cruelly, the insight blazing. "What did he blame me for?"

"He didn't really blame you for anything, Steph, believe or not, he liked being with you, when you weren't fighting. Believe or not, he actually did care about you."

"Not as much as he cares about himself. Not as much as he cares about his reputation, his pride, the T-Bird jacket, the motorcycle, his hair ... " Stephanie took a deep breath, trying to exhale all the negative, but for the moment, it was too much. "I was last in line for everything."

Not with me, you won't, Stephanie, I'll put you first for – Michael bit his tongue, teeth digging in, to stop himself from reaching for her, wanting to comfort her, to let it all out – No, not like this, no, she would hate you if you ... too much embarrassment ... Patience. Patience. Calm. You're not entitled ... do it her way, do it her way, she'll like it better, do it her way –

"If you're so determined to see good in him, Paulette, then God bless." Duran stated heavily. "And maybe you'll end up bringing out the best in him. Dria and I will both hope for that. But he put Stephanie through hell. She owes him nothing."

"Paulette, your jacket."

"Steph, I was trying to help, you're the one who chose to end it with him!"

"How many lies, Paulette?" Rizzo asked, rejoining them, her eyes fierce. "Between you and Nogerelli, how many times did ya lie to Stephanie? Were you fucking him before they split – "

"I told you, I didn't – "

"Have you since?" Stephanie demanded icily. "Did he come running to you the night we broke up?"

"No." Paulette answered with the utmost seriousness. "The first I heard of it was the day after, when I called you to talk about outfits for our first day back at school. Since then, Johnny and I have kissed. But you already know about that."

"Oh, right. The one he rated for 'best average' at the bowling alley." Stephanie flung chillingly, and Paulette winced, before attempting for another counterproposal. "You let me stay and I won't quit the show."

"Steph – " Sharon gasped, eyes wide and pleading.

You manipulative – "What?" Stephanie ground out sharply in response to Sharon, eyes narrowed. Paulette and Johnny deserve each other.

"It – I ... listen, I don't like her any more than you do right now – " She looked at Paulette, disdainful. "It's a shit thing you did, goin' behind Steph's back like that with Johnny. Rizzo's right, how many lies?" She looked back at Stephanie, not waiting for an answer. "But I need her for the show. I don't have the time or energy for trying to get someone else and having to start over."

"What do you think, bein' the new Head Bird and all?" Rhonda asked Michael, who gazed at Stephanie for a moment, his mind working like always, before he shrugged noncommittedly. "I think the show means a lot to Sharon, and it probably will be here before we know it. Time's flying. The choice isn't down to me, though." His fingers began tingling, itching to get back to the building of the motorcycle.

"How about this?" Edrie offered calmly, her expression neutral. "Paulette, hand Stephanie your jacket, and have someone take you home. We'll discuss things and let you know the outcome when a decision has been made. Because this isn't simply about one or more broken codes. This is a matter of principle. As Stephanie's friend, you should have been honest with her concerning Johnny coming to talk with you about his relationship with her. And I want you to ask yourself this question and attempt to answer it: Why weren't you? Why didn't you tell her the truth?"

"Give me your jacket, Paulette."

Paulette hesitated, expression betraying a number of storming emotions, before she slowly removed her jacket, holding it out with shaking fingers; Stephanie stood, leaning and pulling it away, sitting back down, refusing to meet Paulette's gaze.

Andrianna stood next, saying, "Paulette, I'll take you home. I'd like to speak alone with you, anyway. And stop looking at me like that, girl, I'm not going to eat you."