Author's Note: I don't own Grease nor Grease 2 or any of the characters. I only the plot to the story and a few characters which are my own.
Summary: Grease 2 Au. Michael Carrington and Stephanie Zinone grew up together. They went their separate ways after graduation. Michael to the Marine Corp and later Vietnam. Stephanie a recently divorced single mother of two.
Six years later in the summer of 1968. Michael returns to Rydell after being medically discharged from the Marine Corp struggling to adjust back to civilian life. Stephanie recently divorced single mother to two boys.
Chapter 2
Rydell California June 1968
I was busy unpacking my things in my old room. Sam had gone over to a friend's house down the street. It was going to be awkward between us for a while. Until we got to know one another again.
Mom was downstairs cleaning and doing other housework. I grabed some clean cloths and headed for the bathroom. I closed and locked the bathroom door behind me. I unbuttoned my combat uniform shirt.
I dropped it to the floor and pulled my undershirt over my head. The scars from the shrapnel on my chest and lower abdomen greeted me with an angry and ugly everlasting reminder to how close I had come to dying that day. I toed off my boots and continued to get undressed.
The hot water from the shower seemed to wake me up and ease my aching muscles. Sleeping on a bus for eight hours isn't the most comfortable thing in the world.
Twenty minutes later. I walked/limped out of the bathroom. Feeling a little more human. I could hear voices downstairs. I paid it no mind as I limped to my room.
I grabbed my old leather T-Birds Jacket from where it hung in the wardrobe. I most likely needed to shave and have a hair cut.
Stephanie Zinone formerly McAlister had been dragged over to the Carrington house by her mother. It wasn't that she didn't have time Lillian Carrington. It was just that she was sick to death of the town talking about her in particular. Or more to the point her divorce from her now ex husband Andrew McAlister.
She and Andrew had gotten married after she had fallen pregnant with their twin boys Ben and Adrian in the summer after graduation. Andrew had never loved her. He had only married her because he had gotten her pregnant. But Stephanie had loved him somewhat. And had tried to make the marriage work.
Their marriage had never been a happy one. The only two good things to come out of that whole train wreck of marriage was Ben and Adrian. Her saving grace in that disastrous wreck of a marriage.
There had been no warning that Andrew was leaving and wanting a divorce. Stephanie had come home with Ben and Adrian from her parents house one Saturday. To find Andrew's car gone. A note and papers nailed to the door. Divorce Papers to be exact.
The Divorce process had been quick and painless. Andrew hadn't fought her on anything. Alimony or Custody of Ben and Adrian. It was like Andrew had just washed his hands of them. He wanted nothing to do with his boys. Not that he had been much of a father to them when he had been around anyway.
A floor board creaking and heavy footsteps could be heard from the floor above them. Brought Stephanie back to the present. It was most likely Michael's younger brother or his bastard of a father.
The stair case creaked as someone came down the stairs. Stephanie was half listening to the conversation going on between Lillian and her mother Rebecca. Ben and Adrian where with her father at the garage.
"Hey Mom is my motorcy" I asked the rest of the question dying on my lips. As I stopping in my tracks when I saw her for the first time in six years. It seemed six years hadn't changed my feelings for Stephanie. It seemed if anything they had gotten stronger. She looked more drop dead gorgeous or beautiful since I had see her last.
"Michael" Stephanie asked barely recognising the man in front of her. He was slightly taller and walked with a limp now.
"What who else did you think it was Steph. Mrs Zinone. It's good to see you." I said moving further into the kitchen.
"Welcome home. You are back for good aren't you" Mrs Zinone asked as she stood from her seat and hugged me.
"Yea. I'm back for good." I answered hugging her bag.
"What no hug for your old friend" I said glancing in Steph's direction.
Rebecca Zinone watched her daughter with Michael. She had suspected that Michael was in love with her daughter. But he had told never her how he felt before he left for Marine Corp after they had graduated.
Rebecca had first began to suspect Michael was in love with Stephanie. After over hearing Andrew and Michael having a heated argument the day of their Graduation.
June 1962 Rydell California
"How long you been screwing my girlfriend Carrington" Rebecca heard Andrew McAlister yell before shoving Michael.
"What the fuck McAlister. There's nothing going on between Steph and I. We're just friends." Michael stated standing his ground against Andrew.
"Bullshit. I've seen the looks between the two of you. I'm not blind or stupid" Andrew snarled at Michael.
"Pull your head in McAlister. For the second time encase your were too deaf to hear the first time. We are just friends nothing more." Michael tried again to explain to an enraged McAlister.
"You can deny it all you want I'm not going to believe that she's not been screwing you behind my back" McAlister said accusingly.
"And what prof do you have that we've been messing around behind your back McAlister" Michael asked.
"I've seen the little looks and the sneaking off together." McAlister answered.
"What bloody looks. And the sneaking off together. We spend a far bit time together because we're friends and we live across the street for each other your dumb idiot: Michael yelled back at him.
"That doesn't change the fact there someone going on between the two of you"
"For the last fucking time there nothing going on between Stephanie and I. How many bloody times do I have to tell you that. Are you going to think she's having it off with every bloke she's friends with or comes into contact with. "Michael said before walking away finally having enough of trying to explain to McAlister there nothing more then friendship between him and Steph.
"No I just her to stay away from the likes of you Carrington" Andrew yelled after him.
"You really are a fucking idiot McAlister. For some stupid reason Steph loves you. I can't see why. Your getting jealous over Steph and my friendship over nothing. She loves you and you don't trust her" Michael replied turning back around to face McAlister.
"Oh I trust her. It's you I don't trust. You two are too close for my liking" McAlister said walking towards Michael.
"We're too close for your liking. We're childhood friends you idoit."Michael laughed at McAlister.
"There's more there between you two. You in love with her" McAlister accused while getting in Michael's face.
"So what if I am. She's in love with you McAlister not me. Though you don't deserves her McAlister."Michael replied before shaking his head and walking away.
Rebecca didn't know wither or not Steph knew how Michael felt about her. Between Michael and Andrew McAlister she knew which one of them she would have preferred Steph to end up with.
Michael had left town only a few days later for Basic Training with the Marine Corp. Six weeks after that She and Jake found that McAlister had gotten Stephanie pregnant.
"So Michael what was it you wanted know" Lillian asked Michael.
"I ah. Is my motorcycle still out in the garage. Or did my 'loving' father sell it while I was away" I asked
"It's still in the garage. I hid the keys so your father wouldn't sell it." My mom said as she opened one of the draws and pulled out the keys to my motorcycle.
"Thanks. It was nice to see you again Steph, Mrs Zinone" I said as I limped out of the kitchen and into the back hallway.
I limped down the stairs of the back porch and across to the garage. Jax started to bark from his pen behind the back of the garage.
The old garage door squeaked and groaned in protest at being opening in who knows how long. The hinges and such most likely needed to be oiled again. I pushed the door all the way open. My motorcycle sat where I had left it covered up.
I pulled the dusty tarp off it. I threw them somewhere in the back. It looked like nobody had touched it since I had been gone. I threw my leather jacket on the old work bench. I grabbed an oil pan and tools.
After changing the oil. I changed the spark plugs and the filters. I drained the old gas from the tank and put a fresh tank of gas in the fuel tank. I wiped my hands on a rag.
I attempted to kick the engine into gear. Cla-Clunk, Cla-Clunk.
"Come on you bitch of a thing." I said trying for the second time. The engine seemed to get the message and started up this time.
I revved the engine a few times to blow the crap out of the muffler and such. I put the kick stand back out and cut the engine.
I was cleaning my tools when I felt someone watching me.
"You do know staring creepy Steph" I said glancing over my shoulder at her.
"Sorry."
"So what's up." I asked limping over to my toolbox.
"Stephanie we have to get going." Steph was cut off from saying anything by her mother.
"I'll see you around then" I said as I limped back inside the garage. I raised my hand and waved as they left.
After about ten more minutes cleaning up in the garage. I re-tarped my motorcycle and put my toolbox back on the workbench. I washed my hands and headed back inside the house.
"Are you going out now Michael" My mom asked I walked into the kitchen.
"No not for a while yet mom. Why did you need me to get something from town." I asked limping over to the fridge.
"No I was just wandering darling." Mom said before she disappeared into the living room. I grabbed a beer from the unopened six pack.
I grabbed the bottle opener from one of the draws and cracked the top off. I threw the bottle top into the bin.
I shook my head as I spotted my Mom humming, dancing and dusting along to Wonderful World by Sam Cooke playing on the radio in the living room. I limped passed her and continued towards the stairs.
I threw my jacket on the old beat up desk in the corner. I toed off my boots. I switched on the old radio in my room which sat on my desk.
I heard the familiar tune of The House of the Rising Sun by The Animals starting to play through the old radio.
I sat my beer on the bedside table. I had heard that song many times blaring from the speaker at Chu Lai during my time there. I laid down and started up at the ceiling of my bedroom. I let my mind wander back to Vietnam.
Chu Lai Vietnam. June 1965
We had been at Chu Lai for about month at most. My Squad had ended up with night patrol. We had been on patrol for about an hour.
"Sullivan shut up would you. I fucking hope the VC shoot your dame motor mouth. Do you ever shut up" Lance Corporal Lincoln Robertson snapped at Private First Class Frankie Sullivan.
"I wasn't talking talk to you Robertson. I was talking Banks" Sullivan shot back at Robertson.
"Both of shut up would you." Corporal Walker snapped at both of them to shut up.
I held up arm for the Squad to stop.
"O'Riley I want you to scout ahead. Something doesn't feel right." I said the squad scout and sniper.
"You got a bad feeling Sarge" O'Riley asked.
"You could say that. Lock and Load boys. Keep you eyes open. These bastards could be anywhere." I said as well slowly continued in the west direction we had been taking.
"CONTACT" I heard O'Riley yell maybe a hundred yard ahead of us.
I felt like a bullet whizz passed my head. I hit the deck as more bullets where fired in our direction. I heard Kelly open fire with M60 as it cut up the under growth.
"MICHAEL"
"MICHAEL" I felt someone shaking my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see my mother looking at me worriedly.
"What's wrong" I said groggily as I sat up.
"You where yelling in your sleep. You must have been dreaming. Are you alright" My mom asked still worried about me.
"I'm fine mom. It was just a dream. It's nothing to worry about Mom." I lied standing up from the bed.
"Are you sure your alright" She asked.
"I'm fine really." I said giving her a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. But I was far from fine. I had been nightmares about Nam for a while now.
My mom seemed to buy my bullshit lie about me being fine. Which I was far from. I grabbed my old helmet from on top of the wardrobe. I grabbed my keys and jacket. I pulled on my boots.
I limped down the stairs. My mom was no where to be seen in the living room. She was ever in the kitchen or had gone next door. The kitchen as well was empty. I scribbled down a note for her and left it on the kitchen table.
I headed out the back door. I was halfway to the garage. When I noticed Sam walking up the driveway with one or two of his friends from school by the look of it.
"Sam" I called out to him. He gave me a brief but awkward wave before he disappeared into the house with his friends.
I continued onto the garage. I pulled the tarps off my motorcycle. I wheeled my motorcycle out onto the driveway. I pulled on my leather jacket and gloves. I swung on leg over the motorcycle. I pulled on my helmet and tightened the strap. I put on my sunglasses before kicking my motorcycle into gear.
I slowly pulled out of the driveway and onto the street. I had no idea where I was going. I was just riding around town. I rode passed Rydell High, the Bowler A Rama bowling alley and the Frosty Palace which was still open and running.
Jake Zinone glanced over at where two of his grandchildren sat in the office. The oldest of two the Ben was reading with his little twin brother Adrian quietly.
Those two need a proper father figure in their lives. Besides good for nothing piece of shit that was their father Andrew McAlister.
Jake glanced out the office window as a somewhat familiar motorcycle pulled up near the pumps. The motorcycle had belonged to Michael Carrington one of his daughter Stephanie's best friends.
It either meant the Michael was back in town or Michael's father Thomas had sold the bike. He watched as Davey Jaworski one of his mechanics went serve whom ever it was. The garage was short staff today.
"What the hell are you doing here Shakespeare" Jake heard Davey say in disbelief. It proved that his hunch was right Michael Carrington was back in town after six years of being gone.
"So its safe to say you missed me Davey." He heard Michael say to Davey.
"Nah man. It's good to have you back in one piece man" Davey said before giving me a manly hug.
"It's good to be back. I hear you and Dolores are getting hitched on the twenty sixth of next month." I said as the office door of the service station opened and Jake Zinone walked out.
"So that what's all the rackets about. It's good to see you back in one piece Michael"
"It's good to be back Mr Zinone. I was wondering if you had jobs going around at the moment."I asked leaning back against my motorcycle taking the weight off my right leg.
"Aren't you home on leave" Jake asked.
"No I've been discharged from the Marine Corp for Medical reasons" I said not giving anymore details away about my injuries.
"Well as it turns out. I'm at a loose end right now. I could do with another mechanic. If you could start tomorrow"
"Yeah. That's not a problem." I said as two kids standing in the door way of the office came into my eye sight. One of the boy had light brown hair and green eyes, while the other boy had blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.
I found my self staring into a familiar pair of blue eyes. I had a sneaking suspicion for some reason that these kids where Steph's for some reason.
"Ben, Adrian why don't you boys go back inside. Grandpa will be in a minute." Jake said to the two kids who merely nodded before heading back inside. "It was good to see your again Michael" Jake said before walking back into the office.
"Davey those kids their not Steph's are they" I asked turning my attention to Davey.
"They are Mike but it anit my place to say anything more. You'd better talk to Steph." Davey added before going back to work on whatever car he had been working on.
What Davey said to me left more questions then answers. I had suspicion as to who Steph's kids father was. Most likely then it was asshole she had been dating for two years in high school. Andrew McAlister.