Grease

Alexandria was flipping through a photo album, gazing longingly at the pictures inside. Pictures of when life was easier. She stopped and looked at the picture of herself with Mariana. They had their arms around each other, and wide smiles on their faces. That was the day they had gone to the beach last year, the first day it was open. She flipped the page and looked at the picture of Mitchell carrying Mariana around on his back. The next picture was one that Alexandria didn't want to look at. It was a picture of herself and Michael, her on-again off-again boyfriend, sitting on a beach towel talking. Looking at the pictures brought her back to that day.

Alexandria and Mariana were sitting on the hot sand, their heads close together talking.

"Hey girls!" Michael shouted out to them. Mariana and Alexandria looked up and saw Michael and Mitchell watching them. Michael had a camera up to his face. The twins threw their arms around each other and smiled. The flash went off and the twins blinked furiously to get the dots out of their eyes. When they were finally able to see Mitchell was standing right in front of Mariana. He smiled and lifted her up into his arms and began running around along the beach, with Mariana giggling as she yelled.

He ran out into the lake, Mariana protesting. Halfway between the shore and the rubber rope blocking off the sudden drop off he grabbed her left arm and leg. She screamed as he pulled her away from him and dipped her right side into the water, spinning around a couple of times.

He picked her back up after awhile and ran back to shore. Setting Mariana down on the hot sand he knelt in front of her and, after she had climbed onto his back, ran around the beach. Michael and Alexandria were both laughing as they looked on. Michael grabbed the camera and took a picture.

They started talking. Awhile later, unknown to Alexandria and Michael, Mariana and Mitchell ran up and grabbed the camera, taking a picture.

Alexandria put her hands up to her face as she looked at the picture of her and Michael. Life would never be that simple again. Throwing the picture book off her bed she turned and cried into the pillows. Why did this have to happen to her?

"Mariana," a woman behind her said as Mariana was walking to her locker.

Mariana turned around to face her choir teacher. "Hi Mrs. Owens."

"Mariana, I know you're able to sing now. You and Mitchell did an excellent job on Friday. You got our boys to state! But, are you going to be ready in time for the play this weekend?" she asked. "You have had some good practice time. But you've also missed a lot, what with the stabbing and the kidnapping. I know it's not your fault. But if I gave the main roll to a junior instead of a senior, I have to make sure you'll do a great job. Shelly has rehearsed with the cast. She'll be able to do it if you can't."

Mariana looked at her teacher and said, "I can do this Mrs. Owens. I know I can. Please, with all that's happened already, don't take this away from me."

The choir teacher smiled at her. "I'll tell you after practice tonight whether or not I think you can do this."

Alexandria opened the door to the apartment. She smiled at Luka and Abby who were sitting at the counter in the kitchen. Shutting the door she walked up to them, setting her backpack on the floor as she dropped her keys onto the counter. "Hi."

"Hi sweetie," Luka said, setting his coffee mug back on the counter. "How are you doing?"

"I'm okay," she replied. "You?"

Luka sighed, "I'm okay too."

Alexandria looked at his weary face, realizing that what had happened to her was hard on him too. When Luka had adopted them he couldn't have expected to have to follow them out of the country to get them back from a maniac aunt, and then to have one of the raped when he took the girls on vacation.

"I'm gonna go in my room for awhile," Alexandria said turning away from them. She was almost to her room when Abby called out to her.

"Alexandria!"

Alexandria turned around. "Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you? In your room?" Abby asked.

Nodding, Alexandria turned around and went in, sitting on her bed as she waited for Abby to come join her. Abby came in and softly shut the door behind her. She walked forward and sat down on Mariana's bed.

Smiling she said, "Alexandria, I want to talk to you about the baby."

"What about the baby?"

"You're planning on keeping it?" Abby asked.

Alexandria nodded.

"I used to work in OB. I'd like to help you plan for the baby, if that's all right. Because, babies are a lot of work, and take a lot of planning. And it's always hard for a teenage mother to make some of these decisions. For you, and the baby, I'd like to help you out a little," Abby said before quickly adding, "The decisions will be made entirely by you, but I'll tell you about things, and advise you on things."

Alexandria nodded, "Yeah. That would be nice."

Abby smiled. Looking at her watch she said, "Well, I have to go to work now. Why don't I pick you up after school tomorrow and we'll go to, Dairy Queen, or something."

Alexandria smiled, "Yeah. Sounds good."

"Okay," Abby smiled and stood up, walking out of the room. Alexandria sighed and fell back on her bed, staring up at the ceiling.

"Alexandria!" Luka called out a few minutes later.

Blinking furiously to get rid of the tears that were building up in her eyes she stood up and walked out, standing in the doorway. "Yeah?"

He grabbed a piece of chocolate from the counter and popped it into his mouth. Looking at her he quickly chewed and swallowed it and then said, "Abby and I have to go to work now. When's Ana going to get home from play practice?"

"I don't know. She's going to Mitchell's after practice is over. She'll probably be there for awhile," Alexandria told him.

"Do you want one of us to stay home?" Luka asked.

Alexandria shook her head, "No. I want to be alone for awhile."

"You sure?" he asked.

Alexandria nodded. "Yeah."

"Okay," he said, "There's spaghetti sauce and noodles in the fridge. There's some other stuff in their too. You can have whatever you want. There's also some chocolate on the counter. You can have as much of that as you like."

Alexandria nodded. "Okay."

"I'll see you later," Luka said as he and Abby walked out the door.

"Yeah. Bye."

Alexandria stared at the door, making sure they were gone. After a couple minutes she ran over to her backpack and pulled out a small plastic bag. She had stopped at Target on her way home from school.

Mitchell was walking over towards the auditorium when he ran into Warner Gardner. Mitchell smiled at him, "Hi Warner."

Warner looked at him and, without smiling, said, "Hello Mitchell."

"What are you doing here?" Mitchell asked. "Are you in the play?"

"No. I came to listen to Mariana sing," Warner replied. "Are you in the play?"

Mitchell smiled, "No."

"Then what are you doing here?" Warner asked.

"I'm picking Ana up," Mitchell replied.

"Oh," Warner said, walking away from Mitchell. Mitchell smiled to himself. Did Warner Gardner have a crush on his girlfriend?

Some music started and Jackson Harris, the senior who was playing the lead male roll started singing, "I've got chills, they're multiplying, and I'm loosing control…"

The cast was practicing "You're the One That I Want." Both boys outside waited until Mariana started singing, and they perked up immediately.

"You better shape up, cause I need a man. And my heart is set on you…" her voice rang through the air and both boys smiled.

Mitchell walked forward and opened the door slightly.

"You're not supposed to do that," Warner whispered smugly.

Mitchell looked at him, smiled, shrugged and looked through the crack. Soon, Warner was behind him looking over his shoulder.

As the song finished Mitchell burst through the door, clapping. The cast looked up and all smiled, laughing. Mariana smiled. Jumping off stage she ran up the stairs in the auditorium and threw her arms around him in a big hug. Hiding behind the wall, but still peering in, Warner watched as Mariana gave Mitchell a kiss. She turned back around and faced the stage, Mitchell keeping an arm around her waist.

Warner clenched and unclenched his fist. Not now, not now. This is not the time or the place.

With that thought he ran off and left the school building.

Mrs. Owens was smiling. "Hi Mitchell. Great job on that duet with Ana last Friday. Let's end rehearsal for today. You guys get out five minutes early."

"Amazing since we usually get out five minutes late!" Jackson shouted and the cast laughed.

Mrs. Owens laughed as well, although she pretended to be upset, "Jackson Harris! I can't believe you'd say something like that!"

Looking around she said, "Shelly, Mariana, can you two come here?"

Mariana turned around and smiled at Mitchell. "Well, I'll find out if I'm still in the play."

"I'm sure you will be," Mitchell said reassuringly, kissing her lightly on the lips. Mariana smiled and whispered, "I hope you're right."

She ran over and joined Shelly who was waiting impatiently. Mrs. Owens smiled at the girls, "I watched how Mariana performed today," she started. "Ana, you did a wonderful job. And after all that's happened, you need something good in your life. I think you'll be ready by the opener. I'm sorry Shelly, but Mariana gets to keep her role."

Shelly glared at Mariana before walking off. Mariana watched after her sadly. When she turned around she smiled at Mrs. Owens and said, "Thanks Mrs. Owens. This means a lot to me."

Mrs. Owens smiled. "I know. And I know that no matter how much it would mean to Shelly to be the lead her senior year, it'll mean more for you to have something good in your life this year. And you'll have no problem being ready for the opener."

Mariana smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

She grabbed her backpack from one of the chairs and ran up to Mitchell. Smiling at her he said, "Judging by Shelly's reaction, you're still Sandy."

Mariana smiled, "Yep! I'll be the lead!"

Mitchell smiled, "I knew you would be."

Putting his arm around her shoulder, they walked to his car.

Alexandria angrily threw the small white stick towards the bathtub. It hit the shower faucet and hit the bottom of the tub with a loud crack. "Damn test!"

She mentally kicked herself after she realized what she said. Alexandria wasn't the twin that swore, Mariana was. Although not a lot, she didn't have the best language. But Alexandria was a good kid, and that's one of the reasons she shouldn't be pregnant! Although, she didn't want Mariana to be pregnant either.

She picked the test up out the bathroom and shoved it into the box. Walking into her room, she threw it away. The test was still positive. She didn't know why she'd decided to retake the test. It was obvious that after three tests she was pregnant.

Walking out of her room she looked in the refrigerator. She didn't want any of the food in there. Opening up the freezer she checked for ice cream. None. Walking over towards the counter she picked up two of the chocolate bars and her keys. Walking out of the apartment she decided to go to Dairy Queen.

"Hi Ana," Mitchell's younger brother asked as they walked in.

She smiled at him. "Hi Ryan."

Mitchell and Mariana walked up to his attic and shut the door behind them. Dropping their bags on the floor, Mariana walked over to the bed and dropped down on it, closing her eyes.

"You okay?" Mitchell asked her.

She opened her eyes and saw him leaning against the door to his room. She smiled, "I guess. I'm okay as I can be."

He nodded and walked over to his CD player. Looking through his CD's he smiled as he pulled one out. Putting it into his CD player he flipped through until he got to the song he wanted.

He walked over to the bed and held out a hand smiling.

"What?" Mariana asked as she got up and walked into his arms.

The song began playing. It was "Objection" by Shakira, the tango song. She smiled as they started dancing around the room. After the song was done he walked her over to the bed and sat down, pulling her into his arms.

"I love you Ana," he whispered into her ear.

Mariana smiled, tears brimming her eyes. "I love you too Mitch."

Alexandria walked into the Dairy Queen. As she looked up at the menu board hanging over the counter she heard the door open and shut behind her.

"Alexandria?" a male voice asked behind her.

Alexandria turned around and smiled. "Hey Michael! How are you?"

"I'm good, you?" he asked, looking at her with a worried expression on his face.

"I'm fine," she smiled.

"That's good," he smiled. "Man, you and Ana just went through a lot. Her being stabbed and then being kidnapped!"

And being raped, Alexandria thought but didn't mention it. For now, she didn't want anyone else knowing. She knew that Ana had probably told Mitchell. And Carter, Luka and Abby knew. But that was all for now, no one else needed to know.

"Yeah. Well, we're doing pretty well now," she smiled.

"You getting ice cream?" he asked.

Alexandria nodded, laughing. "Have you ever known me to get anything else besides ice cream at DQ?"

He laughed too, "No. Just checking though. You alone?"

Alexandria smiled, "Yeah. You?"

He nodded. "Yep. How about we make it a date? My treat."

Alexandria smiled. "Yeah."

"You getting the usual?" he asked.

She nodded, "Yeah."

Walking up to the register he ordered. Soon a blizzard for himself, and one of the brownie ice cream treats for Alexandria were being set on the counter. They picked up their ice cream and walked to one of the booths.

Sitting down they ate and caught up on lost time. After they were finished Michael walked to Alexandria to her car. She opened the door and then turned around smiling. "Thanks. I had a great time tonight."

Michael smiled, "Me too."

Leaning forward he gently gave her a kiss on the lips. "We should go out again later."

Alexandria nodded. "Yeah, that would be great!"

"Summer dreams, ripped at the seams. But, oh, those summer nights!" Jackson and Mariana sung as the cast around them sung, "Those summer nights!"

The audience applauded as the curtains closed on Mariana in her white button-up shirt and poodle skirt, her black hair held back in a pony tail.

A couple scenes later the curtains reopened to her next musical number. She was wearing a white tank nightgown that ended right above her knees. The music began playing and she sang "Hopelessly Devoted to You."

At the end of the play, she came out, her hair in curls. She was wearing black leather pants, and a black shirt that dipped off her shoulders. But unlike the shirt worn in the movie, Ana's shirt was looser.

The cast sang the last numbers "You're the One That I Want," "We Go Together."

There was a curtain call while the theme was playing and then the lights in the auditorium came on.

Abby leaned over and whispered in Luka's ear, "Did you look at the cast list?"

Luka shook his head. "No, why?"

Abby smiled, opening it up and pointing at the second name on the list. Sandy – Mariana Kovac. And flipping to where they had listed the behind-the-scenes workers, underneath set painters was the name Alexandria Kovac.

A few minutes later Mariana came running out, dressed in her normal clothes, her hair still in curls.

Mitchell smiled and handed her a dozen red roses. "Oh my gosh Mitchell! These are so beautiful! Thank you!"

"You're welcome, sweetie," he replied running his fingers through her curls. "I love your hair like this!"

Mariana smiled. "Thanks! I do too!"

He turned around and let her walk past him over to her sister, Luka, Abby and Michael.

"You did a great job Ana," Alexandria said smiling. "I'll be surprised if you're not an actress one day."

Mariana smiled, "Thanks Al."

Luka and Abby both smiled brightly at Mariana and told her she did a good job. Mariana saw Michael and smiled. "Hey Michael! How are you?"

"Good," he replied. "I'm glad to see you're doing better."

Mariana laughed, "Thanks."

The group dispersed and headed home for the night. Outside, rain was falling in sheets.