"Thanks for tonight Ash" Annas quiet voice called out as the sisters parted ways near the top of the stairs, their guests all tucked away in the extra bedrooms.
"Always baby girl and me and girls mean it, you are not to waste any more tears on that boy, until he can start to act like the man he is trying to be, I don't want you to spend any more time worrying about him, thinking about him or anything else. I know that's hard to do when you love someone" Ashlyn stopped and smirked when she heard her sister start to interrupt
"I never said I loved him" Anna frowned looking anywhere but at her sisters knowing smirk
"You didn't need to, do you think I don't know you well enough to see the signs, to see the way you would light up when he was near, the change in you since he started acting like a dick? Anna, I know you baby, I have seen it coming before you probably did" Ashlyn smiled sadly at the shocked expression in her sisters' eyes, before a flash of the vulnerable young girl appeared, she hadn't seen that in her normally happy sister since their parent had died
"I just wish he would stay away from me; I have tried to avoid him, I have tried to get over him, I have tried to be just civil but he always tries to pull me back in to his toxic little games and he won't just leave me alone" Anna grumbled as she walked in to her sister's bedroom and moved to sit on the bed, a small rogue tear ran down her cheek
"it's not fair when you have to see them every day, when me and Kenickie were on the outs, I hated seeing him every day and seeing him with Rizzo or that other St Bernadette's tramp, baby I hated it. I wanted to scratch their eyes out and don't get me started on what I would have done to him. It would have been nothing to the pain I was feeling though, the crushing weight in my chest, the endless blackhole that filled me whenever he would smile at one of them and the small flutters of love that would appear when he would talk to me or look my way only to turn in to lead bullets pounding the inside of me the minute he would flick back to one of them" Ashlyn sighed as she sat down in front of her sister and dabbed her eyes with a tissue she grabbed from the dressing table on the way to the bed
"that's exactly how i feel but i just want to let it all go now. The difference is Kenickie made some silly choices but he was doing because he thought you were too good for him but Jonny just wants to be popular so bad he is being the world's biggest jerk thinking that's the way to do it" the two sisters shifted in to the bed and cuddled down under the covers, snuggling together in comfort
"do you remember when Danny realised Sandy had started going to Rydel and he turned into the biggest dick going, he was so mean to her because he was worried about how his friends would feel if they found out he actually was a nice guy" Ashlyn asked her arms snaking around her younger sister, well as far as they could reach with her now apparent bump in between them
"Oh yeah, you tore him a new one and when we spoke to the guys afterwards, they all thought he was pretty shitty for what he did to Sandy. Which I mean I don't get it, if the guys all end up thinking that they are mean to other girls why do they all still try to act that way to show off? It doesn't make sense... what's so wrong with showing people you're actually a nice person, a decent human being?" Anna frowned in confusion, she remembered speaking to Doody and Putsy a couple of weeks after the pep rally and they had both stated that they didn't think Danny would act like such a dick towards the pretty blonde but they didn't want to say anything at the time in case the others turned on them
"they seem complicated but really they arent, the problem is they act like a pack when there is a group of them and Danny and Johnny are Alphas" Ashlyn emphasised with a roll of her eyes that she thought that this was silly however continued on with her explanation "that means that although they are in charge supposedly they think that they need to set an example for the others in the group, however in cases such as this it backfires as although they are in charge, they are also terrified of what the other boys think and that they may no longer be excepted if they don't impress the others with their leader like behaviour" Ashlyn shook her frowning as she watched her sister process what she was saying
"So, they think that being jerks makes them good leaders, but the others don't always agree but they won't say anything to each other because they never want to kicked out? Thats stupid" Anna growled as she thought through all the times, she had seen the bad behaviour in Johnny recently had been because there was an audience, only proving her sister's theory
"Look baby I never said that they were clever, I mean in general they might be but put them in a group and it's all about who looks the manliest. This does not normally lead to using their brains but more to posturing and showing off, and when it comes to women, they all seem to get it wrong when the showing off happens, I mean if you ask me, I would think it was more impressive to be seen being nice to your woman and being in a loving relationship but as I'm a woman, what do I know" Ashlyn yawned as she snuggled deeper in to the covers, the long day starting to drain on her
"Men are stupid" Ashlyn yawned back at her already half-asleep sister
"some of them are for sure" Ashlyn answered before the two sisters slipped in to sleep, their hand clasped together and cuddled together, exactly with Kenickie found them later on when he got home from a night at the bar, smiling to himself he turned off the lamp next to the bed and tucked the covers around the two women and headed back downstairs to sleep on the sofa
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"We have one rehearsal left this week, right?" Delores asked as the two girls entered in to the hall, her eyes drifting to the piles of costumes she had been helping Sharon and Rhonda make, her eyes were tired and her fingers ached from all the late night sewing she had been doing to help the girls. She didn't mind the extra work as it made her feel more part of the group but she would be happy when she could get a full night's sleep again
"Oh yeah I think this is the last one before the actual show" Anna answered as her eyes swept around the room, half hoping to not see a certain darkhaired man but also half hoping to see him in the same breath
"I can't wait to see if all these costumes fit, I really don't want to do any more alterations" Delores sighed a little as she placed down the bundles in her arms before reaching for the others in the other girl's arm, her eyes scanning over her unusually quiet friend
"Really don't blame you, it's been a long slog getting all of these done and you did so much more than i did, i can't wait to get my room to stop smelling like paint from making all the props honestly i think i have burnt out my sense of smell with it" Ashlyn smirked a little as she started helping laying out the costumes on the benches, each with the matching props and then moving them in order for each girl to put on
"Anna, I know we are friends but we aint super close" Delores started but then paused and chewed on her bottom lip a little worrying that she might be over stepping a little by bringing this up
"We are friends Delores, doesn't matter how close we are, but we are friends, is everything ok? I mean you can tell me anything you know, i wont judge and I won't be angry" Anna exclaimed as she moved back towards the younger girl, her eyes scanning her with worry building in her with how Delores seemed to be worrying by whatever she was wishing to say
"thats the thing Anna, i actually was trying to see if there was anything you wanted to tell me, i have noticed how changed you have been in the last couple of weeks, how withdrawn and quiet and i dont know you seem sad" Delores frowned a little as she watched some of the colour drain from the already pale beauty in front of her
"am fine" Anna whispered as she moved to carry on with her tasks hoping to drop the subject
"its Johnny right?" Delores whispered back, her heart breaking a little noticing the small flinch Anna gave in response to just the mention of his name
"i dont know what you mean" Anna frowned, she carried on working not looking to the younger girl, again hoping that if she didnt look that Delores wouldnt notice how uncomfotable this was making her
"I know a lot of the gangs just see me as Paulette's annoying little sister, but while your all together and i sit there minding the bags or the tables or things like that, do you know what i do?" Delores asked as she continued to study the other woman, who seemed to be avoiding her in the small enclosed space of the dressing room, as though she had contracted a disease that could be caught just by looking in her direction
"We don't think that" Anna gasped shocked, she didn't think that way about the out spoken, funny girl in front of her, she was shocked that Delores thought she meant so little to them
"no you never treat me that way and not all of the gangs do but there are some that do and i think it comes from my sister, she treats me that way all the time" Delores sighed and then realised that she had not started this conversation to deal with her problems, she frowned a little and decided to plough ahead with her original point
"my point is, ever since Johnny started this stupid thing with my sister and Stephanie, you have been different, you don't smile as much anymore, you avoid group meetings, you look lost when no one is watching you, you have flashes of hurt in your eyes whenever you have to be near him but not near him like you used to" Delores explained as she watched with some sadness as the heartbreak she was certain her friend was carrying skittered across her practiced smile that was now directed at her
"Oh, you don't have to worry about me De, I mean yeah it sucks that things have gone the way they have but really I will be fine" Anna explained as she stood and brushed down her yellow three-quarter trousers before grabbing her jacket and moving towards the door of the changing room, to head to the stage for the final rehearsal
"but Anna you look so sad" Delores whispered as they got near the door, incase someone was on the other side
"i had a talk with Ash last night and i have decided i am not going to let it rule my life anymore, honestly I am trying to turn over a new leaf about it, i do really appreciate you trying to help and thank you for being a good enough friend that you noticed that i was struggling, it really means a lot but i need to just put this all behind me now and get on with things" Ashlyn explained as she pulled the door open finding Lois and Davey falling in at them, their ears had been stuck to the door
All four teenagers ended up in a heap on the floor, all tangled together and laughing as they tried to get up without hurting one another
"i thought you two would have learned that listening at doors doesnt do anything but you in trouble" Anna giggled as she managed to get back to her feet from where Lois had landed on her legs
"We were trying to see if there was anyone in there changing as we didn't want to walk in and see anyone in the nude" Davey tried explain but his face turning crimson gave away that he was probably lying
"Davey, are you telling me Lies?" Anna smirked as his face turned even darker and she worried that he might pass out with that much blood in his face
"He always blushes when he lies" Delores smirked back at her friend, her eyes scanning the two boys who now stood awkwardly in front of them, both not making eye contact with them
"Well, you would know" Anna giggled a little as she received a small nudge in the ribs from Delores elbow, her friend now turning a similar colour to the boy she had liked for years now
"Look Anna, we didn't mean to be eavesdropping on what you guys was talking about, we were trying to listen but we thought it would just be gossip we didn't think it would be..." Lois stopped not knowing if he should carry on and accidently upset her
"guys" Delores hissed her face turning to thunder that they could be so insensitive to Annas feelings, listening in was one thing but to be so Blase about it was another
"I just wanted to say Anna, I think Johnny was an idiot for what he did, I mean he had a Harley and swapped it for a Honda super cub" Lois frowned, he never was the best with words which is why him and Sharon ended up in so many fights but he hoped that Anna would understand what he was trying to say, it's not that he didn't like Paulette, she was hot to look at but she wasn't much when compared with the beautiful English girl, i mean she was Hot, she liked motorcycles, she could rebuild an engine, she was always kind to everyone, she was funny and if she could cook anything like her big sister then she was prize wife material, only an idiot would drop her like a hot stone
"Thanks Lois, I guess but it's fine, I mean he made his choices and now it's my turn to make mine and I've decided to move on so let's all leave it alone hey? But thank you for the odd compliment" Anna grinned at the tall man, his face breaking in to a smile when he realised, she had known what he meant
"Are you guys coming? I mean honestly, we are all waiting here for you" Sharons piercing voice called from the stage door, her panic and nerves obviously ramped right up for the last dress rehearsal
The four glanced between each other with a small smirk before all heading out to the stage to get this over with, the talent show couldnt come fast enough
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"So tonight, the big night huh?" Frenchy called as Ashlyn pulled up in front of her house, the two pink ladies smiling at each other as Frenchy threw her bags in to the back of the car and dropped in to the front passenger seat of her friends' car
"Oh yeah and explain to me how we managed to get pulled in to helping with this thing?" Ashlyn frowned a little to herself as she started the car up again and started the journey towards the school
"Well, you know the oath girl, its pink ladies till death do us part, the girls needed help and we volunteered but I get what you mean, I've just left for the second time, I feel like I am never going to get away from this place" Frenchy groaned playfully as they rounded the corner in to the parking lot
"Has there been any updates on our mystery Bike rider and Miss Zenoni?" Ashlyn questioned as she slid herself out of her car and scanned around the parking lot, looking for Davey who had offered to help with carrying the bags for them, she suspected after Kenickie suggested it forcefully to the younger man, he really was becoming ridicules in his protective instincts, he even checks on her when she goes to the toilet. She didn't realise being married meant he would stick his head in to see if she was ok even when she was going for a pee
"Heard through the grapevine that he is meant to be making an appearance here tonight" Frenchy smirked as she spotted Lois and Davey headed in their direction, she moved all the bags on to the sidewalk for them to grab, she knew Kenickie had been pressuring all the T-birds in to watching out for Ashlyn and it was driving her friend crazy
"hmm that would explain why Stephanie is already stood outside looking rather done up for someone who is going to be trying on costumes" Ashlyn smirked as she spotted the pretty blonde dressed up in beautiful black and gold sparkling dress, her hair flowing down her back in blonde waves and her gold heels higher than should be safe to walk in
"thanks for helping us boys" Frenchy called out loudly as she noticed the two boys straining to hear what they had been talking about, these two had a bad habit of listening in when they shouldn't be, and the boys called women gossips she smirked to herself when she noticed the small pink tinge creep up their cheeks
"it's no problem, Ash, French, we were just about to head out to meet the boys and spotted you with all these bags and figured you could do with some help" Davey smiled brightly although his pink cheeks giving away to his bend of the truth
"Oh, save it Davey, I know he has put you all up to it. Next time just go about your business, I am not an invalid am just pregnant" Ashlyn sighed as she walked behind them towards the doors
"Ash he would kill me if I let you carry these" Davey exclaimed as he got to the door and looked back to where Ash had stopped near Stephanie
"oh just take them inside and drop them off and then go and do what you need to, I do not need a babysitter and if he gives you any trouble just tell me and i will deal with him. Stupid big oaf" Ashlyn snapped as the two young boys scampered away from her and in to the hall with their bags
"Pregnancy agrees with you Ash" Stephanie giggled as she felt her friends playful glare turn on her next
"The pregnant part is fine, the annoying husband I could do without" Ashlyn smirked as she looked the pretty blonde over, she was the epitome of what a pink lady's leader should be, smart, kind, caring and being pretty didn't hurt.
"What are you doing standing out here?" Frenchy asked with a knowing smirk creeping up on her face as she too moved towards the younger pink lady
"i just needed some air" Stephanie explained, her cheeks blushing a little as she again looked to both entrances to the car park, her eyes scanning the area like there was about to be an attack
"Are you sure? You seem a little edgy" Ashlyn grinned, her eyes also scanning the car park, although it was early she wondered when Michael would be making his appearance
"Yeah, am just nervous i guess" Stephanie smiled as she looked back to the doors again as Anna stuck her head out and called for her sister to hurry up before Sharon has a heart attack
"Well, if you're sure you're ok, come and find us if you need us love, I mean there has been loads going on recently but we will always be here for you girls and we wont judge anything you need to get of your chest" Ashlyn smiled as she patted stephanies arm and moved to head towards the door with Frenchy in tow
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ashlyn, have you seen the girls?" Annas panicked voice called from the back stage area in to the small dressing room where Frenchy and Ashlyn had been doing hair and makeup in for the past half an hour or so, all the girls were now starting to get in to costumes while the finished up the last couple for the show to begin
"Narrow that down for me love? Which girls?" Ashlyn asked as she moved to grab her blusher brush and start to add some powder to the cheeks of the girl who was going to be April, she made sure to be adding some extra around her cheeks so that it wouldn't all be rubbed off by the bunny headdress she would be putting on soon.
"Rhonda, Sharon, Paulette and Stephanie are all missing" Anna whispered as she moved towards her sister, her eyes scanning the room, a small amount of panic setting in wondering what she was going to do if the dont appear
"Well did they say where they might be going?" Ashlyn whispered back as she finished on Aprils make up and motioned for her to move over to Frenchy's chair so that her hair could be pinned back to make sure the bunny ears would fit on her head without pulling her hair
"They popped home to put on their dresses for the after party so that they could change right back afterwards, it was Sharons idea but she is so manic at the minute they went with it so she stayed as calm as possible but now they haven't come back and am worried that something has happened" Anna explained as her sister moved her to sit in the chair in front of her
"Am sure it's all fine and they are just late, I mean Paulette would be late to her own funeral" Ashlyn smiled a little as she started adding foundation to her sister's face
"I guess you're right, what do I do if they don't turn up in time thought we will have four months missing" Anna asked quietly so as not to upset any of the other girls, Sharon had made the performance a little intense and she didn't want to cause a riot by the girls finding out that Sharon hadn't even turned up
"well i think i can fit in Stephanie's Christmas tree dress, that should hide my bump, Frenchy did Ballet back in the day so she could squeeze in to Sharons costume, Delores can go in for Rhonda which means we just need someone to go in as Paulette, Ill send Delores out front to see if Marty is here, she should fit in the costume" Ashlyn whispered as she looked up and waved over to Delores who was helping to fit costumes
"De, head out front and see if Marty is there and ask Jan or Sandy to pop back too if they are there, we are going to need some extra hands" Ashlyn explained as the younger girl approached her looking a little harassed
"what's going on" Delores asked as she put down the pins and needle and thread she had in her hands for doing last minute adjustments or repairs
"I'll explain when you get back, just go and get them and meet me in the drama classroom in five minutes" Ashlyn smiled reassuringly to the young girl, who rushed out the door the minute Ashlyn stopped talking,
"French, you finished there?" Ashlyn called to her friend who was looking over confused by the urgent look she was receiving from the two sisters
"yeah whats the matter" Frenchy asked as she moved towards them, as she placed her hair combs and the bobby pins she had in her hand down on the table she had been working at
"small pink ladys emergency meeting, drama classroom" Ashlyn whispered as the three moved quickly out of the room, trying not to draw attention from the already hyped up girls all getting ready
"hey girls whats going on"
"is everything ok?"
"whats happening"
The other pink ladies all called out as Frenchy, Anna and Ashlyn entered the room to find Marty, Delores and Jan all stood there waiting for them
"Stephanie, Rhonda, Sharon and Paulette havent turned up yet, now i know that on the one hand we will all be curious about what has happened but we have a dressing room full of girls that will likely throw a fit at finding out all the hard work and dealing with sharon in full director mode was all for nothing when they cant perform without the correct number of girls" Ashlyn explained
"Where is my sister?" Delores asked suddenly worried about what had happened
"I don't know love, but I will send out Kenickie to find out till then we need to save this show, so French, Marty and I will be getting in to costume and we will have to wing it with the routine a little, I mean we all know the song so that will be fine, Delores we are going to need you to help get us in them and Anna and Jan you need to help keep the other girls all calm" Ashlyn explained as she gathered them, together to usher them back to the dressing room
"What could have happened" Delores whispered, the worry for her sister obviously taking over her a little
"I don't know Love but you know Paulette Shes probably just made them all late so we will just do this in case they don't make it but don't worry as I said ill make Kenickie go find them" Ashlyn slipped her arm around the smaller girl and smiled reassuringly at her
"Ash are you in there?" Davey's voice called from the other side of the door, just before Anna opened it seeing a very pale young man stood there looking shocked
"Girls go on now and start working on that while I deal with whatever's going on here" Ashlyn ordered as she looked at Davey who wouldn't meet anyone eye
"what's going on?" Ashlyn asked as soon as her and the brown-haired boy were alone
"They chased him, and we got to the road pass where it's all dug up and like he jumped but I don't know if he made it or not, I mean what if he didn't, I don't want to know we made some guy die" Davey rambled as he looked around the room instead of at her
"Davey what on earth are you talking about?" Ashlyn asked confused by his mixed up tale
"the guy, the cool rider Guy Steph has been with" Davey explained his face becoming more pale
"what about him?" Ashlyn asked, her heart sinking to her stomach with worry over her fellow Englishman
"well, he came to the talent show and Johnny insisted we chase him, i mean i dont know why he only came to see Steph and we don't even know who he is, well we chase him to where they are doing all that work on Riverside you know they big ditch up there and well he jumped it but i mean i dont know if he made it, i mean we couldnt see him at the bottom but even if he made it to the otherside i mean he may have hurt himself or worse and i just dont want to responsible for someones death" Davey whispered
"oh god" Ashlyn gasped "Davey just go and do the show, ill sort this out dont worry" Ashlyn yelled as ran from the door to the audience to find her husband, she needed him to go and see if Michael was alive...