Grease

Chapter 1

Jet lag is an absolute killer! It's lunchtime here in California and I feel like it's gone midnight, well it has back home in England. After three days, I thought I would have adjusted but I can barely keep my eyes open. I feel terrible and look worse.

"Mum, I'm going for a lie-down," I say, sticking my head through the kitchen door.

Instantly a pan is slammed down, and mum glares at me angrily. "No you are not young lady, it's the middle of the day. And your aunt and uncle are coming for lunch, along with your cousin Kenneth. So go and comb your hair and straighten your face! And tell Sylvia to get her backside downstairs whilst you're at it."

I stomp upstairs yelling to my sister Sylvia to get herself ready. I don't even feel like eating, much less socialising, I just want to sleep. And I certainly don't want to entertain my cousin Ken, he's an arrogant arse if ever there was one. I go to my room and try to make myself look presentable, I know mum always gets on edge around dad's family and I don't want to give her an excuse to have a go at me.

I comb my hair and tie it back into a low ponytail, before wiping off my lipstick. I fasten my blouse all the way up to my neck as I know mum will want me to look a picture of innocence. I'll play along but only because I get these vibes that my aunt doesn't much like her. I change into a flared skirt and twirl around in front of the mirror admiring my reflection. I'm tall and blonde so I tend to get noticed which drives dad crazy. He prefers my little sister Slyvia; with her brown hair and shy eyes she's more like a church mouse, or so he thinks anyway.

"Sylvie, you ready," I call knocking on her door. I go into her room and she's laid on her bed. "Get up, I'll brush your hair." There are only fourteen months between us but sometimes I feel much older than her. It's funny but we're kind of mirror opposites of each other, I have brown eyes and she has blue. Apart from our height, we look nothing alike, and while I try to stand up straight Sylvia's tendency to slouch makes her appear smaller than she is. It's like she's desperate to fade into the background.

"Do you think Ken will look out for us at school?" Sylvia asks sounding nervous about starting Rydell HIgh tomorrow.

I roll my eyes behind her head, as the last thing I want is Ken throwing his weight about. "Sylvie we won't need anyone looking out for us," I say. "We'll be fine on our own."

"It's okay for you, you only have six months left, I have a whole other year. What will I do if nobody likes me?"

"Why wouldn't they like you? Honestly you worry too much. Just hold your head up high and exude confidence, that's all you have to do." She looks at me doubtfully but it's the truth, you've got to fake it till you make it. "Just avoid the swots and the prissy princesses, and you'll be fine."

"How am I supposed to know who they are?" she grumbles. "It's not like they'll be wearing a 'school swot' badge."

"You never know they might be," I say tongue in cheek and she scowls at me. "Come on, you had loads of friends back home, the kids here will be just the same as in England, well apart from the accents." I'm not sure who I'm trying to convince more. She's right, it is okay for me. If I don't fit in I only have a few months to get through, she'll have nearly two years.

"I guess we had fun when we visited for the summer," she says perking up.

"Exactly, and all the boys loved our English accents!" She starts to giggle. "But watch out for the boys, get yourself some girlfriends first, the boys can wait till later." I grab her hand and pull her to her feet as our mum hollers for us to hurry up.

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When we get downstairs the guests have already arrived. Mum's talking to Aunt June in the kitchen and dad's showing Uncle Tom something in the garage. Great, that leaves us with cousin Kenneth.

"Hey," he says barely glancing at us from his spot on the sofa.

I exchange a knowing look with Sylvie, his macho act doesn't impress me. "So how're tricks, Ken?"

Instantly he sits up, adjusting the collar on his jacket, the familiar sneer on his face. "What did I tell you last summer? The name's Kenickie."

Sylvie snickers next to me. All summer he tried to get us to call him by his stupid nickname, it seems like he's embarrassed or something by his actual name.

"But Kenneth Nicholas has such a nice ring to it," I say daring to tease him.

"Watch it," he warns but then he cracks a smile. "So how's about you chicks show me a bit of respect and call me Kenickie, and I'll make life smooth sailing for you at school."

"Okay." Sylvia instantly agrees and I give her a sharp nudge.

"I think we can stand on our own two feet, we don't need you to show us the ropes." I'm not going to let him think we'll be hanging off his coattails.

"Come on, Eve," he groans. "Don't make life difficult for me. You're coming onto my turf."

"And?" I raise an eyebrow.

"Well, you don't know who you might be messing with."

"I can handle myself Kenickie," I say rolling my eyes at him.

"I don't want you getting into trouble." He looks down, almost like he's embarrassed to admit it. "Some of the guys at school, you wouldn't want to get involved with them."

"Careful, you're sounding like you care."

"No, I'm just saying." He straightens the collar on his jacket again, it's almost like a nervous habit, the way he touches it all the time.

"Why are you even wearing leather in this heat?" I haven't been able to get comfortable since we've arrived here. I've rapidly been shedding clothes, showing way more skin than usual.

"It's a look okay?" he says pulling a face. "I know you might not get it coming from England but I have an image."

I scoff and throw my shoe at him. "Oh is that the problem? You think we're going to embarrass you?" He coughs clearing his throat. My god, he actually does think that. "Holy Moses Ken! I've seen the pillocks you hang out with, and you're worried about us?" I'm getting pretty indignant, some of his mates are grade A arseholes.

"No, no," he says speaking rapidly. "It's just Zuko, you remember him? He's going with this Aussie chick and she's square! It's damaging his rep." 

"Danny Zuko has a girlfriend?" I'm pretty surprised, he always seemed like the love 'em and leave 'em type.

"Yeah he's so pussy whipped, you ain't gonna believe it."

"You sound jealous," Sylvia giggles. "Does Doody have a girlfriend too?"

"Yeah he does, so watch it," Kenickie fake snarls. "That goes for the both of yous, you keep away from those guys, they're bad news."

"But they're your friends," I say acting all innocent. "Aren't your friends our friends now? I mean if you're going to be looking out for us?"

"This is me looking out for you." He lowers his voice whilst cracking his knuckles. "You keep well away from those guys cos if you don't, I'm gonna break a few heads." 

Sylvia looks at me nervously and I laugh. I don't buy Kenickie's tough-guy act for one moment, he might fool his mates but he doesn't fool me. Anyway, he's nothing to worry about, Sylvia's too young for his friends and I only ever liked Danny. And not like liked him, I just thought he was sort of cute but since he has a girlfriend, I wouldn't go there. I'm not that kind of girl.

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