Greased (Thunderbirds #2)

14. Chapter Fourteen

T he drive to Rydell Prep is less than five minutes. It helps that Rydell itself is pretty small considering it's an outer suburb of Los Angeles. I’ve been told a decent amount about the history of Rydell and the Thunderbirds during the last few weeks.

Apparently, the prep school was originally built back in the early 1900s and has been passed down through the Crux family. When Great Grandpa Crux handed it down to Grandpa Crux, The Thunderbirds had already established the building as their headquarters. Once my father became president and completely transformed the Birds, he turned the former headquarters into a school for the children of the Thunderbirds and the outer community.

As we head into the school car park, Dacre pulls up beside a couple of familiar men also getting off their bikes. I cock my head as I try to place them.

Are these the same guys from last night?

When they take off their helmets, I find myself looking at Pike, Nicky, Sonny and that other fucktard who shall not be named. Gone are the dark jeans and leather jackets and in their place is black slacks, white button up shirts, black coats and a black tie with thin white stripes, identical to the ones Dacre is wearing. They seem to take a double look when they look over at Dacre and I as if they didn’t realise I would be coming to school with him this morning.

They rush over the minute I swing my leg off the bike. I am barely able to straighten my skirt before Nicky is picking me up and swinging me around. I try not to soak up the familiar feeling of how he used to greet me back in Australia.

“Morning baby girl,” he whispers in my ear causing a shiver to run down my body.

“Morning Nicky,” I whisper back to him, cursing myself as a lump forms in my throat. Nope, not today. I will myself to be strong, refusing to allow my resolve to crumble over a few whispered words.

I wiggle and he puts me down, giving me a small smile as he cups my cheek. Before he can say anything else, Sonny barrels him out of the road and swiftly picks me up and throws me over his shoulder. I let out a shriek.

“See you later, idiotas, ” he yells out over his shoulder at the guys standing around their bikes with dumbfounded looks on their faces.

“Sonny, put me down you bastard. Everyone is going to see up my skirt.”

“No one would dare to look up your skirt, mi estrella. They would all have their eyeballs removed quicker than they could say purple elephants.”

I hit his back with my fists but he is completely unfazed .

“Sonny, I swear to god! Put. Me. Down!”

“Ugh, you are no fun.” Begrudgingly, he finally puts me down. I grab his shoulders allowing the blood to retreat from my head.

“You’re an ass, Sonny.”

“A sexy ass,” he says with a cheeky smile and a wink.

The boys all finally catch up to Sonny and I. Pike whacks Sonny over the back of the head.

“Don’t worry Princess, I’ll save you,” Pike says as he sweeps me up in his arms. As I go to wrap my arms around his neck, I hesitate in just how easy it is to fall back into old habits with them. It would be too easy to allow myself to be sucked back up by their presence again. To let bygones be bygones. Yet as my arms snake around his neck, I allow myself to be caught in the moment. Why? Maybe I’m just a sucker for pain.

“Finally, my Prince Charming is here to save me from the big bad villain. We can finally live happily ever after,” I sigh dramatically, but there is an edge of sarcasm to it. Something I don’t think Pike gets the hint of.

Pike chuckles as he puts me down.

“I’ll always save my Princess.” There is a strange look in his eye that he quickly blinks away before he continues on, as If it was never there in the first place.

“Looking forward to your first day?” He asks.

“Having to restart my senior year at the end of what was already my senior year wasn’t really on my bingo card.” Not only is the time difference and lifestyle completely different in the States, so is the school running year.

That 's the one thing I wasn’t entirely thrilled about when moving here. An almost nineteen year old still in high school? I still can’t help but wonder if I begged enough Ren would let me drop out early? I feel like shadowing him is a perfect excuse to drop out. I could even take a course on the side.

I make a mental note to ask him.

“You will be ok, Scar. You will have us to help you adjust,” Nicky says.

Dawson scoffs and I snap towards him.

“Got something to say? Or are you lost?” I ask in the most sweetly sarcastic voice I can muster up.

He scoffs again. “You won’t last a day here. Run back to Australia before you get yourself hurt. You aren’t made for this lifestyle, Scarlett.”

“I don’t know why you think anything you have to say even deserves any merit, Dawson,” I take a step toward him, “You seem to have forgotten just who my father is and what my role will therefore be. So, before you go running your fucking mouth, you should mind it.”

Dawson can’t seem to find the words to reply to me. He just stands there silent and stares at me. There is a slow clap behind us. Nicky, Pike, Sonny and Dacre are all standing there with looks of bemusement on their faces. Nicky stops clapping and a big smile lights his face.

“Thank fuck! I was just about ready to lose the plot after the shit this douche was carrying on with last night.” Nicky comes up to stand beside me and puts his arm around my shoulder. “Come on, baby brother. We have lost Scarlett one too many times. She is back now. Stop being a fucking asshole. ”

“That exact carefree attitude will be the same thing that allows Scarlett to be hurt again. She shouldn’t be here.” His teeth clench. The anger deepening in his expression. “She. Will. Fucking. Die.”

I jolt at his tone. Before any of us can reply, he turns around and storms off. His anger in regards to me is actually surprising. My head feels like a mess as I watch his retreating form. Why is he so angry when last night he didn’t seem to care?

“Don’t worry about him, Scar. It must be shark week,” Sonny jokes, attempting to lighten the mood. Yet, Dawson’s bullshit has seemed to shake me out of the haze that seems to come over me when I am in the presence of these men. I shake Nicky’s hand off my shoulder as I find myself again.

“What the fuck was that last night?” I demand, looking between the four men standing in front of me.

“I don’t have any kind of explanation for what that was last night, Scarlett. But as for my – our – actions, you more than deserve an explanation. Just name a time and place and we will tell you everything,” Pike says as he steps closer to me. “But until then, we are going to be hanging around like bad smells. The way we handled shit was wrong and while I can’t speak for the other guys, I won’t let you down again.”

A shred of me wants to break down in front of Pike. But a bigger part of me is wild with anger. Wild at how they have treated me. Beside myself with resentment towards the men in front of me. No matter how pretty their faces are, they can’t expect me to fall to my knees.

Not today Satan.

I nod, “Unfortunately Pike, you already have. I’m not a stranger to heartbreak but it's going to take a bit more than that to butter me up.” I watch his face falls. I pull up the straps of my bag and sigh. “ Right, well I need to go to admin.” I nod towards the building feeling slightly awkward all of a sudden. Pike, Nicky, Dacre and Sonny all rush forward to usher me there. Their enthusiasm to get back into my good books fills me with way too many ideas on ways to fuck with them and more importantly, make them grovel.

No, I’m going to make these motherfuckers get on their knees and beg to be forgiven.

I take a look at the timetable handed to me by the adorable lady at administration.

First up, Maths. Ugh.

“Fuck, Maths first thing on a Monday morning is brutal,” I groan.

Nicky takes my timetable from me and looks it over.

“It looks like we have almost all of the same classes together,” Nicky hands me back my timetable. “We’ve got training Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays as well.”

“What do we actually do in training?” I question.

“Rhodes or your Dad hasn’t explained it to you yet?” Sonny queries, his brow frowning slightly.

I shake my head. “No they haven’t. A lot of the conversations since they came back into my life have been more about catching up on lost time. There have been a few things mentioned about the Birds but I am still pretty clueless, really.” I grimace, realising just how much I am going to have to learn. The weight of it feels like it might consume me. The pressure to live up to the expectation my father has in place for me.

“Ok, that gives me a good idea on what to go off then. Once we hit our junior year, we are required to start attending training. While those of us that will inherit the leadership roles and have been training for years,” Dacre begins, “The rest of the greenies only start then. Think, learning how to infiltrate high profile companies, setting up legitimate businesses to filtrate profits from our illegal businesses, weapons, and combat. Some of us go into the tech side of the gang. Others go into the dealing side. Basically, we learn the ins and outs of every activity in the ‘Underworld’. When the Pres took over, he didn’t want a bunch of unreliable gang bangers controlling the masses. He wanted people with their heads screwed on and this was the outcome.”

I nod taking in the information. It makes sense that he would feel that way and by the success I can see that they have achieved, it's a no brainer. The idea of infiltrating a business though seems unimaginable to me. For some reason, the weapons and combat seem more tame, if that is even a possibility.

We continue the hallway and take a couple of different turns until we reach a classroom with a few stragglers filtering through the door.

Taking in my surroundings as we walk down the hallways, I feel like I’m in one of those American high school movies. Lockers line the walls with couples unable to keep their hands off each other. In Australia, lockers are a rare commodity. Only a select few schools have them. The majority of us have to carry all of our textbooks around on our backs. Surely the government should provide some kind of compensation for chiropractor appointments.

Not only that, but the fact that American schools seem to be one massive building with all the classrooms inside, versus Australian schools that have a heap of scattered buildings normally dedicated to a single subject.

I didn’t fail to notice the number of stares the guys and I seemed to get. Seems my return is hot gossip amongst the masses. I wonder just how many of these people I used to know before. Were they any of my friends? My enemies?

Every time I even attempt to bring up the conversation on who my old friends were with Rhodes, he becomes cagey and steers the conversation in a different direction.

Almost like he wanted to keep me all to himself.

Weird.

Speak of the devil and he shall appear. Rhodes comes up the hallway flanked by the two burley guys I met last night, Jethro and Wyatt.

They have this presence about them that demands respect. Either that or they have a ‘don’t fuck with me’ sign on their foreheads. Students hurry out of their way, clearing the hallway almost immediately.

“Hey, Scar,” Rhodes says as he embraces me.

“Hey, baby bro.”

Rhodes groans as he releases me. “Not around the guys, big sister,” Rhodes jokes, making the guys around us chuckle.

“Morning Scarlett. Looking forward to your first day?” The blonde one, Wyatt says as he steps closer. I catch the small flirty smile straight away. While it doesn’t give me butterflies like the men behind me do, I see it as an opportunity. The perfect one to get some of my own back. Remind certain individuals of who I am. Who I belong to.

I take a step closer and place my hand on his forearm. Wyatt’s smile broadens at the touch and I feel his eyes heat where they are locked on me.

I feel the guys all stiffen the moment I touch him.

Fuck with me and I’ll fuck with you right back boys.

“I’m a little nervous but more so worried about the workload.” Lowering my eyes slightly and returning the flirty little smile.

Wyatt looks shell shocked for a moment that I actually flirted with him back but sobers quickly, that cocky bravado back firmly in place. His body relaxes into my touch.

“Don’t worry baby. If you ever need a tutor, I don’t mind helping out. I’m sure there’s a lot I can teach you.” He winks as his eyes roam my body, completely unfazed by the fact that my brother and the guys are watching us.

“I’m sure you can, big boy.”

His eyes heat as he takes a step closer.

“Come on Scar, we are going to be late,” Nicky grunts, taking my hand and dragging me into the classroom.

Rhodes, Wyatt and Jethro all chuckle. I have to do my best to hold mine in too.

Hook, line and fucking sinker.

My eyes scan the classroom.

The blood drains from my face and I freeze where I am.

Dawson and some bimbo give everyone a show in the middle of the walkway.

Motherfucker.

What is his problem ?

He actually had some bitch and doesn’t want me to get in the way? Thinking he can have a girl at home while he goes around fucking around with bitches in different countries?

Game on motherfucker.

I reach back and grab Wyatt’s hand and drag him along with me. He doesn’t hesitate to follow me.

I slam my shoulder into the whore’s back as we walk through the desks. She stumbles and instantly turns around with fire in her eyes.

“Do you mind you fucking bitch?” Her cheap red lipstick is smeared across her face. Her pash rash making her look like a cheap hooker.

“I do actually. Get a fucking room.”

“You better watch yourself,” she snarls but instead of it being threatening, she looks more like an aggressive little puppy.

“Aww that’s cute. Are you threatening me?” I plaster a smile on my face. I’m not to sure where this cocky confidence is coming from but, fuck me, do I embrace it. I have never been a fighter. It's almost like a part of my brain recognizes this place and is filtering in what I need to step up into my role. I take every little bit of it that I can right now.

This new Scarlett is fucking bad ass.

She steps up closer to me, getting right in my face. I can see Dawson out of the corner of my eye. His arms are crossed over his chest. The same lipstick smeared across his face. His eyes are drawn tight. I can’t hide a giggle.

“What’s so funny?” The bitch sneers at me.

“The circus called. They want their star clowns back,” I snigger, gesturing at my mouth sending the entire room into howls of laughter.

Her cheeks redden out of what I’m sure is both anger and embarrassment before she takes off out of the room, stomping off like a child. Meanwhile, Dawson clearly couldn’t care less and just wipes the lipstick off his face. Without even a second glance my way. He turns around, sits down in his seat and opens his textbook.

Offering him the same courtesy he offered me, I turn my back on him and take a seat right behind him with Wyatt following close behind me. The other guys all filter in around us looking at me like kicked puppies.

Scarlett, one, Boys, zero.

Maths is the same as back home. Boring as all fuck. Wyatt flirts with me the entire lesson and I sure as fuck go along with it. If anything, I go completely over the top. He loves it too by the heated look in his eye. Unfortunately, it still does nothing for me. It sucks because he seems like a really nice guy. The kind of guy that maybe I should have fallen for. Instead it had to be the five knuckleheads that demanded it.

I can’t even blame it all on them. I did this to myself as well. Stupid heart.

Not only do I have Wyatt’s attention, I have the other guys’ as well. And a few other men looking at me like I’m a snack.

Dawson would never admit it, but I have him by the balls too. His shoulders are tight the entire lesson and each time I laugh, he clenches his desk. It makes me want to be even more abrasive.

Fuck him.

“So Scarlett,” Wyatt begins. I turn to him and instantly notice the confident flirting demeanour is gone and in its place is a nervousness I didn’t think Wyatt would be capable of. He runs his fingers through his hair before taking a deep breath.

“I don’t want to overwhelm you seeing how you’ve just gotten back but I feel like if I don’t jump at the chance now, I will miss out.” He gives a nod towards the guys.

“You seem like a really cool chick and only an idiot wouldn’t be able to see how gorgeous you are.” He coughs and rubs his hand behind his neck.

“Come on Wy, don’t choke on me now.” I tease making him laugh, some of that nervousness fading.

“I was just ah… wondering, if maybe, you might want to go out for a couple of drinks at Pinks’ tonight with me? I mean it's completely fine if you aren’t inter-”

I stop him before he continues rambling, “I would love to.” I give him a big smile.

He turns to me shocked, like he thought I was going to reject him “Wait really?”

“Yeah of course. I mean I have to head to Pinks’ anyways to meet up with Shelly to talk about initiation and I know for a fact that I will need a stiff drink after today.” I laugh expecting the worst for what's to come this afternoon.

“Initiation?” Wyatt questions. “You mean you still have too…” He trails off waiting for me to confirm.

“Yeah.” I blow out a breath, “Rhodes was hoping that there would be a way around having to see his sister shaking her ass on stage but neither of us are that lucky unfortunately.”

The cocky flirting is back in his expression. He licks his lips like he is already imagining me on stage in a thong and heels, “I’ll be making sure I have front row seats.”

I laugh, thankful for his relentless flirting. I didn’t know I needed it until now. It helps to make me feel not so awkward about the fact I will quite literally have my entire ass out in front of a club packed full of men. Absolutely not daunting whatsoever..

All too soon, the bell rings and we pack up and high tail it out of the class.

“What class do you have now, Scarlett?” Wyatt asks as the other guys all filter in around us, Dawson included. Fuck knows why, nor do I care to find out.

“Ah, I think I have History now.”

“Damn. Well, make sure you save me a seat at lunch.” He winks before turning around and walking off in the opposite direction.

I take a look at my schedule and confirm that I do in fact have History and I wasn’t just taking a stab in the dark .

“We have got History too, Star. We can walk you there if you like?” Dacre asks meekly. That beautiful, soft person I began to fall in love with back home showing through. I have to work hard and keep by my mantra as he unknowingly chips away at it. Damn him. Damn him for softening me. I take a moment before I answer, needing to add a few more bricks to my wall. The devil on my shoulder refuses to bow down to them.

“That would be good.” I nod, now confident in myself not to fall to pieces.

We take a couple of different turns, down hallways and up a staircase, ending up at yet another door. The stares and whispers follow us but we all stay silent. I don’t allow the questions that hit my ears affect me. I don’t need their opinions of how and why I’m here and why these five guys are following me around to throw me off course.

Dawson is still brooding behind us, but I just choose to ignore him and brush him off just like he did to me last night. That same unrelenting anger I feel towards him helping to fortify the walls around my heart I have been trying to keep built.

I need the strength. It would be too easy to let them fall. To let them back in. Each time I feel them droop, I remember just how broken I felt. The touch of abandonment never really goes away and right now, it helps to fuel my resolve.

History goes relatively the same as Maths; a teacher that makes me wish I could be sticking pins in my eyes then listen to him droning on about some wrinkly old bloke that died a million years ago and did something of mild significance to my life. While each of us is completely uninterested in a single word he is saying, I’m surprised to see everyone is at least being respectful of the guy. I spend the lesson doodling in my book, revenge on my mind. That inner cunt I keep tucked away making an appearance. She fits in right beside Betty, my drunk alter ego.

I slowly come up with a plan on just how much I can fuck with Pike, Nicky, Sonny and Dacre. The latter makes it hard to stick to my guns but, for the thousandth time today, I push it down.

My thoughts sway to Dawson for a moment, but it's clear he wants nothing at all to do with me. The feeling is mutual though, it doesn’t hurt any less. If anything, it tastes bitter.

Just by how willing and interested Wyatt is in me and further, just how much the guys hate the way I flirt with him and in turn, him me, using him to my advantage just might work. While I feel a slight bit of remorse for using the poor guy, it doesn’t stop me from running with the idea. He’s a big boy, he will be fine.

The bell eventually rings and I shake myself out of my revenge fuelled day dream. I slowly pack my things away, the teacher is up the front going on about some test, or assignment or something. I don’t know to be honest. I checked out a good five minutes into the lesson.

“You ready, baby girl?” I don’t even have to look up to know it's Nicky.

“Yeah,” I say, shortly. Remember Scar, revenge.

If Nicky was bothered with the tone of my voice, he doesn’t show it. I look up at him. That massive smile is still all for me. Not for long I’m sure when he realises just what’s in store for him if he wants to earn my forgiveness .

Without another word, he nods towards the door. I sigh, before falling into step with him. The guys all fall in around us just like they did earlier.

The hallways are all hustle and bustle as everyone begins to make their way down to the cafeteria.

Another difference between America and Australia. Our tuck shops are like the school's takeaway shop. Rhodes explained to me just how different Rydell Prep is. Really, it shouldn’t surprise me considering the types of uniforms we are required to wear.

The cafeteria resembles more of an all you can eat restaurant. You name it, it's on offer. I watch some kid stack his plate with steak. Just steak and nothing else. I mean one look at the guy and it explains it all. He looks like he could break bones without breaking a sweat. Wouldn’t put it past him. He has to be a Thunderbird for sure.

I grab myself a plate and quickly fill it with some chicken, pasta and salad. Grabbing a drink out of the fridges at the end of the bain-marie, I look around the room and try to find Rhodes and hopefully along with him: Wyatt. It doesn’t take me long to spot my twin who is also looking around the room for me.

I head over to him without sparing a second glance back at the boys knowing that they are most likely going to follow me anyways.

Rhodes finally notices me and jumps up out of his seat. He takes my tray before picking me up and twirling me around. I laugh and smack his shoulder, amused by his playfulness.

“Missed me, did you baby brother?”

“Always, big sister.”

We both laugh together as he quickly sets me down. I feel the boys right behind us. Perfect timing .

I make my way over to Wyatt who is currently stuffing his face full of food. I lean down and slowly brush a kiss over his cheek. Wyatt jumps in surprise, not expecting me at all. His food must go down the wrong hole because he begins to choke.

“Hey babe, missed me?” I say loud enough for the boys that I’m sure are standing right behind me to hear.

Wyatt tries his best to clear his throat and starts banging on his chest. “Ahh, yeah. Shit.” He swallows his food before giving another small cough. “I sure did.” He smiles before turning to the guy next to him. “Move dweeb.” The kid beside him pales and quickly moves tables completely. I take his seat and turn a sugary sweet smile to him.

Sitting down in the now vacant spot, I watch out of the corner of my eye as the guys all filter in around us trying to find a seat. For some strange reason, Dawson is still hanging around. His glare feels like daggers where it is currently locked on me.

Rhodes tucks himself in close beside me. His plate is stacked with nothing but protein and carbs. I give him a funny look. “Are you allergic to salad or something?”

“Come on Scar. How else did you think I was able to get these muscles and keep them?” He wiggles his eyebrows at me, chuckling.

“God, you are so full of yourself. Remind me to never compliment you. That head of yours might just explode,” I laugh.

“Tell us about it. I think his ego grows daily at this rate. Those girls.” Wyatt nods his head towards a group of girls sitting at a table across from us, glaring daggers at my head. I spot the same chick from Maths. Pash rash gone, “Really don’t help. It's constantly ‘Oh Rhodes baby, your muscles have gotten so big’ and ‘Meet me behind the staircase, Daddy.’” Wyatt’s imitation of the girls sends the entire table into laughter, causing the rest of the room to all look over at us.

“While your imitation of those voices is one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard, the last thing I need to know is just how much of a man whore my little brother is,” I say, clutching my stomach as my laughter fizzles and I shudder.

“Ouch, Scar.” Rhodes clutches his chest like my man whore comment hit him like a bullet but we both know that I’m right as I watch him cringe slightly.

His extracurricular activities have already been exposed. That being a dirty message coming through on his phone while he was showing me photos one night.

Things got awkward real fast.

“Moving on,” I break the now awkward silence.

I think that's enough talk of my brother and his conquests to last a lifetime.