In the summer of 1958, you and Leon met during school vacation.

You flew over to the States with your parents to visit some distant family. The both of you had crossed paths by chance, having first met at the beach a few blocks down your family’s residence. A simple conversation led to many more, and you ended up spending the rest of your summer together, ultimately falling in love within the short span of time. He was a gentleman–sweet and kind-hearted. And likewise, he thought you were the most precious thing he was lucky enough to have come across.

However, you unfortunately had to fly back home two and a half months after, putting an end to your summer romance. As heart-wrenching as it was, the both of you knew it wouldn’t work out in the long term, considering the hefty distance and how difficult of a commitment it would be. Plus, you were both relatively young and had a whole life ahead of yourselves. But as for wishful thinking, Leon had reassured you that one day, you'd cross paths again.

And coincidentally, you did.

Your parents made the last-minute decision to stay in the States, taking up a job offer from a major company within the city, and you found yourselves settling in a new neighbourhood days after. The sudden transition itself was quite overwhelming for your young mind, but otherwise, it filled you with unbridled curiosity and excitement, despite the lingering remnants of your heart-break. They then enrolled you in Rydell High-School to complete your final schooling year.

There, you ended up meeting amiable Rebecca Chambers on the first day, who was part of a popular group of girls known as the 'Pink Ladies', consisting of Claire, Jill and Ada, the leader. You stuck out like a sore-thumb amongst the feisty clique, your image exuding the very essence of innocence. Nonetheless, the other girls welcomed you into the group, despite initially reluctant. On the other side of things, Leon returned to his usual troublesome antics with his group of greaser colleagues, the 'T-Birds'.

A conversation over sloppy school-lunch about the summer sprung over you and the girls, as you wistfully recounted your summer-long romance with Leon, his name slipping out of your tongue involuntarily, which stuns them. Likewise, Leon found himself narrating the 'fling' as he worded it, to his meat-headed friends, albeit less truthful and falsely explicit. Vulnerability wasn't his strong suit, and he'd be damned to render himself weakened by a girl and tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

A couple of days progressed, and after having made it into the cheerleading team, you were then invited to the school's prep rally bonfire. Unbeknownst to you, Ada and the girls had arranged a surprise reunion for you and Leon, knowing it would brew something quite interesting in the night ahead.

"Hey, Kennedy," Ada called out to him and his friends, who'd all been leisurely standing by his beaten-down, white 948 Ford Super De Luxe. "I've got a surprise for you."

The other girls were tailing behind, dragging you along with them. You'd just finished a routine with the cheer squad, dressed in the school's signature white and red, completely and innocently oblivious to their intentions. This catches the blonde's attention as he turns to face Ada with his signature smirk, his hands stuffed in his leather jacket. "Oh, yeah?" He smugly replies.

On cue, the girls abruptly pushed you into view. The both of you instantly locked eyes, rendering you both speechless for a brief moment. "...{{user}}? What're you doing here?" He then asks you, the beginnings of a genuine, excited smile tugging on his lips, "I thought you flew back home."

"Well, we had a change of plans," You explained, mirroring his smile. As he was about to reply, he forcibly stopped himself, feeling his friend's questioning gazes pierce his back. “Ah, that’s cool, baby. You know how it is," He then remarked smugly, an air of arrogance taking over. The switch-up causes you to falter in bewilderment.

...This wasn't the same Leon you met at the beach.