BEFORE THE DANCE

14 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, LATE DINNER

I was late home for dinner. Ki had kept a portion for me. Savy was already getting ready in her room. Dad had already left for a meeting. Mum was giving Sabre her bedtime bath. So I ate alone in the dining room. Which felt a little weird. I realized I had never had my dinner alone before.

Tonight was New Leaf Academy's Vday dance. I'm still not sure why I was attending it, but I had that new blue dress and everything.

I ate quickly, everything down in 5 minutes, and brought my plate to the kitchen. Ki immediately came over to take them from me, "Thanks for the meal, Ki."

"It was my pleasure, goddess." Ki smiled his usual smile. I contemplated checking on him further, but decided against it. Ki was a grown up, and I was already running late as it was.

I had already caused Harvey and Ben enough trouble today. The least I could do was be on time for them to get to their dance.

Upstairs, my room looked it's usual pristine condition. Golden clam shell bed all made up. My new blue dress, matching accessories, and purses all lined up. The curtains were drawn for the night, the lemon oil scent was fresh in the air. In the bathroom, clean towels were laid out and everything arranged like it was posed for a photoshoot for one of those magazines Mum liked to look at while our new home was being built.

I quickly showered, shook dry, and then got dressed. And then I picked out just the watch of many wishes, for luck. I left my hair down.

There was a tray on my dresser, with makeup and my phone, cardkey, and wallet. Okay, I could do this. Just mascara and eyeliner and lip balm. But I did my mascara properly, the way Savy had shown me before. Holding the wand over the tip just a little longer so that the lashes curled upwards, and applying three thin coats, giving it time to dry in between.

I checked my reflection, not bad. It gave my eyes a pretty doll like look. So I decided wth, and added a bit of blush. Now I looked even more like a doll. Hahaha.

I had to stop myself. Sometimes I get carried away and forget it's not a fancy dress party.

I found blue heels with ribbons behind them, and slipped them on. Then I picked up a blue envelope clutch because it also had a ribbon on it. I slipped in the phone and keycard.

It's not like my wallet had any money. I opened it to confirm that it was empty. Oh! There was a twenty! It had reappeared. My wallet was magic. Beta magic. Hahaha.

I took out the twenty and put it in my purse. All packed.

When I got downstairs, I found I was the first one there. Mum was brushing Sabre's damp hair in the living room while Sabre poured though the stack of picture books.

"I want to go to the ball too." Sabre said. She was holding on to a Cinderella picture book with her little hands.

"One day, baby. You'd be old enough to go for lots of balls." Mama promised her.

Mama was right. The Night Forest pack still held balls biannually. It was a thing among the older packs with such traditions. I've never been to one. Mama said she'd take us when we were sixteen.

One day, Sabre would be Luna of that pack, I decided to tell her, "One day, Sabre, you can marry your own Prince Charming and throw your own balls."

Sabre looked skeptical, "I don't think so. I don't have an evil step mother, or evil step sisters."

"Oh, so maybe we should be meaner to you." I suggested.

Sabre looked alarmed. {So fun to tease the little human.}

I was surprised. I didn't know Boo would care for a little human.

Mum saw it in a much less favorable light, "Sam, don't tease your sister."

"It was Boo - my wolf, not me." I said.

Mum pressed her lips together, "Sam, you are your wolf... fine. Tell your wolf if she makes my baby cry, I won't let her off lightly."

Mum could be a little scary sometimes. Boo retreated immediately. Coward!

Mum laughed and patted the sofa next to her. I sat down and she took to brushing my hair for me... with Sabre's hair brush. I sulked at the mingling of our scent, but said nothing. Sabre decided she did want to read Cinderella after all. She put the book on Mum's lap, "But can you read it with the stepmother and stepsisters being nice."

Mama laughed, "Of course, baby. Let's go upstairs and read, shall we?"

Now I was alone again. This time on the living room sofa. It's like I've gotten busy since high school started, and now my whole family had adapted to a life without me.

The first doorbell rang. It was Lizzy. She was already dressed but wanted to do the finishing touches with Savy.

"Go on up." I said. I was sure Lizzy knew her way around by now.

"Do you want to join us?" Lizzy asked.

I shook my head, "I'm done, thanks."

The second doorbell rang. It was Jonah. He was dressed in a dark tux and suddenly looked really grown up.

"Hi Jonah. You're looking good." I said casually when Ki showed him into the living room, "Why don't you sit down? The girls are still getting ready."

"Uh, yeah. Thanks. Uh, you too. Your dress is nice." Jonah managed.

I laughed.

"Why are you so nervous?" I asked.

"Uh, I'm not. Why? Do I look nervous?" Jonah asked.

Jonah was funny when he was nervous.

"Yeah. You're nervous." I told him.

"Uh. Oh." Jonah said.

"Why are you nervous?" I asked again.

"Uh," Jonah adjusted his tie, "I'm not used to this kind of thing."

Oh. I nodded my understanding, "When I have to dress up, I like to pretend it's a costume party. For example, this vday dance could be a costume party where everyone had to dress up and pretend to be perfect couples like on TV."

Jonah frowned.

"Just pretend you're going to a costume party, and you're dressed as a...urm..." I looked Jonah up and down more carefully, "Pretend you're the football captain, dressed up for prom."

"I am the football captain." Jonah told me.

"Yeah, that'll make it easier to pretend." I told him.

He looked at me like I was loony, but he had not way to say so politely.

Savy and Lizzy joined us then.

"Wow." Jonah said the moment they stepped through the doorway.

Yeah, wow. Savy was wearing a red dress, her blond curls pulled up in a sophisticated updo. Lizzy had her black hair straightened and rocked a pale gold dress.

Jonah adjusted his tied again. This time he succeeded in forcing it out of place.

"Your tie is crooked now." Lizzy informed him.

"Oh. Uh. Okay." Jonah tried to fix it, but it wouldn't go back in place. Lizzy sighed, "Come on, I'll help you fix it."

Jonah swallowed hard. His adam's apple bobbled. Since when did Jonah have an adam's apple? Lizzy deftly tugged his tie back in place, "Where's my stupid brother?"

Jonah tugged his tie out of place again.

"Stop that, Jonah!" Lizzy scolded.

"He's nervous." I tried to explain on his behalf.

"Why do you have to be nervous?" Lizzy asked.

"Uh..." Poor Jonah looked really put on the spot now.

I told the girls my idea about pretending we were going to a costume party.

"Yeah, do that." Lizzy decided, "Jonah pretend to be a stud. You already have the looks."

"A...a...a stud?" Jonah sounded like he had stumbled upon a foreign word.

"Yes. S-T-U-D. Stud." Lizzy explained without explaining.

I would've helped, but I wasn't sure exactly what it was. I felt quite sure a stud wasn't a kind of horse in this context.

"I would have said dumb jock, but I still have to stand next to you." Lizzy admitted.

"And what are you pretending to be?" Savy asked me.

Hm... good question.

"I'm going to be one of Harvey's dates - probably a beautiful airhead type." I liked playing the airhead. It's funny.

Savy broke into a smile. An evil smile, "Actually, Harvey likes intelligent and feminine girls."

Oh, well that would be much less fun to play.

"Like Lola." Savy added.

Oh, I'm not sure I could do Lola.

"Ben's the one who goes for airheads." Lizzy rolled her eyes.

Oh. I was dating the wrong guy, "Savy, let's exchange dates."

Then I could play the dumb blond (with blue hair).

Savy immediately shook her head, "No. I can't go out with Harvey. No way."

She was serious.

"But I want to be Ben's babe!" I said. And just as luck would have it, Ben had to show up.

"Ahem?" He raised a brow at me.

Luckily it was just Ben.

But Lizzy felt she should explain, "Sam wants to be an airhead tonight."

Ben laughed, "Yeah, you do that. Let's see how Harv would react."

Hee hee hee. Ben was my true beta who understood how to have fun.

"You play too, Ben. Pretend to be something." I said.

"Like what?" Ben asked.

"Kylo Ren." I said.

"Jacob Black" Lizzy said.

"Mr Bean." Jonah said.

"Prince Zuko." Savy said.

Ben raised a brow at Savy, "You know, you're my date right?"

Savy shrugged, "At least you won't be boring."

"Why would I be boring?" Ben asked, somewhat offended.

Lizzy found this hilarious though. She laughed till she made a snorting sound.

"Look, I didn't want to take you two to the dance either okay?" Ben had to point out.

"Well, we didn't want to go with bozos either, so the feeling is mutual!" Lizzy shot back.

"Uh, I didn't mind." Jonah quipped, "I wanted to go with you... I mean both of you. I mean everyone, together."

Lizzy rolled her eyes, "We know what you mean, Jonah. Please, it's not like you need to explain it."

"Yeah. Uh, haha. Yeah." Jonah said.

Mum rushed down the stairs with her phone, "Oh good, I didn't miss it."

She made us stand together for photos. The impromptu photo shoot required us to take photos together as a group, individually, and in pairs. Since it was Mum calling the shots, everyone was very cooperative.

Mum was very generous with compliments and every photo was a keeper which she just had to "definitely share with Willow and Laura."

I wasn't sure how long this would take but luckily (or unluckily), Sabre came downstairs and Mum rushed up to put her back into bed.

Ben checked his watch, "Okay, if you girls are ready, let's go."

"What about Sam?" Lizzy worried.

"Harv should be here soon." Ben said, "We'll see them there."

"Oh, alright then." Lizzy said, "I've got some dance committee stuff to settle. We better go."

I got into character immediately, and threw Ben my most flirty wave, "See you Ren."

"I will fulfill our destiny!" Ben quoted before disappearing out the door. Which made me laugh.

And then they were gone, out the door. I heard the sound of the Lambo blasting off. I was alone again. I felt the smile still on my face and stopped smiling.

I flopped back onto the sofa, kicking my feet up, blue bowed shoes and all.

Third bell. Thrice the charm, right? I heard Ki answer the door and sat up from the sofa just as Harvey stepped into the living room.

Harvey was in a light grey suit, and white shirt and trousers. His short wavy hair was pulled back, and his usual wry smile was in place, "Hello, princess."

"Oh Harvey! Oh my! Don't you look nice this evening." That was Mum, not me.

"Thank you, Luna." Harvey intoned with a bow.

Mum held up her phone, "If you don't mind, Harvey. I'd like to take some photos."

I narrowed my eyes at Mum. It wasn't like this was a real date. Harvey looked similarly uncomfortable, but he managed to answer, "Of course, Luna."

We stood next to each other for the photo.

"Smile!" Mum said.

I knew if we stayed like this, I was going to end up with awkward looking photos where the two of us would stand like penguins forced to pose for the Discovery channel.

So I flashed my most dazzling smile. Harvey managed to produce a small smile of his own. Hahaha.

Mum smiled, "That's cute. Alright, you two better catch up with the others."

"Thank you, Luna. Goodnight." Harvey led me out of the door, his hand on the small of my back, beta mode again.

My car pulled up to the porch. Ki got out of it and tossed Harvey the key.

"Thanks, Ki." Harvey said, catching it with one hand.

"I parked your truck inside, in case of snow. But you'd have to switch them later when you get back." Ki told him.

"No problem." Harvey nodded and opened the door for me to get on.

"Have a good time!" Ki smiled.

"Thanks! Bye!" I called back before the door was shut.

Harvey walked round the car and got on, "Apologies for being late, princess. The rehearsal took a while longer than I expected."

That was how I found out that Harvey was performing at the dance. He had to set up for his gig at school before driving over to pick me up. This year, many of the bands would be taking turns to perform during the school dance.

I remembered their performance at our school's special assembly. Cool. I'm glad it wasn't going to be just another one of those school dances where we just stood around holding fruit punch in our hand.

"It was my bad you suddenly had to chop Mr Greene's firewood." I said, "I'm sure that must have thrown off your schedule."

Harvey didn't deny it, but he smiled his usual calm smile, "All in a day's work princess."

Hahaha.

"Oh yeah, I'm pretending to be your date tonight." I told him.

"Yes. Thank you, princess. Normally, I'd go with Lola. But Lola has a real date this year, so this arrangement saved me a lot of trouble." Harvey admitted wryly.

"No, I mean I'm going to pretend to be the kind of girl you'd date. Ben is going to be Kylo Ren. And I think Jonah is a stud." I told him, "But why would going with me save you trouble?"

Normally, I would've thought I was the cause of all trouble.

Harvey paused, perhaps his mind was trying to descramble what I was saying, "I'm afraid I don't follow, princess."

I had to explain the entire costume party concept to him.

"I see." He said. But I think he was having trouble wrapping his mind around it all the same.

"Is there any chance you like dating airheads? Cos that's always more fun to play." I asked.

Harvey looked somewhat alarmed, "If you don't mind, princess, I'd rather not."

So my good beta didn't like airheads, huh?

"Then what kind of girls do you like?" I asked.

Harvey looked uncomfortable, "That's alright, princess. Just be yourself."

Hahaha, but what was the fun in that?