SHOPPING WITH THE GUYS

4 MARCH, THURSDAY, 4:30PM

I had never gone shopping for clothes with guys before, so I was pleasantly surprised by the experience. Our cars dropped us off at one of the big shiny malls at Gold City... which looked uncannily like one of the big shiny malls in Gate City. Beta Peter led us to the GAP flagship store.

"This should be affordable and casual enough for you guys." Henry said as an introduction to the store.

I thought the store was closed at first because it was empty and had red rope barriers in front of the entrance, but the store manager came out to greet us with repeated bowing.

"Just grab whatever you need." Henry smirked, "Hurry up."

Like wait... the whole store had been closed for us? I hesitated at the entrance.

"What? Never shopped GAP before?" Henry smirked at me.

Not this way, no.

Stepping inside, the sales girls had all pulled out various articles in black and denim in our sizes.

Fluffy and EJ were immediately on it - they changed multiple times, trying on every cut of jeans. They thought it was a hoot to dress exactly like the male models on the giant posters and then take photos. They were right. They did look good in everything. The salesgirls clapped for them and helped them take pictures as they posed and mimicked the advertising.

I went over meaning to tell them to stop acting like tourists, but accidentally overheard one of the salesgirls say to her colleague, "I wish they came last summer when the posters were topless."

I tactfully pretended I didn't hear that and walked away.

"Hurry up, Sam. Stop dawdling." Henry bossed, "Grab something. You too Harv. Just whatever is fine. I need to hit a minimum spend."

I suppose you would - if you made the store close for a private shopping trip. In what way was this supposed to be affordable now?

"Big brother beta!" Fluffy called, "Do you shop here? All the clothes look like yours."

Harvey winced, "Not always."

After Fluffy was done choosing his clothes (he went with a black buttoned shirt and dark skinny jeans), he came to help me by making a video call to Ki and showing him the assortment of black tops.

"Look for something ruched." Ki instructed, "Maybe off shoulder, but not too much shoulder."

"It's GAP, Ki." Henry overheard and said from off-screen, "It's not going to show too much anything."

"Next time, let's shop at Victoria's Secret!" EJ announced.

"No." More than one guy answered firmly. Even Ki over the video call. Hahahahaha.

In the end, Fluffy and Ki picked out a rib cropped cold shoulder top. Ki already had a skirt for me at home that he felt would work. Fluffy asked if we should pick up a pair of jeans just in case the skirt didn't fit the top, or my over-the-top Kung Fu moves on stage. But Ki said no. The Alpha Princess was signed exclusively with a local denim label. No GAP jeans on stage.

"No one pays ME to wear their clothes." Henry grumbled.

I couldn't resist, "That's cos you aren't pretty like me." (You also didn't have Ki as your PR guy.)

Meanwhile, EJ had decided on a very tight pair of black pants. He even wore it topless. With his warrior boots still on, it made for a very fight dog inspired look.

"That's nice." Fluffy actually seriously considered his friend's pick, "But maybe you should get a t-shirt too. It's always better to start off with more than less."

"Ooohhh..." EJ's eyes lit up, "Yeah, I can come out on stage fully dressed and then..."

"No." Came the same firm unison of sensible guys objecting.

Anyway, they soon settled for a hooded denim jacket so EJ could stay warm while waiting off-stage to go on.

"IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE OFF WHILE ON STAGE, I WILL KILL YOU." Henry told EJ in no uncertain terms. But he was talking to EJ so everyone else nodded like what Henry said was absolutely necessary.

Marcus took the longest to decide between a v-neck or crew neck t-shirt. I mean, Lizzy or Savy might have taken even longer, but Marcus was with us and Henry pretty much lost it with him and made him buy both.

Right at the end, we all bought matching classic arch GAP sweatshirts, just to round up to the right amount. Henry took out his credit card.

"Let me know the total later, Alpha Hen." Harvey said, "I'll transfer our share."

Our share being the several large bags each guy was carrying. These guys were worse than Lizzy and Savy out with our mums! Fluffy who had picked the dark blue skinny jeans for the performance tomorrow, also picked every shade of skinny jeans on the rack. Fluffy and EJ were very fond of tight pants.

"Forget it." Henry waved it off, and then he had an idea, "Fine, put it this way, if we win the Talent Time tomorrow, you can take this shopping trip as your share of my profits."

"Yes! FREE STUFF!" EJ punched his first into the air, "We are so going to win this!"

"Well, it is nice to have normal clothes." Fluffy smiled.

"What? Like what do you guys normally wear at home?" Marcus asked.

"Nothing!" EJ said and then he laughed, "Just joking. We usually wear our warrior gear."

"It's free and it's Betamen." Fluffy smiled.

Henry scoffed, "Only in NightLeaf do warriors wear luxury designer brands..."

And then as if reconsidering his decision, he turned to me, "Should I have brought you guys to Prada instead?"

"If you buy it, I'll wear it, Scary Alpha." Fluffy smiled. That earned a very firm pat on the back from Harvey, "Okay, let's go guys."

I would be the first to admit it, having Harvey around was a relief. Note to self: Never, EVER, bring Fluffy and EJ out on my own.

But altogether, we took a total of 45 minutes to shop, not four hours - including all the clowning and dawdling. And then we got on our rides and went home.

Because Henry was on a tight schedule, and I was due home for dinner, or I was sure we would've gone for burgers. But it was short and sweet, and pretty fun too.

Back in the car, it was business as usual and Harvey started updating me about Thursday's Training Session.

Because my good beta hated leaving loose ends, he had to follow up on the report he made earlier this morning - which I dared not tell him I didn't listen to. I think the biggest loose end in Harvey's life had to be me.

On a totally unrelated note, it sounded like everyone back home was super busy - far too busy to deal with my internal over-population of Pink Elephants. What were the chances that they'd forget about the ugly jacket and we can all move on like none of it happened?

This was all thanks to HRM Alpha King Gunter A. Donovan and HRH Crowned Prince River Greene Donovan coming for dinner.

I blinked and tried to not look surprised at anything Harvey said since I didn't want to act like it was the first time I was hearing it all. (I blamed the elephants.)

They would be accompanied by Alpha Glenn and a special group of Snow Moon wolves who would be joining us for our Thursday Training Session.

"Wait, what?" I blurted out without meaning to. It was just too fun to be true.

Harvey paused, "Pardon, Alpha. I was saying that Snow Moon's Beta Glenn would be leading the contingent from Snow Moon to join us..."

Yes, I know, but WHAT? Why didn't anyone tell me about this? And then I realized that Harvey was trying to tell me something about a "bilateral training activity" or something when he ran through my schedule this morning.

In fact, now that I was actually listening, I realized this had to be the inter-pack event Henry said I was due for tonight.

I guess he wasn't the only busy young alpha.

In fact, check it out - I was the one who invited them! I was that amazing! (Harvey's words, not mine.) Once again I had inadvertently done something right in my good Beta's eyes.

Harvey marveled at it for a whole red light duration, "Sir Wolfgang was not wrong to praise your ability in bringing wolves together."

Actually, if Harvey was referring to that time Wolfgang felt that I had used pizza to rally my wolves, he wasn't praising me. He was berating River.

Ah, and Thursday Training Session would have a friendly tournament so that our wolves could spar - just as I had diplomatically extended the invitation to Wolfgang and the Snow Moon wolves.

Urm... I think what I said was that I wanted to fight the fire wolf. I mean, it's a real-life FIRE WOLF!

Oh well, but everything sounded fun.

{So fun}

"I still get to fight Wolfgang, right?" I just wanted to make sure.

"Yes, Alpha." Harvey nodded, "I was just about to inquire if you would like to use it as the demonstration at the beginning of the tournament, or if it would suit you better to have it as a finale fight?"

Oooohhhhh... This was really happening!

"Whichever fight you choose, our Luna Bell will face off Beta Glenn in the other." Harvey informed me.

So if I took the demo fight with the fire wolf (I imagined it's like the first dance), Bell will take the last one with the Snow Beta? I couldn't decide.

"What do you think, Harvey?" I asked.

Harvey winced, "I think that if you want the event to carry through to the end, it would be safer to schedule Luna Bell for the demo. Your wolf can be a little unpredictable."

Right. I nodded even before the meaning sank in. Wait, they felt starting the tournament with my death god Luna was the "safer" option? Wth!

I felt my hair rising a little at that.

As much as I wanted to object though, I kinda got the feeling that Harvey was right. Firstly, because it was Harvey, and discounting his over-inflated esteem of his alpha (i.e. me), Harvey was very, very, rarely wrong.

Secondly, I was remembering all the times I had somewhat disrupted training sessions this year.

"Well, it wouldn't be good if the fire wolf set fire to the place right at the beginning." I grudgingly allowed.

Harvey cracked a wry smile and allowed, "That's a possibility too."

But I couldn't help but feel my good beta felt such a possibility was at best a very, very, small one.

Oh well, whatever. I was in too good a mood to let the little things bug me. Yeah, I was such a magnanimous alpha like that, "Okay! And if the event runs to the end successfully, the rest of you can come for a run with me."

"A run Alpha?" Harvey raised a brow.

"Uh huh." Trust me, Harvey. I was an amazing alpha who brought wolves together, remember?

"Just whoever feels like running. We can escort our VIPs to the borders and then double around to check out the borderline." Yes, I was making it up as I spoke.

"The borders are a little dangerous now, Alpha." Harvey warned, "Your father has set the Packland boundaries just before the warlock lands until further expeditions clear the new land as safe for the normal wolves."

{Yes, fun.} Boo agreed.

"Don't worry, Harvey." For one, I actually agreed with Dad on this one. I'd be a fool to attempt round two of the tropical jungle trek, "I won't cross the safe boundary. I just want to run along the edge."

And then I grinned at my good beta, "Don't you?"

Harvey actually laughed. A very short chuffing sound, "Yes, Alpha. Why dwell in safe pastures when we can live on the edge?"

Haha. I knew a guy who blasted rock music while vetting the pack's accounts would have a rebellious streak, albeit a calculated and safe one.

This run was long overdue. It felt like a while since I've run with my wolves. Boo rose a little in anticipation, {So fun.}

Red flag +1.

Oh well, whatever. I was in too good a mood to let the little things bug me.