FINDING LOLA

14 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, VDAY DANCE

In the interest of not ruining my good beta's cred in his last year of highschool, I decided to not play an airhead after all. I know it was funny to me. But not everyone shared my delightful sense of humour.

Also, I kind of remembered at the last minute that Harvey was the student president of this school. And while I could just waltz in and out after making a fool of myself (worst case scenario), Harvey was doomed to come up on stage in front of the entire student population come Monday morning.

See, I could be such a considerate Alpha.

Once we got to the school, I could feel the fission of excitement in the air. It was THE annual Vday School Dance! A lot of the kids here weren't just pretending to date, they were really on a big date kind of thing.

There were girls with bouquets of flowers, and guys waiting for their date to meet them. There were also groups too, like how I imagine it would be for us once we meet up with Savy and the others again.

Harvey wore his usual calm smile, hand on the small of my back, as he navigated us through the hallways to the dance hall. Along the way he would raise a hand in greeting, or allow a small nod towards another student who greeted him.

There were girls who would stop to watch as we pass.

I decided to smile and pretend to be Lola, which given my limited knowledge, was pretty much like pretending to be my Mum when she was accompanying my dad on official visits.

When greeted by anyone I didn't know, I even added a demure little wave to say hi back.

I had to say, Harvey made it very easy to be ladylike. He took my coat, and opened all the doors. He took the lead in any conversation that sprung up, and kept them short, excusing us politely before it could possibly get awkward.

Actually, Harvey was just doing everything he always did as my beta. I guess it was me who was different tonight.

All I had to do was stand there and smile. I had no idea being a Lola/Luna was so easy.

But by the time we got to the dance hall, I was beginning to doubt that we would be hanging out with the others. Harvey was a senior highschool student here. Naturally, his friends were all going to be highschoolers. And my friends were all still in Middle School.

It was pretty obvious when we got into the hall, and there was, behold, THE GAP - a physical divide between two groups. Highs School students, and Middle School students. And Harvey was leading me over to the Highschool side, which I guess would've been the natural course of things, but it was NOT what I was expecting.

What I was expecting was hanging out with my gang just like the last time, maybe shooting ice into the back of Delta Charlie's collar with a straw, or just sitting outside on the curb talking till our parents came to take us home.

I wasn't ready for high school.

"Hi, Sam!" I blinked, oh it was Lola. And she was all oo-la-la Lola. She had a dark purple dress and she looked like she stepped out of a movie or something.

"Wow! Lola!" I felt the smile immediately tug at my lips.

Harvey pulled out a chair for me, "Apologies, princess, please excuse me for a moment." He gave Lola a meaningful look, "I will be back in a few minutes."

"Don't worry, Harvey." Lola smiled, "I'll keep Sam company."

I smiled. Harvey was really the beta who worried over everything, "Yeah, it's fine if you're busy. I won't get in trouble. Promise."

Harvey gave a wry smile and then nodded a bow at his leave.

Lola laughed, "Oh Sam, I don't think Harvey was worried about that."

I frowned, "But he was worried."

"Yes, but... Nevermind." Lola laughed again, her laughter was gentle.

This was a good chance for me to learn to be like Lola and perfect my "Harvey's date persona."

"I'm glad you came, Sam." Lola told me sincerely, "Now I don't feel bad about coming with Kevy instead."

Then Lola confided in me, completely on her own accord, "I felt really bad about it. I know it's how hard it can be for Harvey. But now that Kevy and I are dating, I really wanted to come with him, you know?"

I nodded. No, I had no idea. And then I remembered seeing Kevy holding hands with Lola at the bake sale. I nodded again.

Lola laughed, a little shyly, "I guess word really gets around fast."

"Is he your soulmate?" I asked her.

Lola hummed, that musical hum of hers whenever she was thinking, "I don't know, but I've liked Kevy for a long time and then he suddenly confessed."

Lola leaned closer and lowered her voice, "His birthday is today, actually. He told me that he had liked me since the beginning of highschool, but he never dared to say it since he thought Harvey and I were together."

"Harvey and I were never an item. We just attended events together because our families are close and... Well, for Harvey, it's easier to ask me than other girls... You know how he is, and it gets complicated when the girls want more than just a date." Lola shrugged.

I listened and nodded. We were in girl talk territory, so I had very little experience to input.

"Kevy asked me to be his girlfriend last week. He said he didn't want to turn 18 and regret never being able to express his love for me. I don't know if I'm his soulmate but... You know." Lola smiled and shrugged again, "At least we have each other for now."

Technically, for one week. Since he was turning 18 today and could meet his shoul mate anytime now right?

But Lola looked so happy, "I can't believe we had secretly liked each other all these years!"

And excited. Maybe she would turn out to be his soulmate afterall. Maybe it would be one of those perfect happily ever after stories. I smiled. Maybe. That would be nice.

Kevy appeared suddenly on Lola's other side. He picked up the jacket from the chair next to her and shrugged it on.

"Oh, you're back." Lola smiled, "I was just telling Sam about you."

Kevy offered me a wincing smile, "Oh, hi Alpha."

And then he turned to Lola in a lowered voice, "Can I talk to you for a bit, babe?"

Lola looked at him and then at me, "Can it wait a minute? Maybe till Harvey gets back?"

"Not really, I just need you for a minute." Kevy sounded like it was something important.

"It's fine, Lola. You can go. I won't get in trouble. Promise." I smiled.

Lola looked worried, "You really don't mind, Sam?"

Why would I mind?

"Babe. Just for a minute." Kevy said again, he gave me an apologetic glance, "Sorry Alpha. I'm just borrowing her for a minute."

I shook my head, "Just go with him Lola."

Who was I to stand in the way of two people who had secretly liked each other for years?

Lola got out of her seat, "I'll be back in a minute. Sorry, Sam."

"It's fine. See you!" I waved them off.

Hahaha. Love. It was everywhere in the air tonight.

Harvey suddenly popped up right next to me. Even though he was still minty fresh in his light suit and all, his wolf was a little frazzled, "Apologies, princess."

I shook my head. I was kinda tired of being repeatedly apologized to for being left alone.

"Harvey, sit."

He sat down next to me.

I leaned over, "I'm only going to say this once, just chill, okay? I won't get into trouble, start a fight, or ruin the night for you. I won't even pretend to be an airhead...I'll be the perfect date tonight. Promise. So you don't have to worry okay?"

Harvey just looked surprised. He opened his mouth, then he shut it again, and then he shook his head and answered in his usual wry smile, "Princess, those were supposed to be my lines."

"Eh? Were you planning on starting a fight?" I asked.

"No, not that." Harvey laughed now.

I narrowed my eyes at him, I never thought he'd be the kind who liked to pretend to be an airhead...

"I mean, I'm thankful that you're here with me tonight. I wanted to make sure you had a good time, but I have duties as head of the dance committee, and student president. On top of that, I would also be performing. If I had known, I was accompanying you, I wouldn't have agreed to so many things."

Oh. Was that all?

"You're who you are. Just do what you need to do." I told him. And then I gave him my biggest smile, "Just enjoy yourself, and be you - responsibilities and all. I'm very good at finding my own entertainment."

If it were Ben, he would've said, "I was afraid you'd say that." Or something to the effect.

But I was with Harvey, who only said, "Thank you for understanding, princess."

Marlow came over, "Oh, hi princess." And then to Harvey he nodded over to the stage, "We're up. Where's Lola?"

Harvey looked around, then he frowned, "I'm not sure. She isn't responding to her mindlink."

"She went out with Kevy a minute ago." Actually, more than a minute ago. I looked around the hall, it was getting crowded and the stage was still empty except for the instruments.

"How about you guys go set up? I'll go look for her?" I offered.

Harvey looked worried all over again.

"Don't worry. Just go up there and have fun, Harvey." I grinned, "I'm a black wolf. I'll hunt Lola down before you know it.

I got up and left before he could tell me to stop. Slipping out of the hall quickly, I took the direction where I saw Kevy take Lola out just now. Then I let my lucky sense of direction guide me. I walked quickly. I knew it didn't take long to "set up". Most of the instruments were already plugged in. Harvey and his band would probably just stall for as long as they could.

As if on cue, I heard Harvey on the mic, "Good evening." And then the riffs of his guitar. The kids started cheering and wolf whistling. The party's getting started.

The last few stragglers along the hallways quickly disappeared into the dance hall, "Quick, they're starting. I heard Harvey and Lola and opening the show."

I heard someone else say something about a duet, and then whisper about Harvey and Lola not being each other's date tonight. They broke up. Lola was with Harvey's training partner and best friend now. Who was Harvey with?

Ooooh, the hallways were full of rumours! I slipped past like a shadow on the other side of the lockers. And then I found myself in front of the girls washroom.

I perked my ears to listen in. Some girls were talking, "Oh! They're starting. But Lola isn't on stage."

"Quick, let's go see."

"Wait, I need my lipstick."

"Do you think it's true?"

"What? Harvey and Lola?"

"Now who would be this year's best couple?"

"Hurry up!"

I quickly pretended to walk in before they walked out. The girls in front of the mirrors immediately quietened. I entered the first cubicle and decided to pee. Unfortunately, they didn't leave.

"Who was that?" One of the girls asked.

"Hn." The other girls shrugged it off.

"Do you think that was Yuunie from LuvMuunMuun?"

"No way."

"She kinda looks like..."

"Just her hair."

"Why would Yuunie be here anyway?"

"You're such a muunie fan, hurry up, how long does it take to put on gloss?"

"Wait! I need it to be perfect."

"Your mouth is as shiny as a potty now."

The girls laughed.

"Ow!"

I assumed potty mouth hit her friend for the insult.

And then they left, half laughing, half squabbling... Whew. I didn't know how long I could pretend to pee for.

I got up, but I heard a flush two doors from mine. Hahaha. Guess I wasn't the only one waiting for those girls to leave. I waited for the other person to pass my cubicle before flushing and getting out.

"Oh!" She startled and turned around.

"Lola?"