LOLA, DON'T CRY!

14 FEBRUARY, SUNDAY, CONTINUED

Lola's eyes were red, her mascara was a mess.

"What happened?" I asked.

"Kevy met his soulmate." Lola said softly. She sniffed a little, and her lips looked wobbly, but she forced a smile for me.

I'm just gonna guess here that Kevy's soulmate wasn't her.

"Oh goddess, I'm leaving Harvey and the band hanging." Lola quickly turned on the tap to wash out her eyes, "Can you help me, Sam? My purse is on my chair. I need my makeup."

"There's no time for makeup." I told her.

"But I can't go out like this." Lola said.

Actually, except for the mascara, she looked beautiful as always.

"Okay, I got this." I decided to take charge. It was almost by instinct. My friend needed me.

I wet the paper napkin, "Close your eyes."

Then I wiped under her lower eyelid, just to get rid of the excess black stuff. I used my finger to rub the last of it off, leaving a clean lower line.

Yes, I've ever tried to remove my make up in a hurry, messed it up, and then tried to salvage the situation so I was quite good at this.

I simple rubbed the mess on her top lids, again with my fingers so that it was all smokey.

Now Lola had beautiful smokey eye shadow.

"Oh." Said Lola, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Kevy is stoopid." I blurted out, "Go sing."

Lola nodded, but her resolve broke the moment we stepped out of the washroom. She sighed, "I don't know if I can do this... It's Kevy's favourite song. It was for his birthday. I'm going to cry on stage."

Lola started tearing up again.

That's why Kevy was stoopid.

"Lola, stop. Deep breath. I'll go with you." I told her, "You can't let him win."

"What?" Lola blinked at me.

I took the tissue from her hand to dab off the stray tear so it wouldn't mess up her makeup again.

"He was stoopid. But you're stronger than that. You're going up and you're going to sing. Or I will. And I don't even know what the song is!" I threatened.

I was mad. Yes, I was crazy mad. Like both kinds of mad. I was mad at Kevy for making my friend cry. I was also mad as a hatter to offer to go up on stage and sing.

I had to admit though, Kevy's favourite song surprised me. I mean, we were talking about the tough guy built like a wall of bricks, right? The guy who was best friend and training partner to Harvey right?

For one thing, Kevy's song would NEVER feature on Harvey's playlist.

"It's 'A Whole New World'." Lola told me.

As in the Disney Movie? As in the flying carpet song? As in the song that Ms Pitera, our music teacher wanted us to sing, but the whole class thought was lame?

Lola showed me the way around the now empty hallways to the back stage entrance. By now, Harvey had to make do with performing solo. It was his usual speed guitar type of song. Harvey liked to play the guitar the way Ben liked to drive.

We watched from backstage for him to end. He had looked over, more than once, so he knew we were there.

"Last song." He promised the dance hall, "This one is for my best friend. Happy birthday buddy."

Your best friend who totally didn't mention to you that he just broke up wih Lola, I bet.

Then he looked expectantly back at us. Lola stepped back into the shadows, "I...I can't, Sam. Please."

Omo. Don't decide that now! Harvey already announced it.

But Lola was seriously freaking out.

I could hear the dance floor murmuring. I'm guessing it's kind of weird to be standing there just waiting for the next song to start, you know. It's even weirder for the band just standing on the stage in front of you.

But Lola was going to cry, right then.

I sighed, "Okay. Come join me when you can."

And please let it be soon, because I don't know how to end the song.

You should have seen the look on Harvey's face when I walked up to him. I smiled and waved.

I was so going to hate myself after tonight.

Qualifier 1 - I have ever sung in front of people before. More than once, but as part of Florence's choir performances or one of those campfire night talent time shows we did during camps. (Did those count?)

Qualifier 2 - I did know the song. Because we learned it at music class. I'm not sure if this was Karma biting back at me for what happened in school, but if it were, this was grossly unfair! I wasn't the one who walked out of class. It was the guys. They were the ones who made Ms Pitera cry!

That's why it wasn't just Kevy. All boys were stoopid.

But basically, I was the stoopidest for stepping up to the mic in front of the entire school tonight. At least it's not my school.

But the things I do so that my friends won't cry.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our alpha princess." Harvey announced. I'm glad my good beta was able to keep calm, because I was freaking out.

I smiled and waved. Be the Lola, be the Lola.

Harvey raised a brow at me and smiled. I stood at the empty mic next to him and smiled back, releasing my wolf. I mean, only Boo had the thick hide to go through with this (and the Alpha Charisma).

The music started.

"I can show you the world..." From the moment I opened my mouth, I knew I made a big mistake. I was singing the guys part. Lol.

Harvey took it in his stride, and took the girl's part.

Stoopid Kevy. This was all your fault.

And then somewhere in the first chorus we switched back to the right parts - mostly because I only knew the main tune, so Harvey switched to the accompanying part in the background. Along the way, he had given up playing the guitar and took it off. For some reason the movement caused the girls to scream in a frenzied way - as if they thought his clothes were going to come off with it. Hahahaha.

I actually laughed into the mic. But we continued the song. I don't think Lola was going to show up.

"I don't know how to end." I mindlinked Harvey when we neared what I thought should be the ending.

"Alright, you all know how it goes." Harvey said into the mic.

I just told you I didn't!

"Let's bring it home." He said and then he sung, "A whole new world~"

And pointed his mic at the audience who stopped dancing to echo it.

"That's where we'll be."

The audience echoed again.

"A thrilling chase~" My good beta took my hand and sang to me.

"A wonderous place~" The audience sang, proving they knew the song far better than I ever would.

"for you and me~" Harvey ended to applause.

Still holding my hand, Harvey bowed, and I quickly followed suit. Just keep smiling, just keep smiling.

"Our Alpha Princess, everyone! And that's the end of our set. Thank you everyone! Happy birthday, Kevy!" Harvey announced.

The hall applauded and it felt like a rainstorm had hit. Ben ran up on stage, guitar strapped on. Shannon and Drew came up and switched places with the keyboardist and second guitar. Link and Marlow stayed on.

"Woah, wait Sam!" Ben grabbed me by the wrist even as Harvey was leading me by hand off the stage.

I was suddenly caught in the middle of both betas. Harvey stopped and turned.

"It's not fair you sang for him." Ben said over the mic.

I wasn't singing for him. I was singing for Lola... Oh wth.

Everyone stopped to watch the show. If there was popcorn, they would be passing it around. WTH was Ben up to?

This was supposed to be a dance party right? Not drama central.

"Sing with me, Sam." Ben ordered.

Like he dared order me! I flared. Ben let go and starting plucking out the tune. Omo.

"Come on, Sam, like old times." He coaxed into the mic.

In which he meant those campfire nights where we hammed it up while performing so that everyone would end up laughing their heads off at us?

"I don't remember the words." I said.

"You only need one line." Ben promised, and then the started low and coaxing, "Shake your bonbon, shake your bonbon, shake your bon bon~"

Someone hooted and then everyone started clapping.

"Yeah? You wanna see your alpha shake her bon bon?" Ben teased the crowd.

"Hell yeah!" Someone yelled back. More laughter and clapping.

I laughed then. Harvey had handed me a mic with a wry smile and bowed himself out.

"Oh no, Harvey. You take the guitar." I decided, "If I'm gonna shake, I'm taking Ben with me."

Ben obediently took off his guitar and passed it to Harvey.

"The rest of you too." I told the audience. If they could sing a whole new world, I'm sure they could shake their bon bons.

"One two three four!" Link gave the count with his sticks.

Ben started, "I'm a desperado~"

Yes. He was.

"Sam, mimic me." Ben shot me in mindlink. I stood one side to watch him. He gave me a look and then gyrated his hips. I laughed and then wth, I imitated his motion.

The crowd hooted and cheered.

Ben moved again. And I'll mirror it. I've said it before, if it were a physical motion that required some kind of timing and control of force, I was a very fast learner. My body was smart that way thanks to my black wolfs' fighter DNA.

If I could throw a punch and then a double kick and turn. I could shimmy my hips and quickstep and pose. I had to say though, dancing was a very sissy form of fighting.

"Shake your bon bon baby~" A sultry voice crooned over the party.

The crowd whooped again as Lola appeared. She walked into the spotlight and smiled, her beautiful smile.

Now that's the real thing. I mean, I could carry a tune and copy the moves, but let's put it this way: Lola's performance was like Ariana Grande, while mine was like a member of Hi-Five. There was a difference.

But whatever, Lola was smiling, Harvey was smiling, Ben was smirking, everyone was laughing and having a good time.

I jumped in for one line, "We'll go around the world in a day!"

Ben had to continue it, "Round the world will do the fine tango." Whatever the hell that meant.

And then we both looked at Lola to... How did Harvey put it? Bring it home.

Which she did, like a siren in the night.

At the end of the song, we all took a bow. Harvey returned the guitar to Ben, who strapped it on while announcing, "Our Alpha Princess and the beautiful Lola, everyone!"

I'm beginning to see how they made these announcements to shift the focus to someone else so they had a bit more time to set up or put down their instruments.

Lola and I took a second bow. We were both smiling widely now, the kind of smile that just stuck on even after Harvey led us us off stage and back to our table.

I sank into the chair.

"Oh! I can't believe I just did that!" Lola exclaimed.

You? I wasn't even supposed to get on the stage!

"I'll go get some drinks." Harvey excused himself.

On stage, Ben got down to business and the dance music continued properly.

"Thanks, Sam." Lola smiled gratefully at me, "For covering for me...and for helping me be stronger."

I was smiling back dumbly (it was like a reflex when it came to Lola), but blinked when she said the last part, "Lola, that was all your own strength. At most, I bought you some time to find it."

Lola laughed, but her eyes wet with tears. She fanned them with her hands, "I can't believe all that just happened."

Me neither.

Harvey returned with three cans. He opened the red coke and put it in front of me. Both Lola and him had sprites.

"You really surprised me there, princess." Harvey said, "Is there anything you can't do?"

I tried to laugh it off, "Actually, there's only two things I know how to do - fighting, and having fun."

Harvey chuckled, "Is that so?"

I nodded, "Everything else that works out, is because of everyone else."

Harvey nodded now. Wry smile and all, "That's why you're the Alpha, princess."

Eh? How was butchering A Whole New World and messing with Shake Your Bon Bon anything to do with being the Alpha?

But I didn't get to ask because Harvey just noticed the empty seat next to Lola and asked, "Where's Kevy?"

I jabbed him with my elbow, a little too hard I think.

"Ow." He winced.

Lola gave an apologetic smile, "We broke up. He found his soulmate."

I almost thought she was going to cry again. But she didn't. Thank goddess, I'm really not good at watching my friend's cry.

Harvey's expression turned unreadable for a moment. I noticed his jaw tick, and then he said, "Luna Bell will be here soon. I can send you home after I hand the princess over to him."

Eh? Mate was coming?

Lola nodded, "Thanks, Harvey."

"Anytime." Harvey's wry smile had returned, and on the surface, he looked very much back to my usual calm good beta. But his edges were frayed. I'm not sure how else to describe it, it was his wolf. I could sense his wolf's hackles were somewhat raised. Usually this was because he was on alert (due to something I've done), or fretting (due to something I've done), or freaking out (due to something I've done).

But this time, he was just damn p***ed. At least it wasn't anything to do with me.

{Mate!}

My wolf sprung up the moment she sensed him near. I mean he was really near. In the same building near.

"Princess, Luna Bell is waiting for us at the porch." Harvey informed me.

Ben was still performing his set.

I nodded and stood up, "Bye Lola."

"Bye Sam, have a nice date." Lola waved her goodbye.

DATE?!?!

Harvey put his hand on the small of my back, he told Lola, "I'll be back in a bit."

"Okay. Thanks Harvey" Lola nodded.

DATE?!?!

WAIT, I WAS GOING ON A DATE? OMO!