You know how sometimes you watch a video online, and there would be like hundreds of strange comments that would make you think, "Huh, I don't think there could be real people who would think like that in a real-life situ." If our entrance into Abigail's party was that video, the cool girl's commentary would be those comments.
Like rewind a bit. Henry and I stepped in together with our red and blue guards and were announced by our betas like we were some kind of royalty. Abigail's parents hastily dragged her upfront to come say hello, and Abigail's Dad immediately zoomed in for the killing - by talking and talking and talking. All business talk because his business was about ready to hit a new market and fresh investment would be a timely boost. The moment she could, Abigail stepped back behind her parents to sulk. She was NOT happy to see Henry and me. Mostly me, I think. Me being here seemed to have ruined her birthday all on its own. She was pretty much glaring at me the way Evelyn did when she thought no one was looking. And just like Evelyn, she was glaring at me all alone. I'm not sure where her usual posse was. Henry and I were pretty much surrounded by adults - the type interested in young alpha heirs and business talk. At any rate, I felt quite sure most of the young people would be at the indoor pool next door where the real party was.
"Oh look! Is the birthday girl turning green?" Leia gloated at Abigail's sulking figure, "Do you think it's something she ate?"
"I think she just put too much eye shadow." Zara answered with her mouth full, "The food's great."
"How can you eat again after stuffing yourself at Henry's party?" Krystal asked sounding somewhat aghast.
"It's like taking a vacuum cleaner out on a date." Ivan grumbled.
"But you're eating too!" Zara accused.
"But I'm a guy!" Was Ivan's only defense.
Okay, at this point they were still pretty much like how they were like at school every day. It was Fluffy, of course, it was Fluffy! Fluffy gasped and observed aloud, "Is the Alpha Princess wearing the same dress as the birthday girl?"
EJ echoed the gasp, just more loudly, "What? NO WAY!"
The guests took second and third takes on our outfits. I felt a little self-conscious to find my dress suddenly scrutinized. But it was inevitable, after hearing that, even I found myself comparing our outfits.
Both our dresses were white, longish, made of the same shiny silk, and had some kind of slit(s) in the skirts. Now that I was looking carefully, her top was also similarly spaghetti strapped as mine, but the straps of my dress and most of my arms were covered by a matching bolero. Abigail had only a long flap of material over one shoulder. Her arms were otherwise bare. She looked very grown up.
It helped that her body was equally "grown up". Let's just say she didn't have crystals embellishing her bodice, but her bodice didn't need embellishing. Noticing this didn't make me feel better. I had to make a conscious effort not to hide behind Henry or turn around and run home crying.
I was the Alpha. I refuse to show weakness. I shrugged and smiled and pretended I didn't notice.
"Plulease!" Krystal scoffed, "Are you blind? They are obviously different dresses!"
"OBVIOUSLY." Zara nodded.
We styled it very differently too. I had high black suede pointy boots. She was in strappy heels and had a shiny tiara in her hair.
It was a very princessy birthday girl look and if she was smiling, it would have been picture-perfect.
"How can you even think an original Graziano Donmenico could compare with... with whatever off-the-shelf dress Abigail is wearing?" Krystal scolded Fluffy sternly.
"Ah, you are right. My mistake." Fluffy apologized immediately, "I had eyes, but I failed to see."
"No, no, it's not just any off-the-shelf dress." Jasmine tried to clarify, "Abigail said her daddy was buying her a special designer dress for the party."
"I bet she was just showing off." Zara said, unimpressed.
"Well, some people like to show off." Leia shrugged, "Even if it's over a small thing like a label on a dress."
"Yeah. Like Zamm- I mean, the Alpha Princess is always wearing designer stuff but she doesn't ever talk about it." Zara said.
That's because I had no idea, but Krystal had her own explanation, "For someone like the princess, wearing haute couture is part of everyday life, so of course, she won't think to show off about it."
"I see." Fluffy agreed amiably, "It can't be helped. It's hard to see how high the heavens are or how deep the sea is from the perspective of a normal person."
"It's so ironic. The one who was making the loudest noise about her expensive dress wasn't wearing anything special after all." Leia added in spiteful glee.
"The loudest drum is often the emptiest." Fluffy offered.
It was just Fluffy, and usually, I'd overlook his eccentricity. From his outlandish quotes and his unabashed delight in inciting complicated feelings, I never really minded. The guy grew up as a spoilt vampire princess' pet. He was sold to entertain vampires and suffered unspeakable abuse because of his beautiful face. When he grew strong enough to become dangerously violent, they put him in the fight cages.
Like, if you took his terrible past into account, I would say Fluffy had turned out pretty okay. In fact, of all my wolves, Fluffy's wolf was one of the most loyal to me.
{Fluffy! Stop it. You're going to make her cry.} I should've done this from the start.
I didn't realize it was going to be like this. I mean, I know this sounded like a lame excuse, but I didn't know they were going to be so mean. I mean, I should've known, but I just... looking at Abigail having to stand in the middle of her birthday party and take this made me feel like the worst.
{Was that not the plan, Pretty Alpha?} Fluffy demurred.
{NO!} I shot back, {I didn't want this!}
{A hundred apologies pretty alpha.} Fluffy demurred, {I forget pretty alpha's kindness is boundless like the sea.}
This was nothing about kindness or the sea... This was about not being a bully.
Okay, I know the cool girls kept talking about making Abigail cry, but that was just an expression right? We were just going to come in and be all that, make her feel a little jealous, maybe throw some cake around...
The Abigail I knew wouldn't have cried. She'd have gotten back at us, tooth for tooth.
But now, I was starting to feel really bad for Abigail. I might be "slow" a lot, but I understood now that I was wrong. I thought it would be harmless to just tag along and let the cool girls have their fun, but now I realized that I was inadvertently lending them my power as the Alpha Princess.
What did Wolfgang say about representing? I wasn't just Sam anymore. It wasn't like back in school where the playing field was equal - tit for tat, the cool girls VS Abigail and her girls.
I was standing here encrusted with crystals, surrounded by warrior bodyguards and the steely guardianship of my two betas.
Abigail didn't even have her usual posse around her. They were here though, I saw them now, whispering from the safety of the crowd. Meanwhile, her parents were still fawning over Henry.
Abigail's Dad seemed to sense his prey getting restless, so he backed off a bit and boomed with another one of those bright high-beam smiles, "Look at me go on! Welcome to my daughter's birthday party, Young Alpha, and Alpha Princess! Please, can I get both of you a drink?"
Abigail's mum quickly stuck her head a little higher to scan for the nearest wait staff before we could decline, "Waiter! Waiter!"
If only they had applied the same attentiveness to their own birthday girl.
I don't think they were going to let us go until we (mostly Henry) signed something with them. I planned to just smile quietly and hopefully, I'd be mistaken for arm decoration.
For all the times I suffered for the way I looked, surely it was only fair to also benefit from it!
"We're underage." Henry tried to extract us from their offer. Good job Henry! How about this for an alliance? You keep me safe from awkward social business stuff, and I'll protect you if you ever need something bulletproof around.
"Hahaha." Zara burst out suddenly, "She got all dressed up like a princess, and then suddenly the real princess shows up at her party."
"She's always been a fake." Krystal shrugged, "But it's pretty obvious now."
"Some girls are like that." Leia added, "They think they're all that just because they're a bit pretty and their daddy's rich."
"She's always saying how Henry is in love with her." One of Abigail's girls divulged, "But we all knew that was her own wistful thinking."
"She was obvs just another toy." Another one of her friends said.
I'm not sure why her friends were deciding to analyze this now, or so loudly either.
"What?" Zara jumped in, "Henry in love with her? Fat chance!"
"Look it's obvious who Henry really cares about." Krystal told them.
Yes, and her name was Money. Hahaha.
And then Janice burst into tears at the realization, "It's...it's true. To Henry, all of us are just playthings. I realize that when I see how he treats her now."
How Henry treated me? Like urm... Like a pest? A necessary evil? A test of forbearance?
I would also like to say that he treated me as a friend and equal, but that might be pushing it.
Krystal nodded, "You can tell it's real love because of the gentleness and respect he shows her."
Who were they talking about? LMAO.
"My mum says a guy who really loves you would care about protecting your reputation and honor." Jasmine said, and then she looked lovingly at Liam, like he was her hero.
Liam smiled back, but was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.
"Of course!" Ivan agreed because even though he was smart at school, this entire relationship thing was still new to him, "Even if it's true, I'll still beat up whoever calls my girl a s***."
"I'm NOT!" Zara protested.
Ivan quickly backtracked, "I was just giving an example."
"Hoi, hoi, so Zara's your woman now?" EJ asked.
"Yes. She's mine! So you better back off." Ivan yelled.
Zara slapped her face with both hands, "Oh my god!"
"Oh my god!" Leia cheered, "He finally admits it!".
"What?" And then Ivan flushed a deep crimson, "No, I mean just for example, if you were... you were... my...my...my..."
"Love smiles on those who love." Fluffy concluded with a smile. He offered Janice a white handkerchief, "Do not cry pretty girl. Until love comes, I'll keep you company."
Janice stopped crying.
Fluffy flashed her another beautiful smile, "For all you know, love is closer than you think."
Oh boy... I know I told Fluffy to stop it, but was it necessary for him to start a new saga to do so?
"Never date your alpha's friend, her broken heart would be your end!" EJ was kind enough to remind his friend in sing-song. And then he added over the mindlink, {I'll date if you date.}
Grrr... those two troublemakers! But at least the spotlight had shifted to the various high school love birds now.
I took the chance to make amends with Abigail.
I gave her a tentative smile and told her sincerely, "I really like your dress. You look beautiful tonight. Happy birthday."
Ki took it as his cue to produce a large black shopping bag with a gold outline. Oh, would you look at that, I brought a birthday present!
From the way Abigail and her Mum's eyes both lit up in recognition at the bag, it was probably something nice too.
Seriously, what would I do without Ki?