Least Romantic 2 Electric Boogaloo: Chapter 2

“You can’t be friends with Henry anymore.”

Ala guffawed at her, then blinked, “Yeah, no, I’m not taking this no more, Tiana.” Ala stood on her tip toes, to assert dominance. Which was useless, because she was out numbered, four to one.

“You spend to much time with him.” Tiana continued, as though she had not heard what Ala had just said. “Other people want to hang out with him, you know.”

“Henry is my friend.” Ala claimed, tears brimming. “He’s my only friend. Stop being mean, Tiana.”

From behind Tiana, someone piped up, “Yeah, Tiana, this seems a little extreme…” Jenny said, taking a step forward. “Maybe-“

With a flourish, Tiana lightly pushed her sister away. “I decide what is zenith and what is not, sibling!”

Ala didn’t know what half of those words meant, but she was starting to get the impression that Tiana didn’t either. Jenny rolled her eyes, and grabbed her sisters hand.

“Come on, Tiana, let’s go play dolls.” Ala shot her a grateful look as she walked away, but was only met with Tiana’s steely glare.

For the first time since Ala met Henry, she didn’t want to go to school. She had begged her Daddy all the way to the car to let her stay home. But then again, she didn’t want to think about what Tiana would say to Henry if she wasn’t there to defend him.
She balled her little fists, imagining Tiana’s stupid fist, when something caught her eye.

Feb- Febu-ary? Fourteen.

It was displayed in red lettering across the movie theater. It seemed important. Like a warning.

“Daddy, what is today?” Ala asked, fear rising her voice.

Her Daddy paused for a moment, before sneaking a glance at his phone, which Ala would normally berate him for doing, but now was not the time!
“Er, February tenth.” He said, his old phone closing with a click.

Ala gasp, pushing against her car seat to look back at the sign. “The end is near, Daddy!”

“I’m sure it is, sweetie.” Daddy said with a yawn, turning back to the road.

As Daddy pulled into the Daycare Parking Lot, Ala flew from the car, running for the Entrance. Alas, her twig-like arms were no match for the great door.
Luckily, she was not alone. With a sigh, Daddy pulled the door open, and Ala rushed in.

As her Dad checked her in, Ala made her way to the Cafeteria, where she found her Classmates eating breakfast.
She found Henry pretty quickly. All the students were spread out, mostly eating by themselves.

As she began to walk over to Henry, she heard Tiana call out, “Look everyone, it’s the Dream Team!”

Ala froze mid-step. It was like everyone in the Cafeteria had dropped their forks, and turned their heads, to look directly at her.
She looked over at Henry, his face pink, but he just patted the seat next to him. Ala slid beside him.

Tiana kept going. “Why do you guys hang out together anyway? And no one else?”

Ala turned to glare at her. “Tiana, shut up.”

Everyone gasped, horror etched across their faces. Ala slunk back in her seat, as Roxanne rose to her feet, pointing at her. “Ala said a bad word!” She shouted, pointing at Ala.
Her words echoed around. “Ala said a naughty word! Ala said a naughty word!” rung in her ear.

Suddenly, Joseph scooted over so he was sitting right in front of Ala and Henry. “Come on guys,” He said to the whole room, “It’s not that bad, at least that didn’t say-“

He abruptly cut off as the Teacher walked into the room, as did everyone else. After a moment of pretending to be good little children, Joseph looked up, sniggering.

“Tiana is the worst.” He said, stuffing Scrambled Eggs in his mouth.

“Yeah.” Henry agreed, half heartedly. “She smells to.”

“Well, yeah, that’s every girl, isn’t it?” He asked, then looking over to Ala, “No offense.”

Ala didn’t even register what he said. “Thank you.” She rushed out.

Joseph grinned a self satisfied grin. “You just got to let the insults slide off of you.” He said, miming brushing something off his shoulder. “That’s what Mommy always says.”

Right then and there, Ala decided that Joseph was the coolest kid in class.

During free time, Ala, Henry, and Joseph gathered in front of the Alphabet, Number board, and Calendar. As Ala described her theory, Henry and Joseph began to shift forward.

“Do you think it’s a sign of the Apoco-Apocolip-“ Henry paused, “Apocolisp?” He asked.

Joseph wrinkled his nose at him, “What does that even mean?”

“Trouble.” Ala said, leaning against the wall. She imagined herself as the battle hardened commander she’d seen on TV. “We need to figure out what’s going to happen, and fast.”

Joseph shook his head, “Can’t we just play Chutes and Ladders?”

Ala opened her mouth to respond, when she caught sight of Tiana. She froze, before realizing, “We already are. We are the pawns.”

Henry’s eyes went wide, seeing where she was looking, “And Tiana is the player.”

Joseph rolled his eyes, “Now I know why you two got no friends.”

Ala puffed up, “Henry is my friend.” Ala cried.

“Yeah!” He said, pumping his fist into the air along with hers. They shared a grin.

After a moment of jubilation, she turned to look back at Joseph. “And we are going to stop Tiana’s evil plot, with your help or not!”

After a moment of deep contemplation, Joseph sighed, and reached his hand into the middle. “I’m with you.” He said, then muttered, “Ryan has the blocks anyway.”

Henry grinned, and placed his hand on top of Josephs, followed by Ala’s. “We got this.” He said. “On three! Together!” They threw their hands into the air, and cried, all at once, “Friendship” “Revenge!” and “To Battle” all at once.
Their Teacher looked up from her book, and rubbed her temples, “You three better not be plotting a coup over there.”

Ala looked over at her, she didn’t know what “Coup” meant. But looking at her two new friends, she thought it described them perfectly. And every Super Hero Team had a name, right?

“Alright then, Cew Crew!” She said, with power, “Let’s get down to business!”