Chapter 217: Twisted Arms and Unwanted Proms

Melissa kept her eyes locked on Eric’s face without saying a word, but just as she opened her mouth to speak,

"Hey... what are you two talking about?"

Eric and Melissa both turned to see Katie walking up behind them holding a glass. Eric immediately turned around to face Katie,

"Actually, perfect timing. I wanted to talk to you," Eric said.

Without missing a beat, Eric laid out his entire plan to Katie, while Melissa stood by in stunned silence, unable to utter a single word. Katie listened intently to Eric’s pitch, occasionally stealing glances at Melissa while taking sips from her glass. Once Eric finished detailing his vision,

"Alright... I get it. I’ll draft the paperwork tomorrow and file for the permits right away so we can fast-track the process. So, I’ll need your personal info, Melissa," Katie said smoothly.

"Hold on a second... I haven’t agreed to be the director!" Melissa said, throwing her hands up.

"Come on... you’re literally the perfect fit. Besides, you can still run your shop even while managing my foundation," Eric insisted.

"Yep... exactly. No one else has the skill set and the time to handle this except you. So... just accept it already! We’ll talk details tomorrow at your shop, I’m heading downstairs," Katie cheered warmly.

"Ugh... you guys are railroading me... I at least want to see the concept and operations plan first. Draft everything up, and then I’ll consider joining," Melissa grumbled.

"Wait... you’re the director-to-be, so we’re having a meeting with you tomorrow to hammer out the concept and operations together while filing for the permits, right Katie?" Eric asked.

"Spot on! Don’t worry, no need to overthink it," Katie replied, waving her hand casually.

"Ugh... fine, whatever," Melissa sighed, her shoulders slumping.

"That’s what I like to hear! Tomorrow then, we’ll get it all sorted," Eric smiled.

"By the way, what made you come up with such a great idea out of nowhere? Did something happen?" Katie asked Eric.

"Hmm... I talked to my dad at his grave earlier today and he gave me some advice: do good for others. So that’s what I’m doing," Eric answered casually.

"Huh... you talked to your late dad?" Katie asked, peering at Eric’s face while adjusting her glasses.

"Forget about it, don’t dwell on it. I just feel like there are probably a lot of kids out there facing the exact same fate I did a year ago... and I want to help them. That’s all," Eric replied, obviously keeping his actual conversation with Ethan at the cemetery to himself.

Katie and Melissa stared at Eric’s face as if he had suddenly grown two heads. "Sigh." Katie finally let out a long breath,

"Alright, I get it. I’ll handle everything, so don’t you worry. Come on, Melissa, let’s go chat at the gazebo, it’s their turn now," Katie offered, hooking her arm through Melissa’s.

"Ugh... fine," Melissa grumbled.

"Their turn?" Eric asked, puzzled.

Katie pointed off to the side. Eric turned his head to find Emma, Priya, Chloe, Monica, Heidi, and Laura standing there, all wearing sly grins. Once Katie and Melissa walked off, Eric approached the six girls,

"What’s up?" Eric asked.

"Um... babe, if we were to perform at a school event, do we need to check with our manager first or what?" Monica asked.

"Huh... no need, I’ll speak with your manager myself. Why do you ask?" Eric replied.

"Well... just read this," Chloe said, handing him her phone.

Chloe showed her smartphone screen to Eric, revealing an email from their school, specifically from the committee hosting the senior prom and graduation send-off for the 12th graders who had just finished their finals. The email formally requested both The Empress and Nobelia to perform on stage as the headline headliners. After skimming the text, Eric looked up at the six girls standing before him.

"Wait... prom? And it’s scheduled for this Saturday night? Why are you guys just telling me this now?" Eric asked.

"At first we thought it wasn’t a big deal because we already planned on not going. But then this email landed earlier this afternoon, and the committee blasted it to all of us... I actually rejected it initially, right?" Emma said, looking at the others for back-up.

"Yeah... but then they sent over this flyer," Priya added, holding up her phone to show Eric.

Eric looked at a promotional pamphlet for the post-exam school prom featuring headline performances by The Empress and Nobelia. The prom date was set for this coming Saturday night, just three days away.

"Hold on... they already printed the flyers before even clearing it with you guys?" Eric asked, incredulous.

"Pretty much... and when we said no, they completely panicked. So now we’re asking: can we perform at school without manager approval first?" Priya asked.

"Hmm... officially, everything should go through proper protocol, but oh well. I’ll just clear it with Anthony later. You guys can go ahead and perform, it’s totally fine, just tell them it’s a go," Eric answered.

"Alright then, guess we’re going to prom... even though I really wasn’t feeling it," Heidi sighed.

"Same here... such a drag. Going means having to bring a date, and everyone’s gonna beg for dances. Too much trouble," Chloe added.

"If we’re performing, we don’t have to dance anyway. We just play a few tracks and dip," Monica pointed out.

"Agreed. Right after we wrap up our set, we head straight home and stay put, no sticking around for the party," Laura stated.

"Oh... I already rejected them too, so that’s not a problem, right?"

Everyone, including Eric, turned to see Ruby and Jade walking over, with Tania following right behind to join the group.

"My school asked me to perform with Nobelia too, but I gave them a hard no. Besides, my school is an all-girls school, and they’re throwing a joint prom with an all-boys school, makes me even less interested," Tania grumbled.

"What is wrong with you? How are you ever gonna get a boyfriend with that attitude?" Jade teased Tania.

"I’m not looking for a boyfriend! I still wanna mess around and focus on my career," Tania snapped back.

"Uh guys... I actually just emailed the committee back saying both The Empress and Nobelia can perform... see for yourselves," Emma interjected, showing her just sent email to Jade, Ruby, and Tania.

Tania, Ruby, and Jade’s faces instantly dropped, turning grim as they read Emma’s reply. They glared at Emma, who was standing there looking completely unbothered with a cheerful giggle, squinting their eyes at her,

"Why on earth did you make that call before even discussing it with us?!" Tania yelled.

"Seriously! I skipped my school’s prom last year, why do I have to get dragged into one this time?!" Jade added, exasperated.

"Ugh, this is so frustrating! Now my email totally contradicts yours! Why didn’t you speak up first?!" Ruby groaned.

"Well... my bad! But since the cat’s already out of the bag, please cooperate, okay?" Emma said casually, showing zero remorse whatsoever.

"Grrr... you’re seriously the worst!" Tania, Jade, and Ruby barked in unison.

In the end, both Nobelia and The Empress found themselves swept up in last-minute prep, scrambling to line up rehearsal schedules for tomorrow and the day after before Saturday’s show. Eric simply leaned back against the rooftop railing, sipping his drink with an amused grin as he watched the chaos unfold. He noticed Caleb walking over toward him,

"Hey... what’s got them all worked up now?" Caleb asked.

"The usual... they didn’t wanna go to prom, but now they’re forced to perform there," Eric chuckled.

"Ah... prom. I skipped mine back in the day too," Caleb recalled. "By the way, I just overheard Katie and Melissa talking with Mike... you’re really planning on launching a non-profit foundation?" Caleb asked.

"Yep... pretty much. I’ll just let Katie handle the heavy lifting," Eric answered.

"Hmm... solid plan, man. You’ve got my full support. But what made you think of that all of a sudden?" Caleb asked.

"Because I know what it feels like to be at rock bottom and completely helpless, on top of being clueless and terrified," Eric replied softly.

"Ah, I see. Fair enough... oh, by the way, I need to take off tomorrow. Taking Avery to the doctor for a check-up," Caleb mentioned.

"Huh... what’s wrong with Avery?" Eric asked, taken aback.

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck, his face turning a slight shade of red before taking a quick sip from his glass. Watching his cousin’s shift in demeanor, Eric stepped closer and whispered,

"Is Avery pregnant again?" Eric murmured quietly.

"Huh... not sure yet. The test showed two lines... but we’re getting it confirmed tomorrow," Caleb admitted softly.

"Seriously?! Man, Abby is only three months old! What are you thinking, bro?!" Eric said, shoving Caleb’s shoulder playfully.

"What can I say?! We ran out of condoms that night... ugh... why am I even discussing this with you?" Caleb groaned, slapping a hand over his face.

"You’re wild, bro! poor Abby, she doesn’t even know what’s going on and she’s already about to get a younger sibling!" Eric teased.

"I know, I know! Relax, it’s not official yet, we’re getting it confirmed at the OB-GYN tomorrow. That’s why I’m coming in late afternoon," Caleb explained, taking another sip.

"Unbelievable... oh well, whatever. Just don’t go playing favorites with your kids," Eric warned playfully.

"Don’t worry, man, never in a million years. Abby and if Avery really is pregnant again, both of them are my absolute treasures. There’s no way I’d ever neglect them or play favorites. I’m never letting my kids end up like you, needing your foundation to step in!" Caleb said, clapping a hand on Eric’s shoulder with a warm grin.

"Haha... you idiot. Congrats anyway, man. You’re gonna be a dad of two," Eric laughed.

"Shut up, man, nothing’s set in stone yet! Results are tomorrow, I’m not accepting any congratulations until it’s official," Caleb countered, playfully shoving Eric back.

The two resumed chatting warmly about everything under the moon, while the girls remained locked in frantic discussions about their upcoming school prom, and Melissa and Katie stayed glued together, mapping out the core concepts for the foundation Eric had requested.