How Green Becomes Wood

"Just follow along," Peter said, pointing to the small, pixelated screen on the machine where they picked the songs. The lyrics scrolled slowly as the music started. Cher's part started the song, so Peter sang out, swaying slightly with the music.

They say we're young and we don't know
We won't find out until we grow...
 
Sloan didn't know much about Sonny and Cher, they were well before her time and they were a bit more vintage than she ever ususally went back to, but she knew she was playing the man's part, so she tried to seem more masculine to hopefully sell the bit.
 
Since Cher already sang at a lower pitch, in general, it was easy for Peter to sing his parts, and the melody was simple enough. He did trip up a couple of times and start singing Sloan's part, but he'd just laugh and step back to let her sing it. As they finished, he looped her arm with his and ended with the iconic, "I've got you, Babe!" chorus.

"That was so cool!" Becky cheered, clapping excitedly.
 
Anytime Peter started to sing her parts, Sloan also laughed and jokingly shoved him aside. At the end of the song, she laughed and said, "It's definitely one of the duets of all time."
 
"It is absolutely one of the duets!" Peter grinned, offering her a high-five. "I think our best duet."

"I think that's everybody. Does anyone want to go again?" Alec offered.

"You know me," Becky grinned. "I could sing all day! But if we stopped now, I'd be happy. Oh! Wait! I have an idea!"

"I am not singing another duet," Xander said flatly.

Becky giggled and shook her head. "No, no. If we're all done singing - and please jump in if you want another turn - why don't we end by singing a song together? Like how we started!"

"I do like the symmetry," Alec nodded. "Does anyone else want a turn?"
 
Sloan shook her head, "No, I'm alright, unless you want to make your parents sing, we can sing one last song together. Xander should pick it, though, since you picked the first group song."
 
Xander shook his head. "Nah, I don't care. Pick whatever you like."

"Mama would sing if we asked, but I don't want to put Ba on the spot," Alec said.

"How about this one?" Becky asked, showing him the song secretly.

Alec's eyes lit up. "Yesss!"

"I suddenly care about picking songs," Xander said, frowning.
 
"What did you choose?" Sloan asked, curious and torn between loving to slightly tease her friends and wanting to also help stand up for her friends, "I don't know if you can convince Xander to sing Age of Aquarius."
 
Becky grinned, her eyes glittering. She didn't cue the music, but she did start singing, "We're all in this together! Once we know that we are, we're all stars!"

Xander stared, completely confused. "I have no idea what you are singing. None."

"It's a movie!" Alec chirped. "I've never seen it, but it's one of those old teen movies!"

"Is that the musical with the basketballs and... high school?" Peter asked hesitantly. "And I just realized I think I just described all Disney Channel movies."
 
"Oh my god," Sloan laughed, "It's High School Musical. It's super old, but it's a good movie."

Over in the baby zoo, Dark and Daizi turned their heads, knowing perfectly well this movie came out when they were in high school.
 
"Let's do it!" Alec crowed.

Xander shrugged. "Alright, fine, but I'm doing this many exciting songs in one go ever again."

"You are such a blues singer," Peter chuckled as he moved closer to be able to see the screen. "Let's give it a go!"
 
Sloan also moved to see the screen and once it started she sang and clapped along to the dorky ancient song. It was better than Age of Aquarius anyway, and definitely easier to sing. Milo didn't know most of the words, but clapped along and managed to sing along to the chorus.
 
Austin didn't know any of the words, but he did clap along, and the chorus was easy enough to pick up. Alec and Becky tried to start dancing, of course, but Xander, standing between them, refused to play along. Peter did decent, having only a very faint, distant memory of seeing the movie - or part of the movie - once. All in all, it was a fun final song.

Wildcats everywhere
Wave your hands up in the air
That's the way we do it, let's get to it
Come on, everyone!


Alec and Becky stuck a pose! Peter came in late and vaguely tried to copy them. Austin didn't bother, thinking this was one of the strangest birthday parties he'd ever been to.
 
Like Peter, Sloan only struck a pose because Alec and Becky did, and she wore pants that day, so she committed and went into a one-armed handstand while thinking she was glad there were only two theatre kids in this group. Milo absolutely did not pose, but he got the picture of it.
 
Alec and Becky laughed and moved back out of Sloan's way before applauding.

"Show off," Xander said, giving the bottom of Sloan's shoe the lightest of slaps like he was giving her a high-five. "Doing a good job at it, though."

"Wow, that's cool," Austin said, impressed.
 
"Look, they're all striking a pose, I needed to do something," She replied as she righted herself back up, "If I do something I know the rest of you can't, I know there will be a variety."
 
"Sure," Xander drawled with a smirk.

"Sloan, that was so cool!" Becky squealed, clapping excitedly. "I would love to be able to do that! Maybe someday, I'll actually put in the work and dedication to actually be able to do it."

Austin glanced down at Milo. "You got a picture, right?"
 
"You can learn a handstand in maybe six months?" Sloan said, trying to recall how long it took her, "They're hard, but manageable. It just combines strength and balance."

Milo nodded, "I'm fairly certain, yeah."
 
"I'm just really bad at dedication and consistency," Becky said, making a face. "I'll give it a go!"

"Good. I want a copy of that one," Austin said.

"Alright, what should we do next?" Alec asked as he put away the karaoke machine. "I think we've pretty much covered everything we had in mind."
 
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