8Thank you to everyone who has followed or favorited this story, you've made me want to update! So, please enjoy this next chapter!
Once again everyone at Big Momma's was doing the scene where Tanner and Lela fall instantly in love. Lela was up on stage and singing and Tanner was making his way through the diner. And, just like always, when Lela fell, Tanner was there to catch her.
They stared into each other's eyes. "NIce of you to drop in," Tanner said.
"I guess I literally fell for you, huh?" Lela joked. Tanner smiled and his shiny teeth sparkled. "I'm Lela- I'm sorry I can't do this. Put me down." Lela broke character and forced herself to the ground. People all around the diner were falling, surprised from Lela's out of character outburst. Everyone flooded in around Lela and Tanner.
Tanner laughed nervously, looking around at all of his friends. "Uh, Lela, what are you doing?"
"I don't know. This whole thing, I just... I can't do it anymore." Lela put her hand on Tanner's shoulder. "It's not you, Tanner. You're a great guy, but..."
"Of course, I am," Tanner agreed.
"...I have to go," Lela said and left Big Momma's.
Butchy's fists clenched and he menacingly stared Tanner down. "Well, where is she goin'?"
"Uh..." Tanner laughed nervously, trying to play off the moment. He quickly realized that wasn't working and sobered. "Excuse me," he said and left Big Momma's to follow after Lela.
Everyone in the diner stood around looking at each other.
"What is happenin' to her?" Butchy asked quietly.
"Oh, it'll be alright, Butchy," CheeChee rubbed Butchy's arm. "She's just goin' through somethin' right now. Y'know how girls are."
Everyone nodded and then they were silent again.
"Well, should we follow 'em?" Struts asked.
"Yeah, let's do that," everyone agreed and left Big Momma's. They saw Tanner and Lela standing out on the beach. Lela was saying goodbye to Tanner and she had a neckalace in her hands.
Lela turned and looked up at everyone. "Oh! Goodbye, bikers!" The bikers all waved goodbye to her. "Goodbye, surfers!" The surfers waved to her. "Goodbye, people always standing around in the background, who never speak, whose names I don't know!" Everyone standing in the bike raised their hands in the air and waved goodbye.
Lela turned and walked into the water. Tanner whimpered and everyone jumped forward. He whimpered again and everyone jumped forward again.
Tanner ran to Butchy and threw his arms around him. "We gotta stop her, right?"
Butchy stuttered, "I mean, we definitely could... but water makes me a little bit nervous."
"What?!"
"I know..."
Tanner pulled himself off of Butchy and stared after Lela. "Maybe we should sing a song. That usually fixes everything. I'm fallin' for ya! No. No. Maybe I should talk in my low voice- Lela, come back!"
CheeChee rested her arm on Tanner's shoulder. "Yeah, maybe I'd save the low voice for someone who can actually hear you. She's already in the ocean." She winced and stepped back.
Tanner put on a brave stance and stepped forward into the water. He gasped and quickly followed after Lela, shouting her name.
"Oh, where's they goin's?" Butchy whined.
Everyone still on the sand leaned together in the same direction, trying to follow the sight of Lela and Tanner as they disappeared in the water.
"Well, what now?" Jinx asked.
Nobody knew how to answer. There were a few mumbles here and there but everyone just slowly travelled back into Big Momma's. Except for Butchy, who stayed behind and stared out into the ocean.