Chapter 4

October 20th

Dear Diary,

Lottie was very happy today. She got her first kiss from her boyfriend and told us about the wonders, even though she claimed it wasn't very nice at first. It got better in the process. Elliot had agreed to that before we stopped the subject altogether, it mustn't be a nice subject for a guy to participate in. I don't have anything to bring with that because I frankly never kissed or even had a boyfriend. But that doesn't matter; I want to kiss that guy I'm really in love with – or else it wouldn't have a meaning and it would be a waste.

My mother and father are gone for a work trip this week, so I'll be home alone. Lottie and Echo are coming over for one night but their parents don't really allow much sleepovers during school days. I wonder if my parents would think the same way, but they don't care much as long as I do good for school and do my chores, I guess. Bander is acting a little silent nowadays and I wonder if it has something to do with age. The doctor who did the test said Bander was fine but aging. I can't help but think he might get sick soon… I hope he'll let me notice when he needs help.

Alice smiled happily with her eyes closed. She could hear a few of her friends chatting away and was happy it was about something trivial like school, games, pets and occasionally boys. At least it wasn't about fashion, sports, diets or sex. She had enough of that for a while. Elliot had probably told all of them to back of on the Xerxes subject because nobody asked anything.

"Jerk-alert." Lottie suddenly said and Alice knew why. Lottie didn't like Xerxes very much after the bathroom-incident and even though Alice insisted he didn't do anything bad, she on her part insisted he had to make it up to her. She wondered if Xerxes would hesitate about intruding into their conversation, but as she thought, he didn't and waltzed right into their space, looking over at Alice.

"Hey cat-ears. Can I speak to you?"

Alice glared when he smirked. "I'm talking with my friends." She defiantly said and glared harder when he rolled his gaze over the group momentarily, observing them and smirking again.
"I'm only borrowing you then. I promise I won't take her away." He quickly assured the others and Lottie shook her head at him.

"Yeah yeah just go already."

Alice stood up and followed him to another tree so he could say what he wanted to say to her. Obviously he would know she was angry because the smirk had disappeared from his face and he didn't look very annoyed either.

"You were gone awfully long in English Literature, you know." Alice blushed and looked aside.

"You probably know why."

"After some research I did," He said and shrugged when she glared at him. He read more! "I'm sorry for the show in the hallway. I didn't know it would upset you as much as it did, but I really thought you had been kissed already."

"Of course I haven't. Do I look like that to you?"

He grinned and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well, no, but you must've been in love with someone before Oz right? Or played a game like turn the bottle, or… well judging from your group I guess you haven't."

"What's that supposed to mean? Don't go insulting them because I got plenty to say about your group." Alice defended quickly. No way he'd ever speak bad about them because they were her friends and some of them were the best people she ever met.

He bit his lip and looked amused at her. "Right, sorry, didn't mean to make you angry." Yeah right.

"In any case, I'm sorry."

"I'll think about it."

"Huh?"

"Accepting your apology, moron. Not everyone kisses the ground you walk on when you put up an apologetic face and say sorry." He was taken by surprise for a moment before he blinked and looked at her interestedly.

"Ha, that's just you. Anyway, I should probably warn you that Lily is going to try and bond with you soon. Also, just be prepared she's currently dating with Oz. Thought I'd tell you."

"Jerk."

He looked away for a moment and looked at her friends, who were currently laughing about something trivial while Elliot made wild hand gestures, telling an animated story.

"Why are you in love with him?" He asked suddenly and Alice, who hadn't paid attention and looked at some birds flying in the sky, snapped her head back at him confused.

"You should know that."

"I don't spend my time reading in your diary; it's something to do when I'm completely bored." He looked like he wanted to add something more but didn't and Alice shrugged.

"One day I got to school too late because I had a fight with my parents, teacher scolded me and told me to have detention – You know, Barma – he stood up for me, ended up having detention with me and… well it's cliché. Just laugh already."

He ignored her and went on. "You're not on good terms with them, are you? Your parents."

Alice raised her eyebrows and shrugged, crossing her arms so and bowing over a little. The nausea was back and she knew it was because he was interviewing her like this.
"Relatively good, I guess. We just don't spend much time together. They work a lot."

"That's a shame. You look like you're in for a lot of fun things." He said sincerely and because of that she knew he didn't mean it perverted. Well, no need to scold him then. She shrugged again. They were silent for a while before Alice awkwardly cleared her throat.

"I'm going back now…"

"Yeah, sure. I'll see you tomorrow, I'm free earlier." He smiled again and her tummy did a flip. He looked a lot better when he smiled normally, rather than those stupid smirks. So she decided to smile back lightly before stalking off to the group.

The next day Alice met up with the same people as usual and walked a little with Xerxes, who sometimes told the same remarks as usual but Alice noticed he was a bit nicer now. He refrained from physically interacting wit her, though, and Alice wondered if she should be happy. Probably.

Right now she had P.E. with most kids she knew and Lily sat down next to her when Alice had to wait for her turn to be called.

"You know, you have strange eyes. The purple really stands out underneath your hair." Alice tugged her dark brown hair uncertainly. "You should take contacts."

"Contacts?" Lily nodded and Lottie snorted next to her. "You're purple eyes stand out too much underneath your dark hair… maybe a soft blue or brown would be better."

"Just because she says it's prettier doesn't mean it's comfortable. Don't do anything you don't want Al."

Lily glared at her. "Sure it's uncomfortable, but you'll get used to it. First time wearing a bra is uncomfortable."

Alice snickered. "That's different. I'm happy with my color though." Lily was more or less satisfied with that and left, leaving Alice to fend her off to Lottie. After explaining that yes, Lottie was still her best friend, and yes, she was only trying to be nice while she didn't wanted to be friends with Lily, she let her of the hook and they stood up to do the first four laps around the field.

As usual, Alice took it more slowly with Lottie, because their condition wasn't the best, while the guys sped past them, Xerxes jogging next to Alice for a moment to greet her before going ahead.

"He's a lot nicer now." Lottie muttered and Alice nodded as she looked at him. He was, and she figured it was probably because of what he read in the diary. She knew he would have a heart after all, and she could handle remarks now and then.

"Oh, want to go on a double date with me and this guy I met last week? I'm not too sure about him." Alice recalled her memories and remembered the 'guy she met last week'. But a double date… A date would make it official, wouldn't it? Alice frowned.

"Ehm… when and where?"

"Well, maybe next week, on Saturday? Just to the movies I guess. Always start of neutral! I was thinking something in lines of a comedy, because I know we don't like action and boys don't like romance."

"I'll… ask him, I guess." Lottie smiled and went on talking about other things before they completed their two laps and sat down on the benches again.

The teacher went on about how you correctly should play football, and after an hour of disastrous playing on Alice's part, P.E. was finally over and she grudgingly walked over to the changing rooms. Thankfully they had break because it'll give her time to not be so sweaty in class.

"You suck at football." Xerxes suddenly remarked as he waited for her. Alice sighed and glared at the teacher.

"I suck in most sports, I'm that kinda girl." She remarked unhappily and he snickered amused.

"You don't do any sports, then?"

"None. I tried dancing once, but the only result I got was that I sprained my ankle." He whistled amused and Alice smiled.

"Oh, anyway, I wanted to ask if you'd like to go with me on Lottie's date." Realizing that sounded a bit off and judging from the look in his face it did. "No, not like that! She's going to go on a date with this guy but she wants me to come, and seeing everyone… you're… youknow, she wants us to come." He had frowned when she couldn't complete her sentences but shrugged.

"Why should I?"

"It's only a movie. Then you're free to go." He had a whiney look on his face but eventually gave up and shrugged.

"Fine, I'll go to the movies with you and your friends next week." He said and Alice looked up surprised. He would? "If," ah, there's the if. "you go to the party with me, this Friday night. You need to socialize a little and Lily's been pestering me about it. She's damn annoying."

"Party?"

"You know, the one Doug is throwing?" Wow, a lot of people in their group hold parties. Alice made a frown and he nodded at her patiently, knowing that if she wanted him to come she had no choice. And Lottie really wanted to start her first date with that guy off as a double date…

"Fine. But let's not stay too late, all right?"

"Why not?"

"Because I'm not allowed to by my parents."

He sighed and tugged his hair absentmindedly before having an idea. "So, sleep at Lily's place. Problem solved! I'll pick you up at nine?"

"You don't even know where I live," Alice deadpanned at the thought she had to stay over at her place. He crooked a smile.

"This is the perfect time to tell me! Or better yet, send it through me with a text." He grinned wider. "That way I have your number."

"How subtle of you." Alice accused him before she handed him her phone (her very stupid looking phone next to his) and he put his number in it. They said goodbyes and both left to their changing rooms.

R&R! :D