Chapter 10

December 25th

Dear Diary

Mom and dad are gone for the weekend so I'm spending Christmas at Lottie's family. They're really nice and Lottie told me they even got some presents for me, even though I wanted to decline. Of course mom and dad got me presents and cards as well. I wish they were here, but I guess they're needed at work. I left Bander at my neighbor because her mom's is allergic to dogs, but I wish I could have him here. I also got a card from my niece, and that's rare, because I haven't seen her for years! Maybe she's coming over soon.

Alice lied down on the couch and held the stuffed animal up in the air, between her hands. The rest of their zoo-day went pretty well. She eventually got Xerxes to loosen up and they had fun, before it started to snow and eventually rain.

They made an agreement that they could better leave in case of busy roads. But still, the stuffed animal she forced him to win for Emily… and the stuffed animal he got free for his lovely girlfriend. Claiming Emily didn't like wolfs at all he pushed it in her hands like the man had suggested and kept the elephant for his little sister. Alice smiled and brought the wolf closer.

"You're a second choice. But it's all right, I won't give you to Bander." Said dog was lying on the ground next to the couch, looking at the supposed toy (to him) with pleading eyes. Alice scolded him briefly before putting the wolf on the table, patting the couch so Bander jumped at her foots end and lied down again.

As she had assumed, Alice got a cold from that day in the zoo and insisted on staying home today just because she felt like it. Her mom was here for a few more minutes, packing in to go on a visit with a client when the clock hit three p.m.

Fortunately she had made some soup earlier this morning and Alice absolutely loved her mother's soup. Sneezing and wiping her nose, Alice moaned miserably.

She hated colds. Sure she wasn't deadly sick but somehow with a cold, she felt even more miserable than when she had a stomachache. Lottie always babied her while Elliot always scolded her for her behavior… luckily her colds never lasted long. Alice had a feeling tomorrow she'd be all chirpy again and up for school.

Of course that wasn't a bad thing… Alice sighed and flipped through the television magazine when the door bell rang.

"Alice, it's for you." Her mother came back and Alice raised her eyebrows.

"I'm sleeping." Her mother nodded and Alice happily played fetch with Bander (of course she didn't throw too far, imagine she broke something) when something heavy fell on her lap. Shocked, Alice sat straight up and was met with to dull looking brown eyes.

"Hey there princess." Xerxes said sarcastically and Alice raised her eyebrows confused, momentarily distracted when her mother called to her that she was leaving.

"Have you got no condition at all?"

"I said I'd get sick. Don't worry, I feel muuuch better, thanks for asking."

He shook his head with a small smile as Alice pushed his bag of her lap, before looking back at him. He was about to walk away when Alice yanked him back by his sleeve.

"Whoa, what happened to your face?" Ouch, touchy subject. Xerxes gloomy complied when Alice tugged him down to the couch. He kept his hair slightly disheveled so she wouldn't notice anything dark on his face, but the bruise on his cheek was visible now. He shrugged.

"Nothing really."

"You got in a fight?" He nodded solemnly and Alice frowned, before jumping up and rummaging through some cabins in the kitchen and coming back with a first-aid kit.

"It's fine," Xerxes complained and Alice sushed him while pouring some antibiotics on a cloth.

"Really, you could've at least had it treated at the school nurse." Alice scolded tiredly. "Just let the sick one deal with it, how sympathetic."

"Like I said it doesn't need attention." He sneered and Alice raised her eyebrows at his behavior.

"Suck it up and be a grown up guy for once will you. It isn't cool to walk around with an infected wound. Why did you got into a fight anyway?"

"None of your damn business."

Alice went into a coughing fit for a second or three and quickly gulped down a prepared glass of water. He looked at her with a bored look.

"Here, do it yourself. I need to open the door for Bander." Alice claimed after a stare-down. Bander had whined and she knew what it meant, so she pushed the cloth in Xerxes' hands before following Bander to the door to the garden. When she returned she was relieved he had indeed cleaned the wound and patched it up so she didn't have to put up a fight with him. Alice sat down on the couch again and pulled her knees up to her.

"So why are you here?"

"I felt like it."

Alice looked away and glared at the television. He was being such a jerk right now! "If you don't have any purpose here I'd like you to leave. I feel terrible enough as it is." Right when she said it, she doubted if she shouldn't have. Something was undoubtedly wrong and Alice wanted to know what… "You know what, you can stay. But you're going to make some place for my feet so I can lay down properly." Alice commanded and he smiled halfheartedly, sitting back down and pulling her feet on his lap.

"And I'm also gonna watch soaps." Alice continued and smiled at the face he made. "Unless you tell me what happened."

He sighed and rubbed her feet, tickling her lightly and Alice twitched but kept strong. "It's okay, really. You'd only get angry at me."

"I already am if you don't tell me."

"Oz was fooling around with some girls again. You know, the same old behavior. After that he had a fight with Lily, made her cry and I said something about it… and things let to one another."

Alice raised her eyebrows. She didn't picture Oz as a fighting type, nor did… oh well Xerxes already beat up someone in front of her so she couldn't say he didn't.

"Just… drop your crush for him. You'd only end up hurt." He seriously said and Alice retracted her feet quickly, sitting up. Not this again.

"Don't go there." Alice warned and he ignored her completely, sitting up more straight.

"Come on Al, you know how he is. Even if he'd ever date you, it would probably last a week or so. I mean, you're not the most… outgoing girl we know, and don't deny you are. You're just not his type at all."

Alice's eyebrows crunched and she sat up normally on the couch, glaring at the television.

"Xerxes, just get out."

"No." He stubbornly replied and Alice glared sideways now. "I'm just sick of reading all your dedicated lovey-dovey's about Oz while you'll never make a chance."

"Then stop reading my diary if you hate it! You know why, you know how and you know something like behavior isn't going to stop me being in love. For my part he was gay and I'd still like him."

"Wouldn't surprise me if he was." Xerxes muttered and Alice resisted slapping him as well. Standing up, Alice walked over to the hallway.

"Out." She said, pointing to the door and he raised his eyebrows, staying put. Alice's glare faltered for a second as Bander came waltzing in, distracting her. Xerxes walked over to her quietly and leaned on the wall.

"You're too naïve to know what's good for you."

"And right now you aren't." Alice replied angrily, looking away. Xerxes tugged his hair for a second before stuffing both of his hands in his pockets. When he didn't do anything next, Alice whined miserably.

"You're such a jerk." She accused him and he looked up. "You really are. One day you're so nice, and I actually believe we're friends or something in that sense, and the next day you're such a jerk! I don't need to be reminded of how popular Oz is and how he gets every girl, and how he ignores me. Or how much of a sore loser I am for liking him. Just let me be, all right?"

"Don't talk nonsense." Xerxes replied bitterly and Alice bit her lip. Damn, if this kept on for a while she was going to cry. She already felt miserable.

"I hate you."

"Good for you."

Alice raised her hand and clenched it to a fist, but lowered it at the same time, sniffing. She hated crying when someone was around. They didn't need to see her like this. Only her friends were allowed too.

Xerxes sighed and walked back into the living room, sitting down on the couch. After a few seconds Alice cooled down and followed him, sitting down as well. He wasn't done with insulting her, probably.

"You're good person." He remarked when she sat down and Alice looked at the television again. "As much as it is un-cool for me to care for others, I hate seeing him hurt girls. I'd hate seeing him hurt you."

"You drag out that big-brother behavior too much." Alice replied and he smiled.

"Guess that has something to do with me being a big brother."

"Poor, poor Emily."

The rest of the day went by fairly normal. Alice had tried to usher him out of the house when she had to do her homework, but was a little thankful that he stayed because he helped her with some. When he admitted she indeed looked very tired he left and Bander had been looking out of the window sadly for a while before snuggling up in some pillows again. Alice had bashed her head on the front door once for thinking it was too quiet in the house (she got too used to him) and waltzed back to the couch.

Turning around on the large couch Alice stared at the stuffed animal that was still on the table. It obnoxiously stared back at her and Alice tried to fight this urge she often had as a child. That's why she didn't have any animals on her room anymore. Losing the battle, Alice reached out and hugged the stuffed wolf close. Fine fine, let her have her kid moment.