Alice Smith had a guilty pleasure.
Outwardly, she projected a tough, cool persona. Inwardly, she occasionally found herself exhausted by the effort of maintaining that image. She spent a lot of time telling herself that she didn't care what anyone else thought of her, but anyone who ever told themselves that knew deep down that it was a lie. As a kid, she completely ignored that knowledge and kept the act up even in private, perhaps trying to convince even herself that it was true.
After her resurrection, she found more and more that she didn't want to waste time or energy lying to herself. As far as the world was concerned, Alice was still as cool and tough as ever. In her moments of privacy, however, she sometimes let herself go.
"You're sure you don't want to come?" Dean asked again as he and Sam prepared to head out for a drink.
"Yeah, you know, I'm beat," Alice said. Her heart beat fast with anticipation. She tapped her foot and struggled to keep her excitement from showing on her face.
Damn, it's practically an addiction at this point, she thought to herself disapprovingly.
"Just bring me back a-"
"Chicken sandwich, add mayo, extra pickles," Dean recited, nodding.
"You know me so well," she grinned. "Make it spicy this time. Now get! Have fun! Pour one out for me."
The Winchesters pulled out of the parking lot and Alice made a beeline for the motel room. She locked the door, drew the shades and flopped down onto the bed. With a loud sigh of relief, she stuffed in a pair of earbuds and put on a secret playlist. She lost herself in the music, closing her eyes and letting go of all sense of time and place as she indulged.
Alice's music was turned up so loud that she failed to notice when Dean entered the room, doing nothing to disguise his presence.
"Sam thinks I was born yesterday," he said in an attempt to announce his presence. "Forgot his wallet my ass... he just wants an excuse to skip his turn paying, am I right Alice?"
Alice didn't respond.
"Alice?"
He turned to see her zoned out on the bed, tapping her feet and nodding her head in time to a song he couldn't hear. Curiosity piqued, he walked to her bedside and stood over her for a minute, before bending down covertly. Her phone lay on her chest and Dean went for it stealthily. With a single swift motion, he unplugged the earbud jack, expecting to hear some good music. Knowing Alice, probably Aerosmith from back when they were halfway decent.
What he heard took him completely by surprise.
"-been here all along, so why can't you seee-ee-eee-"
"What the-" Dean cut off, struggling to come to terms with what he was hearing.
Alice's eyes snapped wide open in panic.
"Dean!"
"You beloo-ong with mee-ee-ee! You belong with me!"
She flailed frantically, her phone slipping through her fingers as she struggled to stop the music.
"All this time how could you not know baa-byyyy-"
The music cut off suddenly and Alice met Dean's shocked gaze with flushed cheeks.
"This isn't- That wasn't- I mean... That was an ad!" she lied quickly.
"Riiiight," Dean said slowly. "Long ad. Not, uh... not very well targeted. I thought Google was smarter than that, you know?"
Alice's embarrassment started to fade, anger taking its place.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" she demanded. "I thought you were... you were supposed to be..."
Dean held his hands up defensively, backing toward the door.
"I'm gone," he said, quickly making his escape.
"Nosy son of a bitch!" Alice growled. Her face felt like it was on fire. She waited for the Winchesters to leave again, then headed out on her own. She needed a drink. Or five, or six.
