READ AND REVIEW, EVERYONE!
daciela: Thanks! Oh, and thanks x2 for reminding me to change the rating to suit the story. XP I think I've gotten too used to putting "K+" on my stories even though they aren't supposed to be.
ChocolateSunshine500: Thanks! I'll try to update often. TRY.
Aizawa Li Syaoran Vessalius: YOU READ MY MIND, READER. YOU READ IT. Thanks for the support! And awesome name, btw. Syaoran rocks.
"Your name is Alice!" said Sharon as she held a photo album against her chest. "When you met me, you told me that you didn't have a last name and didn't need one."
Alice was sitting up in her hospital bed. It was a day after she had woken up there, and Sharon had arrived in order to try and revive her memories. Oz was not present. "You are 16, and born on the first of January." Sharon then giggled, her hair moving with her in ripples. "Or, not really. You said you couldn't remember your birthday, so Oz and I gave you one!"
Alice nodded blankly. She really couldn't recall anything…it was beginning to become a little frustrating. "How long have I known you and Oz?" she asked.
Sharon paused. "Well, you met Oz before you met me," she replied. "I don't know how you two met, so that's something you'll have to ask him yourself. But, I've known you for almost a year now." Sharon reached forward and held Alice's hands. "We're like best friends!"
"Don't listen to her." Alice and Sharon glanced to the door, where Oz was standing, holding a red-and-white-striped box in one hand. "You two were more like acquaintances. Now, in Sharon's fantasies, you two are best friends."
"Oz, I was just trying to improve our relationship!" Sharon protested, dropping Alice's hands.
"By lying. I see."
Alice caught the wiff of something…good. "What's that?" she asked, locating the smell to be coming from the box.
Oz put on a teasing expression. He dragged a chair beside her bed and said, "Why? You want some?"
Alice nodded. "Yes."
He laughed and lifted up the table attached to the bed, dropping the box on it. "Enjoy," he said, proceeding to watch as Alice leaned forward to tentatively lift the flaps covering the contents.
It was barely halfway open before she suddenly yanked it into two neat, half-box-parts and revealed…fried chicken. She licked her lips and picked up a drumstick, munching.
"Oohh," Sharon said in wonder, watching Alice's every movement. "So, even though the mind doesn't remember, the body does…interesting…"
"What are you talking about?" Alice asked, pausing only a moment before going back to eating. Pleasure sensors going off all around in her head forced more chicken into her mouth.
"Your favorite food is fried chicken," Oz said. "Bet you didn't know that."
She shook her head, licking grease from her fingers. Click.
She glanced up and spotted Sharon holding a Polaroid, admiring her new picture as it came hissing out of the camera. "Sharon…what are you doing?" Oz asked.
"Making memories!" she answered, as if it were obvious. She flipped open the photo album, finding the next empty spot and shoving the picture of Alice licking her fingers into it. "Starting from this picture," Sharon said, tapping the picture, "this will be known as: 'The Journey to Recovering Alice'!"
"Can I see that?" Alice asked, pointing at the album.
Sharon opened her mouth to reply when she spotted Alice's glimmering fingers. Protectively, Sharon hugged the album. "You shall not taint this beautiful fingers with chicken oil!"
Oz sighed, grabbing a napkin from the bedside stand and wiping off Alice's fingers with it. He was rather gentle; his fingers seeming to just barely touch her skin. Click.
"Hey!" Oz snapped. "Quit that!"
"What?" Sharon pouted, admiring her new picture. "It's fun!"
"That clicking is going to drive me crazy one day!"
"Do you like taking pictures?" Alice suddenly asked.
Sharon leapt forward. "It's my favorite hobby! Aside from choosing out things for you to wear, of course, Alice!"
Oz groaned. "It's less of a 'hobby' and more of an 'obsession', if you know what I mean."
"Oh, but you two were so cute just now!" Sharon protested. "I couldn't help it!" She shoved the picture into the album before placing the album on Alice's lap. "Here you go!"
Alice turned to the first page. Each page was able to hold six of the Polaroid pictures in a clear, gleaming cover. The very first picture was of Alice, sitting at a desk in a classroom, head slumped down on the surface while she slept.
"This marked the beginning of Sharon's stalking," Oz remarked.
"It's not stalking!" Sharon said. "It's 'people-watching'."
Alice ignored both of them and looked at each frame in turn. The next picture was of Oz, crouching next to the sleeping Alice and poking at her shoulder. The next showcased Alice lifting her head, eyes still half-closed.
The fourth picture was a continuation. Alice had gotten up from her seat, clearly outraged, and Oz had his mouth open as if he was saying something. The next had Alice's arms blurred: she was waving them around, her face an expression of annoyance, while Oz was just laughing. The last was of Alice firmly planting a fist on the top of his head. He was still laughing.
Masochist…? Alice thought to herself, slightly amused at the miniature movie. She then turned through the next few pages quickly. "Why are they all of Oz and I?"
"Because it's the super lovey-dovey album!" Sharon exclaimed. "It was so cute! I just had to dedicate a whole album to it!"
The super – wha-ha? Alice glanced over at Oz to find that his face had turned a bright shade of red. "Huh?" she said.
"That's right!" Sharon exclaimed. "We didn't tell you!"
"Tell me…what?"
"Alice! You and Oz don't have an ordinary relationship!"
Alice glanced down at the first page of pictures in her lap. "I can see that."
Sharon reached out and shut the album so suddenly that it could have crushed Alice's fingers had she not reacted fast enough. "That's not what I meant!" Sharon snapped, the fire of determination stirring in her eyes. "I meant that you and Oz are in love with each other!"
"Sharon, that's enough," Oz muttered as Alice turned, only to see that his face had somehow gotten redder. She wondered if he was breathing correctly.
"Oz here told me that he's going to go to all lengths in order to get you to fall in love with him again!" Sharon continued, oblivious to Oz's discomfort. "This will make for a better picture, don't you think, Alice?"
Alice, who didn't know what she could make of this, could only watch as Oz stood, walked across to where Sharon was sitting, and dragged her out the door by the ear.
Alice stared at the door, listening to their hissing and whispered argument. She then stared back down at the album's deep red cover. You and Oz are in love with each other!
She felt herself blush slightly, placing a hand on the cover. "Anyways," Oz said as he entered the room. Sharon did not follow. "Now that that's over."
Their gazes met. Oz quickly glanced away, ruffling his hair. "I can't exactly tell you that what she said wasn't true," he began, not looking Alice in the eye. "Because it is."