05.

Alfie

"Oh yes that is wonderful Helen, yes Lacey is such a superb singer," I heard my mother's trill voice raised above the sounds of clinking glasses and others talking. Oh god not another drinks party.

"Oh yes I know, but Sandra do you think you could get her in this year, she has such potential don't you think?" another anxious female voice responded.

"Ahh here is my son, Alfie. Alfie this is Lacey's Mom."

Ahh dear Lacey George's Mom, she'll never know what her daughter got up to with a thirty year old business man over spring break.

"Hi," I said and stuck my hand out awkwardly to shake hers.

"Where do you plan on going next year?" the papery woman asked.

"Brown, but I might just go touring with my music instead," I said and I couldn't help filling with glee as my Mom's smile tightened.

"Oh my but Brown, you must be a clever one," Mrs George said looking at me encouragingly.

"Not really, but I try," and with that I hastily exited the room and flew up the stairs.

Day number two of hell I thought as I smoothly slipped my pick up into the slightly too small parking space.

I internally cringed as I saw her, happy as anything waiting at the front door, whistling to herself, her clothes were actually toned down a bit today, jeans, same mauled cowboy boots, tie dye t-shirt and a bag that looked like Mary Poppins bag, ok so maybe not so much toned down.

Then she did the weirdest thing as I was just standing harmlessly by my truck, she waved at me. Yes she actually did, I was not having a momentary delusion she actually waved at me, and not just a little Queen- of- England -type wave but a hand- in- the- air- smile- and- wave, wave.

How were we suddenly on waving terms? When did that happen?

"Hey Alfie are you coming or not?" Sam said from close by me.

"Yeah, of course," I said quickly shifting in to motion.

"She waved at me." I hissed once we were in home room.

"Seriously man, she is old news, just ignore her," he said and turned to ogle Lucie's tight top.

He was right.

"Hey Alfie, how was your Mom's drinks party last night? My Mom wanted me to go along, but I had loads of work to finish," Greta said perching on the edge of my desk.

"Oh no worries."

"Hey Alfie, remember tonight yeah?" Lacey George said her perfume so strong it made my eyes water.

"Tonight?" I asked incredulous.

"Yes, you're helping me rehearse my songs, you said you would Alfie," she moaned and Greta rolled her eyes and moved over to where Blake and Sam were sitting.

"Oh yeah, no problem, tonight of course, see you at…"

"Five, I've got other play stuff on before that, five, ok Alfie?"

"Yep, five it is then," I said and as she trotted off I flopped in my seat.

An hour of Lacey Georges warbling was enough to bring a man out of a coma I swear, whoever cast her as lead in the production obviously was tone deaf.

"One more time?" she asked leaning against the piano her cheeks red from her screeching.

"Actually its pretty dark out, I probably should get back." I said.

"Oh well do you need a lift back, I've just got my new BMW," she asked, the idea repulsed me.

"No, no it's ok, I've got to collect some things you go back, on your own seriously."

"Oh ok, well see you tomorrow Alfie, and say hi to your Mom from me," she said and exited the room, finally I could breathe again with out being suffocated by her perfume, but my ears were still ringing from her clamoring earlier.

I watched out the window to make sure her headlights had disappeared before I headed outside.

It was cold outside, typical September here; I blew on my hands to warm them up as I unlocked my car.

I started the car up and it revved to life and then swiftly spluttered and died.

"Shit," I said out loud.

There was no one back at school, lights all off and empty, so I rummaged in my bag for my phone, hoping, just hoping that today would be the day there would be signal here, not that any other days of school for the past four years there has been on my phone, it would be a miracle.

Yep no signal.

I turned the key again, nothing, knout, zilch.

I unwillingly slid out of the car in to the cold.

"You need some help," a voice came from behind me, it was female, and sounded like, well just like the happiness right before your heart breaks or the voice of a dream just as your waking up.

As much as it was a beautiful tinkling voice it did freak the hell out of me coming from the darkness.

"Has your car broken down, do you need a lift?" the strange smoky voice said again, then she popped out from under the shadows, Penelope Astrata. I should have guessed only someone as complex and weird as her could have a voice like that.

"No!" I said a little too briskly that a little smirk appeared at her lips.

"I'm ok thanks," I sneered.

"You don't look too ok," she said patting my arm.

She patted my arm; the freak patted my arm, so I shoved back and felt bad afterwards as I made her stumble.

"Ok well if you're sure, but its cold tonight so…"

She didn't give up easily, what was her problem?

"Ok, fine you can give me a lift," I caved.

I followed her in the dark, how the hell could she see where she was going, and then she stopped in front of a car, no, not a car, a Yugo.

I gingerly got in; it did not look too stable.

"Where to?" she asked merrily.

"Umm thirty three Fork street."

"Ok," she said and flicked on a tape, and then came the soft tinkling of, if I remember correctly from my childhood, that song from Pinocchio 'When you wish upon a star'.

God I was tired, I thought as I stifled a yawn, or maybe it was the song, and the dancing headlights on the dark road and her humming along but I could have fallen asleep right there.

"You're a very good musician," she said and again the strangeness of her voice shocked me.

"Urr thanks," I grunted.

"Do you just play piano?" she said grinning her face lit up by the dashboard light and the streetlights shining through the windows.

"No, I umm play guitar as well."

Oh how uncomfortable this conversation was I thought.

"That's nice, I love music, you have a very beautiful house," she said.

Oh yes thank god we had finally stopped. I had to check twice to see that it was actually my house, and she hadn't taken me to some creepy place to kill me, but no, it was my same white suburban house with its picket fence and painted porch.

"Thanks for the ride then," I said fumbling with the seat belt.

"No problem, umm Alfie?"

"Yes," I replied hesitantly I really wanted to go.

"Do I scare you or something?"

"N-no," I said.

"Ok, well see you tomorrow!" she said smiling again.