This Chapter's song is Fully Alive by Flyleaf! Listen along to the song while you read along!
The annoying monotonous beat of the alarm clock rung through her bedroom and shook her out of her blissful sleep. Alice got up and hopped out of bed and walked over two her wardrobe, where she grabbed her uniform and hurriedly dressed down. Stepping over to her vanity, Alice skillfully grabbed her hair into pigtails and clipped her bangs back. Grabbing her book bag, Alice marched down to the Kitchen to grab a slice of toast with a peach marmalade spread. Heading out of the mansion alone, Alice walked down the familiar path too her school. Which didn't start for another hour.
Heading for the art building, the blond saw her small Japanese friend waiting at the entrance.
"Ohayo, Alice-chan. I hoped you slept well." He offered his greeting.
"Morning, and I did, thank you." She said in reply and walked with him to the practice rooms. Alice had been busy after school the majority of the week, like usual, and had to miss band practice. So Kiku offered to meet her early in the morning to help her practice for tomorrow night. This week they were only doing three songs, Alice had decided on Fully Alive and needed to practice it with Kiku. She had called Ludwig about it and he said he would be able to meet with them thirty to eight.
Much like Kiku, Alice had a nervousness about singing. It didn't happen when she played the guitar, but she wasn't confident in her singing enough to actually try before now, and lived vicariously through helping Kiku with his own stage fright. Now she would finally give it a shot herself. Perhaps they could even do a duet one day.
After thirty minutes of practice, Ludwig showed up and played his part in working on the songs, and at 7:50, Gilbert appeared to accompany them on the drums.
Alice was the head of the disciplinary committee and had a irregular meeting this week. When it was usually Thursday during lunch, today it was being moved to after school because the guest speaker had something come up and had to reschedule. Thus she could not make it to practice today either.
The ten minute bell range at 8:10 and the group separated to head to their respective classes. Of course when Alice arrived in her class, a certain American had covered her seat with some green slim she couldn't even recognize. Naturally she gave him lunch detention.
During the lunch hour he would not shut up as he continuously complained out loud from his seat in the back of the classroom, which made work all the more difficult.
"This is sooo boooring! Why are you all such stooges?" He whined as he chopped down his burgers.
"Quiet back there!" She snapped at him and tried to focus on her work in her "office", which was actually a large cubical. Lars had walked up to her with the data she had asked for.
"The event committee's quota this month was £120. The cost of three food trucks would be at the minimum, £8 an hour. Since the event is four hours long, that would bring it up to £96. Leaving £24 to hire entertainment." He stated the records.
"Good luck with that! Hope everyone enjoys bobo the clown!" The American hollered.
Alice played no attention to him and continued with their conversation. "The event committee is still trying to repay their debt from the last one. Is there anyway we can lower their interest or increase their debt?" She asked."
"No. All participants of the money lenders program are to be accommodated equally. Even you, the president, cannot ignore this rule." Lars said firmly.
"Then can I take funds out of one group and put into their quota?" Alice persisted. Alfred watched their little meeting with slight interest from his seat. At least is was more interesting that watching paint dry.
"Once again, everyone must be treated equally." The Dutchman gave his concrete his statement.
"But what if it's a group who didn't use this month's funds? One I was in control of."
"And which one would that be?"
"The disciplinary committee. Where haven't done recuperation exercises this month so we still have our entire quota in tact. Will I be able to transfer our quota to them?" The blond female questioned.
"Mmm. I suppose. But you will have to take it up with the program's director." Said Lars.
"Okay, I can do that." Alice smiled.
Just then the second lunch bell range, meaning they had five minutes to get to their next class. Alice finished organizing her papers before heading out. Immediately she noticed that Alfred was walking literally a hairs length away. Alice thought it was because his class was near so she went off course and went around the building and even headed for the girls bathroom. But when she stopped and turned around, he was still there.
"Can I help you with something?" She questioned him suspiciously.
"Just trying to figure you out is all." He replied.
"Figure me out?" She echoed.
"It just doesn't make sense." Alfred sighed and rubbed his neck.
"What?"
"The fact that you would try to go against rules to try to give others financial support. Aren't you the president hell bent on following rules?" The American questioned the Brit.
"I wasn't breaking any rules." Alice pouted. "Besides, Chelles came to me asking for help. It's my job as president to try to accommodate everyone here. Equality isn't always justice."
Alfred didn't say anything more so Alice simply walked away. He didn't follow her, but did watch her form retreat. After she was gone from his sight he turned around again and went to his own class. 'She may be rotten, strict, and humorless. But she tries.' Alfred thought to himself as he walked down the hall. "Ah, but she's still a pain in the ass!"
The next day went very much like the day before, except no pranks from the stupid American. In fact, Alice barely saw him at all. He seemed to be preoccupied with his thoughts and seemed to be out of it all day. N-not like she cared or anything! He was too stupid for her to worry about. She had more pressing matters to think about, Band Bash was today. Alice had gotten to school early again to practice. However, she was still not one hundred percent sure she was ready to sing in front of all those people.
As the hours ticked by Alice secretly wished that they would slow down. She was slowly becoming paranoid and as she sat alone in her room after school, waiting for the Bash that would happen at seven, Alice was begging to have second thoughts.
Alice's phone buzzed and she looked down at a text from Kiku. I'm out front.
Groaning, Alice hopped up and grabbed her backpack with her clothes and wig and headed out, giving her parents the usual story of a weekly study group. Kiku sat in the driver's seat of his Subaru and smiled when she got in.
"Are ready, Alice-chan?" He friend asked her calmly. Alice gulped and gingerly nodded her head. Then they were on her way.
Once there, Alice quickly headed to a storage room designated as the changing rooms and got out of her regular clothes and put on a ripped of the shoulder white shirt that showed her black bra and a pair of black short shorts. Accompanying the look she put on knee length black laced boots and a plain choker. To finish the look she hid her hair in her usual bright pink wig; which was expensive so it looked real.
Walking out with her backpack in tow, Alice meet up with the other band members and set up their equipment on the makeshift stage in the warehouse. This time they were the opening act.
"Hey England." Gilbert called out. "Did you bring the spare aux cord and speaker like I asked you too?"
"It should be in Japan's car." She told him.
"Well, why don't you go get it? I don't know where you guys fucking parked." He snorted from his drum set.
"Okay bitch damn, don't get your panties in a twist." She retorted. She left her spot tuning her guitar to retrieve Kiku's keys. Heading out she went back to the car and unlocked the trunk to get the speaker. Though she had to admit, it was heavier than she had remembered. Alice nearly tripped and dropped it when she felt a pair of hands reach out and steady her.
"Woah, careful!" A voice said behind her.
"Oh, thank y-" Alice stopped herself when she saw that it was Alfred who had just helped her. 'What the fuck is he doing here again?!' She screamed in her mind. "Thank you." She finished.
"No problem. So... what's your name?" He inquired, a hit of red coating his cheeks. He seemed to be fidgeting slightly in his spot. It was actually kinda cute.
"England." She smiled.
Alfred looked at her quizzicaly. "Your name is England, seriously?"
Alice chuckled a bit. Typical idiot. "No, it's my stage name. Sorry, but know can't give you my real name."
"Oh. I guess that makes sense. Well I'm Alfred F Jones." He grinned.
Alice found herself smiling back. Alfred just seemed so much nicer than usual. "Well it's a pleasure, but I have to get going." Alice said and span around to walk away, but found Alfred had decided to chase after her, even going so far as to carry the speaker for her.
When they arrived back in stage, everything was set up and Gilbert stood irritated by his drums.
"Dude. What took so unawesomely long?" He questioned her on the spot.
"Sorry, I ran into someone." She pointed at Alfred and turned back to him.
"Well we're going to start soon, you should probably get off the stage." Alice said to him. Alfred gave a quick okay and waved goodbye before jumping down.
"Got a new boyfriend huh? Kesesese." Gilbert gave her a smirk.
"Shut up, Prussia." She grimaced. Gilbert only laughed again and sat down behind his drums.
Kiku stood at his keyboard and adjusted the mic in front of him. He looked at Alfred in the crowd, then over too Alice. But shook his head and focused of finishing setting up.
About five minutes later Band Bash began; Gilbert stupidly introduced the band and they went on with their first song Numb by Linkin Park, then be somebody by Thousand Foot Krutch. Kiku sang with his normal steady, but passionate voice and the songs ended before they even started.
The time was finally here. Alice slowly walked up to the center microphone and looked into the crowd. Almost dead center stood Alfred wearing a bombers jacket, looking expectantly at her. She took a deep breath in and have the signal to start. Starting the beat with her fingers, Ludwig followed with the bass, which came back to her, then back to him, then back to her, then they continue combined and Gilbert joined. In. Kiku just stood on the side because they didn't need any other instruments besides the two guitars and the drums.
Suddenly fear dissipated as Alice felt a wave of excitement rush over her. It was intoxicating and addicting. She felt adrenaline rush as she strummed her guitar and sang her lungs out of air, but craved more.
[Listen while you read!]
Telling Layla's story spoken
Bout how all her bones are broken
Hammers fall on all the pieces
Two months in the cover creases
Fully alive! More than most, ready to smile, and love life
Fully alive! And she knows how to believe
In futures
All my complaints shrink to nothing
I'm ashamed of all my somethings
She's glad for one day of comfort
Only because she has suffered
Fully alive! More than most, ready to smile, and love life
Fully alive! And she knows how to believe
In futures
Fully alive! More than most, ready to smile, and love life
Fully alive! And she knows how to believe
In futures
Fully alive... (x3)
Fully alive! More than most, ready to smile, and love life
Fully alive! And she knows how to believe
In futures
Alice danced partly on stage, swinging her hips to the beat as she poured out her soul into the song. Alice looked through the crowd and found her eyes lock onto the familiar blue irises of Alfred. Their eyes stayed locked through the rest of the song and she couldn't say why. But the feeling of his gaze seemed to energize her only further.
Alice finished her note with a jump and breathed heavily into the microphone as she thanked the crowed. Thus concluding their stage time and clearing it off for the next group. As they hurriedly moved their instruments to the backstage. Alfred heard her stage name being called out and looked over to see the American jogging up to her.
"You were great up there, England." He told her.
"Thanks, I'm glad you think so. That was my first time singing in front of an audience." Alice replied as she placed her electric guitar back into its case.
"Well you should do it more, you were great." He offered a smile.
Alice nodded and was about to leave to put her guitar in Kiku's car, when Alfred grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving.
"I, uh...um." The scruffy blond blushed hard and awkwardly avoided eye contact. Which kind of annoyed her. "Would you maybe like to, uh, have lunch this Saturday?"
"Yeah." She found herself saying before she could stop herself. Wait what had she just agreed to? She hated Alfred! He was such a jerk to her all the time, plus he had no respect for school rules. But when she saw the look of pure happiness wash over her face, Alice didn't know exactly what to think and started to think he was playing with her. 'Yes that's what this was! It was all a game to try to find out my weaknesses! He must have figured out I'm actually Alice. Well then you sneaky son of a bitch, I'll play along with your little game.'
"Really?" He confirmed.
"Yes, where do you want to meet?" She asked sweetly. Too sweetly.
"How about... The taco shop on Main?" He suggested.
"Okay. Does 12 o'clock sound good?"
"Yeah. See you tomorrow then?"
"Tomorrow."
The two gave their farewells before going their separate ways. When he left her vision, Alice's smile dropped and was replaced with an expression of annoyance. 'Let the games begin Jones. I'll always be one step ahead of you.'
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I'm sorry it took so long, I was just about to upload chapter five when I realized I forgot to upload this one. Sí two chapters in one night yay!
Just so you know this is going to be musical type story with a lot of songs every other chapter. But I'll do my best to fill you with more content than songs. Also if there is a song you want to appear in this story please let me know.
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