This Chapter's song is Afterlife by Avenge Sevenfold, listen to the song while you read!
...
Friday had come yet again after a sad and confusing past couple of days caused by her mother's daily lectures on why allowing herself to appear weak and feeble to another person was absolute taboo, as well as Alfred's contribution by acting strangely concerned for her well being, while still being an asshole at the same time, all finally ended and led to yet another night of bash and rebellion. Tonight was also the night that Alice was meant to have a dinner date with Alfred as her alternate persona, England. A big step from lunch she would say, but it secretly made her happy that she'd be able to see more of the boyish side of him that she never got to see at school, it made him more adorable.
Lacking practice for any new songs, mainly because she hadn't been able to be at practice for the past week, the band had decided to play songs they already knew until they got at least three new songs down, which meant she wouldn't be singing tonight. Alice was a bit disappointed because she wanted to sing for Alfred, n-not in that way! He just said that he liked her voice is all.
Alice had told her mother that she would be spending an extra hour at her weekly "study" group tonight to hide her date and her secret, she seemed to by it because she didn't question it, perhaps she thought Alice was trying to make up for her earlier mistake. As if it could even be called a mistake on her part, her mother claimed she had caused for not paying attention and walking without signifying her authority. Basically her mother said she was attacked because she walked like a coward. Ever since the attack, her mother hasn't shown a single sign of concern for Alice's wellbeing, spending all of her time lecturing her instead of caring for her, just like usual.
Lacking practice for any new songs, mainly because she hadn't been able to be there for the past week, the band had decided to play songs they already knew until they got at least three new songs down, which meant she wouldn't be singing tonight. Alice was a bit disappointed because she wanted to sing for Alfred, n-not in that way! He j-just said that he liked her voice is all.
Alice walked at a snails pace down the long polished marble corridor, decorated with lavished paintings and red velvet curtains, and made her way to the sanctuary known as the student council room, where she spent ninety percent of her time when she wasn't in class or at home. Since she didn't have many friends, her only friends being Kiku, Gilbert and, as much as she denied it and hated him, Francis, though he is a wanker. Though they were bandmates she really didn't consider Ludwig a friend, but he was friends with Kiku so she tried to get along with him, but he was such a twat sometimes. Still, at the moment she was alone and it made her feel a bit like a loser. Kiku was at his weekly anime club and Gilbert was with his idiotic trio, which Francis was in as well, so that basically left her friendless. Alice mentally face palmed herself for sounding so pathetic, was she really so bad at interacting with others that her only friends were an adorable otaku, a self-absorbed underage alcoholic, and a perverted frog? Okay that just made her feel worse.
Alice walked into the council room and headed to the right down a new hallway which held three rooms, one for treasury, the vice president, and her new office, the secretary's desk was at the front when she first walk into the council room where it should be, the rooms for the the other members were to the left with one giant meeting room in the middle of it all, she guessed it couldn't be called the student council "room" anymore. Alice grabbed her box of materials from her old cubicle, which was being donated to other parts of the school, and stepped into her office, which would be the first time she'd been in there.
The office was quite large, with an empty bookcase on the right side of the room and a filing cabinet to the left of it, on the left side of the room was a wooden storage cabinet that was long in width but short in height, only reaching her waist. Above that was a large picture of the White Cliffs of Dover and a potted plant in the corner. In the center was a nice green couch with wooden lining and a small coffee table, unnecessary but lovely for resting and tea time. Finally, in the back center of the room, with a large clear glass window behind it and green curtains pulled to the sides to allow light to flow in, was a large spruce wooden desk with a dark brown leather arm chair behind it and two simple chairs in front. She would have to give thanks to the interior designers because her office looked-
"Awesome new office, prez." A voice sounded behind her.
"Ah!" She yelped in surprise, hopping up a bit, and spun around, turning to face the new comer at the door which just turned out to be Alfred, no longer wearing the eyepatch, but his eye was still a vague shade of light purple from where he was punched. "Jones!"
"Still," he ignored her and walked in past her, collapsing onto the couch and propping his feet up on her coffee table. "It's a bit big for you don't you think?" He gave her a once over.
"No I don't think." Alice quipped back and strided over to him and kicking his feet of the table. "What are you doing here, Jones?"
"Nothing much, just wanted to see the office that will someday be mine." He chided in an annoyingly cocky voice.
"Pfft- as if you could ever become president." She mocked, walking over to her desk and setting her box down, opening it and began to unpack.
"I totally could, I'm from the great US of A! Democracy is in my blood." He declared from the couch, Alice didn't turn around to look at him and continued to unload, but she guessed that he was doing a ridiculous pose.
"Place of birth have nothing to do with what you can do and what you can be. It depends on your passion and will to strive for what you want. On the amount of time you dedicated yourself to become the best you can be and not giving up when your backed into a corner with no support but your own. Following what makes you happy in life, despite what she may think and wants you to do." Alice rambled on, not realizing that she was beginning to get personal until it was to late. "N-not like that has anything to do with me! I w-was j-just giving an example-"
"Is it your mother?" He asked softly.
Alice felt her throat go dry, wanting to answer, but not wanting to appear weak in front of him again. "It's nothing for your concern." She answered in a fake strong voice, still not turning to face him. Alice had finished unpacking her personal items and began to organize her desk, however, against her will, her silence gave him her answer. Although she refused to turn, Alice couldn't feel the intensity of the stare he was vigorously drilling into the back of her skull like a carpenter with a jackhammer. The room remained in a tight airlock as she unpacked her box on her desk to the point where a pen could be heard dropping from the next room. When she finally unloaded all of her personal items on the dark wood desk and walked around the length of the table to the opposite side to organize them into a pleasurable arrangement; a pencil sharpener on the left front edge; a Union Jack placematt in the center, a little rubber anger toy to relieve stress on the side, a small calender and a clock on the right, with a gold colored placard facing the opposite way that said: President Kirkland. Alice then filled her drawers with office materials and paper, along with various other papers. During her little set up, Alfred awkwardly said nothing, simply staring at her to the point that Alice got mildly creeped out, that is until Alice reached for a small black box and Alfred saw her physically freeze on the spot.
"What is it?" He decided to finally speak to ask his question. Alice didn't want to answer that question, but when she looked up she saw general concern and curiosity in his eyes. Remaining silent, Alice pushed the box to the end of the table, signifying for him to look for himself. Alfred got up from the couch and walked over to where she had placed the box, slowly he opened the lid to find two red hair pins, but one of the broken with the broken piece of to the side of the box. Alfred looked up at her. Alice looked down.
She really didn't want to share the reason behind her reaction, thinking it was a bit childish of her to even be stunted by such an old memory, but, at the same time, Alice wanted to share her tale with Alfred. Beside his outright rude and snarky attitude and his tendency to piss her off, he didn't seem like a person who would make fun of someone's pain, unless it happened in a funny way. However, her story, while a bit kiddish, was not at all funny, so Alice decided to tell him.
"I got these from my grandmother when she came to visit one summer when I was nine. I remember her exact words: ""I've noticed your hair has grown quite long since the last time I visited. You don't want to hide your pretty face."" She said. However I told her I didn't like how plain they were and threw them away in front of her." Alice paused and took a hesitant breath, preparing herself for the next part. "She died that day when a drunk driver hit her with their car. I spent hours looking for her gift, but when I found them... one of the pins had already been broken. I haven't been able to wear them since then, but I haven't worn my hair down since in order to keep it out of my face."
Alice felt silly, getting chocked up over an old story of such a trivial object, and to Alfred no less. However, it seemed that he didn't see it the same way for he made no snide comments or jokes, but instead began to nod his head.
"I know how you feel." He removed his glasses and held them in his hands. "I have a half brother who lives in Canada with his mom, we spent the majority of our childhood together and during that time my eyesight began to worsen slowly. I hated wearing these things and just decided to bump into things and sit in the front, but one day at my brother's hockey practice a teammate swung his stick to high and hit my brother in the head, who wasn't wearing a helmet. He had to get surgery and was stuck with vision worse than my own. So we made a promise that if one of us has to wear glasses, both of us do. It seems ridiculous, but I like how it shows how close we are, even though we're only half brothers." He huffed lightly, a miniature smile alight on his face, his eyes half closed as he looked at his own glasses. Alice, blushing very slightly from the pure adorableness Alfred was right there radiating, pushed her own red rimmed glasses up the ridge of her nose to distract herself from the sudden appearance of his cuter side.
"You know, I don't want us to be enemies." Alice suddenly stated.
"Huh? You wanna be friends?"
"Let's not get to carried away." Alice jabbed playfully and held out her hand for him to shake, "For now, let's just be acquaintances."
"Okay, sure." Alfred took her hand and shook it. "Acquaintances then."
...
Now here she stood on her weekly stage of freedom in the old warehouse that had become so familiar to her over the many months she had preformed and listened to music here. Tonight she sported a large black t-shirt that reached her mid thigh, which she had taken from Scott, which had 'THE BEATLES' written over the chest along with a short pair of jean shorts, which could only be seen when she lifted her arms or when she jumped up. In her hands she held her trusted six string with a Union Jack print on the front, and cherry red through the rest of the guitar. Their band had just finished it's fourth song and were now moving on to their next and final song of the night. Kiku quickly grabbed a drink of water for his throat and changed the settings on his key board to a cello for the next song, he usually played several instruments that they needed, but didn't have, on his keyboard, such as right now. Gilbert busied himself by cracking his knuckles in his drum seat, while Ludwig, like herself, just stood patiently. When everyone was ready, they began the song and the crowd quieted down before picking back up in volume.
Alfred stood in the front row of the crowd, directly across from England, videotaping their performance.
[Song: Afterlife by Avenge Sevenfold, listen while you read!]
Like walking into a dream, so unlike what you've seen
so unsure but it seems, 'cause we've been waiting for you
Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste
of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway
I see a distant light, but girl this can't be right
Such a surreal place to see so how did this come to be
Arrived too early
And when I think of all the places I just don't belong
I've come to grips with life and realize this is going too far
I don't belong here, we gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife
'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here
A place of hope and no pain, perfect skies with no rain
Can leave this place but refrain, 'cause we've been waiting for you
Fallen into this place, just giving you a small taste
of your afterlife here so stay, you'll be back here soon anyway
This peace on earth's not right (with my back against the wall)
No pain or sign of time (I'm much too young to fall)
So out of place don't wanna stay, I feel wrong and that's my sign
I've made up my mind
Give me your hand but realize I just wanna say goodbye
Please understand I have to leave and carry on my own life
I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife
'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here
Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you
This place full of peace and light, and I'd hope you might
take me back inside when the time is right
Loved ones back home all crying 'cause they're already missing me
I pray by the grace of God that there's somebody listening
Give me a chance to be that person I wanna be
(I am unbroken; I'm choking on this ecstasy)
Oh Lord I'll try so hard but you gotta let go of me
(Unbreak me, unchain me, I need another chance to live)
I don't belong here, I gotta move on dear escape from this afterlife
'Cause this time I'm right to move on and on, far away from here
Got nothing against you and surely I'll miss you
This place full of peace and light, and I'd hope you might
take me back inside when the time is right
Kiku led in the song with a strong voice from the beginning with Gilbert as the backup singer doing the screams, as Kiku hated screaming because it hurt his voice too much. Kiku only needed his keyboard for the cello in the beginning and one other part in the song, so he walked back and forth across the street to face the crowd, then to play the needed string part when it was time to do so. A fight had begun near the song and a mob took place in the back right of the crowd and while Alfred looked shocked, Alice was used to it after her first couple of mobs and continued to play, since they warehouse didn't have any security it was hard to stop a fight once it has started, in fact Alice had been in one or two of her own but tired not to get to involved.
As they walked of the make shift stage the next band, by the rather odd name of The Soviets, who were also students of her school, walked up for their planned music set. Alfred ran over from the crowd and behind the stage to join Alice, who she thought was England, as she packed up. Alice greeted him with a smile, being sure to ask about his eye to fain ignorance, and said goodbye to her bandmates, Kiku giving her a wink and saying "Goodluck", before heading with him to his car to go on their date, leaving her guitar with Kiku so she wouldn't have to take it home.
Alfred ended up taking her to a burger joint, not fast food but not what she would typically eat either, but it was a family friendly restaurant with a nice atmosphere, so she was okay with it. Seated in a corner booth by their waitress, they were left with menus and water until further service.
"So what do you want?" He started off with a question.
"Not sure, I don't usually eat hamburgers." She replied as she looked over the ridiculously unhealthy menu.
"So what? You wanna salad?" He joked and rested his chin on his crossed fingers.
"I'm not a fucking stick." She scoffed and looked over the sandwich selection. "I'll just get a BLT."
"Good choice, I can't decide between the triple stack bacon burger or the double meat cheesy melt." He replied looking up from his menu.
"How can you eat all that grease and not get sick or super fat?" Alice questioned him with a pointed look of half disgust.
"'Cuz I work out like a freaking champ everyday!" He said confidently, posing to show off his biceps grinning goofily at her, then turned his attention back to the menu. Alice rolled her eyes and looked back at the drink selection. When the waitress came back, she ordered her sandwich and an iced tea, while Alfred ended up ordering both burgers and two sides of fries along with a coke.
"His metabolism is going to collapse." Alice thought she thought to herself, but realized she accidentally commented that out loud. Alfred stopped his insane munching for a moment and looked at her, smiling with his cheeks full of food with sauce on his lips and chin, overall he just looked like a large child.
"Thank you for your concern, but nothing can slow my body down." He said with a wink trying to reassure her.
"You should still think of your health. What if you chock or if you get heart disease?" She continued to pester him on the subject.
"I'll be fine, geez didn't know you were this strict." Alfred teased.
'Crap.' Alice cursed in her mind, she had begun to nag him without realizing it, that's something only Alice would do, England isn't supposed to be uptight.
"I'm not, unlike you I watch what I put in my body." Alice huffed blushing, turning up her head in superiority.
"I could put something else in your body." He whispered, leaning in close.
If Alice was drinking, she would have spit it all out right there, but since she wasn't, Alice just blushed harder and turned into a stuttering mess. What kind of guy makes those kind of jokes on the second date?
Alfred laughed at her red face before getting punched in the head, making sure to avoid his eye, but she couldn't help joining in on his contagious laughter after a while.
"Hey England." He said once they calmed down somewhat.
"What is it?"
"I went to the zoo the other day. It was empty except for a single dog.. it was a Shih Tzu." Alice paused for a moment in confusion until she got the joke, and busted out laughing again, attracting negative attention from the other customers.
"What kind of bagel can fly?" He asked again.
"I don't know, what?" She giggled.
"A plain bagel."
Her laughing increased and she held her hands over her mouth to try and contain it, this would be her first introduction to Alfred's library of bad jokes.
"I like your laugh." He told her.
"I like you making me laugh."
After the date was over and they had paid and left the restaurant, Alfred once again offered to drive her home, but she once again denied him, needing to change out of her clothes she had in her bag before she went home.
"Are you sure? It's really dangerous to be walking alone at night." He warned her in a serious and concerned voice.
"Yes, I'll be fine Alfred." She smiled.
Alfred still didn't move yet, wearing a frown on his face, but he eventually leaned down and placed a kiss on her cheek. Alice blushed and held her face.
"Goodbye England." He said and walked away.
"Bye." She whispered back, watching his figure till his figure had disappeared from her vision. Once he did she walked back into the restaurant and ran to the bathroom, quickly taking off her wig and putting her hair in a quick low ponytail, changing back into her school uniform and taking out her contacts, putting her red glasses on. Walking out she pulled out her phone and turned on Google map location, finding a route to her house since she's never really been to this part of town. Walking as she watched her phone she tripped a few times over stones and curves. Twenty minutes passed and it still seemed like she was far away from home, at her speed it may take her an hour to get there because of her stupid injuries making it uncomfortable to walk for a long time and the darkness of the night was indeed making her uncomfortable and- oh fuck was that care slowing down next to her? Is the window being lowered?! Is it a kidnapper?! Alice was about to break out into a run when she heard a familiar voice call out.
"Need a ride Prez?" Alfred called. Alice blushed, about to deny him of his offer but her brain screamed self preservation is more important than pride. "Common, I thought we were acquaintances." He called again when she didn't move.
"Okay fine." She mumbled, getting into the passenger seat. She was embarrassed because she was literally just on a date with him that Alfred ended up taking her home anyway when she already told him she could get home by herself, even though he didn't know it.
"What are you doing here?" She inquired as she buckled herself in.
"Just got off a date with my girlfriend, I wanted to make sure she got home safely but I lost track of her. She probably didn't live that far." He answered and he changed the gear shift.
"Well, thank you Alfre- Jones." She corrected herself, remembering that she was no longer England.
"Oh common! You almost used my name, it's not that hard!" He pretend to pout as he drove away from the sidewalk and down the road.
"As long as you call me Prez it's only fair that I call you Jones, Jones." She retorted.
"You got me there." He laughed, but not the same kind of laugh he used with England, this one was more casual, and somehow more relaxed. "Okay then Alice, say my name."
"I see no point in doing it right now with no context."
"Say it." He urged again.
"Why? I see no point in doing so."
They came to a stop at a red light, he looked at her with an unknown and oddly powerful gaze behind his striking blue eyes. Alice didn't know what happened, but she found herself saying-
"Alfred."
.
.
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It's been a while my dudes. Sorry.
Am I writing to ghosts? I enjoy this story either way but are y'all dead?
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