"Join us, Alice! You need to meet those gorgeous American boys!" Tilly emplored with a giggle.
Alice rolled her eyes. "I've seen them. They're all animals."
She pointedly turned the page of her magazine. "Besides, what would be the point in getting to know them? Before you know it, they will be shipped off to the rest of Europe and slaughtered like pigs."
Both Tilly and their other friend, Vi gasped.
"How could you say such a thing?" Vi nearly shrieked.
"Easily, as I just did, and you know it's true." Alice said in a rather monotone voice.
She looked up at her friends, they had tears in their eyes. She sighed.
"Fine, I'll join you, but I will not dance."
The girls smiled and hugged her.
"They're going to love you." Vi remarked sarcastically. "What a ray of sunshine!"
--
Wearing their second best dresses, the three ladies made their way to the dance hall.
They could hear the music and the voices of the men.
Upon entering the building, Vi and Tilly quickly met up with two privates and left Alice alone.
She heaved a sigh and decided to make the most of it. She walked over to the beverage table and poured herself some punch, making sure to sniff it first.
"Well, hellllooo gorgeous!" Came a voice behind her.
She turned and recognized the man. She knew his last name began with a "G" but couldn't place it.
Putting on the fakest of smiles she nodded at him and sipped her drink.
"I'm Bill Gaurnere. What's your name, Sweetheart?"
"Alice Black."
"Pleasure to meet yous. I see your friends ditched yous." He said, stepping closer.
She grimaced. "Yes, t'be perfectly frank, they dragged me here in the first place, only to abandon me as soon as we stepped inside."
Bill tutted. "The nerve of dem! I shall be your companion for the evening."
Alice gave him a withering look.
"Hey! I said companion, that doesn't mean I'll try anythin'. A gorgeous dame like yourself shouldn't be left alone in place like this."
Alice snorted.
"Where have I had the pleasure of seeing yous before anyway?" Bill asked.
"Kitchens and laundry depo. I'm a volunteer worker here on the base. It keeps me out of the factories and it's a nice change from being a Landgirl." Alice explained, taking a sip of the punch and glancing at Bill.
He had been listening intensively.
"Done it all, have ya?" Bill asked, resting a hand on the table and leaning on it.
"It keeps me busy. I like being busy. I dislike leisure." Alice ended with a scoff, watching her girl-friends flirt and dance with their dates.
"How could yous hate fun activities such as this?" Bill asked, looking rather dumbfounded
"Easily. I don't see the point of it. I don't understand how people could be so happy when we are bound to be devastated later."
Bill stood up straight and stood directly in front of her.
His eyes searched for hers and they locked in.
"You jus' gave yourself the explanation, Sweetheart." His voice was gentle and warm.
Alice couldn't explain it, but she felt her frosted heart begin to thaw in that moment.
It was then when an intoxicated Cobb came up to them and tried to grab for Alice.
Bill immediately stood in between them.
"I don't think so, Cobb!"
Cobb tried to swing at Bill, which Bill dodged.
Cobb stumbled forward, grabbing Alice's arm. Alice struggled and punched him hard in the nose with her free hand, causing him to let go, covering his nose with both hands.
"Ah! That bitch! I think she broke my nose!" Cobb shouted.
Bill laughed loudly. "That's amazing! I'd say you have become an honorary member of Easy company."
Alice couldn't stop the real, genuine smile come to her face.
"Honestly, I needed to wallop someone for the longest time." She admitted, and turned to Cobb. "Thank you."
"What's goin' on here?" A man asked in a low Cajun accent.
"Doc! Just in time. Cobb broke his nose." Bill chuckled.
"How'd you do that, Cobb?" Doc asked, looking from Cobb to Bill.
"Ask the bitch who socked me!" Cobb pointed at Alice angrily.
Doc raised a brow and looked at Alice.
The moment their eyes met, Alice felt her heart jump. She looked away bashful.
Doc looked down, his eyes resting on her hands, seeing the bruise forming on her right hand knuckles.
"Alright, both of you come with me, I'll fix ya up." He said, grabbed Cobb by the arm.
"Oh, I'll be fine, thanks." Alice hesitated.
"Lemme look a your hand, then." Doc demanded.
Alice was about to refuse when she caught a look in Bill's eye.
Sighing, she held out her hand. It was beginning to feel sore.
Doc gently took ahold of it and examined it.
With everyone beginning to crowd around them, the shadows and light changes made it difficult.
"If everyone could stop moving, I'd appreciate it." He snapped.
"If you want, I guess I could go back to the aid station with you." Alice muttered shyly.
Doc looked up at her gave a small smirk. "Good idea."
"I don't know how you got ahold of the booze, Cobb, but you should really lay off of it if you don't wanna be court-marshaled." Doc scolded.
"All I had was two beers, Gene." Cobb grumbled. "An' I was tired of seeing Gaurnere flirting with all the ladies. I just wanted to dance with this one. Didn't know she'd be such a b-"
"Call me a bitch ONE MORE TIME and I swear your nose won't be the only thing your medic will need to patch up." Alice growled.
Cobb's eyes were daggers at Alice.
"Nah, I'll do you one bettah." Gene began. "Cobb, call this lovely lady a bitch one more time, and I'll leave your nose the way it is."
"Seriously, Eugene? You're taking her side? All I did was ask her to dance and she went crazy on me!"
Alice gave a hearty laugh. "Asked me to dance? ASKED ME? Not according to my nor Mr. Gaurnere's recollection, I can assure ye. YOU stumbled up t' us, not saying word, and grabbed for me like I was the last ration of chocolate. And, for your information, while Mr. Gaurnere might have been flirting with me, he was complete gentleman about it. UNLIKE YOU."
A thick silence fell upon them as they continued to the aid station.
Eugene couldn't stop glancing over at Alice and smiling.
--
"Nothin' seems to be broken." Eugene concluded as he examined Alice's hand.
Eugene had checked and treated Cobb's nose first, mainly to get rid of him. It wasn't broken, just bloody and sore. Now that he was gone, Gene could look at Alice's hand in peace.
"Judging by the bruising of yo' hand an' Cobb's face, you have an excellent right hook." He commented with a smirk.
"Thank you." Alice snickered.
"I recommend keeping ice on this an' not overworking it fo' a couple of days." Eugene suggested, slowly putting away his supplies.
Alice nodded. "Will do. Thank you.. erm.. Eugene? Was it?"
Eugene looked back at her and smiled with a nod. "Roe. Y'can call me Gene or Bud. You're welcome... I didn't git yours."
Alice's cheeks flushed. "M'name's Alice. Alice Black."
Gene walked over and offered his left hand to shake hers. "Pleasure t'meet you, Miss Alice."
Alice returned the handshake, speaking softly. "Pleasure's all mine Mr. Roe, in spite of the circumstances."
"Please, call me by my first name." Gene requested, his voice cracking slightly.
She smiled. "Only if you drop the 'Miss' from my name."
"Yes ma'am. I mean, Alice."
"Thank you, Eugene."
They gazed at each other, eyes locked onto one another's. They couldn't feel time passing.
A knock on the door startled them out of their trance.
"Hey, Doc. Is everything alright in here?" Lt. Winters asked, walking into the station.
"Yeah- I mean, Yes sir. Everythin's fine. Alice here jus' got hurt at the dance. But she'll be fine." He spoke quickly, rubbing his eyes.
Alice blushed and stepped back.
"Alice?" Lt. Winters repeated, looking questioningly at her. "I heard it was Cobb who got hurt."
Eugene let out a cough of a laugh while Alice giggled, covering her mouth with her bruised hand.