Living Without A Heart

Pop's

Sitting in a booth at Pop's, Alice and Hal were discussing football. Alice didn't care about sports- the only time she was interested was when FP and Fred were talking about what had happened with both of their teams. 

"Here are your milkshakes. Alice you have a day off from work and you spend it at work- you do make  me laugh." Pop said smiling.

"Aw thanks Pop and who'd want to be anywhere else?" she laughed. It was the first time she'd laughed since they'd left school.

"So Ali what are you interested in then?" he asked changing the subject.

"Erm it's Alice, and I'm into journalism. You? other than sports that is." she replied.

"Really? No way me too! I love playing sports but it's just a hobby really." 

"Perhaps we should work together at the Blue & Gold," she said sarcastically however he missed this.

"That sounds like a great plan Al!" he exclaimed not noticing her gritting her teeth.

"Oh! a real shocker moment happened today but you'll see soon- they should be here any minute."

"They?"

"Yeah, I arranged a double-date." he said.

"Why didn't you tell me? or ask me?" Alice demanded.

"Sorry! I didn't think you'd mind- most girls don't."

"Alice isn't most girls though... "

She didn't have to look to know that voice. It sounded strange though- a mixture of amusement, restraint and shock. 

"FP! you made it! I didn't think you were gonna show" Hal stood to pat FP on the back. "Erm Gladys, you can sit beside Alice- don't worry she won't bite!" 

"How would you know" Alice said icily under her breath.

She barely spoke for the rest of the night- she did however have to go to the toilet constantly which propably raised some suspicions. In an instant she hated the vixon. She was the one FP blew her off for before she did the pregnancy test and now here she was acting like she'd die for him. Alice would certainly kill for him and she just so happened to have someone who was shaping out to be a good candidate. Alice wasn't happy to be on a date with Hal but FP seemed happy- had he moved on so easily?

"I'm going to go home- I'm tired." Alice began.

"Yeah, you look it." Gladys said quickly

"Excuse me, do you-" she was quickly cut off by Hal saying "I'll walk you home"

"No it's alright- you stay."

"It's dangerous out there for a young, pretty girl like you to be on your own." He argued.

"Considering I have more of a chance protecting both you and me then you have protecting just one person, I think I'll take my chances. I worked at the Whyte Wyrm since I was fourteen- I learnt to take care of myself. Thank you anyway- good night." She said forcing a smile and leaving. She didn't want to be rude- it wasn't Hal's fault after all.

"Jeez! you try and be gentleman! she's pretty cool though..." Hal commented and Gladys giggled. 

"Hey! She's not wrong you know. The amount of guys who left the Wyrm with a broken nose when they tried it on!" FP recalled with an admiring smile on his face.

"Well, how would you know huh?" Gladys questioned seriously.

"Because we grew up in the same neighbourhood our entire life." he explained matter-of-factly.

*****

"So how did it go? I want all the details!" Mary pestered.

"Awful! Really awful! He was talking about sports for the first twenty minutes, then I snapped at him because he called me 'Ali' then he springs a surprise double-date on me! Gladys is not someone I like in the slightest by the way! and then he was like 'oh I'll walk you home, it's dangerous for a young, pretty girl like you' and I wanted to slap him and then I told him I'd have a better chance at protecting us then he would- I said good night and I left!" this was all said in a rush and then followed with a deep sigh and a faceplant on the table.

"So you can't wait for a second date then?" Mary mused.

"Ugh... I don't know- he's not a bad person, I just don't think I gave him a fair chance," she replied thoughtfully "I doubt he'd want to go out with me again anyway..." 

They both headed to class and finished the day when Hal came over to Alice's locker again.

"Hey Alice? I think we got off on the wrong foot on Friday and I thought we might try again? I really like you Alice." he said softly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about how I acted the other day. It was a tough day and quite frankly I don't like talking about sports anymore, I don't like it when people make decisions for me and I certainly don't like it when people think I'm weak or need protecting and mollycoddling." she replied expressionless.

"Understood. I'll do none of that, I'll try and not patronize you and we should be good! So maybe try again this afternoon?" 

"I can't, I have to work but I'm free on Wednesday." she reasoned.

"Wednesday it is then!"

Wednesday came around and they had a much better date, so much so that they ended up going on more dates and even 'took the next step'. However, it wasn't special to Alice (it didn't mean anything to her) she just felt guilty. He was her boyfriend now and as kind and dutiful as he was he just didn't make her happy. He wasn't FP.