All The Right Noises

strange

           Keith, you got time? Can we meet?

           Says the text Alice sent to Keith, still left unread for about an hour now. Looking back, Alice regretted the moment she stepped foot into that house and has been fighting the urge to let out some pent-up thoughts and emotions. Keith was always the one who listened to her family problems while she does the same for Tamara. They were both better listeners than the latter. Although, with Keith's behavior as of late, he wasn't particularly proving that much.

            He finally replied and agreed to rendezvous at the park. Afternoon came and the tension on Alice's shoulders went away, but it didn't last long when they met. It was no surprise that Daisy was with him once again.

           "I didn't know you were coming." 

           "Sorry, Alice." It sounded much more like a greeting than an apology, in a way.

           Alice didn't know how to act in front of Daisy. She never was one who's good at dealing with these situations since, well, she never had experienced this sort of thing until lately.

           "Hey, Alice." Keith smiled, "I was with Daisy when you texted." He looked back at Daisy and—as if she immediately understood the circumstances—backed away a bit but not too far off from him, giving them privacy. Still, her presence was bothering Alice. Things such as family issues should not be discussed with outsiders around, even if they're your acquaintance who was six feet apart from you.

           "So, what's up?"

           "Keith, I . . . I can't exactly talk about this with someone else here."

           "Daisy? Why should you worry? She's your friend, right?"

           "Yes, but we—we never talk about these things."

           "Why not?"

           Alice froze on her spot. It was weird for Keith to ask such a thing. They've known each other for years and he should know very well that Alice is not a sociable and open person. She's overly wary of other people—one to pick her circle and who's going to enter her life. Yet, it's as if Keith doesn't remember those details. What happened that made him feel like an unfamiliar person for the past couple of days?

           Alice glanced at Daisy who was waiting on a bench. She's pretty sure Keith is attracted to her, no doubt about it. But wow, what an influence she had on the guy!

           It was true what Tamara said, that love was literally making Keith blind and stupid.

           "Am I disturbing the both of you on your date? If so, then we can talk about it later." Alice clenched her jaw. As if he would remember, anyway.

           "N–No! You got it wrong, it's not a date! And isn't what you're supposed to say urgent?"

           Alice shook her head. The fact that he even felt the need to prioritize clearing up that it 'wasn't a date' first irked her.

           "It's fine, we'll catch up later. You guys go . . . I have something else to do." It was a lie though, she had nothing to do today.

           Keith looked at her straight in the eyes, "You sure?"

           "Yep. Go enjoy yourselves."

           "Alice!"

           She heard her name being called as she stood in the very middle of the university cafeteria, looking for Tamara. They were supposed to meet and eat there for a change. Tamara wanted to remember how the food in the cafeteria tasted like since the last time they ate there was their first week in university when they were freshmen.

           Alice looked around and finally found the person calling out to her. She had this bubbly smile on her face as she approached her, looking ecstatic to tell her something.

           "Are you alone?" Daisy asked.

           "I'm, uh, waiting for Tamara."

           "Oh, okay . . . " She bit her lip, waiting for the right timing, "Er . . . You're probably surprised about Keith and I."

           'Keith and I'? Alice asked in her mind. She made it sound like they're official.

           "What made you bring it up?" Alice's tone sounded condescending, but just enough to not sound rude.

           Daisy's expression looked apologetic with the way her eyebrows furrowed, as if she caught that slight change in the tone of Alice's voice.

           "I notice things you know . . . Like how you and Tamara are uncomfortable around me—around us."

           Well, Tamara's one to make it obvious that she does not sit well with certain situations to prove a point, so of course she'll notice.

           "I'm just guessing you're surprised since it was all too sudden, y'know, that Keith and I are hanging out and all that though we barely even know each other."

           Alice nodded as a gesture to let her continue. As she listened to Daisy who told her how it all started—how Keith comforted her when she broke up with her boyfriend one night at the bar he coincidentally was in for a gig, how she was very thankful for it and wanted to know him more because he seemed so kind and all that—Alice thought how strange it was that Daisy knew about what's going on in their circle all too well. She approached her knowing how Alice exactly felt, and for that reason gave her an explanation.

           Maybe Alice wasn't the only one who thought too much about it? But why? Were Alice and Tamara too harsh when they expressed how uneasy they were with the two of them, prompting her to 'clarify' things?

           But most importantly, did she have to explain herself? Was there really a need? If so, why?

           There was so much going on in Alice's mind, and not knowing what to say next, she ended up ending the conversation with an: "Oh it's fine, I understand."

           Just where is Tamara when she needs her?