Just Friends

*20*

"Alice?" FP's voice is accompanied by her trailer's rickety front door opening and closing.

"In my room!" She calls back, pulling her hair out of the ponytail she had secured. She's done and redone her hair more times than she can count, and she had changed her outfit so many times that she can hardly see her bedroom floor.

"Geez, looks like a bomb went off in here."

"Just step around it," she snaps. "I don't have time to pick it up."

He does just that and plops himself down on her bed. "Well aren't you just a ray of sunshine."

"I'm sorry, I'm just nervous. Lance will be here soon."

"Ah Lance. You're still planning to go out with him?"

"Unless you have a reason why I shouldn't," she responds, whirling her head around to lock eyes with him. "And even if you do, it better be a damn good one."

"I'm just sceptical is all."

She doesn't even try to hide the way she rolls her eyes. "FP we talked about this, you're not my parent, any screw up I make is my own."

"I know, I know, it's just... I don't know, you haven't heard from the guy since the party and now suddenly he's back and you're going out?"

"He didn't have my number."

"Just sounds a little fishy is all."

"Whatever." She dabs at the lipstick at the corner of her mouth, and gives her hair a tousle. "You don't see me commenting on your dating endeavours."

"I also haven't had a rumour spread about me."

"Keep being an ass and you will."

"Sorry. If you think it's fine, I'm sure it is."

"It is. It will be." She heads the crunch of gravel under tires and eagerly hops up from her spot in front of the mirror. "That's him! You stay here and keep quiet, don't ruin this for me."

"I'm not a child, Al." He points out but obliged nonetheless, he does like seeing her happy and if Lance can bring that beaming smile to her face than maybe he's not so bad.

She skips towards the front door and sucks in a breath before swinging it open. "Hi-" her face falls as she lays eyes on the person at the door. "Oh it's you."

"Well hello to you too." Fred snootily retorts, a little offended by the reaction.

"I thought you were Lance."

"I'm more attractive." He quips. "I was looking for FP but he's not at his place, figured you might know where he is?"

She nods and steps aside to let Fred in. "FP, it's for you!" She yells through the trailer, being answered by the sound of heavy footsteps.

"Fred!" He cheers.

"Now that's the kind of reaction I deserve!" Fred grins.

"Alice has a date."

"I was wondering why you were all dolled up."

"Too much?" She bites at her lip nervously as the boys look her up and down.

"You look great, Alice. You always do."

She smiles, casting her eyes downwards in slight embarrassment. "Thanks Fred."

"Where is he taking you anyhow?"

"Minello's?"

Fred's eyebrows furrow. "As in Liza?"

"No thats Minelli." FP answers. "I'm pretty sure Minello's is an Italian place on the Northside, pretty nice too."

"Oh gosh, should I be changing?" Shes suddenly and too aware of the outfit she has on, maybe she should have opted for something lighter in colour, something more elegant than the mini skirt she's wearing.

"What you're wearing is fine."

"But-"

"Al, you look great." FP assures her. "Now if I'm right, I believe I hear a car."

Alice scurries over to the window and peers out just as Lance pulls up. "Okay he's here." She confirms. "Oh and he's getting out, he's coming to
the door! Go! Hide!" She shoos the boys away and they crouch behind the couch, out of sight of the door.

"Hi!" She greets as she swings the door open.

"You look incredible, just like I remember." Her cheeks blush at the compliment. "You ready to go?"

"Yeah, just let me grab my jacket." She walks over the couch and picks up her jacket from the arm, peering over at FP and Fred. "Lock up when you leave." She whispers, and with that she's gone, slipping out the front door arm in arm with Lance.

"So her and Lance huh?"

"Yeah." FP responds blandly.

Fred smirks. "You seem happy about it."

"Isn't it just the slightest bit odd to you?"

"That Lance asked Alice out?" FP nods. "No, she's pretty, that's relatively normal. He's just lucky he hasn't seen her crabby side."

"No, I mean, they haven't seen each other since the party, and suddenly after that rumour gets spread he wants to go out with her?"

"Didn't they already sleep together at the party?" Fred questions, uninterested as he sits down. "What kind of influence would the rumour have on him?"

"He could just be using her."

"Or he could just really like her."

"Yeah... yeah, you're right." FP plops down on the couch beside Fred. The room is silent for a moment, until FP perks up again. "Hey you want to grab a bite to eat?"

"Sure," Fred agrees, never one to turn down a meal. "Where?"

"Minello's."