It's Nice To Have A Friend

3) Alice Is Getting Her Life Back Together

Hermione and Mary came out of their bedroom dressed in their pajamas, both still sleepy from the night before. It had been a week since Alice had stood on their doorstep in her wedding dress, a week since she stayed with the couple and a week since Fred and Mary had offered to get her stuff from the Coopers.

They expected her to sleep in like the other days to get some rest, but they found her busy in the kitchen early in the morning.

"Good morning! I've made breakfast!" She chirped happily upon seeing the two.

"Is everything okay?" Mary asked as they walked to their kitchen table, being confused about where all this energy was coming from.

"Perfect!" Alice smiled brightly, as she poured them a fresh glass of orange juice.

She offered them both a place with a toasted bagel and jam spread on it, and Hermione and Mary shared a knowing look. This was very odd behavior.

"What? Don't you like raspberry jam? I can make something else!" She said, thinking that the exchange of looks was because of what she offered for breakfast.

"No, it's not about the jam. Why are you so cheery?" Hermione asked, clearly confused.

The last week she had barley gotten out of bed because of terrible she felt and suddenly she was jumping up and down like a kid with a sugar rush.

"I decided not to mope any longer, it's time to turn the ship around." Alice told them, determined to change things.

"Don't get me wrong, I will definitely encourage moving on, but it's been less than a week... are you sure that is healthy?" Mary wondered, growing worried about Alice.

She understood she wanted to feel better again, but was forcing things really the right solution?

"That is so sweet of you to say, but I'm truly fine. Trust me." She smiled at the redhead. Mary believed her for now, and so she took a bite of her bagel.

"Wow, this is really good." She hummed, with her mouth full.

"I'm going to Pop's today to ask for a job.  I want to get my life back on the rails." Alice took some food herself, and smiled at them. Hopefully this was the first step of really getting better.

"Do you need our help with anything?" Hermione wondered, wanting nothing more than to offer all the help that she possibly could.

"You are letting me stay here, which is more than enough." Alice assured her softly. She couldn't ask for anything more.

"So, enjoy breakfast, because I've got places to be!" Alice made her way towards the coatrack and took her jacket before leaving out of the door.

"She was acting weird, huh?" Mary questioned, earning a nod from Hermione, who was really starting to worry.

**

Fred yawned loudly as he grabbed a fresh cup of coffee, being surprised to see FP awake this early. He loved sleeping in, but maybe he was about to change that as part of his fresh start.

"What are you doing?" He wondered, as he saw that he was reading the paper, which he never did.

"Looking in the paper for an job application." He mumbled, scanning through the ads with his eyes.

"I think Pop was looking." Fred said, remembering the sign in the window.

"You think he wants someone who would steal a hamburger every now and then?" FP smirked as he looked at his friend.

"No more stealing, FP." Fred said firmly.

"I was just joking, jeez."

"It does sound like a great idea, and so far it's my only shot." He placed the paper aside, not having seen any application that fitted him and his abilities.