Changing Tides

Chapter 2

"Estella! Estella!"

Turning around I see Alice running toward me; tears streaming down her face.

"What's wrong? What happened?" I ask, while sprinting towards her. She collapses into my arms and starts sobbing uncontrollably. I hug her tightly, and rub her back while she continues to cry on my shoulder; getting it wet. I don't know how else to comfort her so I murmur comforting words in her ear. After awhile she calms down; and her tears no longer fall. Alice lets go of me looks up towards my face; her eye amazing brown eyes are red and puffy.

"I'm s-sorry for g-getting your shirt wet," Alice hiccups "But I just c-couldn't help it."

I shrug. "It's all good. Now can you please tell me what happened? Why were you crying?"

"M-my parents kicked me out. T-they say that I'm a disgrace to the family. It's because I-I'm not smart, like my b-brother. Because I'm w-wasting their money on a degree that they don't want me to have. I don't want to become a doctor! Why can't they just see that?"

"They kicked you out?! For that reason? What?!"I screamed "How could they! Do you want me to talk to them?"

"N-no. I know my parents, and once they've made a decision... it's final. I just don't know where I'm going to live or..." Alice explains before bursting into tears again.

"Hey hey hey, no more tears Alice," I say as I embrace her in another hug. "You can stay at my place for as long as you need to. Everythings gonna be okay."

"Do you really mean it? Oh thank you! Thank you so much!"

                                                                                         *****

*Beep Beep Beep*

My eyes shot open. Groggily, I reach over to where the clock was beeping on the nightstand and turn it off. It was 5am; an hour and a half before my first job at McDonalds. Man, I really hated working there; but I had no choice. Ever since Alice moved in with me I've been working two jobs to support us. With her attending college, and the rent, it became a struggle to afford anything above our most basic needs. It didn't really matter to me though, she's my best friend, and I enjoy her living with me. Plus she kept the house clean, I honestly couldn't ask for more.

Yawning, I quietly crept out of bed, as to not wake up Alice. Although I couldn't resist glancing at her sleeping form. She was curled in a ball, and her long hair was a mess; which made her look so adorable. Wait... adorable?! There's that feeling again. I still can't describe it; it happens everytime I look at her. Shaking my head, I tiptoe over to the dresser and take out my work clothes. A black shirt with the McDonald's logo, and khaki pants. I take the clothes and walk out of the bedroom and into the bathroom, to change and make myself look presentable for work.

                                                                                        *****

Quietly shutting the bathroom door, I walk into the living room and turn on the lamp. The light from the lamp also illuminates the small kitchen; which is connected to a side of the living room. I head towards the cupboard in the kitchen and take out a small blender. Placing the blender on the counter I take the cord and plug it into a wall. After that, I Make my way over to the fridge and take out a carton of milk along with some cubed pineapples and oranges. Then I combine all of my ingredients together in the blender, and turn it on. I watch as the pineapples and oranges get blended together with the milk, turning it into a light orange smoothie. After awhile I turn off the blender, and watch as my smoothie stops spinning.

Suddenly, hands cover my eyes. "Guess who!" Alice says

Slowly, I raise my hands up until they're covering Alices. Resting my hands upon hers, I lightly drum then with my fingertips. "I don't know... I know for sure that this can't be Alice, she's still asleep. Who else could it be? Maybe a ghost?" I hear giggles behind me, and Alice lowers her hands down to my waist. She hugs me from behind quickly, then lets me go. Whirling around, I look at her and she looks up at me with her gorgeous brown eyes. As I stare at her, she starts to smile, and it's the prettiest thing in the world to me. I smile back, and hers gets even bigger. Suddenly she stretches up on her toes and kisses me lightly on my chin. My smile drops, and my jaw hangs open in surprise.

"Don't you have work today?" asks Alice. "You can't be late again you know!" She says, while bopping me on the nose with a finger.

Blinking, I look at my watch and realize what time it is. " Oh crap, you're right! Thanks Alice!" I shout, completely forgetting about the kiss. I run and grab my car keys, while Alice pours my smoothie into a cup for me. I take the cup from her; and down it all in one gulp. She takes it back, and our fingers touch, reminding me about the kiss. I look at her and open my mouth to speak. But before I can she starts pushing me toward the door; reminding me again about not being late for work. I let her push me out the door, and I stumble down the steps towards my car. I look back up towards the door, and Alice blows me a kiss before she shuts it.

Shaking my head, I walk towards my car, a silver Honda civic, and hop in. I put the keys in the ignition, and start up the car. As it warms up I buckle my seatbelt and begin to back out of the driveway. Why did Alice kiss me? Does she like me? Do I like her?

The above pic is Alice.