Something About Alice Murphy: BOOK 1

P A R T - O N E

Chapter One; The Lake House.
___________________________________________

Alice stood at the gate of her best friends house, the black umbrella held above her head as rain gently coated the waterproof layering. It was just coming up to seven o'clock on a Friday night and the storm that had been towering above Summerland and decided to let up, only a little, for the weekend.

The gate buzzed and clicked open, allowing Alice to slide through before she pushed it shut again and made her way up the stepping stone pathway alongside the short driveway to get to the front door. "Hey," Candice Eno grinned, who had been one of Alice's best friends ever since freshman year. She stood aside and let Alice pass through the modern front door and step into the warm villa-style house with its large glass windows and slate floors. "Can you help me with my hair?" she asked, "Olive is no help," she added she lead the way through her large, beautifully designed home and to her room.

The sound of Fade by Kanye West flowed from Candice's speakers, but managed to get louder as she pushed open the door to her room, revealing the wide open minimalist space covered in small piles of sparkly clothing, make-up and shoes. In the centre of the room Olive Lopez salsa danced lazily with a red cup and a straw in her hand, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the music. "See?" Candice smirked, glancing back at Alice who also smiled seeing Olive's behaviour.

The trio had been inseparable since freshman year, they knew almost everything about each other, had the same taste in music, alcohol, boys, politics, books... they could even finish each others sentences if they were into that sort of thing. "So, this Christmas party..." Candice began as she sat down at her vanity and Alice immediately began to help her style it, "Is there a theme?"

"I don't know, it didn't say." Alice said, admiring the softness of Candice's hair. She looked so much like a young Naomi Campbell, it was a mystery as to why she hadn't tried to start modelling.

"Nice isn't it?" Candice grinned, patting the top of her head, "It cost me enough," she laughed, noticing how Alice was playing with her hair before she began to curl it. Alice grinned,

"I liked the lilac lace front you wore this summer, it looked so good," She complimented genuinely, even though deep down she felt the warm trickle of friendly jealously since her best friend made every single colour look good. From a bright orange to mint green to pastel purple. Candice grinned as well and settled down to have her hair styled as the music continued to flow throughout the room.

The three sixteen year olds got ready together, dressing themselves up in short, glittery dresses as they danced and drank to music, sipping stolen alcohol from the cupboard downstairs since Candice's parents were out at the School's monthly PTA meeting. "I'm gonna go get some more coke," Alice announced, her head feeling a little light from the drinks she'd already consumed. She left Candice's bedroom shortly after and made her way through the house with a red cup in her left hand, her hair tied up in a messy bun on the top of her head since she couldn't figure out what to do with it yet.

She could hear the music from the bedroom as she entered the kitchen, pausing momentarily as she noticed Candice's older brother Trey and another guy from his circle of friends, Charlie, each of them seniors. She took in a deep breath and smiled warmly yet shyly as she approached them and went straight for the fridge as their conversation stopped in her presence, "Hey Alice," Trey said, his deep brown eyes eerily innocent looking as he watched her,

"Hey," she replied and pulled another coke bottle from the shelf.

"Little early to be drunk, isn't it?" Trey smirked, glancing over her short glittery pink dress that complimented her milky skin tone well. She noticed him looking in her peripheral vision and turned to face him fully,