Ineffable

iii. party at alec's

now / in which sawyer attends a party and drags her friends along

 When she parks her car in one of the many vacant spots available in the car park, the sky roars with oncoming thunder and rain. She shuts her door quickly, stuffs her hands into her pockets, and power walks towards the steps of The Masterson Design Institute. The automatic glass doors pull outwards in opposite directions as she walks in with ease. The lobby, for the first time since she has ever set foot in the building, is bare and void of bustling bodies. Everyone has gone home yet, the person she is looking for remains here, overworking herself as she always does.

She takes the lift up to the sixth floor and walks down the corridor until she reaches the room she’s searching for. She does not knock. There would be no purpose. Alice, with her thoughts on work and her hands around sewing pins, will not hear her. And she’s right because when she walks in, Alice is at her cluttered desk, working away like it’s 9 AM on a Monday and not Friday night.

“How does a party sound?” Sawyer asks, smiling brightly in the less than bright four-walled room.

“Can’t. Have to finish this before tomorrow.” Alice replies, not looking up from her work. Her fingers almost shake as she drags the sewing needle threw the cloth.

“Oh, come on, Al. It’ll be fun. We haven’t gone out to a party in ages.”

This time, Alice looks up and says, “I have to make sure everything is perfect. Everything has to meet Cassie’s standards or I’m done. I can’t lose this job, Sawyer.”

Sawyer feels an urge to snort in disapproval. She would hardly label what Alice does for long hours of the day a ‘job.’ A job adheres to certain rules, more often than not takes into consideration a person’s aptitude for healthy living and provides them with sleeping time, and at least puts some kind of food on the table. Alice’s ‘job’ does none of that, and whether she wants to admit it or not, Cassie Masterson is a key reason why.

“I wouldn’t pull you away from this if I didn’t feel the need to,” says Sawyer, “you know that and I know how much this job means to you. But, look at yourself, Al ― you’re breaking. You need to get away, even if it’s just for a bit. Come out to the party. Some time away from this place would do you good. Get your creativity flowing, even.”

Alice shakes her head again, “no. I need to finish.”

“Al ―”

“You go on ahead. Don’t miss out because of me.”

“If you don’t come, it won’t be fun.”

Nothing.

“I’ve heard there’s going to be fishsticks. You love fishsticks!”

Nothing.

“Okay, fine. I suppose I’ll just cancel on Nico, then.”

Alice’s head snaps up at the sound of his name. “It’s his party?”

“No, Alec’s throwing the party. But Nico’s his best friend. Of course he’s going to be there. Actually, Nico is expecting me to be there, with you. He’s the one that invited us.”

“Nice Pallas invited me? You’re lying.”

“I’m not.”

“Yeah, you are. He doesn’t even know I exist.”

“You just keep on thinking that. He’s still got that t-shirt you gave him, ya know? The David Bowie one? He wore it to rehearsals once.”

Alice’s eyes widen. “You’re fucking joking. Tell me you’re joking, oh my God.”