Snakes and Ladders - Falice

New Year's Day

~There's glitter on the floor after the party. Candle wax and Polaroids on the  hardwood floor - you and me from the night before.~

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            The rest really is history for a while. Alice and FP remained closer than ever before while still not labeling their relationship. They spent more time together just the two of them, they got to know each other even better though they didn't think it was possible, and they realized that it was clear – they were well past "developing feelings." They were full on in love with each other. They became each other's safety, and it was the best feeling in the world. The word "home" had an entirely new definition, probably because they finally had one.

FP had never been able to find the perfect words to say, but Alice didn't care, because she could hear everything that he wanted to say just by looking into his eyes. For him, actions always spoke much louder than words ever could. She just loved him, it was as simple as that. She loved the good and the bad, the fights and the bickering, the love making and the romantic nights, she loved every part of him.

Their friends had questions, but they never asked them. They knew Alice and FP had been spending an awful lot of time together as they moved on to the brand-new school year, and they could at least piece together the fact that they were sleeping together, but that was all they knew. They didn't want to ask for fear of ruining what Alice and FP had or making things awkward for them, that's how they knew they were the real deal. Alice could honestly say that if it were her, she would have asked just to stir up some drama. Alice had questions too, but she wouldn't dare ask them. Of course, she wanted to know if they were ever going to become more than an unlabeled relationship, but deep down, she was scared of the answer.

~Don't read the last page, but I stay when you're lost and I'm scared and you're turning away. I want your midnights, but I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day.~

It was thanks to Fred Andrews' dumb mistake that Alice got a glimpse of the answer to her questions. FP and Fred had been down at the Pop's one night, hanging out as they did. Apparently, Fred had finally asked him, man to man, what the deal was with Alice and him. It was just the two of them and they'd been best friends for years now, so FP opened up to him.

How did Alice know this? Because meanwhile, Fred had pocket-dialed Hermione Alvarez on the brand-new cell phone that he had no idea how to use. And thanks to the tricky hands of fate, Hermione had heard every word. "I can't remember exactly what he said, but the bottom line is that I think he's in love with you, Alice."

She told her over the phone the minute she'd heard everything she needed to hear from FP and Fred's private conversation. Alice didn't realize how much of a relief that revelation would prove to be, she supposed she'd been worrying about it more than she thought.

"What?" Alice demanded as an uncontrollable grin spread across her face. "How do you know that?"

"Well, he didn't say it, exactly... but all he could talk about was how much he likes you and how much you mean to him and how he wasn't planning on falling this hard for you!" She was practically squealing as she relayed all this information to Alice, "Girl, he straight up said that you were the most important thing in his life."

"He said that?" Alice gasped, glad that the feeling was mutual.

"Word for freaking word. And then Fred asked him what the hell he was waiting for if that was the case and then it got a bit muffled because, remember I'm in Fred's ass pocket, but from what I gather, he's really scared."