Alice (permanently on hold)

Lucky

Her real name was Evangeline Asher. She chose her nickname because her parents hated it. She liked making her parents angry.

Lucky had six siblings. Two brothers and four sisters. Their ages ranged from seven to twenty-two. Lucky was the second oldest.

Lucky was eighteen. She drove a 1964 Ford Mustang. She had an old Pit Bull named Bella who liked to sit in the passenger seat.

Her only friend was Michiko, no last name given. Michiko was not a likable person. Lucky thought Alice was her friend. Alice did not agree.

Lucky was standing at the bus stop when Alice stepped out.

"Alice!" Lucky cried cheerfully. She threw her arms around Alice. Alice didn't return the hug.

Michiko was also there. She raised her right hand in acknowledgement. With her left hand she snuffed out a cigarette against the cinderblock wall behind the bench.

"What are you doing here," Alice asked.

Lucky said, "Oh, we wanted to see you!"

"Don't you have work?"

Lucky worked at Happys, the town's generic burger place. She had work ten to eight every weekday and Saturday over the summer.

Michiko stood up and said, "Day off." She dropped her cigarette butt on the ground. Alice instinctively bent over to pick it up. Michiko smiled.

Alice sighed. She didn't like Michiko very much. She placed the butt in Michiko's hand, then turned to leave. Lucky and Michiko followed.

"I really don't have time for this today," Alice snapped without turning around, "We aren't kids anymore. I have things to do." This did nothing to prevent them from following Alice to her destination.

Her destination was the fencing studio. Alice had taken lessons there for years, and eventually Chouvin had asked her to help out. The pay wasn't much, but it was enough for Alice. And besides, fencing had always been a waste of time and money before.

It was a Wednesday. Alice only taught on Wednesdays and Fridays. Alice was not a good teacher. She didn't have to be. Her job was not necessarily to teach. Just to watch the children train.

Alice turned to ask once more if Lucky and Michiko would please leave her alone. They didn't budge. A grin and a smirk plastered on their respective faces.

Alice sighed in annoyance, but she unlocked the doors anyway. Legally, they were allowed to enter. Anyone was.

"Maître!"

Alice turned to see one of her students, Isa, running towards her. Isa's cat, Minnow, trailed behind her. He followed her everywhere.

Alice smiled and said, "Hello Isa."

Isa paused at the door to catch her breath. She leaned over, hands on her thighs, smiling as she panted.  Alice didn't mind Isa. She was a nice kid.

"Hello Isa," Michiko echoed. Isa's eyes lit up.

"Ko!" Isa cried, springing up, "I didn't even notice you!"

Alice frowned as Isa gave Michiko a hug. Michiko could be nothing but a bad influence on Isa. But Alice supposed it was none of her business. She sighed again, and walked into the building.