Something About Alice Murphy: BOOK 1

P A R T - T W E N T Y - S I X

Chapter Twenty-Six; Andrenaline
Monday 11th, February
___________________________________________

The school bell rang loudly, echoing through the hallways of Summerland High, signalling the beginning of lunch for all of its students and faculty. It was a bright yet cold, crisp day with a few clouds lingering in the sky, and the town seemed alive with energy preparing for the nearing holiday.

Alice walked out of her psychology class with her books gathered to her chest, her hair sleeked back behind her ears as she sighed heavily. The class she'd just been through had been intense... discussing mental health issues had made her uncomfortable, and on top of that they'd been given their assignment grades back and she was too nervous to look at it.

Alice began her usual walk back to her locker, dressed in a bright pink long sleeved top and a tight black and white checked mini skirt, she caught the eye of more than a couple of people. The hallways were lined with red and rainbow coloured balloons dangling from the ceiling, plastic red roses attached to lockers, and fake love letters stuck to the walls along with massive posters saying love is love. It was no secret that her school was obsessed with holidays, they'd done the same enthusiastic decor in the lead up to Halloween last year and Christmas too. She liked the dramatics of it all, especially since it made her feel a little special since every year for her birthday the school was covered in fake red flowers and balloons.

She was excited for lunch that day, excusing the fact she'd skipped breakfast and was starving, but the weekend had given her a lightness in her step, even though it hadn't been all smiles, she felt like a small weight had been lifted off her chest. She was excited to talk about the gathering with her friends, since Candice had gotten a little too drunk and had to be taken home a little early by Fei, she'd stayed behind and talked more with Jasper, who then drove her home politely at about eleven o'clock. She couldn't even remember what they'd spoken about since there had been no specific topic, on top of the alcohol she'd drunk it all seemed a little fuzzy, but nevertheless, she felt a little lightheaded from the interaction.

She could remember the smell of his car and wondered why, out of all the things, she remembered that faint cinnamon smell... and slipped into an accidental daze as she thought about it whilst walking down the hallway on her own...

She barely noticed who she walked past, but glanced up at the last moment, hearing his voice as he closed his locker, stood with two of his friends. Magnus and Alice made eye contact briefly, since he'd noticed the bright pink top and bright blonde hair out of the corner of his eye and looked over with interest, only to meet the blue eyed gaze of Alice Murphy. She felt her heart clench and ache with pain, and looked away and increased the pace that she was walking, the dazed happy expression now replaced with a tense one as she turned a corner and disappeared into the sea of students released into the hallways for lunch.

"Have you spoken to her?" Trey asked, having witnessed the brief and fairly awkward interaction. "Since the argument?" He added as Charlie lent against the locked and put some gum into his mouth, watching the direction that Alice had just gone.

"She wants me to respect her decisions, so no, I haven't." Magnus replied bluntly.

"Isn't it her birthday this week?" Charlie asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he picked off a fake rose from someone's locker and stared at it.

"So?" Magnus replied, his tone suggesting he was now annoyed with the topic.

"I was just saying." Charlie murmured, glancing at Trey who looked a little disappointed.