Where Two Collide

Chapter Fifty-Three - Alice

Chapter Fifty-Three

Alice

I rarely woke up before Cat. In fact, it happened so rarely that it usually took me at least twenty minutes for my brain to comprehend what was going on, and why it was not Cats voice or Cats vigorous shaking disturbing me from my dreams. Today was one of those days and not only that, but it was also our seventeenth birthday.

I awoke to the sound of bird song outside the bedroom window. The curtains were drawn, I could see sunlight casting out through a crack where the curtains joined. My first thought was that I am seventeen today, my second was a rush of guilt as I remembered the events of the previous night.

I'd gotten home late, later than I usually did, and I was so exhausted I'd fallen asleep the second my head hit the pillow. If it wasn't for the entire glass of water I'd downed when I'd walked through the door, that would have been it. That would have been the end of it; that was all she wrote, as it were. However, during the night I awoke with the need to pee, and on my stumble walk back in the dark, had left the bedroom door wide open before falling back into bed.

Of course, a series of unfortunate events must start with the first mistake, followed swiftly by further unfortunate events. By chance my dad left his room during the night, and after seeing that our bedroom door was open, came to close it and... saw Cat was missing from her bed. It just got worse after that. I felt like I was betraying my sister as our parents pointed the finger at me and demanded I spill her secrets.

They told me she could be in danger, she could be putting herself at risk, but she'd told me so little, I didn't know enough to be of any use in tracking her down. So, they waited. And I waited. And home she came, to us waiting for her like a fly to the flytrap.

I forced myself to roll out of bed, wearing blankets from my bed around me like a shawl as I tip-toed into the kitchen. We had a special birthday tradition of super over the top hot chocolate. It had started when we were six, when I'd been pulling items out of the cupboard looking for breakfast before our parents had gotten up to wish us happy birthday. It was made up of a mountain of chocolate and sweets and cream and rainbow sprinkles. It was a mess, but it was from then on, our birthday morning tradition.

It was usually Cat who made the birthday hot chocolate, because she was always the first to rise obviously, but today was different. As I piled the ingredients onto the kitchen sides, I couldn't help feeling like it was important I got it right. It needed to be perfect. I owed her that much.

I whisked the hot chocolate in a jug to make sure I got the frothiness just right, then poured it into mugs I placed on little saucers, topping it with squirty cream. I placed every chocolate button, every jelly baby and every single sprinkle with expert precision, then added more to the saucer to top it off. It needed to be perfect.

I balanced the birthday hot chocolate in both hands and used my elbows to get back into our bedroom, placing mine on my bedside table. I kneeled on the floor by Cat's bed and held her hot chocolate, using my hand to waft it in her general direction.

"Wakey, wakey," I whispered.

Cat's eyes flashed open and her eyes met mine. She gasped, sitting bolt upright. "Did I sleep in?"

"Not really, it's still early," I said, holding out her hot chocolate. "A piece offering. And also, happy birthday!"

For a moment I didn't think she was going to accept my piece offering, but then she sighed and took it from me, dipping her finger in the cream to taste it. I went to the window and pulled back the curtain a little to let the sunlight filter through. It was definitely still early morning; the sunshine was still fresh and low making it look all dewy outside.

"Happy birthday to you too," said Cat, and she sighed again.

Guilt washed over me. "I'm so sorry about last night Cat. I got up in the night and forgot to shut the door behind me, and then dad saw you were gone, and it was all such a big mess." I brushed a strand of hair behind my ear and sat on my bed opposite her. "I had no idea mum and dad were having money trouble."

She eyed me carefully. "You were listening?"

"Maybe... Yes." I closed my eyes briefly. "I feel terrible."

"About the eavesdropping or about letting them know I've been sneaking out at night?"

Now it was my turn to sigh. "Both."

She took a sip of her hot chocolate and shrugged. "Damn this is good," she said, momentarily lost in her drink before she continued. "Don't feel terrible. Everything's fine and honestly it's a relief that it's over now."

"Thank goodness. So, are you really going to quit your job?"

She nodded. "I only did it for the cash, and as much as mum and dad say they've got this, I was already mostly there on saving up anyway. I don't need to do it anymore, besides, they were right, I need to focus more on school."

"You?" I scoffed. "You already have the best grades of anyone I know."

"That's not saying much," she said, sarcastically. "Just look at who your friends are."

Just as they'd promised, our parents took us out for pancakes, presenting us both with respective envelopes after we'd finished our maple syrup stacks.

"I know neither of you were sure if you wanted this," said mum as we opened our envelopes. "But me and your dad decided that we want this for you, because it's important to have freedom as you grow up."

"But not too much freedom," interjected dad, giving us both warning looks in turn.

Both me and Cat cringed in our seats. We deserved that.

"Driving lessons?" said Cat, pulling out a gift certificate. "Can you afford it?"

Dad waved her off. "This is important, and I've already told you not to worry yourself about that. It's not your concern. Same goes for you too Alice."

I stared at my gift certificate and felt a queasy feeling rising in my stomach. Maybe it was the pancakes. Maybe not. I wasn't sure I was ready for driving; I didn't want to be in control of a mechanical death-trap. "Awesome, this is great guys, thanks," I said, managing to keep a smile on my face the whole time.

Dad placed his hand on mine, giving me that knowing look only a father could give. "I know you're scared, but I think this is exactly what you need to help you with your fears. Take control of the beast, before it takes control of you."

I smiled back at him, though it wasn't quite genuine yet.

"In this scenario," began Cat, cupping her tea in both hands. "Is Alice the beast, or is the car?"

I jabbed her in the arm with my finger. "Hey!"

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