4 A Glimpse of Alice's Secret Skill

"This is too expensive, let's just leave and eat somewhere else." Vincent whispered when he saw the menu at the restaurant they were gonna eat in.

"Don't worry, it's my treat, so just sit down will you?" she beamed.

"Is this really Alice?" the other guys thought. As far as they all know, Alice never treated them anything before. She's the type of friend that prefers to be treated not to be the one treating.

"Hey Gerald, order a meal set that's good for eight people." Alice ordered. Gerald headed to the cashier together with Lance, Matthew, and Vincent.

"So Alice, why did you decide to treat us suddenly? What's the catch for this?" Josh asked as they took their seats.

"Well, let's just call it an advance celebration for you guys. So make sure you won't fail me okay?" Alice chuckled.

"Quit your act," Mark scoffed.

Alice eyed him confusingly "What?"

"This, I know you well enough Alice. You're probably going to leave the bill with us afterward," he said coldly. The smile on Alice's face was immediately replaced by a frown.

"I already gave Gerald the payment Mark, is that really what you think I'd do? You know I might act mean or sometimes I can even be a self-centered bitch but I'll never do something like that." she said with a tinge of hurt.

From under the table, Alex stepped on Mark's foot harshly causing him to jerk. "Sorry," he said with guilt.

Alice rested her chin on her palm, she sighed. "So what should we do afterwards?" Josh asked as he slyly changed the subject.

"We'll stay at my room, I've made some plans over there," she then faced Mark. "If you don't want to go it's fine with me." Mark only rolled his eyes and shook his head in annoyance. "Anyway, while we're waiting for our food..." Alice trails as she pointed the table across them. "Want to make your moves?"

Alex and Mark nearly fell off their chairs when they saw Julianne, Mia together with their other friends eating there as well. "I'll just go first Mark so that it won't be too obvious," Alex said as he stood up, but Alice grabbed his arm. "What will you do once you go there?" she asked.

Alex scratched his head as he thought for a bit. "I'll ask for some toothpicks?" he said.

Alice resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "We're at a restaurant Alex not a cafeteria." Alex thought again.

"I'll ask where the bathroom is" he answered.

"That sounds inappropriate and disturbing," Alice deadpanned.

"Then what do I do?" Alex whined.

"Ask her where the movie room is if she says yes then ask her out if she says no ask her out. Either way, just ask her out, I don't think she'll turn you down so easily especially since we are in a place like this." Alice explained.

"I don't know if I should be thankful or offended with that." He groaned.

"Just do it," Alice shoved him away.

Alex took a deep breath and went near the girls' table "Hi! Nice meeting you here." He greeted casually. Julianne's friends suddenly looked at her and giggled, not long ago almost everyone in their year level found out that Alex likes Julianne and it was all to be blamed on a certain female, mischievous, and a loud brunette who happened to be a close friend of his.

"So, do you girls know where the movie room is?" He asked nervously.

"Answer him Julianne," Mia said with a giggle.

"It's just three rooms to the left of the lobby," Julianne answered.

"Uhm, thanks. By the way, Julianne what if we go and watch a movie sometime? Well, if it's alright with you of course." Alex suggested.

"Sure" she smiled. "I'll look forward to it, I'll just text you."

Alex waved as he returned to their table. "That was nerve-wracking" he exhaled.

"Great job Alex," Alice cheered as she gave him a high five.

Mark stood up "My turn," he breathed.

"Good luck Romeo!" Alice taunted.

"Hey Mia," Mark greeted casually.

"Oh best friend, what brings you here?" she asked cheerfully.

"Well, Alice wanted all of us to eat here, you know her a self-centered control freak slash mafia boss wannabe," He grumbles. "By the way, I was wondering if you want to hang-out with me sometimes. We'll be here for two weeks so spending time with someone else seems nice," Mark said.

"Sure thing and if Alice hears you, you're doomed." Mia giggled.

"She won't do anything and I'll text you then," Mark said before returning to the table. "That was easy," he said in his usual calm voice.

"Lame," Alice teased, from under the table she stretched her foot and kicked Mark right on the knee "That's for calling me a self-centered control freak slash mafia boss wannabe." She glared.

Mark could only whimper and sigh in relief that Alice didn't hit the place she was actually aiming for. It didn't take long for Gerald, Matthew, and Vincent to return with their food. "Let's eat!" Gerald said as he happily picked up his spoon and fork.

After eating, they headed towards Alice's room. They were all minding their own businesses when Alice called Matthew's attention. "Hey Matthew, I got a hold of Therese's Line account. Talk to her for a while," She said as she gave him her phone. "Make sure to introduce yourself." She reminded.

"Cool, thanks, Alice. I'll do my best" Matthew grinned.

Alice smiled at him then she went near Vincent and Gerald who were busy watching TV. "Hey you two, Angela and Joanna are about to arrive here so get ready." Alice told them.

As if on cue, they heard a knock on the door. Alice pointed the door and Gerald opened it and as he was expecting he saw Joanna and Angela. "Hey there," the two greeted and they all greeted in return.

"So, do you have the DVD you're talking about?" Angela asked. Alice nodded as she took out something from her bag, she tossed it to Vincent and gestured him to give it to them.

"Thanks," the two said. Alice eyed Gerald and Vincent but both seemed clueless in the situation.

"So, you're watching the movie by yourselves?" she asked loudly. "That's sucks," she said as she looked at Gerald and Vincent.

"Oh-oh, you know if it is okay with you two, we could all watch it together" Gerald suggested.

"Yeah, I'll bring popcorn" Vincent chuckled.

The two girls giggled as they looked at each other. "Okay then, we're planning on watching it once we're done with the first exercises, I guess we'll see each other then." Joanna grinned.

"Yeah, see you!" They waved as the girls left.

"Hey Alice, Therese said she'd love to go out with me sometimes," Matthew said happily as he waved Alice's phone.

"Hey easy on that, drop that and you're dead," she said as she snatched the phone away from him. She nodded in approval as she read their conversation.

"Seriously Alice, you're not bad at this. I don't know if you're just really lucky, all of us had encounters with our crushes today and you've made advance plans on some of them?" Josh asked.

"Like what?" Alice still had no inkling to what her friends are talking about.

"Look, Jayne has Josh's number, Sarah's at the arcade at the same time we were same with Mia and Julianne at that restaurant, you found out about Therese's account which Matthew never heard of and you knew the exact time that Joanna and Angela arrived." Alex explained. The confusion was lifted off Alice's face.

"Meeting them was just our luck, and I did some research on the girls I'm like a database informant, you know? I know a lot of things about everyone in our school. I actually know who Jayne's crush is, and I won't state the obvious. Joanna and Angela talked to me about the movie so I told them to meet me here at a certain time so I know," then she took out something from her pocket. "And I've been reading some tips on relationships and courting so that I could help you guys," she said.

"Wow, that's just awesome." Josh chuckled.

"So that's what you were reading in the arcade, I guess we should thank you." Lance grinned.

"That's nothing, I know you guys would need some help." Alice grinned sheepishly. "By the way, we have activities for tomorrow so you guys can have your dates on the following day," she told them.

"Hopefully the dates go well, I think we're all on the right track now," Mark mused and Alice nodded.

"Good, now get out of my room." Alice continued reading the pocketbook.

"Rude as always," Matthew teased.

"Bye Alice." Gerald smiled as they went outside, he was about to close the door when Alice called for them. They all look back at her.

"I know I'm not really supposed to be meddling with your relationships but thanks for letting me anyways. Do your best! You got this" Alice smiled as she gave them her usual gesture of balling a fist. The guys smiled as well and Gerald closed the door.

Meanwhile, outside Alice's room… "I wouldn't mind seeing Alice smile like that every day," Alex sighed happily.

"Yeah, she looks less scarier like that." Josh chuckled and the other guys agreed.

"I guess there's a girl in her after all." Mark teased.