12 The Aftermath

Alice groaned as she opened her eyes. Once her vision got into focus she saw Josh. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"You're sleeping on my bed you idiot," Josh grunted.

"Why are you shouting at me?" Alice asked as she immediately sat up, which only caused her head to ache. As she fell back down she rubbed her temples with her fingers. "Damn, it hurts." she groaned.

Josh chuckled. "That's gonna be a bad hangover, it's your first time getting drunk right?"

"Drunk? What do you mean?"

"You don't remember anything? You got drunk last night. Tiffany spiked your drink, you were such a handful last night." he narrated.

"So that's why it tasted weird, I thought it was a new flavor." she chuckled as she continued rubbing her temples.

"Just wait a little longer, Mark and Gerald just went out to buy medicine for your headache," Josh said.

"Where are the others?"

"Matthew, Lance, and Vincent brought our breakfasts, they'll arrive soon and Alex is there sleeping, we've been watching you the whole night."

"What for?" Alice asked.

Josh grinned sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, you weren't yourself last night so we had to keep watch in case you did some weird antics again."

"Antics? What exactly did I do?" she wondered curiously.

"Nah, nevermind that, just go to sleep. We're not going anywhere so don't worry." Josh yawned as he placed his arms on the bed.

"Thanks," Alice smiled as she closed her eyes again.

"I kinda liked the kiss even if she didn't kiss back at all." Mark said, the blush on his cheeks getting darker.

The others gasped. "You're serious?" Gerald asked. Mark nodded slowly.

"How did you feel when you kissed her?" Josh asked.

"I just felt like I didn't want to finish the kiss at all," he looked down in embarrassment.

"That's how I felt when Jayne kissed me," Josh said. "Could it be that you really are starting to like, perhaps even love, Alice?"

Mark laughed. "Oh come on, last time I told you guys that you all insisted that I don't."

"But it's different now. You were in love with Mia at that time but now it's different." Lance explained.

"No, there's no way that I can move on that easily and it's also unfair for Alice. Maybe I just felt that way since it was my first kiss. I'm pretty sure I did something really stupid." he sighed.

"I don't get it Gerald," Mark declared after pondering over their talk the previous night.

"Get what?"

"Everything, first I hate Alice's guts then I get concerned and the next thing I know I was kissing her?" he said in frustration.

"Why did you kiss her anyway?" Gerald asked.

"I wanted to shut her up," Mark answered quickly.

"There are many ways to shut her up. Just admit it Mark, you wanted that kiss."

"What the hell Gerald?" Mark whined.

"Seriously, you fight so often, once she starts with her taunting everything else is invisible and you give all your attention to her, you enjoy your fights, you've gone on a date even if there are far many ways to avoid doing it, you tended her wound when she got in a fight because of a girl who likes you, you slept in her room, you do your best to cheer her up, you felt guilty when she cried because you got indirectly rejected, you stayed with her last night and you kissed her and the best clue would have to be when you proceeded on with your date after Tiffany slapped her."

Mark's mouth was left agape at his friend's unexpected ranting. How did they find out about the last part? Were they following them during the date?

"Honestly Mark, even I could tell that you have feelings for Alice."

"Darn it Gerald, are you high on drugs? How can you tell that? If I didn't love Mia I never would've cried when I got rejected."

"Because you're stubborn, wait did you just say that you cried?" Gerald grinned.

"Nevermind that, you were watching Alice and me during our date!"

Gerald laughed. "Well, we were suspecting that you won't continue it but you took it seriously, we even saw you hold hands!"

Mark's face turned red. "Damn, I really hate you guys."

"But anyway Mark, think about what I said."

"Forget it. This talk never happened you blasted pig!"

"Man, that's mature."

"As I've said, forget it!" Mark walked away from him.

Gerald laughed and chased after him. "You're a hopeless case."

Gerald and Mark entered the room they were surprised to see both Alex and Josh asleep and Alice was gone. Mark rushed to wake Josh up.

"Hey where is Alice?" he asked.

Josh groaned as he got up and looked around the room. " She was just asleep minutes ago." He yawned.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked as he stretched.

"Alice is missing!" Gerald screeched.

"Hey, calm down, I'm over here." they turned to see who it was, and fortunately it was Alice. She was with Matthew, Lance, and Vincent. "Sorry I just went back to my room to take a shower and change clothes, when I was on my way back I ran into them." she explained.

"Let's eat!" Lance said cheerfully.

"Alright let's eat," Alex said as he distributed their food.

Once they were done eating, Matthew took their garbage and threw them at the wastebasket, he suddenly remembered something. "By the way does Alice know?"

"Oh right, it's about your question a while ago Alice." Josh said.

"How did I act last night?" she asked.

Alex laughed and the others stopped him. "N-nothing you kind of collapsed afterward." Gerald laughed nervously.

"I'm not buying that excuse, Josh told me about me doing weird antics," she said with seriousness.

"You were kinda wild," Josh said.

"And loud," Mark grunted.

"But you got quiet when Mark kissed you," Alex laughed. The others jumped on him and they landed on the floor. It took a while before Alice's brain processed everything. A vein throbbed on her forehead.

"What?!" she roared.

Mark quickly stood up. "I'm sorry, you provoked me." he clasped his hands together and bowed slightly.

"I was drunk and unaware so that doesn't count," she averted her eyes from him. "So until now I've never been kissed."

"Yeah, you haven't." Mark agreed.

"That's unfair to Mark he liked the kiss!" Josh teased.

The rest got up. "Yup, it was his first kiss." Alex laughed.

"Shut up!" Mark yelled. "Anyway Alice did you know that Alex called you a seductive creep last night? Josh was stunned when you bit his ear, I mean he was blushing isn't that wrong for someone who just got a girlfriend?" Mark smirked. Before Josh and Alex could even think of an excuse they both got hit on the head.

Meanwhile, Mark was laughing at the other end of the room. "Admit it you're disappointed that she said it doesn't count." Gerald whispered.

Mark turned away. "No way. I'm glad it doesn't count. It's a stupid mistake."

Once Alice was done lecturing them about her alcohol problems, she ordered them to buy some bubble tea for each of them. It was her way of saying thanks for taking care of her the previous night. For some reason, the other guys told Mark to stay behind, and surprisingly, he agreed.

The guys immediately bought eight bubble teas, they were supposed to head back to the room when Josh thought of something. "Don't you guys think that Tiffany's gone way too far? What if we go and talk to her, she might stop." he said.

The guys thought for a while before they all gave a determined nod. "But make sure Alice doesn't find out, you all know she doesn't want us to interfere with this." Gerald reminded. So they all looked for Tiffany, they saw her in the lobby. They excused her from her friends and they headed outside.

"What do you want?" Tiffany didn't even bother to hide her hostility.

"Stay away from Alice," Alex decided to go straight to the point.

"We know you tried to hurt her once and we know you added vodka to her drink last night," Lance's eyes narrowed.

"Even if I did it, you have no proof." she smirked.

"Yeah, we don't but if you try to harm Alice again things won't be good." Alex warned.

"Like I care," Tiffany rolled her eyes.

"You're a psychopath." Matthew stated.

"By the way Tiffany, every time you harm Alice, Mark becomes more and more concerned for her and he's also beginning to despise you." Gerald starts. "So be careful of your actions because in the end you might regret it, especially if Mark falls for Alice." Gerald finished as they walked away and left Tiffany in pure shock.

Meanwhile back in the room, minutes of awkward silence passed by but Alice decided to break the tension since she couldn't take any more of it. After all, she did cause it. "By the way, about the kiss… how'd it feel?" she asked awkwardly. "I mean it was your first kiss after all,"

Mark blushed. "Hey it was your first kiss too,"

"No, I was unaware so it doesn't count," Alice chuckled.

"Well that's unfair but I think the kiss was good. I mean I didn't hate it, but I kinda regret it."

"Why?"

"Because I took advantage of you," he looked down.

"Nah, forget it. I did say that it doesn't count so chill." Alice shrugged.

"If you want I can kiss you again but this time you're sober," he smirked.

"Smooth Mark, very smooth."

The two turned around and they saw their friends right behind them. Their eyes widened and heat rose to their cheeks. They heard everything!

"We brought bubble tea," Vincent smirked.

"Not one word," Mark slapped his forehead in embarrassment as he followed them.

The next days went on as usual, they meet up and they hang-out, by those days Tiffany didn't bother Alice nor did she ever show up. They'd only see her whenever the students are gathered to do a recreational activity together with their teachers. They were shocked when their teacher told them that the ship will dock in a few hours and that their retreat would soon end. Hours later the ship docked and the students fell in line as they left the ship.

"The days go on so fast," Alice sighed.

"Yeah, it sucks." Mark agreed.

"Hey, what'll you do? Prom is getting nearer." she asked.

"I don't care anymore," Mark honestly said.

"I guess we're both loners huh?" she giggled

"I guess so," Mark breathed deeply.

"Oh look my parents are here," Alice said happily as she separated from the group. "I'll see you guys. Bye!" she waved as she ran to her parents.

Alice ran to her parents and pulled them into a warm embrace. "I missed you," Alice said.

"We missed you too dear," her mother said. Alice saw her friends meet up with their families, she smiled, the retreat was worth it. It was fun, crazy, and definitely memorable.

"Let's go home," her father said.

"Yup, I miss home. I miss your cooking too." Alice said happily as she and her parents entered the car.