You can call me Alice

"I'M HOME!" Alice shouted as she removed her shoes before entering the living room. Her mother, who had anxiously awaited her arrival, ran out of the kitchen to welcome her daughter. Alice hugged her tightly, relieved to be home after a long day at school.

"Oh my gosh, Alice, I've been so worried," her mother said, as she stroked her daughter's hair. "Where have you been? It's 10 p.m.! Were you with friends? Or are you with a guy? Are you spending late nights with a man?"

Alice looked away, uncomfortable. "No, Mom. I was at school, practicing cheerleading." Her mother sighed in relief.

"Thank goodness, I was so worried. You could have told me you were late." Her mother sighed.

"Or she lied and hung out with some guy~"

Alice turns to the hallway where her younger brother stares out at her with a ginning face.

"THOMAS!" Alice yelled, her voice echoing off the walls. She ran over to smack his head. "Don't lie, brat!"

Thomas winced in pain and rubbed the spot where she hit him. "Hey! What did you do that for?"

Alice crossed her arms, looking down at him. "Don't lie to mom about me hanging out with boys at night!"

"I didn't mean that way. I just assumed you had a secret boyfriend and you're hiding it from Mom and Dad." Thomas answered.

"ARE YOU?" Her mother exclaimed.

"No! I don't have a boyfriend," Alice answered, her cheeks growing red.

Thomas laughed. "That's what they ALL say."

Alice quickly looked away, embarrassed. "It's NOT true, I was with my friends and went to cheer practice. So, shut up and go to your room!" she said. Her voice was tinged with annoyance. He just laughed and shook his head, amused.

Alice slammed her bedroom door and removed her school uniform. She changed into something more comfortable and rushed downstairs. As she entered the kitchen, Alice could smell her mother's delicious cooking. She smiled as she realized what the special dinner was going to be.

Gazpacho? Tortilla Española? Paella? And croquettes? Mom made one of Alice's favorite Spanish dishes. She couldn't wait to dig in!

"Yum! This looks delicious!" Alice said, grabbing a croquette.

However, before she could eat it, her mother slapped her hand. "Ouch!" Alice exclaimed. "What was that for?" she asked her mother, rubbing her hand.

Her mother sighed and said, "You know you are not allowed to eat anything before dinner. Jasmine is returning home and I do not want you to eat before she arrives. Now wash your hands."

Alice sighed, but obeyed, walking to the kitchen to wash her hands. She sighed deeply as she was going to meet her older sister from college far from home.

"Not again," Alice muttered.

She hadn't seen her sister in months and dreaded the thought of having to put up with her criticism. Alice scrubbed her hands harder, feeling frustration build up.

Ever since she remembered, Jasmine has always been her parents' favorite daughter. She was the best listener, dancer, and more mature than Alice. She was an excellent student and always tried to make them proud. Jasmine was the apple of their eyes, and the whole family was proud of her. As a result, Jasmine grew up with strong self-confidence.

What also made Alice envious was her sister's natural beauty. Jasmine had a beautiful face and a wonderful personality, and it seemed like everything came naturally to her. Alice, on the other hand, had to work hard to achieve what her sister could do so easily. Alice wished she could be more like Jasmine.

After washing her hands, Alice walked back to the kitchen where her mother polished kitchen utensils. "Well, what are you doing there?" Get upstairs to clean your room. Your sister is coming any minute now."

Alice sighed and grumbled, "Why do I have to clean my room? Jasmine already knows my room is a mess."

Her mother ignored her and continued to polish. "I don't care, you still have to clean it. Now hurry up!"

Alice reluctantly got up and walked upstairs. She knew she couldn't win this argument. She grabbed cleaning supplies and scrubbed the windows. As she cleaned, she thought about how much she hated being treated like a child. After she was done, she put everything away and walked back downstairs.

She decided she was done with arguing and just wanted to move on. She sat down and read a book, determined to forget about the argument. Just then, the house phone rang and her mother answered the phone. After a few seconds, she turned her attention to her daughter.

"Alice, it's your boss from Crispy n' Cheesy Pizza. He wants to talk to you." She whispers.

"Shit." Alice thought she knew something was wrong. Alice took a deep breath and steeled herself before picking up the phone.

"Hello, this is Alice," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What can I do for you?"

"ALICE! WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?" yelled the other person on the line. "YESTERDAY, I REMEMBER YOU WERE IN CHARGE FOR LOOKING AFTER THE INGREDIENTS RIGHT AFTER I LEFT! BUT NOW THE KITCHEN IS A MESS! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET THIS HAPPEN! WHAT WERE YOU DOING?!"

Alice was taken aback by the sudden outburst. "Boss, let me explain. Before you left, I made sure everything was in order. But then the fire alarm went off, and I had to evacuate the kitchen. That's when the mess happened."

Alice added. "As I was cleaning, I received a phone call about my grandmother's hospitalization. I told Sarah to clean the kitchen when I left. I apologize for the mess, sir."

"SO, SARAH LEFT THE MESS?" Her boss yelled. "I'LL CONFRONT HER TOMMOROW AND IF YOU SAID IT WAS TRUE, I'LL FIRE HER!"

Alice tried to explain that it wasn't Sarah's fault, but her boss was too angry to listen. She begged her boss to reconsider, but he hung up the phone.

Alice hung up the phone and sighed. She had tried her best to make her boss understand, but it was no use. She knew she had to find a way to help Susie, even if her boss wouldn't.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. As she approached the door, her mother grabbed Alice's shoulder. "What do you think you're doing answering the door dressed up like that? Go to your room and change to another!"

Alice felt embarrassed and ashamed. She walked back to her room and changed into something more appropriate. When she returned to the door, she saw Jasmine sitting and smiling with her parents.

Jasmine wore a stylish dress with her hair falling down and her skin looked soft and clear. Alice felt jealous. She wished she had prepared for the event.

"She's beautiful as always." She mutters to herself. Alice quickly tried to brush off the feeling and focus on the event. She smiled and welcomed her older sister.

Then Jasmine stood up and hugged her sister. "Alice!" she called.

Alice was taken off guard for a moment. She hugged Jasmine back and said, "It's so pleasant to see you."

Jasmine stepped away to examine Alice's face. "My, you're grown up. Your face has changed significantly since I last saw you. You look so more mature."

Alice smiled and said, "Thank you. It's been a long time since we last saw each other."

"THOMAS! GET DOWN HERE AND GREET YOUR OLDER SISTER!" Her mother called Thomas.

Thomas slowly walked down the stairs. He was wearing his favourite t-shirt and shorts, and his face lit up when he saw Jasmine. He ran over and embraced her in a big hug.

"Jasmine, you're finally here! You look a lot older than in our old photos." Thomas cheered.

Jasmine smiled. "I could say the same thing about you. You look so mature!"

"Mature?" Alice said. "More like Thomas grew more annoying, bratty, a crybaby."

"Hey! Stop making up lies!" Thomas screamed.

"And a sucked up," Alice added.

The siblings laughed at Alice's comment. Jasmine smiled and said, "Anyway, let's talk at the dinner table. I think I smelled croquettes!"

They all rushed towards the dining room. There, they found a table full of delicious food, including croquettes. They all sat and started to eat. Everyone enjoyed dinner and conversation.

.

.

.

Alice scrolled down her phone to find Sarah's phone number, her co-worker's. How could she leave the kitchen messy after checking on her grandma? Alice shook her head in annoyance. She knew Sarah had her own problems to deal with, but that didn't excuse her from not cleaning up.

She found her phone number and sent her a text.

ALICE: Sarah, what the hell?

ALICE: I got a call from my boss that the kitchen was still a mess.

ALICE: Did I tell you to clean up before I left?

(...)

SARAH: Fuck you.

ALICE: What?

SARAH: Fuck

SARAH: You

ALICE: Sarah, what are you talking about?

ALICE: What is your problem?

SARAH: You

ALICE: What?

SARAH: Your my problem, Alice!

ALICE: What do you mean?

Alice waited for Sarah's reply. On her phone screen, Sarah was still texting. What was her deal? What did she do that upset her? She had always been there for her when she needed, like the time Alice had to cancel her plans to help Sarah out with her project.

Sarah was so grateful and they had a great time working together. But now, she took so long to reply - it was so unlike her. After a few minutes, Sarah finally replied.

SARAH: Alice, let me tell you that I have never liked you. You are a selfish person and you have always wanted everything your way. Many times, you disregard my opinion and ignore my feelings. In the locker room, you group me multiple times. Do you think it's funny? I told my boss about your sick pranks but he just shrugged it off like girls can fucking group each other. Alice, you never respected me. I cannot accept such behavior from you. I'm done with this. I'm done with you. I'm quitting my job today and I'm never going to talk to you again. Goodbye.

Alice stared at her phone in shock, her heart sinking. She knew she had gone too far this time. Now, she's gone and thanks to her. This wasn't her first time. In the past, Alice had never had long-lasting friendships. She was too impulsive and said things without thinking. She had no one to turn to and she felt completely alone. She knew she had to take responsibility for her actions and try to repair the damage she had caused. But this time, she was not sure if she could.

Alice already has three friends and is not giving up. She wanted to feel what friendship felt like, even if it meant taking risks. She was determined to make it work. She was going to prove to herself that she could be a better friend.

"¿Por qué este día es una puta perra?" Alice growled, throwing her pillow across her room. She lay on her bed and closed her eyes.

She took a deep breath and said to herself, "I can do this. I can be a better friend."

With that in mind, Alice drifted off to sleep.

.

.

.

"Sir, what did you say you wanted?" Alice asked her customer for the fifth time.

The customer sighed and rolled his eyes. "I said I wanted a large double-double with extra cheese," he said.

Alice apologized. "I'm sorry, what do you mean by 'double-double?'

The customer sighed again. "Two perronies. That's a double-double."

Alice nodded in understanding. "Got it. Extra cheese, right?"

She quickly jotted down the order and handed it to the chef. Alice smiled and said, "It'll be ready in just a few minutes." The customer thanked her, and Alice turned back to her station.

Alice worked for Cripsy n' Cheesy Pizza for three years. She had quickly worked her way up from a cashier to a waitress. Alice was reliable and punctual, and she enjoyed interacting with customers.

But these aren't the days she wasn't in the right mood. Since yesterday, Alice has been feeling down and unmotivated. She was having trouble focusing on her work, and it was taking her longer to complete her tasks. She knew that she had to find a way to snap out of it, or she would have to face the consequences.

"It's just two hours until I'm out." Alice sighed and continued working.

It wasn't long before the door opened and the bell rang. Alice softly cursed as she put away her work and stood up to greet her customer. She put on a smile and offered a polite greeting.

"Welcome to Cripsy n' Cheesy Pizza. How can I -"

Alice's words were cut off when she saw her customer's face. Her cheeks turned red and her heart rate increased.

"Mr. Johnson!" she exclaimed.

He was the last person she expected to see. She felt embarrassed about having been so surprised. He smiled at her and she slowly regained her composure.

"Oh? Do you remember my name?" Mr. Johnson said

She laughed nervously and said, "Of course I remember your name, Mr. Johnson."

He nodded and said, "Ah, now I remember, you're that girl from yesterday. Are you a friend of one of my students' friends?"

"Yes! I am!" Alice replied quickly before covering her mouth.

He nodded and smiled. "That's what I thought. It's nice to see that you're staying in touch with my students!"

Alice smiled back, relieved he remembered her. "So, um what can I get you?"

He laughed. "Oh, just a cup of coffee would be great. I'll have it black, no sugar."

Alice nodded and started to order. She felt slightly lighter now that the conversation had lightened up. She smiled as she placed the order and handed him the cup of coffee. He thanked her and took a long sip, savoring the flavor. Alice watched him, relieved that the conversation was back on track.

Her heart flitted whenever she glanced at the math teacher. He wore an unreadable expression. She wondered what he was thinking. She felt a blush rising in her cheeks and quickly looked away, hoping he hadn't noticed.

"Oh my God, that's so hot!" Alice thought. She bit her lip, her heart beating faster. "But I think I've embarrassed myself in front of him. Why am I not lucky today?"

She nervously looked away, wanting to hide her blush. Her mind spun, and she wished she could disappear. Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out and tried to compose herself.

"Alright, Alice! Your shift is over." Her co-worker exclaimed. "It's better you go home now."

She smiled and nodded, grateful for the excuse to leave. She quickly grabbed her coat and bag, and headed out the door. The moment she went out, she saw Mr. Johnson searching for his keys to start his car.

Alice's heart kept beating faster as she watched him. Every part of him is perfect, like a dream. She couldn't help but feel drawn to him. To her, his was the most handsome man ever to exist on earth.

She was mesmerized by his presence and wanted to know more about him. She wanted to feel his warmth and be close to him. She wanted to experience love.

She took a deep breath and said a silent prayer for courage to approach him. "Mr. Johnson, ah...nice car!"

He turned to her with a kind smile and said, "Thank you... Ah! There it is!"

Mr. Johnson found his car keys. He inserted the key into the car door and opened it. Alice stepped closer to Mr. Johnson.

"May I ask where you are heading, Mr Johnson?" Alice asked.

The man turned to the teen with a curious expression. "I'm on my way to Eastwood Academy," he answered. "I have some work to handle."

"OH! School huh?" Alice shook her head as she curled her hair. "You know, I'm visiting there too to meet my friend. She lives in a school dorm. Would you be able to take me there in your car? It's faster and more convenient. I'm sure I can manage the expenses, I just don't have a car." Alice smiled, hoping he would say yes.

Mr Johnson nodded. "Yes, of course. I'd be happy to help." He smiled.

Alice thanked him and they walked towards his car. He opened the door for Alice and they drove off. As they were driving, Alice looked at every part of them. She admired the interior, noting how well-kept it was.

She smelled the sweet scent of his cologne and felt a sense of comfort. Alice was glad to meet him but felt nervous. She wondered if she was making the right decision. She looked out the window, lost in thought.

"So, how long have you known Emmaline?" Alice snapped out of it and looked at him, his eyes still fixed on the road.

"H-how long?" Alice exclaims. "Huh, I met her three or two days ago?"

"So, you just met her?" Mr Johnson said.

Alice nodded. "Yes, we just met. But I had a friend who talked about her and knew her: She's fun, funny, arty, and um...just like a friend."

"Well," Mr. Johnson said, "I think you two should get to know each other better. You might become good friends."

Alice smiled and nodded. "I think that would be great."

Silence fell between them. Alice glanced at the driver's hand, trying to determine if he was wearing a wedding ring. He didn't have one. She looked away and cleared her throat. "So you teach math?"

He nodded. "Yeah, at the local high school. Been there for four months." He shifted in his seat. "What about you? What do you do?"

Alice blushed. "I'm a student at Crystal Lake Secondary School." Alice smiled. "It's an outstanding school. I'm in 11th grade."

She paused, considering her next words. "But...it's been a challenging year."

Mr. Johnson patted her head. "Keep it up, kid. Trust me, I know how you feel. Concentrate on your studies and you'll be alright. Don't worry about things that you can't control. Everything will be okay in the end." Mr. Johnson smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

Alice felt a warm bliss inside her chest. It was at that moment that she knew she had fallen in love with him. She blushed and thanked him for his kind words. He smiled and ruffled her hair before parking at their destination.

Alice got out and looked at him through the window. "Mr. Johnson, thank you for the ride," she smiled.

"No problem... Say, what's your name anyway?"

"Alison Laurier," she said. "But if you like, you can call me Alice."

"Alice, huh? That's a nice name." He commented. "You take care now."

As he walked out of his car, Mr. Johnson headed for the teachers' staff.

Alice smiled and waved goodbye to Mr. Johnson and walked away. She turned back and walked to the school gate, then stopped when she saw Katie standing in front of the school gate, looking stunned.

"Alice?" Katie asked. "Why did Mr. Johnson drive you here?"