Chapter 20: Bubble Of Joy

Nothing seemed to shatter the happy feeling Alice nurtured that evening, not Evan's glowering silence, nor her mother's continued irritation with the neighbor. Alice floated in a soft cocoon of joy, and, for the first time ever, actually felt pretty.

Really pretty.

She examined herself in the mirror that night, after checking out some makeup tutorials online and, with unskilled hands, managed to apply some mascara and a little eye shadow she'd had for ages. Lip gloss added a sheen to her mouth. She liked the effect so much she smiled at herself.

Whether her good mood kept her safe or he was simply lost in his own world, Evan didn't say or do anything to follow through on his threats. And now her confidence had returned, growing by the hour, Alice even managed to smile at her mother at breakfast.

Betty smiled back over her third cup of coffee. She touched Alice's hair, carefully flipped on the bottom with the iron her mother gave her last Christmas.

"You look nice," Betty said. "Something special happening today?" Alice shrugged. "Just wanted to try makeup."

Betty refilled her mug. "Well, it suits you. Have a great day, honey." Alice beamed at her, the rare compliment adding to her bubble of joy.

Her steps practically bounced all the way to school. She'd dug up a skirt and tights that fit her okay, a cream twin-set she usually kept for special occasions topping her outfit. Though it took her an extra half-hour that morning, as Alice strode to school with her self-esteem glowing inside her, she knew the extra effort was worth it.

Peter waited for her at his gate and from the way his eyes bulged at the sight of her she'd impressed him, too. Not that she cared. Still, it was nice to be looked at like she was pretty for once. Her thoughts instantly returned to the gorgeous silk dress and it fed her welcoming smile.

"You look great," Peter said. Swallowed. "Can I walk you to school?" Alice couldn't say no. In fact, she welcomed his attention and, to her surprise, more of his friendship. They chatted and laughed all the way to the front steps, not even the sight of some of the football guys shaking Alice's confidence.

There was no sign of Claire and Alice was just as happy about that.

Peter stopped her outside her homeroom. "Are you..." his hesitation was actually kind of adorable. "Are you going to Fall Formal?" His words tumbled over each other. "Because I'm going and if you're going, maybe we could go together."

Alice bit her lip to keep from laughing as Peter's face flushed bright red. Her first real date. To her first real formal. How could she say no?

"Thanks," she said as she turned her back on him to go to class. "I'd like that."

English class was a breeze, for once. Alice even raised her hand to volunteer and answer to the startled praise of Ms. Mosley. Alice amazed herself with her sudden shift in attitude and caught herself smiling at other students who immediately smiled back.

Maybe she could make friends. Be normal, not awkward and geeky. She'd been pushed down so many times, she'd never tried, not really. But seeing the dress on her, how beautiful she could look, had woken something brand new in Alice.

And she loved it.

It wasn't until lunchtime, sitting outside on a step with Peter, sharing food again that he made a suggestion.

"I was thinking," he said. "The dialect of the writing. Maybe it has something to do with voodoo culture."

Alice froze, heart stopping a moment before pounding one painful beat and starting up again. "Why do you say that?"

"Well," he said, going on, oblivious to her reaction, "the mention of safety and curses. And the fact it's Creole French. You might get answers from someone who understands the practice."

It did make sense. "Do you know of anyone I can talk to?"

He fished into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, grinning at her. "Now that you mention it..."

Alice grinned and reached for the paper. Only to have it snatched from her grip as a huge shadow fell over her and Peter. Her friend spun around, looking up, a scowl creasing his face, a foot impacting his shoulder and shoving against him, so hard Peter lurched forward and down a couple of stairs to sprawl on the ground.

Alice withdrew, pulling away as a large senior in a football jacket stepped down to the stair Peter had been sitting on. The sound of laughter made her flinch, her confidence forgotten as the handsome jock, his red hair darker than Peter's, turned the stolen note around to read it.

"Voodoo Room." More laughter as he spoke up.

"Give that back, Ben." Peter scrambled to his feet, shaking, but with anger, from what Alice could tell. Not fear, like her.

"Says who." Ben held the paper out of Peter's reach as her friend lunged for it. Three more shadows fell over her, more football jocks come to play. She slunk to the side, grabbing her backpack, sliding out from under their presence. They were focused on Peter, making it easier for her to escape.

Ben's dark green eyes flashed to her. "Just thought you'd intro me to your ugly little girlfriend," he said with a nasty smile. Alice froze, holding very still, a savannah gazelle locked in the focus of a hunting cat. "And what do I find?" Ben crumpled the note. "Peter's playing make-believe again." He tossed the paper over his shoulder. It bounced once before rolling to a halt against Alice's shoe. "Loser Peter and his voodoo." Ben made a spooky sound and his buddies laughed. "What are you going to do, freakball, huh? Cast a hex on me?"

Alice bent swiftly, retrieving the paper and slid up one more step, out of reach of the four jocks surrounding Peter. His eyes lifted to catch hers, his disappointment in her abandonment clear in his hazel eyes. But Alice couldn't afford to be in Ben's radar. Not with Evan's anger still simmering. And she'd changed, hadn't she? She wasn't like Peter anymore. Not an outcast.

Not a loser.

While guilt burned a hole inside her, Alice turned and fled, leaving Peter to face the bullies alone.***