(4)

Jenice went out again. She always loved to be outside. Today she went out to look for some specific clothes. She proceeded to her favourite pick up spots for clothing. There she met Al.
“Hey, Al!”
Al turned to her and waved. He accompanied by a girl, a girl she never had seen before.
“Hi, Jenice, this is Britney.”, he immediately introduced her.
“Hi.”, Jenice said.
She didn’t like Britney’s clothes at all. She was wearing panties, shorts, a thong, a top and pumps. Her make-up was excessive and she used too much foundation that didn’t match her skin colour well at all. Britney’s blond dyed hair was in a high ponytail.
“Girl! Look at your clothes! Don’t you follow the fashion?!”, Britney exclaimed almost instantly.
“My clothes are practical and hand made.”
“That explains everything.”, and she shook her head, “Al, how can you be friends with such people! They are filthy and rude! They don’t seem to know how to live or what to do in life! Al, this is disgusting! Shouldn’t you be breaking off your friendship with such low-life?!”
” Jenice became mad: “You should shut up! It’s not because you follow fashion that it suits you! Your foundation is too dark, it doesn’t match your skin at all! That yellow thong doesn’t suit your pink top and blue shorts at all! It’s even fake jeans, oh my god! And that red lipstick is horrible in combination with your total outfit! White pumps don’t suit this attire either! You’re wearing more of a cut up jogging outfit! You look like a whore who doesn’t earn enough! And you call me a bad dresser?! I don’t think you have a mirror at home, do you?!”
Britney began to cry as if someone had hit her across the face.
“How can you be so cruel to someone you just met?!”, she exclaimed.
“You’re the one who started it, lord! Do you even know what you’re saying?!”
“Al, say something to this … this … this … creature!”, Britney stuttered with a tone of disgust severely audible in her voice.
“Let me bring you home Britney.”, Al signed. He faced Jenice with an expression that made clear she had to stay put and that he would come back.

After a while, that seemed to take ages, Al came back. “Hi.”
“Hey.”
“I never saw anyone talk like that to Britney.”
“Really? I thought everyone would with how she treats people.”
“Apparently, they don’t. She was my girlfriend you know.”
“I didn’t. She was?”
“Yeah, she just broke up because I didn’t ‘defend’ her.”
“I am sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. You were right anyway. But I did love her, even though she wasn’t perfect. I mean the last days were less, because she was bitching to everyone she saw. I think she felt insecure or something. Or the opposite because she had me as her boyfriend.”
“People shouldn’t call others names, because they don’t feel good or too good.”
“I know, but that was what she did anyway.”
Jenice was looking for some clothes, but Al just sat there, staring. Britney passed by, while Jenice searching through some things, and she was walking with some guy. She held his hand and gave him a kiss on the lips. It was someone who was part of the same gang as Al. He jumped up, but Jenice heard him staggering and put her hand on his shoulder.
“It isn’t worth it, Al.”
Al shook her hand of, but stayed put. Tears came running down his cheeks. He wiped them away quickly and held up the others, knowing it was as Jenice said, not worth it.
“I’ll help you.”, he said and Jenice nodded in reply.

Alice was helping her mom, her mom had a day off. They were cleaning up every room, that wasn’t a bedroom. Her mother kept talking about her husband who was in jail. But Alice didn’t listen for the most parts. She had to think about John, who had proposed which made her blush a bit.
“How long does our relation have to be hidden from Jenice and/or my mother? It can’t keep up much longer.”, she thought.
And it was true. Her mom already gave her some funny looks because of the expressions she made with thinking about John. But she couldn’t help it, she was what on could call an honest child and her heart was on her lips. The secrecy made her uncomfortable, although it was going on for years. It didn’t become any lighter on her.
“Is something the matter?”
Alice turned her head to her mother.
“No, why?”
“Your expressions diverge a lot.”
“I am sorry, mother.”
“No, it’s nothing. I just want to know what you are thinking about.”
“About a lot of different things.”
“Like what?”
“Uhm… Some of my stories.”
“That all?”
“No, I am also thinking about the serial killer and Jenice.”
“Are you lying?”
“I am not, mother.”
“But you are hiding?”
“No, I was also thinking about John.”
“Oh. Have you told me everything now?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Okay.”, and her mom began to rage about her father again.
“Why don’t you just divorce.”, she thought, “Then we still would have the same amount of money.”

Jenice saw a man she had never seen before.
“Hey, Al, could that be the serial killer?”
“Who knows? In my opinion it can be anyone.”
“Isn’t that a scary thought?”
“Of course it is, but there is nothing more true.”
“Well, you’re right on that one. Can you bring me home? I am quite uncomfortable.”
“I never knew you were such a scaredy-cat!”
“I am not!”
“Really?”, he grinned.
“Really!”
“I’ll bring you.”
“Good, otherwise I would have dragged you.”
Al laughed: “I know.”
He walked her home and told a lot about Britney. Jenice wasn’t actually interested. The mysterious figure was what got her attention, but out of respect she listened to Al. She knew how much he suffered from today. When he spoke about her he looked so happy, but now it will never be the same. She stopped and hugged him.
“I am sorry.”, she whispered.
Al hugged back, this was what he needed, someone who listened to him and wanted to help him. He pushed her back and they walked further. After he’d dropped her off he said: “Thank you, Jenice. Thank you for your support, I really needed that. You’re the best friend ever.”

That evening John knocked on Alice’s window. She opened it. He crawled through the window, hugged her and stroked her hair.
“Be careful”, he whispered, “I don’t want to lose you.”
She blushed and hugged back.
“I’ll be. I love you.”, she whispered. He ran his hands through her hair some more.
“Another half year and then I’ll marry you. You need to start thinking about your wedding dress.”
He kissed her.
“Let me see you try on that ring”, he whispered with a smile.
She took out the ring and gave it to him so he’d put her finger, which he did.
“A perfect match, I knew it would fit after snatching this from you.”, he held up one of her rings and gave it back to her.
She smiled and put the rings on their own place.
"You snitch!", she teased.
She kissed him goodbye and he left. She waved until he was out of sight even though he wouldn't have looked back at all.