Alicekai'd 1.14: Fireplace

 

     I smile. "What's this?" Sure, I'd noticed the fireplace before, but I didn't ever see him use it.

     He chuckles, gesturing to the fire. "It's called a fireplace."

     "Na dur, dummy. I know that. I mean, what are you doing out here?"

     Smirk. "Sitting."

     He pats the seat next to him. "Care to join me?"

     Playing into the goofiness of the moment, I hold my dress and curtsy. Then, in a horribly over-dramatized southern accent, I reply, "Why, I thought you'd never ask." Then I prance over to the bench.

     He laughs.

     "So what prompted this?" If he answers in a silly way, I will shove him.

     He sighs, watching the flames. "It's been a long time since I've used it."

     "It's pretty."

     "And seeing as how the temperature dropped this evening, I thought, 'why not?'" He turns to me and smiles.

     "Good idea." I stare at the flames. His eyes are still on me.

    "THAT is a BEAUTIFUL dress, Alice." No joking. He's totally sincere.

     Still, I'm surprised, and I blush. "Oh. Thanks. I saw it and thought it could help my mood." It makes me think of something a little girl would wear... only not.

     "Well, did it?" His eyes don't leave me.

     "It did." Is he going somewhere with this?

     "I'm glad. Alice, sometimes you worry me."

     "Sorry."

     It's as if I didn't speak. "I don't like it when you're down. That's why I didn't want to go to work today."

     "I'm fine."

     "Promise me you won't try to hurt yourself as a method to return to your world."

     "Uh... I'd wondered that WHEN I die, it might happen, but that doesn't mean I'm going to bring it about early."

     "Oh thank plum. Because that would kill me." He pauses then chuckles humorlessly before running his fingers through his hair and muttering, "I am bombing this."

 

     "What?" What is he talking about.

     He looks up towards the sky. "If this IS a game, could I get a control-Z here?"

     That makes me giggle. "Would we even notice if it happened?"

     "The last thing I wanted to do was sit here and talk about death."

     "Then we'll change the subject. What, um, how is it going at work in regards to my problem?"

     He sighs heavily.
 

     "There's a lady at work, um, an advanced being, whom we go to with big questions."

     "An advanced being?"

     "Don't ask."

     "You mean an alien?" I watch his expression. "Oh, come on, Geoff. I've played this as a game, remember? There are aliens and ghosts and witches and vampires and werewolves and all that stuff."

     "Vampires and werewolves?" He watches me nod. "Not that any of us have come in contact with."

     "Well, maybe they're hiding." He doesn't buy that. "Or... maybe... they haven't been IMPLEMENTED." I look up at the sky. "So you don't like the vampires and werewolves, huh?"

     No answer.

     "Anyway," Geoff continues, "she told me that the possibility of going side-to-side transference is possible, but up and down isn't."

     "Huh? Down?"

     "This world you say is a simulation has its own simulation games, does it not?"

     "I think my head just exploded," I tell him in dry humor. "The Matrix and Inception combined?"

     "Uh, what?"

     I explain to him that they're movies and then tell the plot for each.

     "I would love that..." his voice drifts off in a dreamy way. "Nearly infinite time to spend with the one you love."

    "I keep distracting you." I want him to continue to tell me what the alien said.

 

    "Yes, you're very good at that." 

    "Sorry."

    "Oh, it's fine. I like your distractions."

    That was a little TOO serious.

    Even with the fire going, a light breeze cuts straight through the sheer fabric of my sleeves, and I rub my arms to warm them up.

    "Cold?"

    "I'm fine."

    He slides closer.

     What the hell does he think he's doing? Yep. He did it.

 

     "Better?"

     "What are you trying to pull here, Geoffrey?"

     In a voice that's totally full of crap, he answers, "What...? You said you were cold." His warm hand rubs up and down my arm. "I'm warming you up."

     "Are we suddenly in high school and someone forgot to inform me?" I ask as his nose goes into my hair.

     "Fun, isn't it?" he mumbles into my ear. As his face starts to move to the front, I put my hand over it and shove him backwards.

      "Cool it, loverboy." This new game of his is touching too close to serious.

 

     "Sorry. Sorry. I got... carried away." He winces.

     I feel better now, but I notice his arm hasn't left my shoulder. I try to return to the real topic of the conversation. "So she said up and down wasn't possible?"

     "Right. She said the consciousness wouldn't be compatible or something like that."

     "Turns out she's wrong." I don't look directly at him, but I see Geoffrey put his free hand on his forehead. "But... if the aliens can't do it with wormholes or whatever, what are we going to do?"

     The change in his voice takes me by surprise. "Why do we HAVE to do something about it? What if you're here for a reason? Honestly, Alice, is it really THAT bad here?"

 

     My voice sounds small. "I want to go home."

     He turns towards me, his face inches from mine. "THIS could be your home. You can live here, in THIS world. You've been doing it already anyway."

     "And doing a piss poor job of it, too." I turn my face away.

     "I wouldn't say that. Look at everything you've done in a short time."

     "You're a published author. You almost have a college degree. You're a pro at turning eggs into cement. You have men falling all over themselves just to get you to look at them."

     "And that got me plastered all over social media looking like a brazen hussy."

     "One little, tiny mistake. Minuscule. And all those people laughing are probably jealous. You're LIVING LIFE, Alice. Why do you still want to leave it?" His free hand reaches for my chin, but I push him away. He retreats.

     "Stay with us. Here," he finishes.

     "You don't want to help me anymore?"

 

     He wilts into a frustrated groan, and he puts his head in his hands. "I want to, but only because it's what you want. But I don't think it's possible."

     "So... So I'm truly stuck."

     He sighs. "I think so. Yes."

     I close my eyes. I'm going to have to take this seriously now. This is my new reality. 

     Geoffrey interrupts my thoughts. "Alice, I need to talk to you. My timing and execution of what I want to say thus far has been a disaster."

     "What are you talking about? Geoff, please. I've just been told my life will never be the same again."

    He sighs. "Of course." He takes a breath. "Of course you're right. I just handed you one of the biggest disappointments of your life. I can't help." He pauses, looking at the stars. "I am really very sorry, Alice."

     "When were you planning on telling me this? When, if I hadn't have asked earlier, would I find out?"

     "I don't know... Tomorrow? I thought, 'maybe one more day.' I thought maybe I could change your mind and it wouldn't matter." He whispers, "I thought I could still find a way to be the hero."

      "It could still happen. I mean, it's totally unlikely, but it might."

      "Yeah. Sure," he replies, not believing a word of it.

Alicekai'd 1.13: Burned

      Geoffrey gets his way, and I move in to the Landgraab house.

     I've taken over Malcolm's old room. Geoff moved out the computer that was in here so that I could use my laptop. I put my accolade award on the desk next to it.

     Geoffrey recommends that I skip the next term, which would've been my last one. That means I've lost my scholarships, but it doesn't matter. I have plenty of money thanks to my books, and speaking of books, writing is pretty much all I do all day.

 

     "Alice? I'm home." It's Geoffrey outside my door. "May I come in?"

     "Yeah." Yeah, sure, I'm not doing anything, I think sarcastically. He's going to come in and distract me, making me lose my train of thought.

     "How are you settling in?" he asks. "I see you placed your accolade award."

     "Yeah. I finally am able to put it somewhere." I wait for him to say something else.

     "Okay. Uh, well, I thought I'd let you know I'm home if you needed anything."

     "Thanks. Just editing here so I can send it off."

     "That's great that you can write like that."

     I don't know if he means that it gives me a sense of purpose or he thinks it's cool I have a talent for something. "Yeah," I reply laconically.

     He stands there for a moment longer before turning and leaving me in peace.

      Don't get me wrong. It's not like he's hovering. He does his own thing, too.

 

     Though I must admit, sometimes I wonder if I hear footsteps stop on the landing and stay there for a while.

      Did he think me living here would be different? What is he thinking?

      Maybe I'm being paranoid.

      During the day, I mostly stay in my room unless I need to get something to eat. My days are spent writing and editing.

 

      My nights are filled with horrible dreams where cameras are pointed in my face and people ask me questions they have no right to ask. I hate my dreams.

 

     This morning, though, I decide to make breakfast. Bruno keeps me company, chatting away as he waits for the bacon and eggs.

     I'm not having much luck. I guess I don't have a high cooking skill. I haven't had much of a chance to build it up yet.

     The damn eggs won't stop trying to become one with the pan.

     "Good morning, Daddy!" Bruno says behind me.

 

     I hear Geoffrey. "Well, what's all this?"

     "Alice is making breakfast!" Bruno replies happily while I fight with the eggs.

     "What a nice surprise." I can hear the smile in his voice.

     "Don't get your hopes up," I tell him. He doesn't get to respond because his son grabs his attention.

     "Daddy, can I have a motorcycle?"

     "Uh, no. They're dangerous, not to mention ten is way too young."

     "I'll be eleven next month! And I'm mature for my age! You said!"

     "Mature or not, the answer is no."

     I interrupt. "Breakfast is ready." I unceremoniously dump the battered and scorched eggs onto the serving platter.

     Bruno comes to get a plate. Geoff does not.

     "You can afford it," Bruno tells Geoffrey, his hopeless campaign for the motorcycle continuing.

     "Yes, and WHEN YOU'RE OLD ENOUGH, w... I'll buy you a nice, new, safe car."

     "Motorcycles are cool, and they're safe. I'll even take defensive driving classes." He puts his plate on the counter island and takes a seat next to Geoff. "I've researched it."

     "No, they're not safe, Bruno, and you're not getting one."

     "I'll bet Alice thinks they're cool." Uh oh.

     "I am not involved in this," I reply coolly.

     He puts a forkful of eggs into his mouth. "These eggs are burned. But the bacon's good. I like it crispy."

     I slap my fork onto my plate and get up to wash my dish, the food unfinished.

     "How's your book coming, Alice?"

     "I finished it. Mailing it off today." And now I don't have anything to do.

     "That's wonderful!" He obviously hasn't noticed my mood.

     I hear Bruno behind me get up to dump the rest of his breakfast in the trash before coming over next to me to wash his plate. "I'm going to go get ready for school." He pauses. "Daddy, she's sad." Then he leaves the room.

     Geoffrey says my name in question and gets up from the bar stool. He turns me to face him.

 

     "Alice, what's wrong?"

     I hate pouting, but I can't hide how down I'm feeling right now. "I have nothing to do now, for starters."

     "Sure you do. There are all kinds of things to do in this house. Feel free to use the workout equipment in my room if you want. Or... you could write another book? Take online classes?"

     "And speaking of book, the first one's selling like mad, especially since my publisher told everyone I've got a sequel coming up."

     "Wouldn't that be a GOOD thing?"

     "It's only selling because of the negative publicity."

     "Don't focus on that." He fixes a stray hair of mine. "The point is that it's selling. Before long, people will forget the bad stuff." He bends his knees to get in my line of sight. "Okay?"

     I nod.

     He takes a breath. "There. It'll be fine." Pause. "Do you, uh, wanna go somewhere tonight? You know, test and see if people still bother you?"

     I shake my head. "No. I don't think it's been long enough."

     He looks down. "Okay." His head pops back up. "I could take the day off. We could hang out and play chess."

     I actually smile now. "I'll be fine, Geoffrey." I move to walk past him. "Maybe I WILL start another book. I can at least brainstorm. Maybe I'll binge a television show. Don't waste your days off."

     As I leave the kitchen, I hear him mumbling, probably saying it wouldn't be a waste. He's already doing enough for me. I can't have him babysit me day and night.

     After I practically throw him out of the house, I go up to have a soak in the bathtub.

 

     Maybe I could write a non-romance novel, something where the main character realizes dating is a waste of time and that she doesn't need it. Why aren't there more books like that?

     The bath is fabulous, and when I get out, I put on a new dress.

     I spend the day brainstorming, mostly doing a thought-vomit document on the computer. I make and eat a decent salad, and then I have a seat on the porch to people-watch.

 

     With the fence here, people don't really see me, and it's nice just to have the sun on my face.

     Geoffrey gets home from work, and he starts when he sees me. I smile and wave.

     You know, this really is kind of cute. With barely any imagination, I could pretend we're a family. I banish the idea, though.

     "Why are you sitting here?" he asks in an almost-whisper, his eyes shut as if to block me out.

     "Because it's fun to watch people on the sidewalk." I pause, seeing him breathe deeply. "I was also contemplating what archetype my main character should be." I gesture to the street even though he's not looking. "So, people-watching."

     "What if someone saw you?"

 

     "Damn, Geoffrey. Get a grip. They can't really see me, and if something happens, I'll just go inside the house." I smile to try and get him to ease up. Sure, I'm not ready to get in a crowd, but him objecting to this is ridiculous.

     He wears a sheepish expression. "Okay, okay. You're right, of course. I just don't know what to think sometimes. I mean, are you ready to get out in public yet or not?"

     "This isn't in public."

     "Okay." He looks down at my dress then blinks hard. Then he exhales, turns away, and runs his fingers through his hair. "I'm going to go change out of the penguin suit and take a shower."

     "Okay." I give him a half-smile to show I'm not mad or anything.

     The sun sets, and later, I find him sitting out back.

Alicekai'd 1.12: Personal

 

      Geoffrey leads me to his house and back to his back patio. That's probably a good idea: away from prying eyes. I explain to him why I'm upset, and he asks to see the videos.

     I want to die of embarrassment. "I was completely drunk." I hate this! I care about what Geoffrey thinks of me. I'd told him about what happened, but actually hearing it as it happened... That's different.

     "I see," he says when the damn thing gets too loud and I'd paused it. Then he clears his throat, rubs his hands on his shorts, and takes a deep breath.

     "I mean, it's not news to you, but now, EVERYONE knows. I'm a walking joke."

     "That's certainly not true." His voice sounds tight. That must've embarrassed him to hear that.

 

     "I'm sorry I played it for you. I just wanted you to know how bad it was."

     He pulls in and lets out a breath. "It's fine, but that does give me better insight into your problem."

     "Mark said he was going to try to have them taken down. Is that even possible?" If people really want to post stuff, they'll just keep posting it and posting it no matter how many times others try to take it down.

     "Yes, but it won't make a difference." He's right. People have probably downloaded it onto their phone. It'll never leave me alone.

     "What am I going to do, Geoffrey?"

 

     "At this point, there's not really much you CAN do. You just need to wait for it to blow over. People will get bored with it eventually and move on to the next ridiculous thing."

     I ponder something. "You can't get your work buddies to ban it or something?"

     He gives me a sad smile. "And doing that would surely make it ten times more appealing. It's... a strategy, actually. That's all I'll say." He clears his throat again. "Alice, if you would excuse me for a few minutes. I need to go do something."

     My shoulders droop. "Okay." I try not to pout too much as he walks back into the house.

     But when he leaves, I let the pouting take charge.

     This sucks. I go out with a soap star, get drunk, act foolish and idiotic, and public woohoo in a closet. I really acted like nothing bad would come of it.

     'The Britechester Hussy,' echoes in my mind. You know... he's right. I wipe away some tears, but more take their place.

     And where did Geoffrey go? He dashes off when I'm sitting here in a downward spiral. I feebly hope it's to contact his coworkers and have them work to eliminate the video from everywhere, just zap it out of people's minds so it's like they never saw it in the first place. If only.

     My stomach gurgles, and I decide to go inside. I remember the layout of this house, kind of, from the game. The kitchen is where it's supposed to be.

     I help myself to a bowl of applesauce, and a kid comes in and fixes himself a sandwich.

 

     "Hi," he says. "I'm Bruno. Who are you?" He chomps down on the ham and cheese.

     "My name is Alice."

     "Did Daddy adopt you too?"

     "No. I'm his friend."

     "Why are you sad?" Kids can be so direct.

     "Because people on the internet are mean."

     "People are mean, even in real life. Daddy says that's because they feel bad about themselves. Making fun of other people makes them feel better. Isn't that dumb?"

     I give a half-smile. "Yes. It really is."

     He nods and goes back to his sandwich.

     My phone beeps.

 

Hey sexy. Where you at? I've got something big and hard I wanna give you. 

     I have no idea who sent it. It's all I can do not to respond, demanding who they are.

     Then my phone beeps again. It's another lewd message. Then again. Again. All different numbers. Bruno looks up curiously. I turn off my phone.

     "I'll get your bowl," Bruno tells me, and he does before I can insist I do my own dishes.

 

     "Thank you." I wonder about him. Sim orphans just kind of appear out of the ether when you play the game. Does Bruno have memories? Are they fabricated? I'm so tired of this.

     He says he has homework to do then leaves to go upstairs. Geoffrey hasn't come back down, so I wander into the living room, grab a random book, and have a seat.

     Game books are so boring. No wonder my novel sold like mad. Tuh. Bad publicity will probably sell loads of my books. Well, not the children's book I wrote. The whole thing makes me sick. I'm an adult! So what if I woohoo? Stupid hypocrites.

     And where is Geoffrey? I slam my book closed and put it back on the shelf. Should I go look for him? That might be rude, but... Well, I need to talk to him.

     I go upstairs. "Geoff?"

     "In here," he replies to my left. I go into the room.

 

     "Sorry," he tells me, "I got wrapped up in this."

     "In blicblock?"

     His lips quirk. "No." He doesn't explain further.

     "Okay?" Oh. He must've closed, or minimized, what he was really doing before I opened the door.

     He puts the computer to sleep and gets up. "Exactly." He walks over to me then ushers me out of the room. "Let's go downstairs."

     "I'm sorry. I didn't want to intrude, I just..." Yeah. I can't explain myself.

     He smiles. "It's okay."

     We go have a seat on the sofa in the living room.

     I smirk. "So you're not going to tell me what you were really doing?"

     "I don't know what you mean. I was playing a video game." He grins.

     "Fine. I'll drop it." I sigh and think of something more serious. "I'm going to have to change my phone number."

     "It got leaked," he states instead of asks.

     "Yes." I take a breath. "That means anything could be out there, including my address."

 

     "In that case, don't go back to the dorms." He doesn't like that my info is out there. He's clenching and un-clenching his fists.

     "Then where do I go?" I ask then realize the answer before he says it.

     He shrugs. "Stay here."

     "Geoffrey..."

     "Seriously. Do. Malcolm's moved out. It's just me and Bruno in this big house." He watches me. "I have state-of-the-art security here, Alice."

     "But my things..."

     "What do you need?"

     "My clothes. My laptop. Um..." Is that really it?

     "Clothes we can get, buy some new ones. The laptop, however, well, if you want, we can get police escort for you in the building."

     "I don't think anything will happen to me. I'll just go get the stuff."

     He tenses. "Please don't." To my look, he replies, "We don't know that."
 

     He continues, "Alice, your personal information out there like that is a step too far. Going viral in a bad way is one thing, but someone putting that stuff out there shows malicious intent." He pauses. "Let us handle this."

     "Us?"

     "My accounting firm, of course."

     I give him a sideways look. "That's too much trouble. And a misuse of... something or other."

     "So what," he replies and smiles.

     He wants to get a government agency to help me move out of the dorms, for my safety. That means I'll owe them. Everything has a price.