"Oh. You really don't want to know." Alice shook her head and regretted it. Slowly congesting sinuses do not take quick movements well.
                              
"Alice...." Malcolm tone was deeply consernced and she clued in to how he was misinterpreting.
                              
"No! nonononon, not drugs. Well, not illegal ones. I used to down a bottle of buckleys and a few caffiene pills and just tough it out." she explained with a sniffle of runny nose. "I'll take it easier on the cough meds now because I can. And no caffiene pills. They give me f***ed up dreams and I'm already having enough of those." she couldn't seem to stop babbling and only shut up after noticing the amused smirk on his face.
                              
"Language Ms. Spade." he chided, turning the use of her last name into a subtle flirt. Alice smiled but didn't blush because she was already feverish.
                              
"We should get back in there before they wonder if I've clubbed you over the head and dragged you to my cave already." Alice said outloud, not knowing she did until Malcolm laughed. "Ooops." she mumbled, still not feeling well. She slumped back down into her chair and blearily watched half of the movie in class before the next one started. She almost didn't get to class on time because she was moving so slowly.
                              
"Hey, you alright?" one of the girls in science block leaned over to whisper.
                              
Alice blinked in surprise, no one had talked to her yet other than to hurtle insults or lewd suggestions; peppered with a few necessary acts for class. She didn't even know this girl's name. "Yeah, just not feeling well. Thanks." she replied, keeping her voice low while Pottyfer babbled on.
                              
"You look like you're about to keel over. Do you need to go to the nurse?" she continued.
                              
"Won't you get in trouble for talking to me?" Alice asked randomly. It seemed to be her day to say the internal monologue externally. "I mean, thus far anyone showing the least bit of kindness and tolerance towards me have been flagrantly burned by the reigning she-b**** of the social hierarchy." she blurted.
                              
The look on the other girl's face was priceless, a sort of horrified shock that was almost mixed with an agreeing humour. Like she could not believe Alice was saying this outloud.
                              
"Ms. Spade language!" the teacher barked and both girls turned to the front. From the looks on her classmates faces, word of what she had said was now getting around. Freaking joy.
                              
"My apologies. I think it's mild terrets, I should have a doctor look at that." The snarky comment slipped out and Alice smiled lightly as if she'd meant to say it. The teacher frowned at her and the class sniggered.
                              
"Be that as it may, sit properly and keep quiet in my class." then the teacher stormed back up to the board.
                              
Alice sat in her chair facing forward, swallowing the irrational curge to laugh. Her stomach bubbled and her laughter cut off as she wasn't sure if she was about to puke or not. A note dropped onto her desk from the friendly student and Alice actually opened it, pretty sure it wasn't a whore comment.
                              
I'm Gabby. You're pretty awesome. Watch your back, she has it out for you big time.
                              
Alice nodded, letting Gabby know she understood. Watching the teacher carefully so she didn't get yelled at again, Alice scrawled her response.
                              
Alice. Gotta be ballsy if you want to get what you want and survive. You not afriad of psycho barbie?
                              
And just like that Alice had made another friend. She and Gabby passed notes the rest of class, mostly yarning on about how boring the proff was or, hilariously enough, how hot Mr. Vega was. She wished she was feeling better to appreciate this more, but the cold dogged her down, and she knew she had to save her energy for dance class.