"Wait, I walked all the way here to make sure everything is ok because you left in a jealous tiff?" she asked, incredulous.
                              
Malcolm didn't answer, just opening his door and gesturing for her to enter first. The door clicked shut and they stared at each other, both a little angry. Her bag dropped to the floor, his briefcase was set down with a click. Her jacket was folded over her bag and his was tossed onto of hte briefcase. They still stayed quiet, not quite staring each other down, but close. Finally Malcolm said what was on his mind.
                              
"You two were looking awfully cozy in there. I couldn't help but notice how appropriate it was." Mal paused, raking his fingers through short hair. "Alice you belong with someone your own age, maybe not West, but someone good." his fingers brushed her cheek. "Someone who can hold you, give you comfort and rescue you without having to worry who might witness it." his voice was gentle.
                              
Alice took a deep breath in, knowing the pain in her chest wasn't due to injury. "Malcolm Vega, it sounds like you want to break up with me. And we haven't even been on a date yet. Or even agreed that we were dating. Can't I get one chance before you decide it's not worth it?" she asked, sounding calm but feeling like her aching heart was about to explode out her chest.
                              
Malcolm walked over to his couch and sat on the arm, facing Alice. "Ace, it's not that easy." he looked at her for a second, then plunged on. "What I've been needing to talk to you about for a couple of days now was an invitation. My family knows that I left Shawna and now I have an empty +1 to fill for my brother's wedding. Actually everyone was surprisingly pleased I'd left Shawna and now they are trying to set me up with any female friend they can think of." he loosened the tie and undid the top buttons of his dress shirt. "I like who I am with you. I can finally be honest and real, and not feel like a horrible person for it." as he spoke, Alice walked over to him slowly, her shoes abandoned at the door.
                              
"So when you've seen with being all normal teen with West, you figured you'd be all noble and let me have a chance for a whirlwind romance with the Cubano Los Santos?" she asked, making Malcolm frown.
                              
"How'd you know he was in the Los Santos gang?" Malcolm asked, not needing to clarify how he already knew.
                              
"Tattoos on his stomach, saw them when he King Kong'd in class." Alice explained. "Malcolm, if I wanted to be the girl those gold eyes charmed, I'd be trying to get closer to him right now. But it's you I want to creep up on and make you loose your cool." she stood in front of him and smiled. "I'm very much where I want to be right now, and I'm all done with being afriad. If I'm gonig to demand that you be real and take risks for what you want, then I hold myself to that same standard." she held his face in her hands, lightly brushing her thumbs over his lips. She slowly lowers her face until they're kissing, wanting to claim his mouth.
                              
"Close your eyes and wait a minute." she whispered against his lips, stealing another kiss. Then she walked away. Alice didn't know how it was on his end, but she knew how hard her heart pounded as she pulled her sweater off and let it drop to the floor. She took her time unbuttoning the blouse and letting it slip away. Taking a deep breath in to calm nerves and settle her back flipping stomach, Alice unbuckled her kilt and draped it over a door knob. She reached back to unhook her bra and realized she'd run out of time. Malcolm's hands held hers in place, his breath stirring her hair. She let her hands drop away as his expertly unclasped the hooks and slid the straps down her arms and fall away.
                              
"Found you." Malcolm's voice was low and huskey. "Do you know what you're doing?" he had to ask.
                              
She pulled one of his hands around to rest over her heart, knowing it would be easy to pick out the rapid beating. "Do you want me to be your +1 at the wedding?" she asked instead of answering.