Like Monday, Butch walked with her to her science block. Gabby met her at the door, laughing as Butch formally handed her over. "You're such a tool." Alice laughed at him and he shot her a wink. Ace and Gabby chatted before class started and as they both studiously scribbled notes from the board, they also passed the occasional missive to each other,
                              
So is DJ Mask as hot as he seems? Gabby asked via note.
                              
How the h*** did it get out that I was dating him? Alice asked back.
                              
Heard it from a friend of a friend. Spill. Gabby cheerfully replied. It was as good a cover as any, so Alice decided to go along with it.
                              
I met him when I worked as a stripper. He hadn't known my real age then, but was cool with it. Not been together long though. Alice confirmed. At least she wouldn't have to create an excuse if anyone recognized her at one of her own sets. They'd all assume she was there to support 'him'.
                              
At lunch time she got a chance to ask her friends about prom. She discovered that Lexi was the Captain of Prom Comittee. There wasn't a chance in h*** that Ace was going to try asking Lexi if the school would allow Mask to DJ the prom. Maybe she'd suggest it to Gabby that she ask. Alice eyed the hostile blonde in the performance hall, knowing that even if it was a great idea, Lexi would veto it just because Alice had mentioned it,
                              
West was more relaxed around Alice after yesterday's little chat. He kept being more hands on, drapping an arm over her shoulder, resting a hand on her arm or leg if they were sitting and even slapping her bottom, though she'd smacked him for that one. The worse part was that he would be playing Oberon in the play, and their characters were supposed to be touchy and flirting so he had an excuse to do it! Her phone buzzed with a message when she dug into her bag for her bottle of water.
                              
ppl r going 2 think that the 2 of u r sweet on eachother. Malcolm had texted about five minutes ago.
                              
Alice looked up to see Malcolm standing in the performance hall, talking to another student. Ace recognized the kid from the class just after hers and smiled. Sleeping together hadn't diminished the happy flutter seeing him gave her. THat sounded sappy and romantic though so she just admired how good he looked in the black shirt he was wearing today.
                              
She smirked and sent him a text back.You keep coming to this class looking that good and people will figure things out real quick after I jump on you.
                              
She saw him glance down at his phone and then back to his student. A few seconds later and her phone buzzed again.
                              
got exam prep w studts after class all wk, wed till exams.
                              
Disappointment stirred in her but but she realized it was a necessary break. Ok, I have to study anyways, looks like you get me on weekends only. she replied.
                              
:'( I have 2 get wrtn exams ready on wknds no free time until xmas. he replied back and hte smile left Alice's face but she nodded when she caught him watching her.
                              
It ended up being a good thing that Alice and Malcolm decided to play it cool for the next while. Alice's report with the police and SSA went through so while she studied for exams, Alice had the added stress of answering private questions repeatedly by sometimes hostile people. Despite her reluctance to talk about itm she was forced to go over every incident she could remember, in detail until there was a complete list of Stuart's continued abuse and rape. Alice just wanted to get this over with and have some kind of guarantee that none of the Walter's would ever try to bother her again. She could die happy if she never had to hear about them again, but the Justice system was getting involved on her behalf. Unsurprisingly Ace found herself with the screaming terrors everytime she drifted asleep, added onto the insomnia caused by exam season and Alice had totaled six whole hours of sleep in a five day stretch. Salali was worrying over the bags under her eyes and her generally listlessness when she wasn't doing a task that required her focus, and she worried at how hard the younger woman was pushing herself during those two weeks, needing the physical exhaustion to distract herself from the pang of missing Malcolm. Seeing him in class and the occasional text message did nothing to ease the pain.