"Do you and Malcolm need to stock up on condoms for the wedding?" Salali bluntly asked, making Alice's face flame red once again. 
                              
"Ah... it...it's alright Sal. Got that covered." Alice waved off the question, not entirely comfortable discussing such things in a public place. A lot of people didn't know what Depo Provera was and she really didnt want to have to explain the birth control injection while in a mall.
                              
"Ok. I'll take care of Monster while you're away, though I'll have you know that he sits on your bed waiting for you to get back. Unless we're playing, in which case he is still a normal puppy." Salali switched topics and they discussed the growing personality of Monster. He was a serious puppy, but still had moments where he was goofey and cute. Talking about the dog helped ease some of Alice's anxiety over the wedding. She had never actually been to a wedding before and she had no clue what to expect. A fact that was making her nervous now, because when they got back to the apartment, Alice had to pack. Malcolm would be taking her to the hotel tonight and hte wedding was tomorrow. 
                              
Alice discovered the hard way that packing with a puppy who wants attention is a neigh impossible task. She'd throw her socks into the suitcase Sal was lending her and Monster would fetch them out for her. She'd fold clothes carefully and stack them inside to have him lay down on top of it all and wag his tail at her. Malcolm arrived long before she was ready and walked in on Alice chasing Monster around while he dragged one of her bras accidentally tangled around his collar. Salali was laughing tears on the couch, grabbing her vast stomach while she guffawed and Ace was cursing in as many languages as she could remember. Monster just thought it was all fun and games. 
                              
Malcolm scooped the playful puppy up and unhooked Alice's bra from his collar. Monster took the opportunity to lick Mal's face and Alice shook her head, finally laughing at the situation. She grabbed the garment and gave Malcolm a quick kiss on the cheek. He was surprised at her open affection, unaware that Salali had figured them out a while ago.
                              
"Sal knows. Sneaky Indian. Talk to her, I need to finish packing." Alice explained and wandered back to her room. She could hear them discussing it as Monster followed her back in. This time she closed the door so he wouldn't have an escape route if he grabbed another piece of clothing. Finally she got it all packed away, impressed with how much clothes one wedding needed. She had her outfit for driving, pajamas, the dress for tomorrow and a final change of clothes for the day after the wedding, plus a spare outfit for the wedding reception and under garments. And shoes, and accessories and...... Alice ran throught hte mental checklist, sure she was forgetting something. Actually she'd had that feeling for a while now, like she'd missed an important date on her calendar but she didn't remember what. Shrugging aside the worry, Alice picked up her bag and walked out to see Malcolm and Salali sitting on the couch still talking. 
                              
"Alright, I am as ready to go as I will ever be." Alice announced, setting her bag down beside the door. 
                              
"Away we go then I guess. Have a good New Year's Sal." Malcolm got up from the couch. Alice went over and hugged her housemate goodbye. Moster seemed to realize she was going away again and went crazy, jumping and barking for attention.
                              
"Monster shush!" Alice snapped her fingers and he quieted down. "If you're a good boy for auntie Sal I'll bring you home a treat." she coaxed.
                              
"Auntie Sal? Does that make him daddy Mal?" Salali asked, and Alice choked on a laugh. 
                              
"I'm really not singing up for the breeding program just yet." Alice grinned at Malcolm's raised eyebrows. He was smart enough to not get involved in this little reparte. 
                              
"Get going before you give this man a complex." Salali laughed, packing her pipe with the tobaaco Ace had given her for Christmas. 
                              
Alice held Malcolm's hand as he grabbed her bag and led them out to his jeep. His own suitcase was in hte back already and he added hers next to it. It was a fair drive to where they were going so she got comfortable, plugging her mp3 player in so Malcolm could hear her latest efforts as DJ Mask. She was still trying to figure out how to get the school to go for hiring Mask for Prom, but she had already started to draft together a set list for the entire dance.