Queen of Spades (House of Car...

Alice stared down at the papers in front of her, trying not to scream or cry. And she was the most calm person in the room. It was lunch time and there wasn't a single senior in the cafeteria that wasn't having emotional outbursts right now. The senior trip was being planned, and it was costing a fair bit of money but what was causing the outbursts was the final bombshell being dropped.

"Are you s***ing me?" Alice finally erupted, just stunned by the news. There were going to be three whole teacher chaperones and nearly a hundred and seventy senior students going. Not all of them could afford the trip, either academically or financially, and there were a few who were prohibited from going even if everything else was clear. Thankfully Alice was free and clear to go, and she could afford the trip, but only because she didn't pay rent to Salali. The nest egg of cash she'd built up was dwindling down, though her increasing popularity as DJ Mask was helping bring in a bit more money. And she flat out refused to touch the money she'd put into a savings account for college. No one had found out about it because she'd opened the account using her fake id, a clever little mock up that looked real but had Alice's mother's name in place of her own, and a different birthdate. It was amazing how carefully saving up for over a year and spending money only on rent, grocieries, bills and necessities. Any time she felt like buying something frivolous, she put the money into her savings account instead. It wasn't enough to cover all the costs of a year in college, but it did mean that when she applied for financial assistance, she could pay off the first chunk of it nearly right away, making her credit start off looking very good.

But it wasn't financial concerns that had the senior students a breath away from absolute rampage; somehow all 170 some odd students were supposed to decide in the next week what activities they wanted to do, and establish their plans so that while down there, the chaperones would know eaxctly where each student was at all times. Alice understood the concept, it made sense to have each students projected timelines and locations plotted out. But what was pissing her off was the little notice that every student will be required to wear a gps tag on them at all times during the trip.

"How is the school even affording this?" she demanded, looking up at her groaning friends.

"Because they're using us as guina pigs! This is a prototype project." Kim whined. "It's so big brother." Justine mumbled. "They want to find us if we're kidnapped." Butch stated, missing the point. "Do you guys think they'll be watching everything we do or just using them if we go missing?" Theresa asked.

Alice let her friends talk overtop each other, by now used to listening to them layer conversations like this. Briefly she remembered back to her first day here and how confusing it was to listen to these people talk. Now she knew to just throw her two cents into the mix, someone was bound to catch it and throw theirs back.

"Do you think we could find a way around the gps thing?" she asked the table at large. Eventually their seperate conversations stilled and they looked at ehr, a little surprised.

"You want to do something you know is a no-no?" Kim asked, eyebrows raised. The others looked intrigued or worried and Alice realized she had to come up with an excuse and quick. She couldn't tell them the truth, 'yeah I wanted to be able to sneak away with my boyfriend, you know the hot english teacher you girls keep drooling over only no one knows about us', somehow Alice knew that honesty was not the best policy right now.

"Well... I mean come on, it's Mexico! Didn't you guys want to get a little stupid and check it out without someone walking you through it?" Alice turned it back on them neatly.

"I'd love to check out their clubs!" Justine announced with giddy joy. "I don't know, I don't think it's safe." Butch warned. "I can think of a good reason to sneak off..." Sammy mumbled, subtly looking at West who was walking passed. "It doesn't matter, only those of us that are 18 or older can sign the waiver to go without direct teach supervision anyways. Says here in hte rules, unless we are 18, we have to follow the teacher's group. Those of us that have parental permission or can sign the form ourselves can flake off, but the rest can't." Kim stated, sutting through the chatter. Most of the group slumped, dejected because their birthdays occured after March, or they knew their parents would never go for it.

Alice stared down at the sheet, a smile curling at her lips. Her birthday was next month. Not only could she sign the sheet, but it occured to her that after February 13th, she and Malcolm weren't an illegal relationship anymore. The worse they could do was fire him, no one could take her away after that. Though she did mentally remind herself that getting him fired was a terrible thing and not to be taken lightly, Malcolm loved to teach and was very good at it and she didn't want to ruin that for him.

"Earth to Alice, hello.....?" Kim waved in front of her face and Alice rezoned into reality.

"Ah...?" Alice looked confused and realized everyone was packing up and heading to the last class of the day. She sobered up immediately, a little ball of worry wobbling around her gut.

The first day back from winter vacation and dance class discovered that Mrs. Moodie had broken her leg skiing over the holidays. She would be unable to assist with choreography, but would be staying on to help direct. In her place was a new teacher, fresh out of Julliard in the States. Maddison Avery had been a student here four years ago, and her solo in the Gala had gotten her a full scholarship to the illustrious dance school. Alice wasn't worried about impressing the young substitute, but instead was concerned because Ms. Avery had looked at the dance sequence Alice had written out for Oberon and promptly decided that Ace would be her partner for the Gala. Suddenly Alice's responsibilities were doubled and she was helping the teacher come up with the dance work for characters she'd never actually dance with on stage.

But as much as Alice hated the extra responsibilities, she had to admit that secretly it felt great to have someone trust her that much with the work. This wasn't to say that Ms. Avery wasn't working herself, she was spending a class with each student, gonig over character work and helping them design costumes etc...., she was just trusting the young Alice to help her with finalizing the footwork. So today Alice and Lexi were having their first forced partnership. Every step towards the performance hall filled Alice with dread, she was not looking forward to this. But she squared her shoulders and prepared herself to deal with the worse Lexi could throw at her.

"Alright girls, you know the roles. Alice, as Puck you are trying to convince Titania to come back to Oberon, forgive him and forget Bottom. You are trying to break the spell the flower put over your Queen. Lexi, you are the Fairy Queen, your fighting with your King and have taken on a human lover because of the flower's spell. Trusting your friend Puck you are copying her movements until the tempo of htesong changes, then you take the lead. When the song switches over, remember you are having the solo, so all eyes are on you." Ms. Avery reminded both girls.

The tension in class was palpable, the student body long aware of the animosity between the two female dancers. They both stood on the stage, facing each other and sharing the center. Lexi's eyes shone with anger and hatred and Alice just took a deep breath and put on her show face, pleasant but blank. She was only peripherally aware of the eyes of the class on them, and even her awareness of Lexi faded until she was just another dancer. This was choreography that Mrs. Moodie and Lexi had both worked on, not just Alice, so she had to remember the movements carefully, not wanting to spark a fight if she didn't 'put her all into it'.

Alice started to move and had to ignore the half second delay before Lexi started to mimic her. It was supposed to look disjointed, that was the point of it and the soft movements at the beginning emphasized that dispairity. The dance called for a contemporary ballet style at first, broad, sweeping movements and floating layers. Often they were supposed to reach out for each other as if they were long trusted friends and this was were their ability to focus past their mutual dislike was tested. The pace of the music changed, as stronger bass and more electronic components involved. Now Lexi and Alice were dancing at the same tempo, no time difference at all. The dance changed from the swirling ballet to a more demanding sequence that segued them into dancing seperately. Alice's movments pulled her to the front of the stage where she settled down, watching Lexi take her solo.

Even though Lexi made her furious and filled her with an emotion that was close to hate, Alice was forced to admit that she was dancing better than ever. It was as if knowing that Alice was watching, Lexi had to throw everything she had into it, and for once held nothing back. It was stunning, and Alice applauded with the rest of the class, not too proud to admit that Lexi was unbelievably talented. That was until the hostile blonde came up to get in her face.

"Let's see the whore try to do something like that." Lexi scowled at Alice, keeping her voice low so no one else could hear. Her temporary hiatus of harassment was gone because although West would run to defend Ace if he was aware of a problem, right now his attention was entirely on Ms. Maddison Avery. Alice realized that maybe she wasn't the only one to go for an untraditional approach to finding love.

"Lexi, would you just let it f***ing go? You hate me, I don't care. You want me gone, I don't care. You're insults are repetitious and petty, I don't care. Are you sensing a theme here?" Alice asked, sounding bored.

"You are a waste of everyone's time. Girls like you don't go on to become the star, go to college, get married and have a loving family. Sluts like you waste their lives and then when they realize their mistakes, ruin someone else's marriage to steal a rich husband. You're a homewrecker in training!" Lexi insulted, no longer keeping her voice low.

Alice's eyebrows disappeared into her hair as she stared at Lexi. "Lexi, I'm starting to suspect that this isn't about me at all. I'm guessing it's not even about you or us either. If there is personal drama going on that is making you so hateful, then deal with it. Because if you want the same opportunity that Ms. Avery over there had, then you're going to have to earn it. Otherwise I will take it from you. Fair and square. Now shut up and dance." Alice stood proudly, ready for whatever reaction her response garnered.

Lexi glared at her, blue eyes a little liquid and Ace figured that maybe Lexi used anger to hide the hurt. From her little outburst it seemed like Lexi's family life wasn't picture perfect, but that didn't excuse her actions. "I am going to find a way to make your life a living hell." Lexi threatened.

"As if I give a d*** what you do." Alice scoffed and walked away, not wanting to get dragged into an insult match while the new dance teacher watched on. Ms. Avery looked flushed and a little guilty as she watched Alice walk away and West looked far too smug as he looped an arm over Alice's shoulders. He was about to open his mouth when they both heard a new song start on the cd player. West didn't know the significance of it, but Alice had frozen in place, and then spun around to glare at Lexi.

Once again the blond had put on the song Alice used to strip to. This time Lexi stayed on hte stage and every eye turned to her, unsure of what she was up to. "We have in our midst a professional!" Lexi called out. Alice felt her muscles tighten up, already sensing where this was going. "Our dear friend Alice was a stripper not so long ago, and this here is her song. Let's all give her a hand as thank you because she has so kindly agreed to show us what it's like to be so d*** good."

Alice met Lexi's hateful stare and raised an eyebrow. West dropped his arm away and made a slight step forward but Alice wrapped her fingers around his wrist and stopped him. "Lexi, are you really sure you want this?" she asked, quelling her inner turmoil. Lexi just smirked, thinking she was calling Alice's bluff.

"Excuse me girls, but I don't think this is appropriate...." Ms. Avery trailed off as Alice looked at her and smiled.

"Oh not like THAT Ms. Avery. I'm not stripping today. But Lexi has shown such a keen interest in the life of a stripper, I think for the fitness benefit." Alice soothed, managing to work a few insults into it too. "I know how good of a core workout it is and she has admitted to needing to tighten up." Alice looked back at the now furious blond. "So if you'll start the song again for me Lexi, I'll show you exactly what it is I can do." Ms. Avery tried to voice more objections, but Lexi's dance troupe friends started to talk over her and the performance hall quickly filled with voices so Alice pretended she didn't hear hte teacher.

She hopped up onto the stage as the music started. Her gut broiled with anger as she felt her body grind into gear, no longer used to dancing this set everyday. But she made the roughness work for her, and hte anger gave an added edge as Alice danced around a very shocked and humiliated looking Lexi. Because Alice was dancing with her nemisis like she was a client, putting her into the position of being the butt of hte joke instead of Alice. Ace was literally dancing circles around her. The song ended and Alice didn't even bother looking at Lexi, instead she hopped off the stage and walked right out of class. West, Kim and Justine followed a few steps behind, running to flank their friend as she made the dramatic exit.

West's hand squeezed hers in comfort and fell away as he turned to the two girls. "Ladies, I think she might want to have a moment alone. If I could regale you..." His voice faded away as Alice walked out of ear shot, grateful that he understood.

She felt a fine trembling starting to pass over her and she ducked into the quiet room outside Mr. Vega's class as the tears started to well up. She ended up sitting with her back to teh door, knees pulled against her chest, hiding from view. That hadn't felt like a victory. To Alice it had felt like an overwhelmingly pathetic and dirty thing to do and she hated herself for it. For letting Lexi get to her, for letting the need to strike back and win take over. She was just so tired of being on the loosing end of these exchanges. Even if Lexi never actually hurt her, it reminded Ace too much of how fighting back had never stopped Stuart from using her.

Alice let hte tears soak into her dancing sweats, wishing that she could curl up against Malcolm's shoulder but knowing that was impossible still. It was final period and he was usually rather busy what with being a teacher and all. So she stayed there and cried herself out, wiping away the evidence with her sweat pants. Bell rang to signal the end of class and she stayed hidden, feeling hte vibrations of over a thousand students walking by, heading out to their normal lives. She knew she should get up and head out too, but her body felt wooden and stiff, locked into the position she'd stayed in for so long. Her head ached and her mouth tasted funny and she kept snuffling, trying to ease her tear induced congestion.

"You're pitiful." she said outloud, the silence of the quiet room getting to her. Her long ago mantra of old followed. "Nobody likes you, everybody hates you. You're going to fail. Smile you b*." her voice held no humour as she said it.

And still she sat there, no longer feeling the vibrations of the other students leaving. Malcolm had probably worried about her since she'd literally disappeared and no one knew where to find her. She dug out her cellphone to see if he'd sent any messages and found only one from West.

Saw you vanish, told Reaper what happened. Hate me later. Go get a hug.

She read it and just closed the phone without replying. It was time to stop the pity party, get to her feet and get moving. She was determined to do it but for some reason her body refused to budge. Ace yelped as the door behind her was pulled open and she ended up flopping onto her back, staring up in shock at a startled looking janitor.

"Woah miss, are you alright?" the friendly janitor asked. Alice remembered how nice he had been when her locker was getting vandalized repeatedly.

"Ah... yeah just.... well... I ...." Alice stammered, getting up and trying to explain it. "Oh h***. No, no I am not alright, but you didn't hurt me. Sorry about that. I know I shouldn't be here still but..." she shrugged and the janitor gave her a critical eye.

"Needed a place to be away from things for a little?" he asked with an air of understanding.

"Along those lines yes." Alice nodded, now feeling terribly stupid for staying in the school to cry. She could have gone to her apartment, Salali wouldn't have been upset at all. But Alice was honest enough with herself to know why her feet had brought her here. Because Malcolm's classroom was just over there. She'd wanted to go to him and couldn't, and hadn't even thought of anyone else to turn to. "Thank you, I'll jsut head home now." Alice waved at the janitor and grabbed her things, heading out while he shrugged and went on cleaning.

Her phone buzzed as she walked outside and she answered it, barely able to hear the person on hte other side. "....ice he's.............art has gone.........the Wal...s.....ere are...u?"

"Hello?" Alice asked, trying to understand. "I can't hear you." she said into the phone.

"Alice?...." She heard Salali's voice and the Native woman sounded concerned.

"Salali? I'm on my way home. What's up with your phone, it keeps breaking out?" Alice asked, walking towards their apartment.

"....not there......at .......ice station." the phone fuzzed out and the line went dead. Alice frowned down at her cell, trying to make sense of that frustrating conversation. She dialed Salali's cell number but she didn't pick up. After hanging up though, her phone buzzed with a new incoming call. This time from Malcolm.

"Mal? I'm on my way home, Salali jsut called me, what's going on?" she asked, shivering from more than just the cold January air.

"Alice? You're alright. Thank god. We couldn't get a hold on you and West said you took off after class." Malcolm sounded concerned, voice tight as if he had to hold it in around witnesses.

"Malcolm, what's going on?" Alice demaned, confused and too tired to be handeling this right now.

"It's Stuart." Malcolm stated and Alice stopped moving. "The police can't find him. He's on the run and my gut says he might try and take one last swing at you on his way out of town." he warned.

Alice just clutched at the phone, panic and an almost animalistic terror flooded through her, as if Stuart would suddenly appear right now. There was no escaping it, her life was just doomed to be filled with fear, pain and anger. She thought, still in shock. Malcolm had kept talking but she didn't hear him until he shouted in the phone. "What was that, sorry?" she asked, hating how her voice waivered.

"I'm coming to get you. Tell me the intersection you're at." Malcolm instructed and hung up after she did so. Alice just stood there and waited, numbed and shocked that this was happenined. Why had Stuart run away? Was he coming to get her? Malcolm's Jeep pulled up and he hopped out, hurrying over to her.

Malcolm's arms wrapped around her and she realized he hadn't even bothered to grab a jacket, and it was freezing. She clung to him, her arms around his wasit and just let his presence comfort her. He was so angry he ws shaking, and she knew it wasn't aimed at her. Ace knew that in this moment, if Stuart were to suddenly appear, Malcolm would live up to his nicname and rip him to pieces. She didn't even have to ask him why, Malcolm was that angry because Stuart had hurt and scared her. There didn't need to be another reason.

"I want to go home." she said softly. Malcolm pulled her along, letting her go only long enough to go back around the vehicle and get in the driver side. His hand rested in her lap, figners interwoven with hers. She didn't look up as he drove, knowing that in every face she'd see Stuart's, and she woddenly followed along beside him.

Malcolm closed the door behind them and she looked up, surprised to see that they were in his apartment. "I know you wanted to go home." he said softly, cupping her face. "I won't be able to sleep unless I know you're safe, so let me grab some clothes for tomorrow and we'll go to your place ok?" he asked softly. Alice nodded and he didn't let her go yet. "I will not let him hurt you again. Do you understand me?" he asked, voice laced with the violence he held in reserve for a cause. Again Alice nodded. He kissed her forehead and turned to go grab his clothes.

Alice followed him into the bedroom, unable to give voice to her thoughts just yet. He threw a gym bag on the bed and quickly stuffed socks, underwear, D.O and a different coloured shirt for work tomorrow. He turned and seemed surprised to find Alice standing there, watching him.

"I thought you wanted to go home?" he asked, coming over to hug her again.

"I already am." she breathed and felt him hold her tighter.

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A/N: I don't know why but I found this chapter hard to write. I wrote parts, deleted them, rewrote, scrapped. Still not really happy with it but I'm building up to something nasty coming Alice's way and this is ground work. I am also very much sure none of you have guess what the something wicked this way-a coming is.

For those who are trying to win a spoiler by picking Alice's dress, send in your suggestions this weekend and I will pick the winner MONDAY:

There are three things you can choose between. A spoiler about Alice and Malcolm's relationship, a Spoiler about the Walter's and Alice OR a spoiler just about Alice. All three of htem are rather juicy. You get to pick ONE muahahaha!