Alice's Book Club

Purpose

Alice

"I'm Sorry" I had hoped that I had heard him wrong, and held my breath waiting for his reply. "Well I heard you talking with Bridgette in Human Resources earlier saying my eyes were 'Magical'" he explained, and I sighed happy that he hadn't seen my emails. "Oh yeah, I'm so sorry I didn't know you heard that" I felt my face return to its happy brown color. "So?, you really think there magical" he batted his eye's playfully. "Amortentia" I replied, getting the look I usually get for going nerdy. "It's a potion for love in Harry Potter, which I guess I implied your eye's were swimming in" I felt my rambling grow more and more ridiculous, "I'm going to go write up this memo" I speed out the room, refusing to look back and see just how disturbed I made my boss. "Mommy look what I made" Bruce, held up a picture of what I believed to be a giraffe, but as I had learned from past experience's to not voice my observation before being told what it was. "It's a battle ship in outer space" He smiled lifting my spirits, "It looks great baby, now save it so we can hang it up at home." I instructed, and he ran the picture to his Batman book bag. 'I had clearly overreacted why would he be interested in my personal life' I thought to myself, feeling somewhere between relived and disappointed.

I was glad that the day ended quickly, I just wanted to get home and try to rid myself of these complex emotions. "Is it an Elephant?" Bruce asked, we had started a game of twenty questions while waiting for the bus ,and he insisted on being first to guess. "No, try again" I replied and he went back to thinking of more questions, He swung his legs back and forth while sitting on the bench ,as if the momentum would give him the answer. I walked towards the curb and looked out to see whether or not the Bus was close. Unfortunately, the bus was nowhere to be seen 'not surprising SEPTA was always late, 'public transportation, my worst enemy' I thought to myself fuming. "Okay, is it a Gorilla?" He asked, looking pretty confident "Yes, it is" I said and he cheered, "Okay let me think of one" He said going back to his leg swinging. I nodded happy that Bruce was keeping entertained while we waited for Philadelphia's flawed transportation system. 'At least, the loud high school kids aren't here ,and the thugs usually keep their business closer to South st' I thought to myself looking at the bright side. "Okay, got it" Bruce said beaming, it was clear he thought of a good one. "Okay, is it a.... Mr. Maverick?" I was shocked to see Mr. Maverick pull up to the curb in a sleek Ashton Martin. "Hey, need a ride?" He asked, "Cool car" Bruce said running up to stand near me and examine the car. "Yeah, if you don't mind" I answered, ,even though the last place I wanted to be was near the man that caused me to act like a fool , but Bruce needed to get home for bed time, and the bus was already running late.

"Thank you for this" I said, sliding into my seat after securing Bruce in his. "No problem" he replied "I'm sorry about earlier, you know with me rambling" I apologized for my awkwardness. "Haha, no need it was cute, very you." He chuckled, I felt my face heat up again, I envy how cool and collected he could be while I felt like dropping down a manhole. "Hey, Mr. Maverick want to play 20 questions?" Bruce asked "I would love to" He smiled at Bruce, melting my heart; I loved how sweet he could be.

We had arrived at my apartment building; I helped Bruce out the car and turned towards Mr. Maverick. "Thank you, for the ride" Bruce and I said in unison "You're welcome" he replied mocking our voice. I began to walk towards my building "Alice" I turned at the sound of his voice, "I think your eye's are pretty magical as well" He stuttered out, I have never seen him flustered it was adorable. I made it into the apartment without trouble 'Thank God, it's not every day an Aston Martin rides into the hood, last thing I need was some thug trying to rob my boss.

I felt relief the moment I entered the apartment; the swirling colors on hardwood comforted me. I was grateful that my landlord Mrs. Tudi let me paint the apartment, provided that I paint it back when time to move. I saw mine and Bruce's handprints decorate the walls in bright colors, I smiled at the portraits of various animals and super heroes , this place wasn't much but I'm proud that it was ours. Bruce and I started our routine of diner, homework, cartoon, and bubble baths and bed. Once Bruce was sleep in his Batman bed, I took a moment of reprieve and sunk into my old comfy yellow couch. I began to watch Archer, in an attempt to forget todays embarrassing events, all was well till my phone rang and I saw Charity's name pop up, my night was about to get a whole lot longer.

"You did what?!?!" My best friend Charity screamed through the phone. Charity was one of the cofounders of SHUSH and my best friend since the seventh grade, of course she had changed from the sweet afro puff who loved picking flowers, and into the professional IT manager of a multinational corporation. "I didn't do it on purpose, I got distracted by Bruce and the whole thing kind of just happened" I explained ,cleaning up the toys Bruce played with before heading off to bed, I could tell she was in one of her moods. I smiled to myself knowing exactly what she was doing. More than likely lovely Charity is running her hands through her Carmel colored curls, squeezing her dark brown eye's closed and counting to ten. "Did you get to ten yet?" I teased her method, "Shut up, Did he say anything" She shot back equally playful. "No, well..." I trailed off wondering if I should continue, Janice was easily stressed. "Tell, me Alice" She demanded, "Well he said something about how I think his eyes are magical" I said trying to play it off. "So he did read it?!?!" She freaked "Not necessarily I always call his eyes magical it was only a matter of time till he heard me" I assured her ,not feeling confident in that explanation, but what was I supposed to do 'How about say, Hey Charity turns out my boss now knows all my secret desires.' I thought to myself, refusing to voice that ridiculous explanation. "True, you aren't subtle honey" I could practically hear her relaxing. "See crisis adverted, just another awkward discussion that will be forgotten in time." I smiled happy that it was behind me, well sort of.

"Yes, I suppose.' She sighed dropping the subject; I hoped "I'm sorry" she said in a surprisingly sweet voice. "Why?" I asked confused. "I know how you feel about him" she replied, pouring salt in my wound, I hadn't thought about my feelings for Mr. Maverick for a long time. "Oh no it's fine, I mean just look at him and think about me, there was no way we could be together" I tried to put on a good face, but to be honest even if I knew we had no chance, I always held on hope for a miracle. "You're probably right, *sigh* are you sure you're okay?" she asked just making sure "Positive" I said feeling more and more unsure. "Alright, Bye Alice" She said, "Bye" I replied, hanging up my Cell phone and sank onto the couch. "I'm okay" I said to myself, trying to fight the, complicated emotions that had sprung up on me today.

Jared

"Did I really just say her eyes were magical?" I asked myself walking into my loft, I turn on any of the lights I knew this place like the back of my hand, besides the lights of the Downtown Philadelphia was more than enough to see by. I had designed and built the loft myself it was a four bedroom three bath loft, bigger than I would ever need but I was proud to have it. I smiled thinking back to how proud I was to have made something my own. It was mine and mine alone, untouched by all the bullshit of society, and unscathed by the drama of my family, it was a place of honesty I couldn't find anywhere, that's why I designed this place with no doors. Every room flowed into one another; the bedroom centered the loft ,my California king covered in black sat in the middle of the dark hardwood floor on the right of it was an opening to my large walk-in closet. The living room held my comfortable black leather sectional with matching ottoman lying on my white shag carpet. The living room flowed to a Kitchen made of the most high tech cookware imaginable, and surrounded by black and white marble. The only room that had a door was the bathroom, and that was merely for hygienic purposes. I treaded to my closet stripping on the way, I still couldn't believe I said that to her. 'Just like I couldn't believe she would write those emails about me' I thought to myself, just the thought of her thinking so highly of me lifted my spirits. For years I had held a crush for my secretary, but I always thought she saw me only as a figurehead, I mean in all the years we've know each other she never once called me Jared. Inevitably I put my feelings for her away giving up hope ,but now knowing how she feels I felt a new purpose take hold of me. I swear one way or another I will get her to say see that we are meant to be.