It was true. Noah seemed to be fine with anything and everything. Once again, she wondered how he was really doing most days, because he had a picture-perfect life. Some aspects that even she coveted. Still, some of his actions come off as fake, but then again so were the majority of the people at the academy trying to keep up their reputations that truth was not even distinguishable anymore.
Not that she had a say in it considering that she was also fake in all the ways that were counted. She was true to herself down to her bones, yet she couldn't shake off the feeling of putting up the face that most saw and expected of her. One that was pretty and elegant, carrying herself with femininity and delicate in all her ways.
She tried her best to fit into that role that had just become natural to her. A second skin one would say. A second skin that most people have whether they admit to it or not. She hoped that whenever Noah was around her he would be normal, but then again, she had never seen Noah yell at anyone before, so she supposed that she got one up on everyone from that.
Alice strived to be the top of the top despite her roots not being one to her advantage like everyone else's, but she didn't mind. Her hard work will come to bear fruit one day, and that was truly all that she wanted. With that said, she wanted to dig into Noah's brain to see how his thought process worked along with how he was able to maintain being the top in everything.
Learning his secrets may be the only way to top him at this point since the end was nearing faster than they all could anticipate. They had a few months left before the festival still remaining, so she could bide her time. They said eyes were the windows to the soul, but as Alice stared up at Noah all she could see was that there were no thoughts in his head.
"Ah, do you ever?" Alice dragged out.
"I don't," Noah responded a bit irked at the fact that she pointed it out. "When it comes to you, there's no problem."
Alice raised an eyebrow. "Hm, you seem to think deeply about me."
"That would be blowing it out of proportion," Noah said blandly. "But then again, it is quite hard not to think about a person if they're always in my face."
Alice rolled her eyes. "You're literally next to me in every single ranking whether that be academics or extracurriculars, and now that I am around you more constantly. Shouldn't I be the one complaining?"
"Isn't that what I'm already hearing?"
Her mouth dropped. "You're so kind to me. I just want to squeeze your head like a lemon."
"That sounds horrific."
She snickered. "It won't be. I won't let any go to waste."
"Ah, thank you for the visualization."
Alice brushed past him to go over to the register within the convenience store and took out her point card to pay for everyone's. There was a voice of protest from Claudia, but Alice waved her away. The boys thanked her while Alice handed her card over to the cashier who was an older lady happy to see young people swing by.
"What are the plans for you all today?" the woman asked happily.
"We were studying," Alice answered just as amicably.
"I see that your uniforms are from INVU," she said as she slid the ice cream over to the side of the counter for them all to grab. "That is quite impressive. You all must be so smart."
Alice waved her hands in front of her to deny such flattery, but Claudia smiled. "Thank you for your kind words."
They all dipped their heads politely at her lady before they left the store, the automatic glass doors sliding open for them. She had no idea where they were headed next, but Rowan pointed them in another direction that was behind the convenience store. Alice wasn't all too familiar with this area since it was out of the way of her small suburb.
"There is a small park over here. We can take a break there," Rowan said as they rounded the corner on the sidewalk with the stone walkways eventually expanding into one of a grassy pasture. A large enough one to be considered a park, but it was in reality a small strip of grass on the river bend.
Alice sat down on a wooden bench after peeling off the wrapper of her ice cream into the trash bin nearby. She licked her popsicle and smiled at the familiar sweet flavor that she was always fond of. Claudia did the same and yawned now that they were able to rest with the fresh air swirling and the beam of sunshine practically blinding them.
"Ah, brain freeze," Claudia squeaked out.
"Eat it slowly," Alice chastised before scooting over to the side of the bench to make more room for the guys who were just standing beside the bench.
Rowan sat down next to her before handing Noah his scraps that Noah tossed over his shoulder with the wrapper slowly fluttering into the bin. Alice took in the lovely sight in front of her, and she leaned her head onto Claudia's shoulder happy to bide in the time that they all spent together.
"Next time, I'll bring you all over to mine," Alice whispered.
"Yours?" Rowan questioned.
She brightened. "To my convenience store."
"What? I didn't know you owned one."
Alice blushed. "It's my family's. The convenience store is near the school, so please come over often."
"I'll keep that in mind while making sure Noah tags along," Rowan laughed.