dress for success

[self_composed]

By the time when Alice first shows up at Stanford visibly (as opposed to lurking around the ceiling at Bella's classes, making smart remarks in her head), Janine has put in a request, and so have four other girls on the hall. (Lillian wants a summery floral dress, Tasha wants a midnight blue evening gown, Ruth has expressed a fondness for polka dots, and Kuo wants something gothy. Bella politely makes no remarks about anyone's taste.)

Bella likes all her teachers okay, and also the orchestra conductor and her soccer coach. Life is good.

Comments

[self_composed]

Bella snickers softly. [Good.]

[edgeofyourseat]

He giggles right back.

[self_composed]

There ensues a long, silent, invisible hug.

[edgeofyourseat]

It is very snuggly.

[Oh, hey,] says Alice, as a thought occurs to him. [Mom's throwing a party to, I dunno, celebrate ditching Dad and keeping his money. It's gonna be big and boring and full of boring rich people. Hilary's cooking, though. Wanna come?]

[self_composed]

[How boring are the rich people?] Bella asks consideringly. [Like, as far as you know they really aren't that interesting, or, they're some unknown mix of old and new money and maybe some of them run awesome companies but you hold them in general contempt?]

[edgeofyourseat]

[I haven't actually met most of them, but they all know my mom, and she probably met a lot of them through Dad, so there's a good chance they're either boring or assholes. Or boring assholes.]

[self_composed]

[Is there some non-rude way I could get a copy of the guest list and find everybody online?] Bella asks.

[edgeofyourseat]

[I ask my mom who's coming, she shows it to me, you read my mind?]

[self_composed]

[That works, yes.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[Cool.]

But he doesn't feel like un-hugging right now.

[self_composed]

[No rush. Unless the party is, like, tomorrow.]

[edgeofyourseat]

[Nope! It's in a couple weeks.]

[self_composed]

[Cool.]

And then she decides her speculation about where Janine will imagine they are ought to be true. Kisses kisses.

[edgeofyourseat]

Mmmmmm, kisses. Alice loves Bella. Her surprises are the best surprises.