“Uh – yeah,” he answered lamely, his heart thumping wildly in his chest. Alice Cooper – Smith – was standing there in front of him, at his very age, treating him without the usual disdain and aggression that she usually did. Because here, he wasn’t dating her daughter. She didn’t even have a daughter.
If he ever made it back to his time, he’d have a hell of a story to tell Betty.
“I’m actually – I’m new but –” Floundering, again. He took a shallow breath and composed himself, trying to decide what any of his literary heroes would do in his situation, but none of them offered particular solace. “That’s really kind of you, Alice, but really… It’s no big deal.”
Not that he seemed to have much say, she seemed rather adamant in helping him – did he really cry for help just in his appearance? “Even though I can’t say I’m a fan of math class, you really shouldn’t skip just to show me around, really.”
“please tell me you’re not one of them goody-two shoes who always goes to class and never has any fun?” she mock-pouted. “because then I’ll have to go get Mary.” Alice turned to head back to her locker, which was just around the corner. “I like an excuse not to go to math.” she rounded the corner and went to opening to locker and shoving her books inside. her locker was --- well near disastrous.
“don’t mind the mess. it’s not mine.” she sighed. “I keep telling him to stop shoving his shit in here, but he insists it’s better than going to his locker.” she mumbled, mostly to herself. “so Van Jones, let’s show you around.” her smiled was wide, and nearly sweet.
“we can start with the cafeteria, one of the women in there loves me, always gives me free breakfast.”