Prologue

She sits perfectly still in her uncomfortable chair. Drawing her next blueprint of her next new car. Looking up every once in a while, so that the professor would think she was paying attention to the lecture and notes.

“Miss Carter.” He said sternly.

She cringed at that last name, for it wasn’t her name; it’s her stepfather’s. She looked up with a grim look on her face; “It’s Valentine!” She said through clinched teeth.

The professor cocked one of his eyebrows, “Ok, Alice! Since you seem so caught up in your work, maybe you can enlighten us.”
Alice looked up and glanced up at the board. Oh it’s just vortexes, I could do this in my sleep. Alice slightly smirked, “The answer is (-2, 1). Am I right?”

Professor Johnson’s cocked eyebrow returned to normal. He looked slightly impressed that she could do that in her head. The class just looked at her shocked. Professor Johnson smiles, “Very good Alice.” He went on with the lecture.

Nathalie leaned forward and whispered, “Nice one Am.”

Alice slightly smiled, even though she knew Nathalie couldn’t see it. Alice went back to her notes on her new car design. Alive has four very nice, very new, and very pimped out rides. Each on has it’s own color design. She has a navy blue Honda Civic, a hot pink Hyundai Tiburon GT V6, a green Audi TT, and a purple Mitsubishi 3000GT.

The guy sitting next to her leaned over and studied her paper. Alice sighed, then looked over at him. He grinned, “What are you drawing?” he said in a childish voice.

“I’m working out the kinks on my new car.” Alice replied not trying to sound irritated.

He smiled, but before he could say another word the bell rang. Alice quickly grabbed her things then left the classroom followed by Nathalie and Connie. The guy hurried to try to catch up with them. He managed to catch up with them as they were talking about what they were doing today. “Hello ladies.” He said humorously.

Alice looked like she was a bit annoyed by him, but was polite and said nothing. Nathalie smiled sincerely, “So what’s your name though guy?” Nathalie and Connie both giggled. Alice had a look on her face like ‘oh god don’t encourage him.’

“It’s Peter. And what might yours be?”

“My name is Nathalie.” She said sweetly.

Connie being to quiet girl she is just smiled.

“What about you?” Peter asked then turned to Connie.

“Oh… um… it’s Connie.” She said in her normal sweet voice.

Alice just looked forward. Peter smiled at her, “Your name’s Alice, but I heard Nathalie call you Am, why’s that?” Peter said with curiosity in his voice.

“Because my name is Alice Madison, you can call me either Alice or Madison or even AM. I’ll answer to them all.” Alice said trying to sound nice about it.

Peter smiled slightly weakened. (He could tell he was starting to annoy her.) He quickly made his smile strong and bright, again. “So how long have you been growing your hair, Alice? I mean it’s already pass your shoulder blades.”

Alice smiled sincerely at this. Besides her cars the only thing she took pride in was her hair. Her dad used to tell her that her hair should be long because would make her stand out more. He said she should never cut it because it would look better long. When her mother tried to take her to get it cut she would cry. She always was her daddy’s little girl. “I’ve only had it cut once when I was five, so since then.”

Nathalie and Connie looked slightly shocked. In all the years of them being friends, she had never smiled like that before. Peter smiled wider, “Now we are getting somewhere. Can I have your number, so we can talk?”

Nathalie and Connie gave him the ‘you shouldn’t haven’t have done that’ look. Their silence was broken by Alice’s words, ”Sure.”

Nathalie and Connie’s mouths fell open. They quickly recovered from their state. Peter and Alice stopped to face each other. Alice grabbed a piece of paper out of her notebook and scribbled down her number. Then handed it to Peter. He tried not to seem to antsy when he grabbed it, “So I’ll call you tonight.” He said then started to walk in the other direction.

“Ok Peter talk to you then.” Alice, Nathalie, and Connie started to walk in the together again.

“It was a fake number? Wasn’t it?” Connie asked dryly.

“Of coarse it was, Connie.” Nathalie said as if Connie was asking her and not Alice.

“Actually, it was my real number.” Alice replied happily.

Connie and Nathalie both stopped dead in their tracks. Alice however continued one. They hurried to catch up to her. Alice climbed into her stock blue civic. Connie and Nathalie got into the car. Alice gave everyone a little show with her car. She burned out her tires the speed off.