Day 363 (Pt 3): Debatable

"What, seriously? C'mon, Alice! Don't tell me we went through all of that for nothing!"

"Yeah, Alice! I even did that dumb thing you wanted me to do, so at least hand me the five bucks."

Alice snickered, "Wait seriously? Maria did he actually-" She couldn't help but laugh at this. While at the party, Alice pulled John from the dance floor and triple dog dared John to yell out 'PANCAKES!!!' and promised that if he did so in front of everyone, she would give him a crisp ten-dollar bill.

At first, he was hesitant and asked her how old she was; however, once she said that if he was willing to do the dare within the next two weeks, she would give him five dollars. He winked at her and danced all the way back to the dance floor.

Maria began laughing as well. "He was so loud! I'm shocked your dad didn't hear that!"

"Oh, that's because this crying was probably louder." She silently shushed John and Maria. Within seconds, they were able to hear Mr. Boris loudly weeping. Just hearing him made John and Maria melancholy, yet the symphony of sad vibes wouldn't affect Alice. It was as if this was the millionth time she had heard her dad cry.

"Honestly, it bugs me." Alice looked back down at them and saw them suffering from guilt. "Why are you guys sad? He yelled at you for standing up for the little munchkin and me!"

"Alice, it's different for us." John sighed. "This has nothing to do with us. You and Blake didn't even get the chance to meet her. You don't even know anything about her. This is a lot harder for you guys than it is for us."

Alice felt hurt and offended. She was slightly pissed at her friends for siding with her father. She was hurting too, so how come they couldn't see that? How come they couldn't see her pain? "Quit joking around, guys! It's not funny. This is serious, okay? We need to focus on what's important."

Alice thought about it for a quick second before concluding that she should join them. After all, getting away from her dad might help clear her head. But what he came up here? She would be in serious trouble. But why does that matter? She's 16! She's more than capable of making her own decisions.

However, before she could agree to leave and ditch her father, her conscience had kicked in at the last second. She turned around and looked at her room door, and her back was facing John and Maria. She took a deep breath and had a second thought. Her father: her friends had sympathized and had felt for him when she couldn't. Maybe, she was wrong and shouldn't be frustrated with her father for feeling feelings that were more than justified for anyone in his situation. Her rage was most likely clouding her judgment. She had to stay: for her hurting father and for her brave brother.

"You know what, I can't you guys. I'm really sorry, but my family needs me."

Maria, shocked at Alice's answer, pleaded for her to come with them. "Alice, c'mon! We have to deal with those visions of yours. We don't have the time for this!"

"I'm really sorry you guys, I really am, but they need me more."

"So your family is more important than the world? Alice, be sensible! We have to solve the mystery of the visions."

John chuckled. "Sounds like a mystery for four children and a talking dog."

Alice paused for a second to think then responded with confidence. "Or like a mystery for just one teenage girl."

"Nah, she only handles murder mysteries."

"The show and the film was a murder mystery. The famous book series was more filtered for younger kids."

"You right, you right."

Maria raised her voice. "C'mon, you guys! We don't have the time for this." John was joking around, so he turned to Maria and looked confused; however, Maria punched him in the arm.

"Ow, okay!" He turned back to Alice. "Can we at least come up there?" He tugged at the rope for good measure and nodded. "Yeah, it can support us long enough to get to you. So whaddya say?"

"I mean, I don't want you guys getting caught and this entire situation getting worse."

"On the other hand, there won't be a situation if the world ends."

"Yeah, that too. Hmmm, tough choice."

"Although, we can just hide under the bed."

"But that's super creepy."

"True, but it's not creepy if you know it's us."

"But my dad's gonna get this vibe that someone's down there."

"That certainly is a possibility. What to do, what to do? Maria, any ideas on what we should do?" John and Alice both turned to where Maria was, yet no one was there. They looked around to see where she could be.

"Ahem! I'm up here and I'm okay, thank you for asking!" Alice and John were perplexed on how she was able to get all the way up there without them noticing her. John politely asked, but Maria dropped the niceties. "No time, John. Alice, move over so I can get in."

Alice backed away from the window as Maria began to enter the room. John took approximately ten steps back before sprinting at full speed and wall jumping onto the rope: he was at least 8 feet up the rope. "Halfway there, baby. I'd say about ten feet to the top, so that means-" He did notice that if he climbed for only a little longer, he could grab onto Alice's window and go from there. Alice and Maria were chatting in the meantime: John was unlucky enough to overhear some girl talk.

"La la la la la la la la la la la la, I can't hear you!" John eventually got through Alice's window and took a deep breath. He walked over to Alice and put his hand out. "If you would be so kind as to pay back the debt you owe me, I shall gladly accept."

Maria laughed, and so did Alice. Alice got out her wallet from her pants on her dresser and took out a five-dollar bill. "Is this the amount I owe you, kind sir?" She barely managed to keep a straight face as he snatched the money out of her hand and shoved it into his back pocket. "Thank you, ma'am."