It was getting late into the evening. Joellie's lesson had run late and off of it's initial schedule. Mr. Samuels had to switch her lesson time because of a conflict with a concert the local orchestra was giving. The lesson had gone well, her Bach and Mussorgsky were coming along well and would probably be ready for a competition by the end of the month.

Of course, Joellie wasn't really thinking about her music even though it was constantly in the back of her mind. Instead, she was walking home with her red cello case on her back and thinking (scaredly) about the garden snake she'd seen the other day. It wasn't a happy thought, she could have sworn she understood what it said. Thus, she was on edge. She didn't like snakes despite being a naga herself.

Her red curls bounced against her head and her arms were wrapped against herself. She was wearing a sweater her grandmother had made for her. It was nice and red and it was a cozy reminder of the people who loved her. Not her cousins, the little freaks.

But yes. She was walking home, she was distracted and she was on edge. There.

There was an interesting site. A young girl alone on the sidewalk, about 20 feet ahead. Walking by herself and obviously very intense. If Alice hadn't already had his fun, he'd scare the shit out of this girl. It would be fun. But no, he's had his fun for the night, numerous times, and he was not as full of energy as he usually is. He won't admit he is tired. And just to add to it, he was even more uptight than usual. He was on his way to his apartment, and was taking his time. His heeled boots, styled in a way one would call 'Goth'; complete with straps and buckles, wre surprisingly quiet against the cement sidewalk. He was almost unnoticable.

It was somewhat cloudy that night, the not so quite full moon dissapearing every now and then. Alice's bum length platinum blond hair looked almost silvery under the light. It had been put up in a ponytail earlier, but do to...complications, he lost it. Luckilly he did have one thing. A headband. This headband was like a very large, flat ponytail. And it was grey. He was wearing it, despite the fact he didn't like it. It was needed to keep the hair out of his face. The stubborn strands and layers of hair were subdued to behind his face.

He had just finished studying at a college buddy's house. Yes, he really did study, the other things happened earlier. And he was still tired. Slung over his shoulder was a laptop case, his of course. Under it was nothing but a long sleeved, silk turtle neck. The white shirt was surprsingly unsoiled and clean, he was very big on cleansliness. The case was kept close to his body, one arm on it while the other was in his pocket. Didn't know what kind of freaks were out at this time.

It was a lovely night, the temperature was a little chilly, but he was okay. His legs were just a wee bit cold feeling. That was a 'no shit sherlock' statement. He was wearing his favorite leather pants. Black with laces up from the knee to the upper thigh. There was no fabric where the laces stiched over, so his skin was kinda cold there. He rubbed his forehead. Oy, nothing like a warm bed to look forward to.

Joellie's dark green eyes scanned the world in front of her as she unconciously sipped at her bottle of apple juice. There wasn't much to be interested in other than the streetlamps and the cracks in the sidewalk. In fact, it was a little boring. She briefly stopped, put her feet together and twisted her torso in her different directions so she could be aware of her surroundings. Maybe there was something interesting someplace.

Lo and behold there was.

Something behind her and it was (after squinting slightly) a person! ...a slightly strange dressed person...and was it a boy or a girl? With that long hair, it was difficult to tell. She finally decided on it being a boy because the build of the body didn't have the tell-tale signs of feminism.

Normally she didn't talk to strangers: she never knew what to say. She was also a little uncomfortable that night, but she was more afraid of walking alone and possibly running into a snake (a stupid fear, yes) than talking to a stranger. She took a drink of apple juice and waited for him to catch up.

What was this? She stopped. Alice's eyes, a glimmering blue, did not widen but they fixed on her. This was most interesting. It didn't take him long to catch up with her. He stood at six foot eight inches and naturally, he had long legs. Very useful, at times.

When he caught up with her, he caught a whiff of something coming from her. He studied her, giving a polite nod in greeting. "Good evening." His deep bass voice, like the ringing of a bronze church bell, seemed to give off vibrations. The only reason for that was because his voice was so deep.

He could definetly smell her, it was a peculiar scent. He'd smelt it before, but on very rare occasions. It was like a reptile, somethig with smooth skales. A snake? Yes, a snake smell. She couldn't be a medusa, no, what was the name of another female snake creature?

While he raked his mind for an answer, his body was walking beside the girl's. He had taken his eyes of of her, since it was rude to stare and was staring straight ahead. He liked snakes. A lot.

Joellie couldn't say that she quite liked snakes as much as him. In fact, I think it's safe to say that she disliked them with as much passion as Alice loved them. Which might actually be saying something.

When he came into step beside her, Joellie began rethinking her decision to walk with him. She was only five four or so--he was considerably taller. Much taller. So tall, in fact, that she had to tilt her head completely back in order to see his face. It was a lovely face...

"Good evening."

Shivers ran up and down her spine. She could actually feel the waves in his voice. It could have been because her body was more like a snake's this time of the month and was that much more able to pick up vibrations in the air, but she didn't even think about that and silently enjoyed the sound and feel of his deep voice.

"Good evening," she repeated his greeting. She shifted the cello on her back and continued walking. Well. This was pleasant.

Alice had to turn his head completely down to look at her, but that wasn't different from most people. Considering he was taller than a large percentage of Bayfeild. He gave her a small smile. When he wasn't in the mood for scaring people, he gave them small smiles, his full smile had a tendency to send the timid in the opposite direction.

He nodded when she replied, indeed it was pleasant. He had a wlaking partner, and that cello on her back. Alice played the bass and the cello, two beautiful instruments.

"You are carrying a cello, I take it you are learning how to play it?" His tone was inquiring.

She was in the middle of another mouthful of apple juice when he asked her a question. One more drag from the squirt bottle a swollow and she answered with a shake of her head.

"Nope. I know how to play just fine. I'm the assistant principal in Keaton's orchestra. I just take lessons to get better."

Well now, did she really need to get much better? She'd probably be able to get into the Chicago Symphony with no problem by now. But she's ambitious, so let her think she can get a lot better and see how hard she works at it.

She looked back up at him, her neck starting to develop a crick from the odd position, and asked a question of her own. Does he play an instrument?

He nodded. His nose tingled as he caught the smell of apples. He almost chuckled, very rarely did he see someone her age drink apple juice. Cute.

"Wow, are you a music student at Keaton? I'm a History student-" I guess you could call him that. "-I play the cello myself, and the bass."

Alice was fond of the fine things in life, and good music was one of the top items on the list. His 'Mother' had made him learn, why? Because she was too lazy to learn and wanted to listen to live music. Alice was more experienced than Joellie and all those pros, only because he has been playing for about 115 years. Heh. He practices on a regular basis too.

What are you? Is what he wanted to ask her, she wasn't human. But he couldn't recall waht she was. Oops, dropped a pen that came out of nowhere, well, his pocket and he bent forward to pick it up.

If Joellie were to look at his back when he bent down, she would see that the back of the shirt was non exsistent. From below the turtleneck to a little below the middle of his back, there was nothing. Interesting. He stood back up, straightening himself up before looking back to Joellie.

It was a nice back. A little odd choice in shirt (only because she didn't know the reasoning), but a very nice back. What can I say? She may be naga but she's only female.

"History? And you play two instruments? Why not major?" Sip, "Like me?"

If he was better than the pros and she figured that out, there was no way he'd be able to worm out of giving her lessons. Nothing would stand in the way of her becoming great.

She must really like apple juice. Alice nodded.

"I love music but I love history even more, especially Ancient history. Learning from Unnish veiw points are hilarious to me, I've been known to burst out laughing during class."

Oh no, slip of the tongue. He hid the smirk on his face, of course he said that on purpose! He straightend out his shirt and pants, then went on to put the pen in his laptop case. He returned his attention to her, a small but polite smile on his face.

"Why do you study music?"

Surprisingly, she didn't even realize the 'slip of the tongue' and nodded to agree with him. The thought hadn't even entered her mind whether this man was innish or unnish.

"Wait, so just how old are you?" sure, she knew that not all things happened like the normal humans thought they did but she still thought they got along in history well enough. She didn't see too many blunders. If he knew more, he was probably old enough to have been there some of the times.

"I study because I love it and because I see no reason why I shouldn't be the best." The competitiveness in her wasn't always a good thing, but at least she never took to ruining the competition.

Alice looked at her, "I am 127 years old, very young actually, but my quote unquote 'Mother' was over 2000 years old. She taught me a lot about the 'old world' as she called it, and it's ways. Very interesting subject actually."

Alice nodded, "I don't see why not either, but be careful of others, they may think that they deserve to be the best and try to strike you down. Instead of fighting directly back, they love it, gain allies and fight from all directions. It works."

Alice knows himself, it's what he does when an obsticale occurs. Though sometimes he just tosses his plans away and takes the obsticale down himself, but he tries not to. Try being the key word.

Whoo. Her eyebrows raised and her lips pursed to let out a whistle.

"You look good for your age," she was grinning from ear to ear.

But at his other statement, she frowned. That very well might be happening. Already she noticed some of her section whispering behind her back. Why should they hold hard feelings against her? Just because she's a freshman and at the head of the section? She deserved her place there!

"But..what do I do to counter it?"

Alice gave a bow, "Why thank you my dear." Standing back up quickly he rubbed his chin.

"Well, there isn't much you can do to stop it but to counter it? You need to 'prove your worth' as they call it. Sometimes it might not satisfy them, but at least you have proven that you are better than them. I've heard of those try outs or well, not try outs, I don't remember the name, but it's where you compete for positions. If someone says that you aren't worth being the top chair, don't yell at them, try being graceful and say that if they wish to try against you for first chair, to let you know and that you will be ready to hold your place'."

He looked at the sky, "Don't blow up in their face, that only makes them feel better, knowing that they have upset you, it's basically the typical case of bullying, but just with older children and bigger words. Stand up to defend yourself, but be solid and mature about it, don't be childish or no one will be impressed. Rubbing your winning in their face doesn't impress either, it will just make them even more irrated."

He shrugged, it made sense to him. Hopefully it would help her out. Blink, woah, wait a minute! He just gave advice, rapid blinking moment. Ppht, playing guardian angel are we Alice? He shook his head and looked down to Joellie.

She nodded her head and sipped at her juice with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Just the same, I don't think I'll be taking my Baby Cello to school rehearsal anymore..someone almost knocked it over yesterday...Oh well this is great," she said, slightly exasperated, "Now I'm all paranoid!"

She rotated her shoulder--why did playing hurt her back? She'd have to ask Mr. Samuels. He said she had perfect posture, but why did it hurt?

Well. She had a well experienced player walking right beside her, why not get the advice now?

"Hey, does your back ever hurt when you play?"

Alice patted her on the head softly, though it was more like a pet than a pat, "Mm, just be careful."

He brought the hand back to his laptop case and pursed his lips for a moment, a rather odd site. He quickly straightend his face out and looked to her thoughtfully.

"Well, you could be too tense, perfect posture, or as close as you can get, is needed but you can get too tense while playing. You need to be loose, like with your playing hand, before you hold your bow, you should shake your hand and then loosely grab onto it. Loose enough so it it isn't tight and you get cramps but in a strong enough grib that the bow doesn't fly from your hand."

He looked down to the ground and then back at her, "Maybe that is what you should do with your body, before sitting down, give yourself a shake and then sit down, or when you have already sat down, shake yourself. It might help."

Alice shrugged. He hadn't tried that before, but it made sense to him. Loosen up the joints.

Her head sunk a little lower on her shoulders and neck when Alice petted her. Oddly enough, he made her feel like a child. She thought that was a little appropriate, though, considering the age difference. Nagas in her family aged pretty closely with humans if just a little slower: she wondered what their comparative ages were. It'd be interesting to find out.

"It might..." she mused, drinking her apple flavored beverage. But she also noticed that she didn't get so tight when she was playing for people, just during lessons. Maybe she was looser during performances. Either way, his advice held weight and she'd try it.

So he was an Ancient History major who played both bass and cello...wait a second, did she even know his name?!

"Wait, what's your name?" And she'd stopped walking.

Alice stopped with her, turning to her. What did she stop for? Oh, his name. He put his hands on his hips, well, the best he could.

"My name is Alice, Alice Pierce."

The small smile got a little wider for a moment before shrinking again. He raised an eyebrow and bent forward slightly, some of his hair falling over his shoulder.

"Now you hold me at a disadvantage, miss, you know my name but I haven't got yours."

A small, light hearted comment. He small a small, unsmirky, more friendly grin.

She couldn't really help but feel giggly all over. Thankfully, she managed to keep it on the inside and only let out a small, sly smile and a twinkle in her eyes. She turned on her toes and began to walk again, expecting him keep walking with her.

"Joellie," she didn't diverge her last name, it was something she didn't feel comfortable doing until she'd known someone for a longer amount of time.

"Now we're even," Yes, that was a slightly infatuated giggle. But only slightly.

"Pleased to meet you Joellie." He gave a nod of his head and fell in step with her as they walked. he couldn't help but give a small grin at the giggle, yes, go on and compliment him, building his ego up nicely are we?

He nodded, "Indeed, almost even." She hadn't given him her last anme, really Alice didn't have a real last name but still. But he didn't comment on that he simply smiled politely and walked with her, looking at the stars.

"The sky is very beautiful tonight."

Joellie glanced up at the sky through the trees. It was very nice. This side of Bayfield never got too bright that you couldn't see a lot of stars. The constellations were easy to pick out tonight.

"You're right," she sipped her favorite drink somewhat unconsciously, "The stars are so bright..there's Polaris..then the king star.." Her parents had made sure that she knew the constellations and the stars and the stories behind them. They found it important because no one really did anymore.

"It's even better when your up among the clouds, it beautiful and quiet. I've always like it when it was quiet." Save for certain times that aren't needed to be mentioned here.

He gave a soft smile, she seemed to know about the stars. He knew many of them, since when he flew at night, just to ahem 'explore' he'd use them as guides. He chuckled, admiring the moon. He loved the moon too. She was beautiful and seemed much more content as of late.

"Around the clouds? You mean you fly?" That intrigued her. Flying? Her only other experience with getting around was the few times she'd changed into a full on snake form. And then she didn't really think about enjoying the difference in motion and feel seeing as she was scared out of her wits when she was slithering around the earth.

"That sounds...really..wow..is it fun?"

Alice nodded, "Yes, after all, I'm an Angel and we all have wings." He smiled at her. Flying was his favorite thing to do, at least, one of his favorite things to do. He cocked his head, was it fun, a grin spread across his face.

"Welll, would you like to find out?" He grinned and offered his hand. Maybe she'll accept it.

She slipped her hand into his, with a little apprehension. There really wasn't a good way to respond to this. Before he was able to grab hold of her fingers, she slipped her hand back out of his. Joellie wasn't so sure it was a good idea.

"W-what about my cello?"

It was an excuse. It was a plausable one, but an excuse nonetheless. She wasn't normally such a jittery person, but one must remember that she wasn't at her best.

Her parents' house was only a block away by now. She'd be perfectly happy to walk the rest of the way with him, but going above the clouds was something different. Joellie didn't trust Alice yet. She'd only just met him, perhaps with more time and conversation she'd be willing. At the moment, though, there would be no flying. Not yet.

He shrugged, "I would be able to carry that too, I'm not weak-" He teased. "-But I suppose you have a point." He rubbed his temple sagely. If she didn't want to fly though, that was perfectly fine with him. He'd go flying himself. But she also didn't seem to trust him, darn, most people were really trusting nowadays.

He looked back to her, "How much farther is it to your house?" His was a bit of ways to go, but he'd just fly after she reaached her house. It was nice and dark...a tad bit annoying since his wings stuck out at night...sometimes. But they looked gorgeous in the moonlight and so he flew anyways.

"It's only a block away. My parents are kind of expecting me home by now, anyway." Yes, she still lived with her parents. Once they'd moved to Canada, they didn't see a point in having her live on campus for college when it was only a few minutes' drive away.

Just so that Alice didn't feel rejected ((riiiiiight...)) she walked a bit closer to him. Not much, but maybe their clothes occasionally brushed. The fact that she found him absolutely gorgeous helped.

"Aah."

He nodded, well it did make sense, no use flying when they were that close. He hid the grin that came on his face when she got a little closer. Yes he was gorgeous, who could not think that? He brushed back some stray hair that got in his face and kept his attention on the sidewalk, to the sky, then to Joellie and then back again to the sidewalk.

She pointed off in the distance while she drank some from her bottle as she continued walking.

"It's just that stone one over there." It was pretty and quaint. It had a small garden out front and ivy growing on the sides. It almost seemed like a cottage from a fairy tale. The mailbox even had their last name on it. Whoops, she'd forgotten about that. Well, now Alice knew. Joellie Henderson. As if he didn't have all he needed to stalk her before((pshaw)).

Heheh. Alice smiled as they came up to eat. He bowed, "It was a pleasure to meet you Ms. Henderson. Maybe we will run into each other agais sometime, after all, this is Bayfield."

Hey stood up smiling softly, and took her hand, kissing it gracefully. He then turned and opened his wings, which had been invisible untilnow. They were fatheres but the feathers were see through looking and all the colors of the rainbow. They looked especially beautiful under the moonlight.

Alice looked right and left and seeing no one he nodded to Joellie, "Have a good night Joellie." And with a large swooosh, he took off, spiraling up until he was among some clouds and he disspapeared in them.

For a moment, when Alice picked up her hand, it might have seemed a little scaley, but only for a moment. Her heart gave a little flutter when she watched his wings spread and she saw him take off. Now she knew what that hole in his shirt was for, but that didn't enter her conscious thought process while she appreciated him and his ability to soar through the air. She didn't respond vocally as he left, but blushed and went in the house. Yes, it would be nice to meet him again.