"It still seems weird. Do your parents value the driver getting to procrastinate for half an hour? Do they unaccountably believe that you will get up to nothing untoward in this context, while they're perfectly prepared to ban you from being in your own basement with me? Does the driver have a lot of other places to go and things to do in the early afternoon that cause delay? Is he spending this time doing something your parents don't know about and you haven't said anything because you don't care if you wait half an hour in the parking lot?"

"Making sure I go home right on time every day when I don't usually go to more than three of my classes is kind of locking the barn door after the cows fuck off," he points out.

"Yes, but who is neglecting said door, is the question. Does the driver figure it doesn't matter, or did your parents tell him to not bother?"

"Dunno. If I had to guess, I'd say it's Theo not bothering to get out here on time and them not bothering to get on his case for it."

"Makes sense. Should we migrate to the parking lot so we spot him when he comes in?"

"Sure, why not."

Bella gets up, grabs her coat, and meanders out. She's careful on the sidewalks; there could still be ice, even though it hasn't snowed for a few days.

Alice follows her out, looking thoughtful. And not paying any particular attention to the footing.

There is one slightly damp bench at the edge of the parking lot. Bella looks at it, and then says, "We can sit in my car."

"Deal," says Alice, looking at the bench.

Bella hops into the driver's seat of her nice warm car. Well, nice dry car. She turns it on to cause warmth.

Alice tucks himself quietly into the passenger seat.

"You look pensive," observes Bella.

"Yep," says Alice.

"You know what's great? How you're so consistently informative and helpful and I spend almost no time in your company uncomfortably curious," says Bella.

"...I genuinely cannot tell if you're being sarcastic or not," says Alice.

"Yes," says Bella. "Yes, I am being sarcastic."

"Oh." He glances at her and smiles. "Sorry. ...This one's kind of a long story, though."

She shrugs. "If Theo appears and interrupts you, I won't blame you for not having finished your long story, I'll just expect you to pick it up the next time we talk."

She hands it over, and a pen.

Bella peers over his shoulder, puzzled.

Bella watches the sequential art unfold in silence.