Alpha Loren

October 31st

"Ella!" I heard a voice say from the other side of the yellow and purple striped room. "Ella!" It said again. I apologised to the short snail for interrupting his fascinating story about his wife giving birth to the picture frame in his hallway and left to go and investigate.

"Ella!" Leo said. I opened my eyes not to see a yellow and purple striped room and a short snail, but a very normal room and my 6ft something mate

"You're so tall,” I groaned before closing my eyes and plonking my head back into the fluffy pillow. "Seriously, how did you grow that much?!"

"Time to get up, morning is calling,” Leo said pulling the duvet off exposing me to the cold air.

"Let it go to voicemail,” I groaned before the duvet was fully removed. “Leo it's really cold give the covers back!" I said standing up on the tall bed so I was the same height as him stood on the floor. "Awwe, are you cold?" He cooed sarcastically. "Oh dear,"

"Shut up," I said giving him a sarcy smile. "Give me the fucking duvet.”

"Somebody got up on the wrong side of the bed,” Leo said with a laugh as he wrapped me in the warm duvet and hugged me tightly.

"Somebody's period is fast approaching,” I replied as he kissed my cheek.

"Stop right there. TMI." Leo exclaimed.

"Nobody says that anymore,” I answered.

"Does this face look like it cares," Leo replied.

"I don't know it's hard to tell what your face is thinking when. Always seems to hold the same stone, cold emotionless glare.”

"Shut up and get dressed,” he ordered with a forced smile.

"Allison is taking you out at 9:00 am," Leo said.

"Allison as in Allison Allison?” I asked thinking of the girl I met with Marco and Carlos the day before.

"Yes, you are going do some girl stuff for the ball tonight, hair and all that,” Leo replied very vaguely. "Carlos told me you got on well."

"Surprised he noticed. Most the time he was too busy telling me about the Uzbekistani economy,” I replied.

Leo let out a short laugh, "Ah the classic stoned Carlos topic. I'm very glad to see my brothers so concerned about world affairs. Although ask him when he's sober and he won't even know that Uzbekistan exists.”

I chuckled, "Do you smoke weed?"

He paused, "Not anymore. I've got too many responsibilities now."

I nodded, "And is it just me and Allison?" I asked.

"No, don't be unrealistic."

"Of course,” I muttered. "You're still a paranoid control freak. Who else is coming?"

"Watch it, sweetheart. Marco and Carlos and I think Mateo is too," Leo replied. "Did you know that he and Allison are sleeping together?" he asked with a slight grimace.

"Yes," I replied with a laugh, "But Marco and Carlos don't so don't you dare tell them.”

"Mateo has also slept with both of their ex-girlfriends and Marco's English teacher,” he replied, "I'll just add her to the list of people to not tell them he's fucked.”

I smiled, "Ew. A teacher.”

"Anyway, they are under specific orders not to get high again because you are going off territory." "Okay, sounds good," I said rolling backwards and forwards on my heels. "This bed is really bouncy, you know" I added completely off topic before taking a little jump.

"How old are you 10?" He replied watching me jump on the bed.

"Nope I'm fresh out of 16, basically still a child,” I said. "And therefore licensed to jump on the bed. You wouldn't understand, you know being a grumpy old man and all.”

"Well, I am licensed to do anything which is why I am about to exercise my right to drag you downstairs and make you eat the pancakes that I made,” Leo replied.

"I will walk downstairs on my own accord. All you had to do was mention pancakes,” I answered After breakfast, I got dressed and Allison, Mateo, Marco and Carlos arrived a little later. Allison was driving and I sat in the front with her whilst the boys squished in the back of her little, pale blue fiat 500.

"Well this is fun,” Mateo grunted who was sat between the twins.

"Don’t complain Matty, you're the meat in a really hot sandwich right now," Marco said.

"Oh yeah sorry I just remembered I'm gay, you two aren't my brothers and you guys really turn me on. Incest with male, identical twins is totally one of my fantasies,” Matt replied.

"Um excuse me, boys," Allison said starting the engine. "I didn't eat breakfast this morning just to look at it again. Please don't make me throw up.”

The boys continued to squabble like 7-year-olds in the back the whole way to Kellington. Allison had somehow managed to get Leo to allow them to make there on the basis of the fact that it had the best salons. I wouldn't know but Allison had been going to the balls since birth and apparently they were the quite a big deal and a fun opportunity to glam up.

When we got to the mall the first job was find Allison a dress.

"You're lucky. You have a dress just handed to you, no choosing and no buying," Allison said flicking through racks of dresses. "And no expectation to have a different one every year!"

"Ow Carlos that one hurt,” Marco said from behind us, rubbing his arm.

"That's the whole point of the game you twat!" Carlos replied.

"Marco!" Mateo suddenly said. "You just pushed me into that lady!" he continued. "Sorry," he apologised to an old lady with a walking stick.

"Youths these days. So uncaring for us elderly,” She said to her equally old husband causing Mateo to push Marco into one of the displays as he hurled an insult.

"Boys!" Allison said whipping around to face them. "Just so that you know, if you break anything you have to pay for it. That includes hospital bills for broken people!”

"Sorry," they all mumbled obediently before following us through the shop like lost puppies. "Oooh Allison. This one is pretty!" I said pulling out a long maroon dress with a pulled in waist and straight skirt.

"Yesss! Let me try it on!" She said grabbing my hand and pulling me towards the changing rooms. After a few minutes, Allison had put the dress on her tall lean figure and came back out to the middle section of the changing rooms

"You look stunning!" I exclaimed.

"Do you think this is the one?" She asked twirling around as the boys came in.

Marco and Carlos both smiled but Mateo's eyes instantly fell to Allison's body and he nodded approvingly.

"You look really fucking hot,” he said with a wink.

Carlos turned to him, "Best friends are off-limits, remember?"

Mateo shrugged, "I'm just speaking the truth.”

"Well don't," Marco snapped before turning back to Allison, "You look pretty Ally."

"And it's only $36.99, pretty good if you ask me," Allison said walking back into the changing room to take it off.

After Allison had bought the dress we went to a nail salon. According to Allison, it was the best one in town and it certainly looked fancy. There were mirrors on all the walls and it had a definite spa feel and scent to it.

"Good evening ladies..and gentlemen. What can I do for you today?” The lady at the desk asked. "2 manicures please,” Allison said.

"Okay, and anything for you boys?" the lady asked looking over to Mateo, Marco and Carlos who had already begun messing about again.

"No they are just here for the ride," Allison said.

"Okay follow me then," The lady said looking anxiously over at the boys again and then at all the expensive looking glass and china sculptures.

"Mateo!" Allison hissed and he immediately released Marco from the headlock.

I went for what the manicurist called a french manicure which is when the put the white bits at the ends and making it all shiny whilst Allison got matt maroon to match her dress. There were 3 spinning chairs in the room so Mateo, Carlos and Marco were able to entertain themselves.

When we left the shop we headed to a hair salon and once again the twins and Mateo got another concerned look from the receptionist.

"Are they your brothers?" She asked.

"Fortunately not," Allison said with a smile.

"They're my boyfriend's younger brothers,” I said, "As you can they are a bit bored of this shopping malarky."

"Don't worry. My sons are just the same. I usually just send them off to find some food, keeps them pretty well entertained,” she replied.

"Not a bad idea,” Allison said. "Mateo! Here's $10, take Marco and Carlos to go and find something to eat, we will still be here when you come back.”

"But aren't we meant to stay with..." Carlos said looking at me.

"Don't argue with free food Carlos," Marco said dragging his twin with them.

"And they are identical twins,” the lady said looking at us. "Double the trouble! Anyway, what can I do for you ladies?"

An hour later my hair was tied up in a pretty plaited bun whilst Allison's was in loose curls. Her hair still reached her bum even when it was curled and it still looked just as thick and glossy too.

Marco, Carlos and Mateo never came back so we ventured out into the mall to look for them. "Where the fuck are they?" Allison mumbled as she pulled out her phone.

It rang only once before Marco picked up.

"Yeh we ran into some trouble," he said.

Allison rolled her eyes, "What did you do?"

"Well... we bumped into the cops,” Marco began.

Allison was already shaking her head.

"And the cops had a dog...a sniffer dog..."

"For fuck's sake," Allison whispered.

"And Carlos had a blunt in his pocket," he continued.

"So..we had to run from the cops. We're on our way back now and don't worry. We've smoked the evidence."

"That's fucking brilliant,” Allison said, “As if you three aren't annoying enough sober. Get your asses back here now."

She then hung up and turned to me, "Can't leave them alone for five seconds.”

I smiled and we waited as patiently as possible for them to make their way back, no doubt stopping at every slightly amusing thing they found along the way.