Title: Natsu (Summer)
Pairing: Oz X Alice
Chapter: 1
Rating: G
Summary: Alice is sent to the countryside where she finds it extremely boring...What awaits her? Will her summer end up really boring?
Note: I do not own OZ or Alice. I only own the plot. I wanted to create a different world for the two of them so it's way different from their environment in Pandora Hearts. Moreover, there ara alot of original characters in here.
Chapter 1
"Pfft! I should be at the beach right now with Vanessa and Nikki! Why am I stuck in this old bus?!" Alice was whining one hot afternoon while riding a bus going south from where she lived. Aomori was considered a province, a place where Dianne Hitomori never imagined visiting in her whole life. Alice or "Al", as called by her friends, was a city girl who loved to party and party and party. She spends most of her time outside of the house. Home-buddy was never in her vocabulary but for some reason, she found herself heading towards someplace which did not even have Internet connection.
She looked back to the last conversation she had with her Rin, her older sister.
"I can't even tame you! What would Mom think when she'll hear that your cutting classes and hanging out at other people's houses? You know that I'm busy with my work and you’re taking advantage of it! Urgh! This summer, you're going to Grandma's hometown and you'll be spending your time by helping with whatever work there is to be done! You don't even know how to wash clothes! I saw the receipts from the Laundromat under your table when I cleaned your room last night! Alice! Please! Spare me this time. I'm so tired!"
Alice sighed as she replayed her sister’s last words. She loved Rin because she was her supporter and provider as of the time being that their parents are away from home. Her sister was kind, playful and fun to be with but when she started to work she just became that workaholic. Alice understood that Rin was under stress that is why she had nothing more to say when she was forced to go to the countryside. But thinking of it again, she became pissed with the idea that she'll not be able to have fun for the whole summer. "Boring...,”she mumbled to herself.
Grandma's place was a small two-story house with a big tree beside it that shaded most of the whole house. "Whew! Not that hot." she said to herself. Grandma showed her to her room, which was the one near the tree that had a window overlooking the mountain on the left and the fields on the right. "Grandma, is there really no Internet connection near here? I should at least be updated with my friends through the Internet when Rin confiscated my dear cellphone!" Her sister knew that there was a tendency for Alice to sneak out if she had constant contact with her friends.
"I'm sorry dear but that should be at the next town" was what Grandma said. Alice's heart sunk. No hope.
What's Plan B then?
Her first day and night was yes, boring. She didn't touch all the stuff she had in her bag in case Rin changes her mind and orders for her return. But that was just like a miracle to happen. She tried to sleep until noon, color her nails with different kinds of shades and even attempted to write a fanfic just to kill the horrible hours that passed by so slowly.
She was at the verge of going crazy as she felt a tear fall from here left eye. Where are the kids my age anyway? she suddenly thought. She ran down the stairs to find Grandma washing plates in the kitchen.
"Grandma, I will go out today and find fun people or else I will die in here..." Alice tried to reduce her voice as she said the last words. Although a party girl, she was also one kind kid who just didn't know what to right to do at that age. Grandma only heard the "go out today" part of what Alice said and was glad that her grand-daughter had finally decided to have a life.
Alice began to stroll around neighborhood in the hope of meeting teens her age.
This town is kinda small eh? I can go around in just an hour or so.
She saw some girls probably her age but they were all busy doing chores.
Is this how they spend summer here? Totally B-O-R-I-N-G! Urgh!!
She managed to get a little farther from where she started walking. She looked around her and listened to the breeze blowing. Cool...and peaceful...something the city cannot offer. She smiled to herself and decided to head back. It was getting dark.
The next day Grandma was excited to know if Alice still had plans of strolling around. But it looked like Alice was bored to death. " Alice, are you alright?" Grandma worriedly asked as she saw her granddaughter face down on the floor of her room.
"I'm fine." Alice said in a very bored tone. "I was just trying another kind of way to kill time. Sleeping on the floor is...cool ne?" Grandma was about to give up. She saw how Alice was suffering but she didn't know how to help her. But a memory gave Grandma an idea. She pulled the helpless Alice up and dragged her to her feet. The next thing Alice knew was that they were standing in front of what seemed like a greenhouse that wasn't touched for years. "Your older sister enjoyed her summers here with us. She always wanted to go around the town so we decided to buy her this. I hope you also will get to enjoy the summers here Alice." And Grandma pulled the plastic covering the dusty bicycle. "A little dusting will do and you can ride on it. This is one strong bike. You're sister never had problems with it. I bet it still works."
Alice knew how to ride bikes she and Rin would race towards the park where they usually meet their mom from work. "Wow. Thank you Grandma! And I'm sorry if I made you worry a lot. I'm really sorry. I will try my best to look for fun throughout my stay so that you wouldn't worry about me that much." She kissed Grandma's cheeck and tried the bike. The pedal was not that rusty and was easy to push. Minutes later, Alice was on the streets conditioning the bike. She continued to ride through the breezy wind leaving a happy Grandma behind.
She was enjoying the rush and thrill with her sister's bike. She was heading straight ahead when she realized that she didn't know what street she came from.
I'm kinda lost. But cool. Let's get to know the whole place.
She was, for once, positive. She was now driving a little bit slower than her usual pace. She wanted to explore the small town when she heard something familiar...a melody she once heard before. She drove to where the sound came from. It became clearer and clearer when she realized that someone was actally singing it.
Hageshii, Jerashii, Kurushii, Koishii...
she knew the song and began to sing along with it.
"Mune no oku no itami doushitaraii..."
Sono te wo tsukami hashirida shitai...
"Koutei wo kakenuke..."she closed her eyes when she sang that part.
"Yeah..." Now Alice can only hear herself singing the last part.
She opended her eyes and saw Him staring at her.
"Ooops! Sorry! Did I disturb you? I knew the song that..."
"Ah! No, you didn't disturb me. I was just wondering how you come to know of the song?" He was still staring at her.
"Oh! It's one of the favorite songs of my Nee-chan. School Days by Hey! Say! BEST...right?" she was about to stutter.
He then smiled and Alice felt that her heart smiled instead. Her mouth couldn't do it for her. He wasn't that tall, a little bit skinny but his eyes and smile spelled out all the beauty she could ever imagine in her life. He was just painfully cute!
Painfully cute because just standing beside him would make any girl insecure! Alice gulped and gathered her thoughts.
Why am I speaking to such a creature? Wait, I didn't even know that it ever existed!
"So your sister is a fan?" he was still smiling.
"Uhm yeah. When she was in high school she would listen to them...yeah..she was a fan...and still a fan..." was what Alice could only manage to say at that time.
"Cool.....I'm Oz Bezarius and you are...?" was what he said extending his right hand.
"Al...ice.Alice Oliver" she shook his hand and quickly let go of it.
I'm bad at this. He will easily understand that I find him extremely cute. I have to keep my cool.
"Uh..so you're...uhm, uh...from here??" Alice tried to look away from him.
"I live there." He pointed to the house in front of them.
"Oh..."
"How about you? I don't see you often. Are you new here?"
"Nope. I'm from the city. I just came here for uhm,...vacation.Yeah, vacation. Hehehe.." Alice nervously laughed when she remembered that her stay was more of rehabilitation.
"I actually live...uhm, somewhere...somewhere near...near uhm...actually, I'm kinda lost. Hehe.."
"I thought so." He smiled again.
Oh no. I have to get out of here. I can almost hear my heartbeats!
"This town is small so I'm sure you can find your way back. How about coming in for a snack instead of standing out here under this heat?" He was now looking at the sky and Alice got a chance to gasp for breath before he could look her in the eye again. He let her in the house.
"Cool! Haha..I was also looking for teens my age to...you know, try to get to know them and make friends here. Hehe.." Alice was still trying to calm down while following Oz.
"Kids OUR age are usually in cram school or at the next town to do summer part-time jobs. I only know of a few who stay here for the summer that's why I'm glad you came along.."
And this time Alice thought she saw him grin.
"Oz-sama, I heard you come down from your room. Do you want something?" a small woman appeared before them.
"Daijoubo Mine-san. I brought along a new friend. This is Alice Oliver. She lives...nearby. And she's here for a vacation." Oz explained to the woman who looked like a caretaker. Alice bowed as she introduced herself.
"Mine-san, can you please make us your special cookies? I want to share them with her. We will be in the living room."
"My pleasure Oz-sama. Please feel at home Miss Oliver." And then Mine-san left the two alone.
"So you live alone?" Alice asked while still trying to comprehend Oz's unexplainable beauty.
"Actually, my cousin is supposed to be here. This is his house and I'm also here for vacation. The city is noisy, hot and sometimes uncomfortable. I prefer to stay here for vacation because it's peaceful, cool and I can relax and just be myself." He said as he sat on the sofa.
Now he looks an angel! But he hates the city huh? Why? It's fun!
"Oh...Me, I love the city coz it's full of lights and it makes me feel all excited! I love the beats around the corners during the night. Me and my friends usually go out at night coz it's fun!" Alice was a little bit carried away with her reminiscing.
"...but the province is so different too that it makes me feel at ease whenever I ride on my bike to feel the breeze. Green is good for the eyes too and of course fresh air! It's a good place for photoshoots ne? Hehe..."
Alice was also being honest with what she felt.
"I just miss the beach..." She almost whispered.
Mine-san interrupted them and placed the freshly baked cookies on the table together with a pitcher of strawberry juice.
"Itadakimasu!" Alice took a bite. "Whoa!! This tastes so good!" She was almost smiling while eating the cookie.
"Mine-san, you're a genius! How do you such make mouth-watering cookies??"
"That's another point for me Mine-san! I will always win!" Oz said as he also took a cookie and ate it.
"Thank you Miss Oliver." said Mine-san.
After eating, Oz stood up and looked outside the window. It looks like it's going to rain.
"Hey, you should be home before the rain falls. It's so difficult to walk around with mud."Oz sounded worried. Alice looked out the window too and decided that Oz was right. She stood up and thanked Mine-san for the snacks and followed Oz outside. She was about to approach her bike when she saw that Oz was already on it. "You sit at the back. I'm driving you home." and he smiled.
Alice's knees went numb for a while.
I cannot get used to this, she thought.
"How about you? You're gonna get wet when you come back?" Alice asked with concern.
"The town is small so we can reach where you live in no time. Trust me."
Alice was dumbfounded so Oz broke the silence.
"Don't you want me to know where you live too? So that I can visit you sometimes too...?"
he half laughed.
"Come on, before we get stuck in the rain" Alice didn't know what to reply to that and she sat behind Oz. The places and streets became familiar to Alice so she gave the right directions to Oz who was indeed a fast driver.
They reached Grandma's place. Oz was about to run when Alice handed over an umbrella.
“You need it” she insisted when Oz was about to protest. He took it and said a quick "See you later." Alice was standing outside their doorstep like a statue.
He smilled again.
What am I supposed to do or say?! "OMG you are so cute! what planet are you from coz I don't believe you are any close to human in that beauty" ?????
"Alice! What are you doing? You're gonna get wet if you continue to stand there!" Grandma shouted from the living room.
"Yes Grandma! Coming in."
