Alice Monologue

While arching my head back, I peer over the arm of the sofa towards Alice. “You look pretty, where are you going?”
She's adorned in her new, blue dress tonight, with her hair piled high on her head and ringlets cascading around her face. “Oh, I'm going out with a friend.” The corners of her mouth curve as she slips her arms into her beige trench coat.
“Guy or girl?
“A guy.”
With little effort, I swivel onto my front and rest my chin on the arm of the sofa. “Boyfriend?” I ask, raising one eyebrow.
“No, just a friend.” She buttons her coat and slips her arm through the strap of her bag. “Don't wait up,” she sings as she departs.
As I watch her leave, tremendous floods of scepticism flow into my already suspicious mind. She's hiding something.

Even after showing her the photo, she proceeded to tell me it was it was her twin. Back at her parent's house, I thought I had her cornered and ready to confess everything as she seemed a little grim when I mentioned to her mother, her courtship with Angelo. To my chagrin, she kept her secrets locked within the vault.
Being no closer to the truth only intensifies the thirst of my curiosity. However, I suppose there is one way I could get a little closer, maybe then I can douse the flames. My next shift is tomorrow night, but I could phone Angelo and ask when he wants me in again. If he's at the club, then he's not with Alice, the outcome I'm hoping to conclude by the end of the night.
Without further hesitation, I retrieve my phone from the floor beside me and find Angelo's number. The anticipation of hearing his voice causes the hummingbird to flutter around her cage. She settles once again when the voicemail collects my call. I shut the phone off and rest it on the flat of my stomach, allowing my fingers to drum an intermittent beat on the phone. Just because it went to voicemail, doesn't mean he's out with Alice. It could be he didn't hear it? I try his number again, but this time without the fluttering

The relentless curiosity consumes me, driving me forward, encouraging me to continue searching until I find the truth behind my best friend's mysterious behaviour. After pondering my options for a few moments, I call Frankie.
“Hello?” his deep voice booms in my ear after two rings.
“Hi Frankie, I tried calling Angelo, but he didn't pick up.”
“He's not here tonight.”
The very words to crush my heart.
“He's out with some girl tonight. What's up?”
Another blow. He's out with Alice.
“Eva?”
Before I can answer, I have to extinguish the sorrow in my voice. “Oh, I forgot when my next shift is.”
“Hang on, let me check.” There's silence for a few moments. “You're in tomorrow, 7:30 p.m.”
“Thanks, Frankie.”
“Bye, Eva.”
Without my consent, tears obscure my vision and release as they become heavy, dripping down my face to soak into my hair. I let my arm fall to the side of the sofa, allowing my phone to slip from my hand, and hit the floor with a gentle thud. With the sleeve of my pyjama top, I dry my eyes and tuck my arms into my sleeves, to rub the soft fabric against my lips, something I used to do as a child when I felt particularly anxious or