Their story Tina Lee

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CONTENTS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR..................... 4

SYNOPSIS .................................................5

CHAPTER ONE: CONNECTING .......... 6

CHAPTER TWO: FEELING ..............12

CHAPTER THREE: CHANGING..........20

CHAPTER FOUR: THE TRUTH ..........28

CHAPTER FIVE: FROZEN HEART.......40

CHAPTER SIX: CAN OR CAN’T ........49

About the Author

Tina Lee is a normal student in

Wenzao. She majors in English. This

story is took place in her school and

also her club. She wanted to write a

story which is familiar to the

readers. This is the first novel of

her. It might not be so “perfect” and

might have some mistakes. In three

months, she will become the fifth

grade student, and she will keep

improving her writing skill.

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Synopsis

There would be a big show which was

held by Alice’s club. Because of this show,

Alice knew Zeke, a bass player. Since they

knew each other, they became good

friends. A strange feeling appeared

between them. What will happen next?

Chapter One: Connecting

It was a burning hot summer.

Everyone was busy in the campus.

Some were going to attend their

clubs and some were going to have a

meeting with their professors. Alice

was sitting outside of her classroom.

In three months, there would be a

big show which was held by her club –

Folk Rock Club.

“Alice, I think we should invite

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a band to play in our show,” said the

club leader, Duncan.

“Yes, that’s a good idea, but

where can you find a band for us?”

“Don’t worry about that! I have

a friend who plays bass in a band!”

The next day, Duncan

introduced a boy to Alice. That was

the first time that Alice met Zeke.

Zeke was a tall guy with a smile on

his face wearing a white hat, black

fly-away T-shirt and a pair of gray

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cotton-padded trousers. “He is the

guy who I told you at yesterday,”

said Duncan in an exciting tone. “He

said that his band was willing to play

for us!”

After a simple introduction,

they began to discuss the show

which would take place in three

months. Zeke was a very smart

person. Whenever they had some

problems, he would always provide a

suitable solution.

- 8 -

From the day that Alice met

Zeke, they gradually became good

friends. At first, they only talked

about their clubs, their guitar and

bass, or the show. They didn’t even

keep each other’s phone number and

E-mail address. Now, they started

chatting online. Not only talking

about their club but also about their

daily life, their friends and just

about everything.

“I just heard a riddle,” said

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Zeke. “Why do birds fly south for

winter?”

“Um… they are afraid of the

cold?” replied Alice.

“No! It’s not so easy! Think

more!” cried Zeke.

“Uh… you can just tell me the

answer,” Alice said after five

minutes, “I know I am an idiot.”

“Hey, you are not an idiot. You

are just too lazy to think.”

“So what’s the answer?” asked

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Alice again.

“It’s too far to walk!”

“You must be really bored,”

Alice glimpsed at him walking away.

“You are so mean,” Zeke said

keeping up with her, “hey, wait for

me!”

Chapter Two: Feeling

Alice was doing her homework

which had to be turned in to Mr.

Wallace the next day. He was a

choosy, picky and severe professor.

Alice didn’t really like him, but to get

the three credits for his courses,

she had to work very had on the

textbook and do the complicated

exercises which he liked all his poor

students to finish.

It was about eleven forty,

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while her cell-phone was ringing

loudly in her quiet room. Zeke often

called her at night.

“Why aren’t you sleeping” asked

Zeke. “Are you still doing Mr.

Wallace’s homework?”

“Yes! I don’t understand why he

always found so many weird

questions for us.”

“That’s his talent!” Zeke

quipped.

“How terrible a talent is!”

- 13 -

“It’s almost twelve. It’s no good

for you to stay up late. When will you

get back to your dear bed?”

“I can’t tell.”

“Leave your detestable table

and lie on your dear bed in one hour!”

Zeke always spoke to her with

an ordering tone. Since Alice knew

him, she has never gone to bed after

twelve o’clock. He didn’t like her to

be too tired and stay up late. She

didn’t like him to be too worried

- 14 -

about her and always listened to him.

One Thursday afternoon, Alice

was talking to Duncan next to the

stairway. When Zeke walked toward

them, she didn’t notice him and kept

chatting with Duncan.

Zeke was annoyed. He didn’t

like that kind of stuffy feeling when

Alice ignored him. It’s like a huge

stone pressed down on him. He just

pretended that he didn’t mind it.

After three minutes, Alice finally

- 15 -

observed Zeke. However, she just

pretended that she didn’t know that

he was there.

“Why doesn’t she look at me?”

Zeke thought.

“Why doesn’t he talk to me?”

Alice thought.

Poor Duncan, there was nobody

listening to him. Fortunately, he

didn’t notice their complicated

emotions hidden with their ordinary

smile.

- 16 -

After they went home, Alice

started thinking of Zeke. She always

thought he was just a friend.

Nevertheless, she didn’t like the

fact that Zeke didn’t talk to her nor

notice her. She knew that he was not

only a friend to her anymore. But

what she didn’t know was what Zeke

was thinking of her thought.

The next day, Alice bumped

into Zeke. They sat together on a

bench but just kept silent. There

- 17 -

was an atmosphere of

embarrassment pervading the air.

“Why did you pretend you

didn’t see me yesterday?” they said

the same words at the same time

after five minutes. Then a second

passed when they kept their mouths

buttoned-up.

“I don’t feel comfortable that

you pretended that you didn’t see

me,” said Zeke. “You can say hello to

me or even just a look with a smile.

- 18 -

- 19 -

Not so, I am just like a stranger!”

“That’s also what I wanted to

say,” Alice said looking at him.

“Ok, let’s make a promise,”

Zeke said stretching out his little

finger. They linked their little

fingers and made a promise that

they would never turn a blind eye to

each other.

Chapter Three: Changing

That was the weekend which

was just after midterm examination.

There had been no homework, no

tests and no presentations! Alice

felt relaxed. Everything without

assignments from Mr. Wallace was

wonderful. Alice was going to see a

movie with Zeke that Sunday night.

In the movie theater, it was

cold because of the air conditioner.

Zeke wore his short-sleeved T-shirt

- 20 -

as usual. He was getting closer and

closer to Alice. When he held Alice’s

hand, she felt strange but not

repugnant. She didn’t want to

release his hand. She knew that was

unnatural for their friendship.

After they watched that movie,

they took a walk in a park. They

talked in the way they used to.

There was a small distance between

them. Neither of them mentioned

about what they just did in the

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theater.

It’s cool during summer nights.

The wind was blowing softly. Alice’s

hair fluttered in the air. Zeke

walked near her and smelt the smell

of her hair. The sight of her back

was so slim that Zeke wanted to hug

her. He recalled his memory on

holding her hand in the dark theater.

He didn’t know why but just wanted

to do it. There must be some special

attractions between them. He

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couldn’t escape from that the feeling

and he didn’t want to escape, either.

That feeling became stronger and

stronger day by day.

“Do you know what Duncan did

last Monday?” asked Zeke.

“What?”

“You know he has a class with

Mr. Wallace.”

“Yes, what’s wrong?”

“Last Monday he had to hand in

his assignment to Mr. Wallace, but

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he forgot to do it.”

“Oh! He must be dead…”

“Yes, Mr. Wallace was very

angry. He asked Duncan to do one

thing.”

“What was it?”

“He asked Duncan to transcribe

Chapter three which he has taught

five times.”

“Do you mean the longest

article in our book?”

“Yes, you got it!”

- 24 -

They laughed. Maybe Duncan

was writing his terrible transcription

somewhere now. Maybe he would

bear in mind that he must not forget

Mr. Wallace’s homework again.

Zeke and Alice often went out

together riding on motorbike. When

one was tired, the other one could

ride the motorbike. Alice got used to

go out with him every weekend.

When Zeke carried her by the

motorbike, she liked the smell of his

- 25 -

clothing. They became very intimate

but they were still friends.

Somehow they wouldn’t talk

about their relationship. Maybe they

were afraid that they would break

their special “relationship”. They

seemed to be a couple but they

weren’t.

Sometimes Zeke would ask

Alice who she liked, but she just

couldn’t answer this question. She

knew that she liked him but what

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- 27 -

about him? What if he didn’t like her

and just considered her as his good

friend?

Chapter Four: The Truth

The show would be held in two

weeks. All the club members were

busy preparing. Alice felt fidgety

and tired for the sudden pressure

appeared in her mind. The school

works, the club routines and the

examination all came to her at the

same time. It was the third day

which she didn’t see Zeke nor talk to

him.

Alice still remembered that

- 28 -

Zeke had asked her an unusual

question, "What do you think of me?"

She felt a little surprised.

Then she looked elsewhere and

thought over his question. It was ten

minutes before she responded.

"I don't know. I can't figure

out clearly what I really think, but

the only thing which I know is that

you are important, extremely

important." Alice said looking at him.

Zeke stroked her head softly

- 29 -

and said, "You are also important to

me. I care about you. Whenever I am

upset, I just want to talk to you,

hear your voice and see your smile.

All these things have become needs

in my life."

Alice could feel that her face

was glowing while he was saying

those words.

"I don't want to let you down. I

don’t want you to cry" said Zeke.

"Hey, Alice! Come to help me to

- 30 -

carry the heavy folders," Duncan

called her interrupting her thought

of Zeke.

"Why do I have to do these

things for you?" Alice murmured.

"Because I am the leader, but

you are not."

"Your hearing must be

excellent not like your poor

geography test," Alice thought

staring at him.

Duncan was six feet two. He

- 31 -

walked so fast that Alice could not

keep pace with him. "

Would you mind slowing down,

Mr. Duncan?" Alice said.

"Why don't you have a pair of

long legs?" Duncan said and stopped

walking.

"There must be hundreds of

girls like you if you keep your mouth

shut."

"Come on! There have already

been thousands of girls like me."

- 32 -

Alice lifted her leg and stepped

on Duncan’s foot heavily.

"Oh! That’s hurt!" Duncan

shouted.

"I know that hurt," she said and

gave him a lovely smile.

It was about seventeen o'clock.

The whole busy day was finished.

Alice took up her bag and left school

with Duncan. They strolled slowly

against the street. Then she saw

Zeke standing in front of a store.

- 33 -

However, he was not alone. There

was a girl holding his hand tightly.

Alice was shattered. Her eyes just

couldn't move away from them.

"Why are you standing here like

a stone?" Duncan came to her asking.

There was no response. He looked

across the street and saw Zeke and

the girl. "That's Doris, Zeke's

girlfriend," Duncan said, "I just

heard that they broke up. It seems

like a rumor now."

- 34 -

After a while, Duncan looked at

her carefully. She seemed to lose

her energy and her eyes were watery.

Duncan felt strange but he was sure

that there must be something

happening between Zeke and Alice.

He didn't say anything anymore but

grabbed her hand and took her home.

"You look bad," Duncan said and

pulled her cheek slightly. "I know you

don't want to talk. Call me if you

need someone to talk to. I am always

- 35 -

there."

That night Alice couldn’t fall

asleep. She couldn't stop thinking

about Zeke and Doris. The radio was

turned on and the volume was full.

She fixed her eyes on the ceiling.

She didn’t call Duncan nor spoke to

anyone. She just wanted to be alone.

The next day, she met Zeke

right after leaving her home. They

walked to school together. Neither

of them talked.

- 36 -

"Sorry," said Zeke.

Alice didn't look at him and

walked away.

"Duncan told me yesterday,"

catching her arm. "Sorry, I don't tell

you I have a girlfriend."

"You won't tell me the truth if

I didn't see you yesterday."

"I don't want to let you down,”

Zeke said, “I like you. I like you so

much that I don’t want to hurt you!"

Alice looked up at him but

- 37 -

didn't speak.

"I know that must have hurt

you, but I just can't break up with

her. I don't want to break her

heart.”

Alice pulled her hand away and

said calmly. "You don't have to

explain anything to me. I am just

your friend. There is no need for you

to break up with her," gave him a big

smile. “Sorry, I have Mr. Wallace’s

class at eight o’clock. See you later.”

- 38 -

- 39 -

She ran away and disappeared in the

corner.

Zeke couldn't move. He stood

still and thought about what Alice

had said just. He hunkered down

beside the wall. Alice's words came

over him. He knew what she had said

wasn't true that she didn’t get hurt.

It must hurt a lot. He covered his

face with his hands and tried to

figure out what he should do.

Chapter Five: Frozen Heart

The night was hilarious. The

show began. Duncan now was singing

on stage. The spectators were

excessively excited. The fevered

shouts never stopped. Alice sat at

the front side of the assembly hall

with her friends. Like everyone in

the hall, she laughed, clapped and

shouted.

The last performance of the

show was played by Zeke’s band. The

- 40 -

scene became more intoxicating.

Alice looked at Zeke playing the bass.

There hadn’t been any tiny change on

her face. However, Alice didn’t pay

attention to what the lyrics were

song. The singing, the bass, the piano

and even the drumbeat all seemed so

far away.

The show ended at ten o'clock.

The spectators left slowly.

Alice helped with cleaning the hall.

She came across Zeke and Duncan

- 41 -

who were talking at the gate when

she left. She smiled and said, "you

guys were wonderful." Then she left

quickly. Zeke looked at her back. He

felt chokingly uncomfortable.

The next day, the sun was

shining heavily as usual. Nobody

wanted to stay outside. Zeke was

playing basketball with Duncan and

some friends. While they were

taking a break under the shadow of

trees, Alice passed through the

- 42 -

basketball court.

"Where are you going, Alice?"

Duncan shouted.

"To meet the dear Mr.

Wallace," Alice replied with a vexing

smile.

"It is not Thursday. You don't

have to go to his class."

"I don't have the class today,

but I do have to talk to him about my

assignment."

"Is there any problem?"

- 43 -

"Oh, it is a huge problem! I

can't explain it to you. I had to go.

See you," she waved her hand and

ran away instantly.

Zeke was just sitting near

Duncan, but Alice did not look at him

for a second.

He held his cell-phone tightly

and hesitated if he should call her or

not. Alice walked toward Mr.

Wallace's office, looked at her

cell-phone and guessed if Zeke would

- 44 -

call her or not.

How disingenuous they are.

In the afternoon, Alice went to

the library to borrow some books.

Those books were too heavy to take

them all at the same time. She stood

still in front of the library counter

and didn't know what to do.

Suddenly a hand appeared to

carry her books. Alice lifted up her

head to see who was helping her.

It was Zeke.

- 45 -

"Thanks," murmured Alice.

They walked together but

there wasn't even a word between

them. They retained a distance of

three steps.

While Duncan walked out of his

classroom, he saw Zeke and Alice.

Both of them had a kind of awkward

expression on their faces. He ran to

them and tapped them lightly on

their shoulders. The stiff sentiment

on her face seemed to be released.

- 46 -

"Why are you carrying so many

books?" Duncan asked.

"I have a report to do. These

books are all my reference

materials," said Alice.

He took the books held from

Zeke and said, "I remember that you

have an appointment with a

professor this afternoon, don't

you?"

"Yes."

"Then I will help her with

- 47 -

- 48 -

taking these books. Don't worry."

Alice looked at Zeke for a

short while and then walked away

with Duncan.

Zeke and Alice didn't talk much

these days. The only word they said

to each other was "hi" or sometimes

“good-bye". Their cell phones were

quiet, completely quiet.

Chapter Six: Can or Can’t

Zeke sat on his bed. His

cell-phone was ringing. He knew that

it couldn’t be Alice. He lay down and

shut his eyes. These days without

Alice seemed so long. Duncan told

him yesterday, “Alice is a bright girl.

I want to be with her. You know that

she…” Zeke didn’t pay any heed to

what Duncan said later about Alice.

He didn't need Duncan to tell

him how lovely Alice was, what she

- 49 -

used to say or even how slender she

was. He knew more than him! He felt

afraid that one day Duncan would

take Alice with him and say, “hey,

she is my girlfriend now.” He would

absolutely kill Duncan at that time.

The ringing didn’t stop. Zeke felt

fretful and turned it off. A thought

came to him.

Alice lay on the wooden floor in

her room. Her cell-phone was put on

the table. This Sunday she stayed at

- 50 -

home all day. She ironed her

uniforms, finished her report,

studied for her tests and cleaned

the whole house. She didn’t leave any

free time for herself. It was twenty

minutes to eleven o’clock. Alice

turned on the music and went back to

her bed. She still expected that

Zeke would call her, but he didn’t.

She knew that he hadn’t broken

up with Doris. When she recalled the

memory what she pulled Zeke's hand

- 51 -

and her brows tangled together.

Maybe next time she saw them

together again, she would rush to

them and pull Zeke away! She knew

that was her incredible imagination

and would never be done.

This Monday Alice had an

important test at four o'clock in the

afternoon. It was almost six o'clock

when she finished the test.

She packed her books in her

bags then she walked to the front

- 52 -

gate of the school. Suddenly,

someone grabbed her arm. That

scared her. She turned her head,

and Zeke was standing near her.

"Let's have dinner together,"

he said and didn't wait for her

response.

In the restaurant, they sat

face to face. Zeke looked at Alice

and didn't eat anything. Alice felt

strange but she just kept eating her

meal.

- 53 -

After fifteen minutes, Alice

eventually couldn't ignore his line of

sight saying, "what do you want?" she

asked.

"I just want to have dinner with

you,” Zeke replied.

"But you didn't eat anything!"

"I haven't seen you for more

than two weeks," he said.

"I know."

"Do you miss me?"

"Excuse me?"

- 54 -

"Do you miss me?" Zeke

repeated slowly and held Alice's

hands.

She wanted to withdraw her

hands, but he held so tightly that

her hands couldn't move away.

"Did I have to answer this

question?”"

"No, you must answer it. I know

I miss you very much."

Alice became angry, "who do

you think you are! We are just

- 55 -

friends! Don't say something like

that! I am not going to answer this

kind of question. Go to find your dear

Doris and say these sweet words to

her! Good-bye!" She stood up and

left the restaurant. Zeke followed

after her.

"Wait!” Zeke shouted. However,

Alice didn’t listen to him and kept

going.

"I broke up with her!" Zeke

shouted again.

- 56 -

Alice stopped but didn't turn

around.

"I know you can hear me clearly.

I said I broke up with her," Zeke

grasped her hand firmly and turned

Alice around to face him.

Alice didn't know how to react

to this news. "Why?" she asked after

one minute.

"I know that might break her

heart, but I had to do it."

"When did you break up?"

- 57 -

"Last Monday," Zeke said. "I

told her I can't stay with her when I

don't love her. That is unfair to her.

If we had more time to be together,

she would get more hurt in the end."

"So she agreed to break up?"

"No. She cried, cried heavily. I

felt extremely sorry for her, but I

had to be cruel. So…" he paused for a

second and said, "she punched me."

"She punched you!?" Alice

repeated surprised.

- 58 -

"Yes."

"Did that hurt?"

"Of course it hurt. It was the

first time I realized how strong she

was."

Alice looked at the band aid

attached on the corners of his

mouth and his smile on his face. A

feeling which was beyond words

came to her mind. She couldn't find

anything to say.

"So would you mind giving me a

- 59 -

lovely smile?"

Alice smiled with her eyes full

of tears.

Zeke held her in his arms and

said, "will you forgive me for letting

you down?"

"No, that depends," Alice said

in his hug.

They walked slowly on the

street hand in hand. That would be a

wonderful winter.

- 60 -

- 61 -

There would be a big show which was

held by Alice’s club. Because of this show,

Alice knew Zeke, a bass player. Since they

knew each other, they became good

friends. A strange feeling appeared

between them. What will happen next?