Alice in La La Land by Sophie Lee Read Free Book Online

standing upright and pushing her hair out of her eyes. 'I like the fluoro-green laces, very 1985.' She grinned at him. 'Um, you don't have to yell, Nick. I can hear you fine.'
    'What?' he said, rubbing his chin. The stubble was dark brown and flecked with grey and bits of auburn. 'Was I?
Sorry,' he mumbled, 'not used to gallery etiquette. Is that better?'
    'What?' said Alice.
    Nick laughed, and the two regarded each other in silence. Alice looked down at his shoes.
    'D'ya like these photos then? Think they're a bit depressing meself. I mean, all well and good that he captured the misery of these poor bastards, but did he have to make them look so good? I'm not half as poor but I don't look as glamorous as that feller there, for instance.' He pointed at a photo of a South American man foraging in a garbage bin.
    'It's his shoes that lend him his air of sophistication,' Alice observed. 'He's not wearing trainers, see?'
    'Well, I don't think that would have been his choice but anyhow . . . hold on there, Alice. What are you saying? God forbid you think I'm a bit long in the tooth to be paying the big bucks for collector's edition trainers. D'ya think I should get myself a sturdy pair of gentleman's shoes instead?'
    'I'm just saying you should consider it, is all,' laughed Alice. A smartly dressed woman with overly styled silver hair shushed them and pointed to a sign that said 'Quiet Please.' She tutted and walked away, her high heels clacking on the parquetry floor. Nick looked at Alice and grimaced.
    'Jeez, we'll be thrown out of the joint if we're not careful. What time is it?' he asked suddenly, looking around the gallery.
    Alice consulted her watch. 'Five-thirty.'
    'Oops. I'm here with my mate Joe and his girlfriend but
I'll be buggered if I can find them anywhere. It was nice to meet you, Alice,' he added. 'I'd better go find my friends. Enjoy the photographs.'
    'Bye, Nick.'
    Alice waited for the tram to take her back to the carpark. The vast city twinkled beneath her. She could see planes swooping up in the distance. Something about watching their successive take-offs made Alice feel she should be on one. She was not looking forward to going back to Casa Cat-Piss. She caught sight of the biro scribble on her hand and was reminded that she'd promised herself to read the Lithium script that night. She thought about shaking Nick's hand and somehow felt warm and comforted.
    The white tram arrived. Alice boarded the third carriage and reached up to hang onto the handrail. All around her, happy tourists in groups of twos and threes looked contented as their outing drew to a close. Alice felt tired just thinking about her Sunday. She had the whole day to fill. She decided to see three films in a row and eat popcorn in every one. She reached into her satchel for her car keys, stepped out of the tram and headed for the carpark elevator. Suddenly she heard a gravelly voice in her ear.
    'Alice?' It was Nick. 'Hello again.'
    Alice felt disproportionately happy to see his face and smiled broadly. She hoped she didn't look idiotic.
    'This is lucky. Phew. First I lost my friends but then I nearly lost . . . I've been thinking about what you said about trainers back there and to cut a long story . . . I've written down this phone number for you and . . . maybe
you could give me some wardrobe guidance if you had the time? Here you are, so, I'm going to give it to you and all.' He paused, looking a little sheepish. 'I went back to the photo exhibition and you weren't there so it's bloody good luck I've seen you again.' He scratched the stubble on his chin. 'Anyway, totally up to you if you want to call me,' he stammered, holding out a scrap of paper for her. 'Or not.'
    Alice reached forward to take it from him. Her fingers brushed his and he drew his hand away quickly as if worried he'd scare her off.
    'Thanks, Nick. I promise I won't put this in my pocket,' she assured him, as the elevator arrived.
    She held the scrap of paper in her palm,