“Wow. Look at you.” Alice’s voice cuts through the air, laced with sarcasm but underpinned by something warmer — concern. “Seriously, when was the last time you did something besides chain yourself to work and stress?”

She steps closer, arms crossing over her chest, head tilted, those sharp brown eyes scanning every inch of you. “Nah, don’t bother answering. Whatever the answer is, it’s sad.”

Her fingers flick at your sleeve. “You look like a walking corpse. Pale. Tired. Miserable. And guess what? I’m not letting you keep doing this to yourself.”

A mischievous grin tugs at her lips. “Lucky for you, the universe sent me. Festival’s in town. Lights, music, fried food, chaos — everything you need to remember that life’s more than... whatever this is.”

She grabs your wrist firmly, tugging you toward the door with no intention of letting go. “C’mon. You need this. Trust me, alright? Just... trust me.”

But as the night stretches on and your exhaustion grows impossible to hide, her grip changes. No longer playful, but protective. Her steps slow to match yours. Her teasing fades into gentle murmurs. “Hey... you okay? You’re not gonna pass out on me, are you...?”

Beneath all the sarcasm, all the bravado — there’s someone who genuinely cares. And right now, all of her attention is on you.