Time for Tips (shared fanfic with Jasmine)

Alice was outside by the lake drawing whatever she saw as it was a nice evening and it was almost time for dinner but Alice was determined to finish up what she was working on.

Jasmine made her way outside, towards the lake, when she knew everyone would be inside. She didn't feel like dealing with her house or with Esmeralda... Sometimes, she just seemed to cling a bit too much...

She made it to the lake and let out a breath, happy to be alone. She slipped her shoes off and raised her robes so she could sit on the lake's edge, and soak her feet in the water.

She leaned back on her hands, looking around, before spotting a small blonde girl, sitting nearby, lost in her own world. She looked similar to Odette when she was younger, before it clicked in Jasmine's mind. 

Jasmine smiled. "You're Alice, right?" She asked, hoping she was correct on her assumption.

Alice looked around as she heard someone talk and looked over at the younger woman who seemed to be about Odette's age, "Um yes I am...who are you?" She asked curiously as she put her sketchpad down on her lap.

Jasmine smiled. "I'm Jasmine Amari." She said, knowing word got around about her and how she acted with other students. 

"What'cha got there?" She asked, curiously, spying Alice's sketchbook.

Alice didn't recognize the name but that was probably because she didn't talk to most of her classmates.  "Oh its a pleasure meeting you." She said honestly and then blushed when she brought up the sketchpad in her hand, "Oh I draw sometimes." She said and then held out the sketchpad to her.

"Really? Can I see?" She asked, before taking the offered sketchpad. 

Jasmine flipped through the sketchpad, looking over all of the drawings. "Wow, you have a lot of talent! I've always wished I could draw like you can." She said, smiling, as she handed Alice back her sketchpad.

Alice smiled warmly at her and blushed before taking her sketchpad back, "Why thank you...I still need to work on some things though." She confessed with a sigh before smiling at her.

"Hey, all I can draw is a cartoony flower." She said, rolling her eyes. "You need to give yourself a little more credit." She said, lifting Alice's chin up, so she was looking at her.

Jasmine smiled at her. "So, I bet you got a boyfriend already, huh?" She asked, winking at her. "A pretty thing like you, I bet the boys are already carrying your books for you."

Alice blushed and laughed, "No...I kinda tend to keep to myself sometimes." She admitted with a shy smile.  "I guess its because I'm used to talking to older boys." She added with a smile.

Jasmine looked at her a little impressed. "Oh, going after the big leagues?" She teased, with a little laugh.

"Boys your age aren't the brightest; believe me, I know." She said, remember how Cale was at Alice's age. "But, they can be helpful if you reel them in juuuust right." She said, giving her a wink.

"What?  No!" Alice protested at Jasmine's first words even as a tinge of a blush crossed her face, she looked up at her with interest though as she spoke, "Oh?  Um how?" She asked curiously.

Jasmine laughed a little at Alice's reaction. "You're adorable." She said, with a smile.

"Well," She began, happy to see her interested. "You will have to talk to them, but it's not hard, if you say the right words, before long, they will do all the talking for you. You can start a conversation by saying... "I saw how well you did in class today," or something. You'll need to stroke their egos a bit; make them feel special. If you do it just right, they will offer to carry your books for you, but make sure you don't give them the idea; you have to make them feel like they came up with it all on their own." Jasmine said, with a nod.

Alice smiled, "You make it sound easy...but I have a feeling if I even tried to talk to a boy my age I would just stumble over my words or something." She admitted with a laugh.

Jasmine smiled kindly at Alice. "That's why you have to practice, and it's always hard in the beginning." She said, reassuring the girl. "But, with how cute you are, the boys will be just become puddles, they may even find the stumbling over your words adorable. Believe me, sometimes it helps when you're nervous." She said, with a nod and a wink.

Alice smiled at her, "I see....any other suggestions?" She asked curiously as she leaned forward with her arms wrapped around her legs.

"Boys looove being the hero... Most anyways; if you get the attention of a Gerwulf while having trouble with something, he'll love to show off and help you out. Men usually love "damsels in distress"." Jasmine said, with a slight roll of her eyes. 

"I've noticed that and it does help on occasion to play the damsel." She said, with a shrug, as she laid back and looked up at the stars.