Sorry I haven't updated... School has been getting in the way. And my arm is broken... heh...

Anyways, I'm here, that's all that matters!

I own nothing.

Alice 3rd POV

Quietly, in the middle of the night, she slips out of the castle and blends into the shadows of the outside forest.

It had been perilous trying to escape the confines of the stone walls unnoticed. It wasn't her first time making these midnight runs, but it was scary all the same.

"At least I'm out now," she whispers, her breath turning to mist in the cold air. The days were pleasant this time of year, but in the dark hours, the temperature plummeted.

She darts from tree to tree, trying to stay out of sight of the tower guards. No one could know she was going to see a commoner.

If they knew, oh if they found out... it would be the end. Jasper would be executed, she would be locked in the cell of her room for the rest of eternity, her father would be mocked, ridiculed even by the other royals for raising a daughter so disrespectful.

But it was worth the risk.

Jasper understood her better than even herself sometimes. He didn't treat her like a goddess even though she was a princess, he talked to her like she was real, and he was real, and their love was real.

He didn't love her for money, fame, or power, like everyone else. To him, she was just Alice, and that was good enough.

Alice felt as if she might burst from just thinking about him.

Her pace quickened; they only had a few precious hours together, and why waste it with walking?

Soon, she was running, picking up her skirts to keep from tripping, relishing the brisk night air.

Finally, she got into town. Alice put her hood up and ducked her head. She didn't need to see where she was going; she knew the path to him by heart.

At last, she made it to the door. His door. It felt like it had been over a million, no a trillion years since she had seen him.

Alice knocked on the door in their own secret way, and was almost immediately let inside into the warmth of Jasper's humble abode. It smelled like him. It smelled like home.

She saw his face and her own broke out into a huge, dopey, love-filled grin.

He didn't smile.

Confused, she started walking towards him. He jerked his head, as if to say no.

Alice's smile faltered. Why didn't he want her?

She was then clubbed in the head from behind, and she saw bright, swirling stars.

The world started to fade into black as she was hit a second time, harder.

The last thing she saw was Jasper, with tears running down his face.

Yup, I know, that was short. But I decided to leave you with a cliff-hanger [once again]. Sorry! It's the only way I can keep you reading. Or at least, that's what I think.

And besides, would you rather have short, more frequent updates, or long, sparse updates? [don't answer that...]

I'll try updating more! I really will, this time.

*~3.1415927