Chapter 12: Secrets from the Closet

Alice and Julius just stared at Ace for the longest time.

"What?" Alice managed to sputter out. She was confused; why would Ace bring up her parent's company? What did the company have to do with the current situation?

Ace sat down and put the slightly frozen pack of peas on the table. "Julius, remember that corporate party we attended two years ago or so?"

Julius raised his eyebrows. "Yeah… but what does Alice have to do with that party? And when did you remember things so well?"

Ace smiled darkly. "Well, I always remember things that you like, Julius."

Julius blushed and scowled. "Stop that. Alice has nothing to do with the party." He knew he was lying to himself once Ace made that statement.

"Alice, you are the daughter of the Liddells. Am I correct?" asked Ace.

Alice slowly nodded her head. She didn't like talking about her parent's company, but she went with it. "Does this all really matter? So what if I did attend a party two years ago? It's not like I stayed for long…"

Ace leaned forward. "Well—"

Julius grabbed Ace's upper arm. "We're going. We overstayed our visit. Alice needs to rest now." Julius turned to Alice. "Thank you and I'm sorry about earlier."

And with that, Julius, who was dragging Ace along, left Alice's apartment.

"I wonder what that was all about…." Murmured Alice. She was curious, but she didn't really care at the same time. It was her first time meeting these boys…. Right?

Friday….

Alice walked into school. No one has bothered her for a while, so she felt a bit suspicious. It was too quiet and she knew Blood wanted to go on a date with her.

"Then why did he hurt Aaron?" Alice said to herself. She was trying to figure out the mystery between her brother and Blood. And now she had more to think about after what Ace said to her last night.

Alice opened the classroom door and suddenly Boris came up to her side.

"Aaron."

Alice flinched and was about to run away, but he held her arm.

"W-what do you want?" asked Alice, trying to keep her voice steady. Boris didn't say anything and just held her arm. He started to feel her and slid his hands down her arm and touched the palm of her hand.

Alice felt her cheeks warm and pulled her hand away. "Stop that."

Boris smiled. "You're soft."

Everyone in the classroom stopped what they were doing and stared at the two.

Alice blushed with embarrassment. "What?!"

Boris held onto both of her hands and just stared at her.

"You. Meet me afterschool in front of the gates," he ordered. And with that, he left the classroom.

Everyone's mouth was open.

"EEEHHHHHHHH?"

During lunch…

"I can't believe he did that in front of everybody! Isn't he embarrassed?!" Alice said to herself. She was eating lunch by herself underneath the stairwell.

"I mean… I'm a guy! It sounded like…. Like….

"Like what?" Gray was leaning against the railing above Alice.

Alice nearly choked on her food and regained her composure. "It's nothing…..nothing at all…"

Gray came down from the stairway and sat next to Alice.

"I heard that Boris might be gay," he said. He didn't even sugarcoat it. He must have heard the rumors that already circulated to the upperclassmen.

"What do you mean?" Alice tried to feign innocence, but Gray already knew.

"Apparently Boris asked you on a date in front of the class." Gray was fuming, but Alice couldn't really tell. Alice was supposed to be Aaron after all. So she thought of Gray as a thoughtful older brother.

"It's not a date and I'm not going to meet him," Alice said. She continued eating her lunch as Gray continued to scold her.

"But he asked you in front of the class. You should be more careful Alice! You're supposed to Aaron. You're supposed to be a guy!"

Alice put her fork down and looked at Gray.

"Gray-senpai, I'm okay. I can handle myself. I know you're worried about Aaron and how I might blow his cover, but I'm really fine. Boris hasn't done anything to hurt me this week and I can just ignore what he told me earlier," stated Alice. She didn't want any more of the guys to be involved. Her identity was no longer a secret to almost all of the flower boys.

"That's…" Gray just sighed. He wanted to say 'That's not it. I care for you!' but alas, he couldn't.

Alice continued eating her food.

"Well, just tell me if you need anything," said Gray. He gave Alice a small pat on the head. Alice smiled.

"Thanks Gray-senpai," said Alice. The warning bell rang. "I should get back to class soon. I'll see you later!" And with that, Alice left the poor guy by himself.

"Alice…." Gray tightened his fists into a ball before releasing his anger.

After fourth period…

Alice stretched her arms and stared at the sun, which started to set. Fourth period just ended and Alice decided to ignore Boris's "request" to meet him outside at the school gates.

Boris must be crazy… it must have been all that toilet water…. But maybe I should meet him…. He is expecting me….

Alice stopped in her tracks and thought about it again.

No I shouldn't…. I shouldn't meet with him… He wants to meet 'Aaron'… not 'Alice.'

Alice had a sinking feeling in her heart, but she just shook it off.

"I better visit Aaron today…. I haven't seen him the whole week," said Alice. She was about to text her brother, but noticed her phone was missing.

"That's weird… I thought I packed everything," muttered Alice. She dug through her school bag, but couldn't find her phone anywhere. "Maybe I left it in the classroom…." Alice walked back into the building and it felt eerily quiet.

Suddenly, she saw Peter come out of a classroom.

He glared at Alice. Their last meeting wasn't exactly the best. More like Peter tried to corner Alice.

"Liddell."

Alice silently nodded her head. She walked past Peter, but he grabbed her arm and dragged her into the nearest classroom.

"Hey!"

Peter slammed the door shut and locked the door.

"Aaron, we really didn't get to finish our talk last time," said Peter. He already cornered Alice near the closet door of the classroom.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Alice. Did all the guys just want to corner her? Alice felt herself grow red with anger. "Why do you keep bothering me? What did I do to you?"

Peter was shocked by her words. He wasn't sure why he was acting this way. "I-I…." Peter was at a loss for words.

"I just wanted to…."

Alice looked him in the eye. "Wanted to?"

Peter sighed. "I guess I was too harsh on you. I just wanted to apologize, but…. I didn't know how."

It was Alice's turn to be shocked. "What?" Peter was acting strange. He kept bothering her the first few days of class and now he's apologizing?

"I just couldn't stand the sight of others being around you," he muttered. Alice gave him a look.

Don't tell me…. Is Peter?

"And I don't swing that way if that's what you're thinking Aaron," deadpanned Peter. Alice gave a nervous laugh and cleared her throat.

"Then why do you keep picking me out for everything I do?" asked Alice.

"I—" Before Peter could finish his sentence, the door rattled. Someone was trying to open the door. Then a jingle of keys could be heard from the other side.

"Hide." Peter shoved Alice into the closet.

The door swung wide open.

"White? Why is the door locked?"

It was Blood.

"I didn't know it was locked," replied Peter.

"Then make sure it's not locked next time," said Blood. "I don't want my meeting to be delayed."

Peter scoffed. "Meeting? As if."

Blood pulled Peter up by the collar. "I wouldn't say anything unnecessary if I were you White. Just because you are Hall Security does not make you the leader."

Peter rolled his eyes and pulled Blood's hands away. "I'll be taking my leave."

Peter hesitated because Alice was still inside the closet, but he left the room.

Blood closed the door after Peter left.

"Now what shall I do with her phone?" Blood scrolled through Alice's contact list and lazily deleted some of her numbers.

Alice, peeking through a small crack in the closet, saw her phone.

My phone!

She accidentally shifted some books in the closet, making noise. Blood noticed this and turned towards the closet.

"Who's there?"

Alice stayed silent. She could feel her body break out in a cold sweat.

Blood stepped closer the closet.

Oh god… please no…. please don't open the door…. Please….

Alice prayed that he couldn't open the door.

"Is hiding in closets the way to greet me, Alice?" Blood smiled and opened the closet door.

Shit. Why me?

Alice inwardly cursed and sighed. "I wasn't hiding…."

Blood caged her in the closet with his long arms.

"What were you doing with White?" Blood was already jealous.

"Nothing! Can I get out?" Alice tried to move, but Blood stayed.

"Alice, I don't appreciate this behavior. You still haven't called me back," said Blood. Alice felt herself pale.

"How did you know it's me?" Alice realized that Blood had been using her name.

"You don't need to know," Blood leaned in closer to Alice, who felt herself blush. "But what I want to know is why you haven't called me. I've been waiting for your phone call," Blood placed his forehead against Alice's forehead. "And I don't like to be kept waiting."

Alice, still blushing, answered back. "I don't want to go out with you!"

Blood smiled. He enjoyed seeing Alice like this.

"Well, would you do it for your brother and parents?"

Alice looked at him with confusion. "What?"

"Go out with me. And I'll save your parent's company," said Blood. "It's a pity your brother said no to my offer. Did he ever mention this to you?"

Alice stared at him with disbelief. "No…. he didn't…" She felt upset because Aaron didn't mention this to her.

"How did you know?" Alice managed to speak without trembling too much. She felt too angry and confused.

"Know what?"

"How did you know our family needs help?"

Blood laughed. "It's quite funny that you're friends with Julius," Blood leaned into Alice's face and showed her a devilish smile. "Because it's his fault your family went under."

Dun dun dun! Blood knows why the Liddells went bankrupt! What will Alice do now? Will she go out with Blood? And what about the other guys? How will they feel about this?

Thank you for reading!

Please review! :) ~Seo Hyunee