I could only focus on Alice now. In the increased amount of rain, I could barely see her. She was a foggy blur, black and white. The shorts she wore were tight and I knew she was trying not to run too fast in an effort to not rip them, which gave an advantage in velocity. I caught up to her, and yanked her towards me, grabbing her arms. She tried to fight out, wrestling and twisting herself around to free out of my grip.

"Let GO!" she screamed. "Don't touch me!" I turned her around so she'd face me. Her face was so filled with fury and sadness that I felt my stomach twist with misery.

"Alice…" I realized my tone was pleading.

She groaned again, trying to push me away from her with her skinny arms. I kept my fingers locked tightly around her bony shoulders.

"Alice!" I said, shaking her so she'd stop. "Alice, I am so…so sorry! I never…I didn't mean to…" I couldn't find my words. Her stare was too intense, and it hazed out my mental abilities. "I couldn't control myself!" I yelled, suddenly aggravated.

My quick change of tone made her narrow her eyes. She stopped twisting and instead glared at me with such fury that it was like it was emerging from her whole body. Her pale skin felt like it was burning. She grabbed my collar and yanked me down to her face.

I'd never been so close to her before. Her perfect face was glistening with water. It took all my will and focus to overrule my desire to kiss her. She fixed her eyes in mine.

"That's the most pathetic excuse I have ever heard." She whispered angrily. Her eyes were ablaze with a fire I'd only ever seen the eyes of a wild newborn. I could see my own wide eyes reflected in hers.

"Alice…" I repeated. I cupped my hands around her face, but I couldn't face her. I bent my head down. She threw me to the ground, in the mud. I had no strength to fight. I stared back at her, barely trying to get up. Her appearance shocked me.

In the storm, she looked terrifying. I could only see part of her, glistening in the light of the moon; the rest was hidden in darkness. The lightning stroke miles away, but the sudden light shining behind her made me jump with fear. Both of us were soaked, but while it made me look miserable, it empowered her as she stood straight and still, as tall as I'd ever seen her. She was glowing with hatred.

"I pity you." She spit out, glaring down at my face. "You promised."

"I…"

"Leave."

I stopped breathing altogether.

I shook my head no, disbelieving, like a child being denied something.

"Leave." She repeated. Her voice sounded heavier, softer. I saw in the sudden light of the storm that her expression was not angered anymore.

It was overwhelming with sadness. I could see that she was shaking.

"Alice…no…" was the best answer I could come up with.

"If promises to me mean so little to you, I don't want you."

"But…"

"Don't you understand?! What you did…you broke me apart!" She suddenly sobbed, pointing at her heart. I blinked, shocked.

All this time…I'd been so blind! Only trying to figure out why I'd grown so attached to her, not pausing to think whether or not she felt the same.

She'd loved me.

And I'd broken her heart. And now…I'd lost. I'd gambled it, and lost.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, helpless.

"Oh, don't! Don't…" she said, shaking her head. I could hear her sob clearly now. She turned to leave, and started walking away.

I launched myself towards her. I couldn't afford to lose her. Not after I'd been showered with such happiness for months.

I wasn't strong enough to go through that.

"Go." She said before I reached her. "Just…go." She added, raising her hand and flexing it before dropping it again.

I went limp. Alice continued her way as I collapsed on the wet ground. I put my head in my hands, letting the cold rain wash away my pride and hope.

When I looked back up again, Alice was gone.

It was over.