Hello everyone! Now I know I said I'd update every Friday... But then I felt bad for disappearing for so long... orz...

Sooo I decided to make the next few updates quick. And after a few fast updates to make up for lost time, then I'll go back to updating on Fridays only.

So here's the next chapter. I hope you all enjoy. :3

Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I do not own Joker/Clover/Heart no Kuni no Alice. (Can't come up with anything else to say XD)

"Now I want you to eat every last bit," Alice said as she placed the plate of food before me. "You really need to eat, or you'll end up fainting."

I stared at the food, stomach growling. I was, indeed, hungry. I had been hungry for a while now, but I just didn't want to eat.

I continued to stare at the food and frowned.

"Alex," Alice said while giving me a stern look. "Eat now, or you don't get to leave. I don't care if you have to sit here at the table all day." She crossed her arms and tapped her foot.

I grabbed a fork, took a bite, and swallowed.

"Do I really have to eat everything?" I asked while looking up at Alice with pleading eyes.

"Eat it, or I'll shove every last bit down your throat!"

I shrieked, and started eating as quickly as I could. Facing the wrath of Alice didn't seem like it'd be fun.

After finishing my meal, Alice smiled and gave me a hug. I could see why people loved her so much. She was such a caring girl.

"Good job. Now you can go," she said as she picked up the empty plate.

I said my thanks and rushed to my room. Once I was sure that nobody was around to hear, I quickly went into the bathroom and vomited.

The delicious food that Alice had made had gone to waste… It really made me sad that this had to happen.

The reason why I never wanted to eat wasn't because I was never hungry.

No…

There was another reason for this… One that hurt…

-CHAPTER 13-

-CALLING FOR ME-

Hehehe…

I looked around the room and saw that Alice was the only girl in the hallway besides me.

It's just my imagination. I must be going crazy…

"A ball?" Alice asked excitedly.

"That's right!" said Elliot.

"Everyone will be going," Dee added.

"You have to come, Big Sis."

"Dear Alex… Play with me…"

"Alex," Alice said as she placed her hand on my shoulder.

I looked up at her in surprise.

"You'll be going to the ball as well, right?" she asked with a huge smile planted on her face.

"A ball?" I asked with wide eyes. I had only ever read about such things.

"Can I come?"

"Why of course. You're more than welcome to come with us," said Blood.

"Th-thanks," I said, excited about the event.

"Play with me, Alex. Don't leave me alone."

I ignored the voice of Aura and tried my best to pay attention to the conversation before me.

Apparently the ball would be taking place in ten time periods. Hopefully I wouldn't run out of patience.

"I don't have anything to wear," said Alice.

"Don't worry your pretty little head. That will be taken care of when the time comes," Blood responded.

"Big Sis is gonna dance with us, right?" asked Dum with sparkling eyes.

"Of course!"

So Alice would be dancing with the twins. Good.

I turned my head to see Aura standing behind me. There was an empty expression on her face as she stared at me.

I walked away from the group as they all chatted about the ball and who would be dancing with whom.

Walking towards the gate of the Hatter Mansion, I saw Ace standing there.

"Lost?" I asked while walking past him.

"Oh hi Alex. I was trying to reach the Clock Tower. Looks like I took a wrong turn again. Ahaha!"

"Mm…"

I continued to walk down the path away from the Hatter Residence.

"Alex? Where are you going?" Ace asked while following me.

*giggles*

"Follow me, Alex. Down the path we go."

I walked down the path like Aura instructed.

"Hey Alex. I asked where you're going?"

"I have to go," I responded while in a trance.

Confused, Ace decided to follow.

"Follow me, Alex. Let's be happy together."

I did as Aura instructed: Deeper and deeper into the forest I went.

"Hey you led us towards a cliff. The view here is great," said a merry Ace as he viewed the scenery.

"Over here, Alex. Down this way."

I stopped in front of the cliff, looking down below.

"Aura?" I whispered.

"Hey don't you think you're too close?" Ace asked, noticing that I was standing at the edge.

"This way. Just one more step."

"Alex?"

"…"

"One more step, and we can be together forever."

I took a step off the cliff.

"ALEX!"

I grew tired as I fell and closed my eyes. Something strong and warm grabbed on to me, and then all became dark.

I awoke in the night, confused as to where I was and why I was outside.

I noticed a pair of strong arms wrapped around me and the ticking of a clock… a clock?

Slowly trying to get up, I noticed Ace below me, blood beneath him.

I stared in shock, confused as to what had happened.

"Hehe… So you're up?" Ace asked while opening his eyes. "I have to admit, this is probably the craziest thing I've ever done. Do you normally walk off cliffs?"

"A-Ace! Are you okay? !" I asked while getting off of the knight. I had a horrible headache that I didn't even realize I had until now.

"Of course!" he said while winking and giving me a thumbs up.

He then sat up and dusted off his clothes.

"What happened?" I asked, feeling worried.

"You don't remember? You walked off a cliff. Ahaha!"

"Don't laugh!" I shouted while trying to hold back my tears. "And why would I walk off a cliff?"

"I don't know. I kept calling you, but you wouldn't respond."

I walked off a cliff… And even ignored Ace.

How? All I could remember was being excited about the ball.

I looked up at Ace and saw the dried blood on his coat.

I walked off, and he saved me. This psycho night who was directionally challenged saved my life.

I could no longer hold in the tears.

"Don't cry, Alex. We're alive and well. Ahaha!"

Ace gave another thumbs up.

Without thinking I hugged him tightly, catching the knight by surprise.

"I'm so sorry," I cried while burying my face in Ace's chest.

What on earth was wrong with me? Why was I being so stupid?

"There, there," Ace said while patting my head gently. "There's no need to cry. We're both okay, so cheer up."

Tick tock tick…

Tick tock?

Tock tick tock tick…

"Ace?" I asked while looking up at him.

"What is it?"

"Why is your chest ticking?"

"Oh that's right! You don't know, do you?" the knight asked with a huge grin on his face.

"Huh?" I asked while tilting my head to the side.

"You have a heart, right?"

"Of course I have a heart," I said, not too sure where this was going.

What kind of a dumb question was that?

"Well here in Wonderland, we don't have hearts. Instead we have clocks."

"W-what?" I asked, still not getting it.

"Go ahead and listen," Ace said while pressing my head against his chest.

Tick tock tick tock…

My eyes widened. Ace was right! They really do have clocks for hearts.

"I never knew," I said, surprised by the sudden discovery.

Ace chuckled and patted my head once more.

"By the way. How long do you plan to keep hugging me for? Not that I'm complaining."

I then realized that I was hugging Ace this entire time.

"I-I'm so sorry!" I said while backing away quickly, a blush forming on my cheeks.

What a horrible thing I did.

"That's okay. Ahaha! But you know, now it's time you returned the favor," Ace said with a mischievous grin.

"For what?" I asked, confused.

"You got to listen to my clock. I want to hear your heartbeat."

"M-my hearbeat?"

"Yes," Ace answered while wrapping his arms around me and pressing his ear against my chest.

I sat there frozen stiff. Normally one would think of this as sexual harassment, but he was only listening to my heartbeat… right?

"I really love this sound. It'd be nice if I could listen to it more."

"You really like the sound of hearts, huh?" I asked, trying to calm myself down. It wasn't easy when a guy's face was pressed against your chest.

"Mmm… Yours is beating fast. Are those beats for me?" Ace asked teasingly.

"Th-that's not funny! You shouldn't press your face against a girl's chest!"

I was so happy it was night. I didn't want Ace to see the blush on my face. He'd probably tease me about it.

"I'm only listening to your heartbeat. It's beautiful," Ace said while closing his eyes.

"And you shouldn't worry. I'm not going to hit on a kid."

*twitch*

"I'm not a kid," I said, a little angry that he would say that.

"You look like a kid," Ace said while sitting back and giving me that dumb smile of his.

"I'm eighteen! And in my world, I'm considered a young lady."

I crossed my arms and pouted.

"Really?" Ace asked in surprise. "I thought you were younger. You don't look much different than the bloody twins."

"Those two…" I said while frowning, looking away from the night.

"Hm? Are you okay?" asked a puzzled Ace.

"Yeah. I think maybe they've become a step closer to their goal. Alice is going to dance with them at the ball," I said while replacing my frown with a smile.

"Are you upset that they chose Alice over you?"

My eyes widened in surprise. Ace's words surprised me.

"O-of course not! I'm actually really happy about it. I mean I've been trying to help them hook up with her," I explained.

"I see."

Ace then said something quietly, barely audible to my ears.

"What did you say?" I asked with curiosity.

"It's nothing," the knight responded with a smile.

We remained silent for a while.

"You know, I don't have a partner to the ball."

"You don't huh?" I asked while looking up at Ace.

"Yeah! I usually go as a bachelor. But I wouldn't mind having a lady accompany me this time around," Ace said then winked.

"Okay," I said, feeling overjoyed.

I had read so many stories about a princess dancing at the ball with her prince. Of course, Ace wasn't a prince. He's a knight. But still… Dancing with a knight would be just as much fun.

I couldn't keep the smile on my lips from forming.

"You're cute when you smile like that."

I turned to see Ace smiling down at me.

"Be quiet," I said, looking away to hide my blush.

"Uhm Ace?" I asked as a thought popped into my head.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think you could help me get back to the Hatter Mansion after your visit with Julius? The truth is, I'm afraid to walk in the forest alone," I said while feeling embarrassed.

"Of course. Ahaha! But only after we've set up camp and get some sleep."

"Yeah. Thanks Ace."

And that's all for this chapter. Finally getting close to the ball scene hurray! *throws hearts to you all* Next update coming in a few days~