Chapter Three: The Suitors

"Do you want us to come with you Alice?" asked Julius. He was helping her get into the taxi as she wiped her tears away.

"I think I'll be fine, thank you," she said. Gray looked at her. "Scoot over," he gently pushed Alice to the other side of the taxi and occupied the seat next to hers.

"G-gray?"

"It's not befitting for a gentleman to allow a young lady to go home by herself," he said.

Alice turned around and frowned. "I'm already eighteen, I can take myself home," she deadpanned. She wasn't in the mood for games.

"Come on Gray, just pay the taxi driver and let her go home," said Julius. He didn't want to have any more complications with Alice.

However Gray wasn't okay with leaving her alone. "But, still we should take her –"

"Are ya guys coming or what?" The taxi driver turned around and glared at the three of them. "I ain't got all night, so are y'all coming?" He was ready to drive off with Gray's side door open.

"We'll ride," smiled Gray. He switched seats with Alice and pulled Julius in the cab, forcing Alice to sit in between the two handsome men.

"Great, now where to?" asked the taxi driver.

"This address," Gray gave him a slip of paper and the taxi driver nodded his head. Alice felt the rumble of the car and suddenly realized she was with two young men whom she barely met. Gray stared at Alice while Julius looked out the window. Alice could feel Gray's eyes burning into her, but she didn't say of them spoke the entire ride.

It was about ten o'clock at night when they arrived at the house.

"Oh it looks like somebody's already home," muttered Julius. He saw a fancy sports car pull up into the drive way behind the taxi.

"Wait, what does the car look like?" asked Alice.

"It's black, why?"

"Open the door," commanded Alice. The two men seemed puzzled. Alice rolled her eyes and reached across Gray to open the passenger door. She squeezed over Gray and made a mad dash out of the car.

"Woah!" Gray was surprised by Alice's actions until he saw who came out of the fancy sports car.

It was Mr. and Mrs. Liddell.

Alice ran quickly, but she couldn't outrun the security guards who were stationed at the gates. They lifted her up and dragged her back to the house.

Alice kicked and screamed. "Let me go! I don't want to go back!"

Julius and Gray got out of the taxi. Mrs. Liddell told the guard to let her go. The guard gently placed Alice back on the ground, but held her arm to make sure she didn't try to escape.

"Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Liddell," Gray began to speak, but was ignored by Mrs. Liddell who walked up to Alice and slapped her on the face.

"How dare you embarrass us like that in front of everyone!?" Mrs. Liddell's face grew as red as a tomato. Just as she was about to slap Alice for a second time, Gray stepped in and restrained Mrs. Liddell's hand.

"What? What are you doing?" She was furious. Alice kept her head down and didn't make a sound.

"Excuse me Mrs. Liddell. I didn't mean to be rude, but can you please let Alice go?"

Julius grabbed Gray's arm. "What are you doing?" he whispered sharply. "Are you asking for trouble?"

"No, I'm trying to save her." Julius let go of Gray.

"I'm sorry about that Gray, we didn't mean for you and Julius to see such a sight," said Mr. Liddell. He gently took Mrs. Liddell's hand. "Thank you for taking our daughter home, but it is getting a bit late. You two should head home." Mr. Liddell whispered something to the guard and he took Alice inside. He quickly ushered his angry wife into the mansion.

"Have a pleasant evening," and with that, Mr. Liddell closed the door on the two of them.

A few days later…

"Alice, please come out," Lorina leaned against Alice's bedroom door. Ever since that incident at the engagement party, Alice hasn't come out for about three days.

"No, mother hates me and I'm an embarrassment to this family," said Alice, her voice muffled by a pillow. Alice never felt so mortified in her life. Not only did she embarrass herself in front of all those business tycoons, but in front of two guys. Blindness is not a handicap, it's a curse.

I feel so pathetic… why am I still here? Why does fate keep toying around with me? I didn't do anything wrong to deserve such treatment. Alice knew she lived in a rich household and had a father who was a top-notch business man, but it wasn't enough. Yes it sounds greedy of her, but she felt like she was missing something… something important that people should have as human beings. What was this feeling?

"Now Alice, please, father has good news for you and mother isn't angry anymore." Lorina broke Alice's train of thoughts.

"I'm not coming out."

"Alice," Lorina used a threatening tone. Alice felt a chill down her spine. She sighed. If it's Lorina, she couldn't win against her, if she tried. "Fine, I'm coming out."

"Wait, before you come out, make sure to shower and dress nicely, father has a gift for you," said Lorina. She changed back to her sweet and melodic voice, compared to earlier. "Don't take too long, okay?"

Alice sighed again. "Okay, I won't." Almost forty minutes passed before she finished getting ready. With help from the maid, she put on a simple baby blue lace dress with a bow.

Using her walking stick, Alice slowly descended down the stairwell and felt the presence of more than just her family. There were visitors. Oh great… who did father invite to our house this time?

"Ah, Alice, come here, we're in the living room!" Mr. Liddell seemed to be in high spirits compared to his cold demeanor after the engagement party.

The maid tried assisting Alice, but she ignored the help and used her walking stick. Alice felt around and her walking stick bumped into a foot. And it was a foot not familiar to her at all. "Excuse me," Alice was looking down. She tried walking around the person, but the person grabbed her shoulder. "Hey!" The person, a man actually (based on the roughness of the hand), grabbed her face.

"Let go!" Alice tried squirming, but he held tightly and forced her to "look" at the man.

"It is you!" The man hugged Alice tightly, causing her to drop her walking stick.

"Help!" Alice shouted loud enough for everyone in the living room to hear her suffocated cries for help.

"Peter, you should let Alice go!" Another unfamiliar voice. Alice finally pushed 'Peter' away and bumped into another man.

"It seems like we meet again Alice," Gray put his hand on her shoulder and Alice pulled away. "Gray?"

Suddenly she felt too many people crowding in on her, causing her to fall backwards. "Gotcha," the brown haired man blew into her ear, causing her to blush fiercely.

"Let go!" Alice did not like being in this kind of environment.

"Now, now, gentlemen, please give Alice some room," said Mr. Liddell. He chuckled, making Alice feel nervous. "Father, who are these people?" Alice demanded.

"Take a seat Alice and I'll explain," said Mr. Liddell. Alice felt Peter come up from behind.

"Here I'll help—"

"I don't need your help," Alice pushed Peter away.

"Oh ho! It seems like Alice doesn't like you already Peter," laughed the brown-haired man.

"Be quiet Ace," muttered Peter.

Alice sat down, across from her father. "Okay, I'm sitting. Now what?"

"Alice, I know Lorina just got engaged," Alice didn't like where this was going. "but we feel that you can begin."

"What?" Alice was confused. "Begin what?"

"Begin a relationship."

Alice nearly choked on her saliva. "A relationship?! With who?"

"With these young gentlemen," said Mr. Liddell with a grand smile. "They want to court you, but I'm not sure who you would like to court. So Alice, which man would you like to be engaged to?"

The five gentlemen stood in front of Alice and introduced themselves.

"I'm Gray Ringmarc, but we've already met." Gray gave a warm smile.

"Julius Monrey." Julius said nothing else.

"I'm Peter White, pleasure to meet you." He smiled sweetly and Alice could feel Peter's eyes staring at her face. She felt conscious.

"Ace. Ace Knight and I work with Mr. White here!" Peter showed a face of disgust when Ace introduced himself.

"Blood Dupre, it's also a pleasure to meet you Alice." Blood took up Alice's hand and gave it a kiss, creating an awkward atmosphere between the five guys. On the other hand, Mr. Liddell was ecstatic because someone wanted his daughter.

"N-nice to meet you all," stuttered Alice. She was stunned. Alice didn't know how to react, especially since it was the first time someone had some kind of interest in her.

"Please be with me Alice!" Peter was ready to hug her, but Alice felt it and she moved to the right, causing Peter to smash into the pillow.

"Well, you should be with me Alice," Ace took her arm and cuddled her.

Gray glared at Ace. "Well, it's up to Alice who she wants to be with, isn't that right Alice?" Gray turned towards the young girl.

Alice still blushing could only blurt out one thing. "What?!"

I'm back! I'm sorry for the long absence, but I'm taking on extra classes, so I've been really busy. I didn't abandon fanfiction... it's just another one of those moments where I don't feel like writing, but I still love reading fanfiction :) Thank you for the support, especially to those who still read my stories, it means a lot to me. Well, I won't be able to update at a regular pace until August, but look out for some updates later this week! :D

Thanks for reading and please review! ~ :)