Alfred had transferred to World W. Academy just a month and a half after the start of the second semester during, what Alice thought of, one of the driest winters ever to hit England. Snowfall had been absent, but not the cold, leaving it just as cold as usual. However the usually wrong weatherman had predicted a snow storm to hit London up to three inches that week. It had been six weeks since Alfred had first ran her over with his skateboard, five weeks since he asked England out on their first date at the taco shop, and one month since the two called a truce and decided to become acquaintances. Which means it was now late March and not how she expected the weather to turn so late in the game.

Alfred had decided to take Alice on the London Eye for a romantic fourth date. While she had been mildly creeped out by the speed of the progression of their relationship, Alice had found the gesture very sweet, even though she had already ridden the ferris wheel before.

She had gotten to learn more about him over the past weeks, grown closer to Alfred in two different ways; as a girlfriend, as a friend. She spent more time with him as Alice than she did as England, but that did not mean to lessen nor slow down the growing feelings in her heart.

However she had found two new obstacles in the course that was her life with an alter ego and a regular persona. One, Alice has been finding it harder and more difficult to be in two places at once as both Alice and England. Just the other day, Alfred had decided to call England to show off to her as Alice when he had accused her of being an office hermit with practically no friends but him and Kiku and decided to show off the fact that he had a girlfriend. Thank God that her phone was on vibrate at the time, because when she felt her phone go off in her pocket she clutched it to her side so tightly to keep it quiet she thought she might snap it in half.

This as well as the fact as it was harder to act as two different people in front of him at all times. Sometimes she'd slip up as England and accidentally say something only Alice would know, say, or do, but just played it off as coincidence or a lucky guess. But it was even harder when she was Alice to act like she held no feelings for him when she was actually dating him, sometimes failing to control her emotions. Take last Wednesday afternoon:

"Alfred why are you wearing a t-shirt instead of your white button up?" Alice questioned him during lunch, when he made his almost daily stop to her council office, which she found he visited her most days of the week except for Tuesday and Friday as he had clubs those days. In fact on the days he was there, even if she didn't have work, she'd go there and work on whatever she could find just have an excuse to be with him.

"I got a stain on it, so I just decided to wear a white shirt. Besides this is more comfortable." He claimed and smoothed the creases on his shirt underneath his brown school jacket.

"That may be, but you must wear it to school tomorrow. Besides it looks hotter- better!" She sloppily tried to clean her mistake, but had already lit the bomb and could not stop the explosion.

Alfred did not say anything at first and simply stared at her in shock at the words, a bit flustered in his cheeks, but no more that Alice who had become as red as a cherry.

After a heartbeat he coughed and quickly changed the subject, abandoning the pristine opportunity to poke fun at her and chose to ignore that it had ever been said.

That had been terribly awkward and made her want to crawl into a hole and die from embarrassment. That was probably the worse she had ever slipped up, but keeping it in as Alice was the hardest part, especially when that was who she spent the most time with him as. Sure he could be an asswipe to her at times, but she could be a bitch as well so there was a nice balance between how much they acted like assholes with each other, somehow it managed to bring them closer together. Whenever they had a battle of creative name calling, they'd end up laughing like idiots at the end of it. It was strange, but she's coming to like both sides of Alfred equally and not preferring one over the other.

This made her start to think: why did she even use a second persona to go out with Alfred? She manages to hide her whole secret life from her mother, why should it be any harder to hide a boyfriend, she's technically already doing that. Surely if she told him who she was he'd keep it a secret for her and not tell anyone about it. If she could be with him as both people then it would be so much easier to see him and be with him like she wants to.

But would he reject her? Would he not like it if he found out who she was and want to break it off in disappointment? What if he just flat out laughed at her?!

Yet, another question appeared in her mind- why was it that Alfred acted so differently with both personas? It's true that she had come to like both sides of him over the past few weeks, stupidity and all, but she could not explain why he was so different with both of them. As England he treated her with tender kindness and a childlike wonder, on the other hand when she was Alice, which was most of the time, he was arrogant, rude, yet held a caring protection over her, often helping her when she needed it. She liked almost all of the qualities of him as it fit well with all of her rough and rebellious side in contrast with her softer and strict side. Could it be that he acted differently as a reaction to how she acts with him?

She had to know if it was a good idea to revel who she was before she went through with it.

...

Alice walked her way to school along with her four older brothers and younger brother, but all distanced from each other, Scott far ahead from all the rest, the twins behind him along with Peter, and her behind them with Dylan just a step ahead with a red umbrella in his right hand. Alice watched the ocean of grey white clouds above their heads and saw the flakes fall silently in a slow dance of chill. The still cold air held a whisper of a nearing blizzard and a breeze began to pick up. Her cold feet truged through the already cold blanket that covered the ground, as they had received four inches over the past two days. She cursed her school for making girls wear skirts even in the cold.

"About time winter showed up. I thought he was going to miss his season." Dylan spoke up from in front of her. Alice gave a small sneeze and wiped her nose with the back of her bare hand. Dylan looked at her with slight worry. "Are you okay, sis?"

"Fine, Dylan. Just a small chill crawled up my spine." She replied with a wave of her hand.

"A chill can become more." Dylan warned her and pulled her underneath his umbrella to shelter her from the falling snow.

"Thank you." She said.

When the Kirkland family arrived at the school yard they parted, Dylan bid her a goodbye for now and handed the umbrella to her. Alice went her way over to the staircase, where she saw Kiku talking with Feliciana and Ludwig.

"Good morning Kiku, Ludwig, Feliciana." She greeted as she came upon them.

"Good morning, Alice-chan."

"Morning."

They both greeted. Feliciana however hid behind Ludwig in slight fear, a peculiarly fear she's held since last year when Alice confiscated her pasta when she caught her eating during class. Alice just ignored it and walked straight to Kiku.

"Kiku, can I speak with you?" She asked.

Kiku didn't question and excused himself from the other two then followed her inside to a nearly empty hallway. Alice made sure to look around before speaking up. When she deemed it safe enough she told him about her plan, her wonders, and her worries. Kiku listened with the same blank expressionless face he always wore but she could tell he was listening like he always does. When she finished speaking be gave just the slightest of nods.

"I can see where your concerns come from, and I think what your planning is the right thing to do. I think you should go ahead with your plan and tell him who you are, I see no reason why he should reject you." He provided his opinion on the situation.

"Are you sure?" Alice questioned unsure."

"Yes, it is what's best." Kiku answered.

Alice smiled at him and gave him a small hug, thanking him for listening and then heading off for her classroom, which was in the exact opposite direction of his. Alice knew that Kiku was glad she confided about her plan and worries with him even though he didn't say it, she could see it in his eyes, as he always wanted her to talk with him more often about these things. That's where they butted heads, as her personality often led her to hold things in, and his natural affinity to listen led him to want to hear her troubles. Even if they came to disagree, Alice was glad she would always have someone like him as a friend.

The day past as normal like it usually would, the fact that it was Tuesday meant that Alfred would not be visiting her in her office at lunch for their regular... whatever it was. Her mind was so far away that she found that she did not get much work done and would most likely have come back and finish it later. As the classes passed Alice noticed through the window that a snow storm had indeed picked up, the weather app on her phone told her that the wind was picking up to 24 kilometers per hour, nowhere near the speeds of a blizzard, but still enough to whip the snow harshly against the body.

She saw him after that lunch in chemistry but saw no opportunities to speak with him throughout the boring lecture her teacher gave about the, in her opinion, the needless use of a T-chart in stociometry. And after that she was bussied when Chelles came to talk to her about placing their, long delayed, event to that Friday depending on the weather and for clearance to use the gymnasium. When she finally finished with her she saw that Alfred had already left the classroom. Letting out a groan she grabbed her materials and followed everyone else out.

"Busy as always, Alice?" Alfred called from across the hallway leaning against the window, an amused grin displayed on his face.

Alice let out a sigh of both relief and exhaustion. "Yeah, no breaks for the working." She sniffled, and rubbed her nose.

"I would have hoped my absence would have eased your work load." He stated lifting his back from the window.

"Sorry to disappoint then." She said then sneezed into her arm.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Fine, fine." She waved him off and was about to head to her next class but was stopped when he grabbed her upper arm.

"You sure? 'Cause I can take ya to the nurse." He told her with mild concern.

"I am sure, and it's you not ya, you git." She corrected him.

Alfred rolled his eyes and let go of her arm after her comment.

"Suit yourself." He said and turned back. "See ya." He called as he walked away.

Alice didn't give a goodbye but turned to walk to her own classroom as well.

"You do realize that was the opportune moment to tell him, hai?" Kiku's voice sounded behind her. Alice nearly jumped out of her skin from surprise and swiftly turned around to face him.

"Kiku! How long have you been there?" Alice questioned him.

"The entire time, I'm in the same class remember?" He stated.

"Ugh!" She groaned aloud. "I wasn't even thinking! Crap, I missed my chance and will have until tomorrow!" Just then Alice let out a cough and quickly lifted her arm to her mouth to cover two more.

"Alice-chan, are you sure you should even come tomorrow?" Kiku inquired in a watchful tone.

"I can't miss a day over a small sickness, you know that." Alice told him. The only time Alice had ever stayed home is when her family doctor took the nerve to put his foot down against her mother for the betterment of her health, which was rare. Her mother saw giving into illness as a sign of weakness and would not tolerate her daughter doing so. Kiku knew of this and strongly disagreed, but had no say against her.

"At least retire in early so you can regain your strength." Kiku tried to convince her.

Alice nodded and looked out the window at the howling snow and the courtyard that and been clear just last week. She loathed the time when she will have to walk home in the cold in two hours.

Together, Kiku and Alice made their way to the last class of the day in which they shared with each other, walking side by side.

...

After the school bell rang the class got left out and Alice made her way to the Student Council Office along side Kiku, who had to grab some paper work before going home for the day, bundled up heavily in his coat, gloves, and blue scarf to fight against the cold. Once he did the two friends said goodbye and went their separate ways once again. Alice walked into her office and immediately went to the heater, turning it on and up to 23 degrees Celsius before making it over to her desk and pulling out her peppers.

Not five minutes passed by before her work was interrupted when a noisy American walked in while eating a burger.

"Alfred, no eating in my office." Alice tried to appear annoyed but couldn't help but to smile at his arrival.

"Oh come on, you eat in here everyday!" Alfred pointed a finger.

"Tea and crumpets are different and more dignified." She argued putting her pen down.

"Still food." He countered.

"What are you doing here, Alfred?" She questioned him not really caring why.

"As the hero, I wanted to make sure you got home safely in the storm." He said as he collapsed on her sofa.

"Well thank you."

"No problem."

Then the room fell into a comfortable silence as she worked and he played on his phone. Alice let the minutes slip by and watched him from her desk, debating on whether or not to go through with her plan. 'This is it!' Her brain screamed at her. 'Tell him! Tell him now!'

"H-hey, Alfred?" Alice spoke up from her chair. Alfred took his gaze away from his phone and looked at her.

"What?"

Alice took a second before she spoke, taking a breath of air. "Can I tell you something?" She asked.

Alfred looked kind or wary and sat up straight. "What is it?"

Again she didn't speak right away, keeping her eyes on the paper on her desk. "There's a secret I've been holding from you for a while now, and- I feel like I should tell you that... that... I'm-"

"You know I have a girlfriend right?" Alfred interrupted her in a serious voice.

Alice lifted her head to look at him. "Yes I know that, but-"

"Then you should know I'm off the market." He stated.

"Alfred, I'm trying to tell you that I-" Alice rose from her seat, leaning her hands on her desk but could not finish her sentence. For the third time in a row Alfred interrupted her and stood up from his spot as well.

"I'm going to be up front about it Alice, I don't like you in that way."

Alice felt her feet go cold and the color drained from her face. She didn't get to say what she meant to say, but it mattered not, he would have rejected her anyway. She can now see that he won't like all of her like she liked all of him. She was embarrassed and felt like a fool to even think otherwise.

"I-I s-see." She whispered in shock.

Without grabbing her paperwork she bolted for the door, eager to run away from him and her embarrassment. Alfred reached out for her but could barely catch her finger tips as she past him.

"Alice! Wait!" He called out and ran after her.

Alice ran as fast as her legs would allow her, her lungs burned and she coughed into her arm several times, tears began to spring from behind her glasses and fell down her face. She fled down three flights of stairs and prayed that Alfred would stay away. When she reached the front doors she shoved them open and charged out into the snow, trying her best to ignore the cold that was clawing at her small body, but subsequently sneezed right away.

"Alice!" She heard him call again.

"Leave me alone!" She screamed back but was interrupted by her own coughing.

However it seemed that luck was not on her side as she felt a hand grab her shoulder. Alice's immediate instinct was to fight him off an struggle.

"Let me go! Go away!" She screamed at him.

"Alice please, you're sick!" He tried to keep her still but she wouldn't let up in her protests.

"I don't care! Let me go! Let me go!" Alice cried out and fell to her knees, holding face in her hands. The sight shocked him so much that he let go on her arm. Taking the opportunity she clumsily got up and continued to run. Alfred watched her go and did not follow, already feeling shame for the pain he had just caused her.

Alice ran out of the school grounds and kept running, not looking where she was going. Not knowing where or how long she had been running, Alice slipped on a licensor ice hidden by snow and crashed to the ground. Not picking herself up, she lied there and weeped, cry and coughing in a hot mess. She felt incredibly stupid that she would ever think that Alice, would like a stuffy, rude, and dry stick-in-the-mud like herself. Of course he'd prefer the fun, outgoing, and rebellious England more. That means he'd only ever half love her and never fully.

"Alice-chan?" A voice sounded from ahead. Alice looked up and saw the figure of Kiku running over to her. "What happened?" He asked.

Alice didn't answer and only held onto him and cried onto his shoulder. Kiku took the intuitive to wrap his scarf around her and lead her back home, asking no questions when she did not answer the first one, letting her lean on him as they walked.

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24 km = about 15 miles, and 23 C = about 75 F

Sorry for the long delay, I was giving all my attention to two other stories in order to finish them.

My story, don't judge may decisions.

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