Finals were a bitch as usual, two hours in each class for six different tests over the span of three days. They were let out early at noon each day to give them more time to study and prepare for the next exam, however Alice found this time off as her loophole to get out of her mother's punishment. Since her curfew was technically four thirty, Alice had four hours after school that she could use for herself. Well, more like three anyway because of her council work was not letting up despite the semester ending in just one week.

Chelles, the newbie and professional worrier that she is, failed to get replacement entertainment for the venue next week, and all of the bands, DJs, and acts they contacted did not want to work on such a short notice despite being offered a handsome amount of money. The African Islander became too panicked to perform her job correctly and begged Alice to take over, since she had more experience. Understanding the girl's turmoil, Alice accepted and took over the entertainment art of the bizarre. It wasn't as if Chelles was completely incompetent, she was able to schedule food trucks, ticket stands, game booths, and spread the word of the celebration well.

Alice was already stocked for work over the next few days, constantly at a desk due to her role as president and studying for finals. Yet Alice was almost kinda glad for the work load, it kept her mind off of Alfred and steered her away from any awkward occurrences.

Progress was being made between them, but they still were unsure of where they stood with each other. They didn't know if they were friends again or still in the acquaintance zone. Alice liked to think they were friends again, but it had only been four days since they had decided to give their relationship another try. Sometimes it was easy to slip back into their usual banter due to his child-like nature and her cynical attitude. However, more often than not, something would be said that would create an awkward silence between them. Alice didn't know how else to fix their broken relationship, so she chose the cowards root, and ran away, burying herself in her paperwork.

Alfred was trying to be understanding of what she had did, she knew that, but he was still having a hard time. She wanted to explain it all to him, why she had done what she did, but she didn't know how. Even so, Alfred worked along with her to try and mend what they once had. They were both struggling with trust, but they tried to put it aside. Alice did her best to convince herself that he wasn't a cheat, that he wouldn't do that again with just any girl, but she still held onto fear that he may one day fall for someone else and leave her.

A knocked sounded at her door, she invited them in, and Ludwig walked in with a book in his hands and set it down on her table in front of her.

"Yearbook club's prototype. They'd like you to look it over before three before they make more copies." He told her. Alice sighed and opened the book, it was roughly two hundred pages long, all do in a little over an hour. Alice thanked him and sent him on his way, then buzzed Kiku on her desk phone.

"Yes Alice-chan?" He sounded from the other line.

"Could you bring me a cup of black tea, milk and one sugar? Another workload just appeared." She told him over the speaker. Kiku accepted and hung up his end of the line. Alice opened the book and started on the first page while she waited for Kiku and her coffee. By the time he had arrived, she cleared nine pages of the prototype yearbook.

"Here you go Alice-chan." Kiku said as he set down her tea on a coaster. Alice reached for the cup and took a sip, enjoying the feeling the caffeine and sugar gave her. She breathed out a grateful sigh of bliss.

"Thank you, Kiku." She thanked him, offering him a smile before returning to the yearbook.

"Work piled up?" He inquired with a nod towards the book and papers on her desk.

"Yes, I can handle it though." Alice told him, turning the page, marking down mistakes and things that needed to be changed with a red marker as she went.

"May I suggest something?" Kiku requested. Alice looked up at him curiously, nodding for him to proceed. "For the bizarre's entertainment next Monday, why not hire the band from Bash? Their use to being paid low and coming up with a set quickly." Alice's eyes widened in wonder as she thought over the proposal.

"That… that could work." She said in excitement. "Three bands including us are from our school, right? So if I could get all of us to perform a set an hour each, then just play music through the speakers for the rest of the time, then we'll be all set! Do you think you could have Ludwig or Gilbert contact their family's studio and create a set list by Monday?" Alice asked of him.

"Yes, I believe so. This as well as my cousin is a DJ, not a professional, but he knows how to work the equipment." Kiku added.

"Thank you!" Alice beamed and catapulted herself out of her chair to hug her best friend. "Thank you! Thank you, Kiku! You're the greatest!" She cried gratefully with cheerful tears. Just one more thing knocked off her long list. "Can I trust this in your hands?"

"Of course, Alice-chan." He smiled at her, wrapping his arms around her back. "I'll do anything for you." Alice blushed at the forwardness of his words, she had always known her friend to be shy and quiet, he always offered her support and reassuring words, but there was something different about the way he spoke.

Just then, Alice heard the sound of footsteps coming to a halt outside her door. She looked over from Kiku and saw Alfred standing at the door, with a bag at his side and his eyes open wide. Alice quickly untangled herself from her hug with Kiku and turned to face him.

"Alfred, I wasn't expecting you." She said nervously.

"You were obviously expecting someone else." He said coldly and turned to leave.

"Wait!" She shouted and ran around her furniture to catch his arm before he left. "It's not what you think."

"Then what is it?" He questioned.

Alice turned her head back to Kiku. "Kiku, could you give us some time alone?" She pleaded.

"Very well." He said blankly and made his way out. Alice could see the boys exchange dirty glares as they passed by each other. When he left he closed the door and Alice let her hand drop.

"Alfred I swear, Kiku and I were only hugging. He offered to take off some of my work load so I hugged as a thanks. We're friends, that's it." Alice promised, desperate to not set them back again.

"I know you're friends, but Alice, he's in love you. How can I trust him not to take advantage of you?" He questioned her, looking into her eyes with earnest.

"Trust in me." She begged him. "I've only ever wanted you."

Alfred looked back deep into her eyes, staring at every feature of her face with close eyes. A few moments later her let out a breath and nodded. Wrapping his own, much bigger and stronger, arms around her back, Alice returned the hug and dug her face into his chest.

"Okay, I believe you." He spoke softly into her hair. "Just don't go hugging other guys." He said in a joking tone.

"You do realize all of my friends are guys, right?" Alice huffed with a smile.

"Wonder why that is." He jested, friendly nudging her side. "You only scare about ninety percent of the school." He laughed. Alice chuckled along with him. Looking down she took note of the bag he held at his side.

"What is that?" She asked looking down at the plastic grocery store bag. Alfred let his gaze follow hers to his right hip.

"Oh this?" He let go of her waist and reached into the bag. "I saw this at the store today and thought of you." Out he pulled a small stuffed green rabbit with black beady eyes and a little pink nose. Letting the bag fall to the floor, Alfred placed the stuffed bunny in her hands, an easy smile on his face.

"Alfred," Alice gasped in surprise as she held the toy. "It's so cute."

"You told me that rabbits were your favorite animal, and that mint green was your favorite color." Alfred said in a kind tone. Alice looked up at him in awe and woe, a bit shocked from the gift.

"But I told you the rabbit thing as England, and my favorite color as Alice." She murmured, looking down in a small pit of guilt.

"Yes… but England doesn't exist," Alfred whispered and brought a hand up to cup her right cheek, gently rubbing his thumb over her cheek, "Just you."

Alice could feel a few tears prick the corners of her eyes from the happiness she felt right now. Alfred begun to lean in slowly inch by inch, closing the gap between them. If Alice didn't know any better, she'd think she was leaning in as well.

"Even though I'm boring and bossy?" She asked in a hush.

"Even though." He repeated, touching their noses together. Alice nearly let her eyes close before she caught herself. She wasn't ready for this yet, and she doesn't think Alfred is either. Alice quickly pulled away from him, backing out of his grasp. She could see the look of disappointment on his face and offered him a soft smile.

"Friends, remember?" She reminded him.

"Right," He breathed, "Friends."

The air seemed to stifle quickly and become dry from the awkward silence, neither of them moving from their spots.

"Well I, uh have work to do. Busy as usual and all that." Alice finally spoke up and backed away towards her desk.

"Yeah yeah, I have to go as well, study and stuff." Alfred agreed and made his way for the door, however his leg got caught on her coffee table, making him lose his balance and fall. Alice was too far away to catch him in time, and watched as he ungracefully fell on his butt to the ground. Alice let out a loud laugh before she covered her mouth, but failed to hide the widening grin on her face.

"Well that was majestic." She laughed and went over to help him up. "We're a mess aren't we?"

"Yeah," He took her hand and stood up. "See you, kay?"

"It's okay, and yes, I'll see you later."

"Grammar nazi."

Alice stuck her tongue out at him as he left, and he did the same as the door closed. Alice stayed where she stood for a moment more, rubbing her arms as an invisible chill created goosebumps along her arms. Alice looked over at her clock, ten minutes gone, she went back to her desk and got to work once again, but her mind wasn't completely with her. Her thoughts kept going back to that almost kiss. Alice was almost upset that she ended it, but she knew they were still healing, now was not the time to start their relationship up again.

Alice managed to finish the yearbook by three o'clock and send it on its way, handing it over to Ludwig. After that she went back to her other paperwork. Alice prayed that she'll never have an office job of any sort when she's older. However, seeing as her mother will undoubtedly have her work for the family company when she's older, paperwork is all she's ever gonna do.

Alice looked over from her work to the rabbit Alfred just gave her and picked it up. It was a kind jester, just a way to tell her that he's accepted both sides of her as one person. 'At least one thing in my life makes sense.'

Looking from her rabbit to her paperwork and back again, Alice questioned what it was she wanted. She never wanted to be president, her mother had told her to do so, and she obeyed. Her mother told her to focus on learning business, so that's what Alice had decided to pursue. She had told her to give up music, and for the first time in her life, she disobeyed, until now. Music seemed to be to only thing that Alice treasured more than her mother's approval. She had kept it hidden, making she that her mother believed she had given it up, but now she would perform publicly in front of the entire school. She'd be in disguise again like usual, but the prospect of being in the open where word could spread… gave her an idea. The question was, was she brave enough to go through with it.

By law it was legal, but… her mother was basically the only law in her life. Yet, if she did this, it could be the freedom she always craved. It only came down to whether or not she had the guts to do it.

Alice quickly ringed Kiku once again.

"Yes?" Her Japanese friend said over the line.

"Kiku, I have an idea, but I need your help."

"What is it Alice-chan?"

Alice walked through the gates of her family's estate, receiving a ride from Kiku, never bothering to request a ride from her family's personal driver. She walked into the mansion, thirty minutes early for her curfew. When she walked in she handed her bag off to a servant to have it delivered to her room, thanking her as she went. Her mother's personal butler came up to her at the doorway, bowing lightly before her, as all the servants did.

"My lady, the mistress requests to see you in one hour looking your best in the dining hall. There is a brand new dress awaiting you in your quarters." Alice bent her head back and groaned.

"Is it another suitor?" Alice questioned.

"She told me not to say." He replied.

Alice pouted and made her way to her room. It had been months since her mother had last invited a suitor over, last Christmas. Alice had been visited by at least eight suitors a year for the past two years. Alice was hoping her mother had given up on forcibly wedding her but it appears she hadn't. When Alice arrived in her room there was a beautiful rose red evening gown waiting for her on display on a mannequin. Her personal maid and old nurse, Mary, was waiting for her in her room as well.

"It's a beautiful dress, Alice." She said from her seat. Mary was the only servant who was close to her, being the one who raised her in her younger years, and the only servant who called her by first name.

"Beautiful, and pointless. You know I don't want to marry yet." Alice said to he as she stripped off her uniform.

"Yes I know dear, but your mother is not the most negotiable woman." She said sarcastically and removed the dress from the mannequin. Mary was also the only servant who was openly disapproving of her mother when speaking with Alice. "You know you can simply refuse dear, she can't legally force you to wed."

"Yes but she can make my life even more of a living hell than it already is." Alice sighed and slipped into the dress, holding up her hair as Mary zipped up the back.

"Come now darling, in few years you'll be free of that wretched woman and can live for yourself." She smiled and took out her pigtails, knowing that her mother hated them.

"Or I'll be stuck in this house working for the company." Alice sat down at her vanity desk as Mary began to brush her hair out and style it up into a tendril twist bun.

"Alice dear, as I always say, you'll always be at the bottom of someone's shoe if your never stand up." Mary finished styling her hair and moved moved onto doing her makeup as well. Alice knew Mary spoke the truth, which is why she had devised a plan. "There done, now don't you look beautiful."

Alice looked at herself in the mirror, her makeup was light and gave herself a natural look, creating a sort of glow.

"Yes, but I already know how this night is going to end." Alice winked and stood, making her way out of her room and down to the dining hall.

The night had gone just as she had predicted, her mother did indeed have a suitor waiting for her, four years older than her, decently attractive, but incredibly boring. He was the first son on a rival company, most likely looking to unite our two companies. By the end of the night nothing had been established between them. Alice just wanted to turn in for the night, but of course her mother wanted to speak to her about whether or not it had went well, not being able to tell for herself.

"Was denkst du über Herrn Johnson?" (So what do you think of mister Johnson?) Her mother inquired at the table once he left.

"Ich denke, er war humorlos und langweilig." (I think he was humorless and boring.) Alice responded.

"Es heißt Reife." (It's called being mature.) Her mother told her. "Vielleicht könnten Sie von ihm lernen." (Perhaps you could learn from him.)

"Ich finde ihn immer noch nicht ansprechend." (I still don't find him appealing.)

"Nun, du wirst dich eines Tages entscheiden müssen. Ihr sechzehnter Geburtstag ist in drei Monaten, Sie können es sich nicht leisten, so wählerisch zu sein." (Well you're going to have to decide someday soon. Your sixteenth birthday is in three months, you cannot afford to be so picky.)

"Aber was, wenn ich noch nicht heiraten möchte?" (But what if I don't want to marry just yet?)

"Du weißt nicht, was du willst." (You don't know what you want.)

Alice looked up at her mother, her mother gave her a fierce gaze that demanded complete submission. Alice looked down and nodded.

"Ich werde bis dahin entscheiden." (I'll decide by then.) Alice responded.

Her mother gave her no reply, but gave an approving nod and excused her from the table. Alice bowed to her and left the room, heading back for her own. Alice didn't want to marry just yet, and when she did, there was only one man she could see herself with. However he was at a lower social standing than her and wasn't as mature as any of her mother's other candidates, her mother would never approve him.

Alice would have to enact her plan sooner than she thought, she would not allow herself to be forcibly married off before she was ready.

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Sup again my peeps, sorry if this chapter was boring, I just had to connect the plot of the next chapter to the rest of the story, promise the next one will be much better. Two to three chapters left of this story! I'm hoping to finish it before my break ends in ten days. Well, see ya!

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