Chapter: 3... Falling

ALICE P.O.V

I smile at Jayden as I bring him some orange juice. "Here you go, it's hot out today you need to stay hydrated."

Jayden grinned goofily. "Were you just looking for a reason to spend time with me, M'lady?"

I blush and scowl simultaneously. "Shut up, next time get your own bloody juice."

Jayden laughed, taking the juice. "But I like you looking for excuses to come see me." He teased making my stomach flip. 'This is bad . . . This is really really bad!'

"Whatever." I hiss mockingly.

"Right... Alice the date... Do you have a specific day in mind or can we go tomorrow morning bright and early?" Jayden asked, taking a sip from his juice.

"Tomorrow morning is fine." I nodded, receiving a million-dollar smile that made my stomach flip… Again. "Well, I just wanted to bring you some juice. I am going back inside before I end up melting."

Jayden chuckled and nodded. "Thank you for my juice, M'lady it's divine."

I give a small curtsy and smile before heading back in, and joining the others. Leo winked at me, making me blush. Alaric glared at me irritably, I grin and stick my tongue out at him.

"Nicole back yet?" I ask absentmindedly toying with my hair.

"Nope." Leo shook his head.

I nod. 'I wonder where she headed off to . . . It's been like . . . What?. . . 2 to 3 hours?. . . Right?' I frown ... Something strange is going on, or rather someone strange ...

NICOLE P.O.V

I stare at the lilac colored eyes boring into my soul. "So Sam, what did you want us to do today?"

"Anything your heart desires Nicole, as long as I get to spend this day with you." He sent a killer smile my way making every inch of my body sing.

"A tour!!" I chirped giggling.

"Great Idea!" He exclaimed, grabbing my hand and leading me in the direction of the town.

We passed a few shops, a cinema and stopped in front of a large open field. "It's so beautiful!" I exclaimed excitedly.

"This is my family's farm." Sam said proudly.

"Wow! Really?" I practically jump with excitement.

Sam nods and grabs my hand dragging me through the gate and into the open field, leading me all the way to a small picnic blanket and picnic basket. "TA-DA!!" He exclaimed grinning.

I giggle and clap my hands slightly. "Yay!!"

We sit down and he starts taking out the basket's contents. "BLT sandwiches, Strawberries and iced tea. What do you think?"

I grin and nod vigorously. "YES PLEASE I AM STARVING!!"

"I can only imagine it's 12pm right now." Sam looked at his watch as if to confirm his statement.

"Wow! It's that late already? I hadn't even noticed!" I was shocked. It has been around 5 hours since I left the house.

Sam hands me one of the BLT sandwiches. I take it swiftly thanking him, then munch down on it. "WOW! It is so delicious!"

Sam nodded. "I made it myself ... No, don't say it ... I know I am just awesome." He grinned jokingly.

I giggle and nod. "That you are Sam, that you are."

We continued our picnic joking, laughing and eating together. When we finally finished it was already getting dark. Sam walked me home to make sure I don't get into any trouble, not that I will but I won't complain if I get to spend more time with him. Once we arrive he pulls me into a hug and kisses my forehead gently.

"Goodbye and good night beautiful I hope we get to spend more and more time together so I can eventually make you mine." Sam grinned, a mischievous grin that made me wonder what he really meant by making me his. Looking back now I realized I should have run the second he said that, but I was too blinded and careless to heed every single warning signal my body threw at this attractive guy in front of me...

ALICE P.O.V

I glare at Nicole as she enters the house, Jayden cross-armed on one side, Leo huffing on the other. "Do you know how late it is Nicole!? We were worried sick and naturally we wanted to go look for you, but none of us knew where you were!" Venom dripped from my words, my eyes glowing in rage.

"I am not 2 years old and since when are you allowed to boss me around and give me curfews? I am just a few years younger than you! I have every right to do what I want without having to report to the bitch of Queenstown." Her sarcasm enraged me. 'How dare she do this!? So what if I am being too over protective again, but so fucking what, we may not be able to turn into a brain dead, flesh eating numbskull, but we can still get infected and die.'

"Nicole!" My rage meter finally shattered. "What the fuck is your goddamned problem!?"

"You are!" She ground her teeth together. "You are nothing to me Alice! You were assigned to me because you lost your damned pet! I am the one in authority here! The one who has to keep YOU in line not the other way around! And I swear if you EVER tell me what to do I will make sure you get back to where you belong… In a room surrounded by sparkly, white walls!" I stared at her dumbstruck unable to respond. 'What in the name of all things good.'

I watched Nicole storm upstairs and slam the door loudly behind her, almost shattering the whole building. Leo and Jayden looked at me bewildered. I was angry, angry beyond any comprehension. I slithered out the front door into the cool night air. Jayden soon followed.

"Alice ... You wanna go for a jog?" His voice was gentle.

My rage left me wordless. I nodded, and started running without a second thought. I had to get away from here, FAR AWAY, before I killed someone with my bare hands. Jayden followed behind me making sure he stayed behind me. My legs carried me faster and faster every passing second. 'You have to calm down Alice ... You have to calm down ...' I repeat my mantra over and over in my head absentmindedly increasing my pace more and more, so much so Jayden started having trouble keeping up with me. I saw red, I haven't been this upset in years, if I didn't calm down now who knows what I might end up getting myself into.

I took a deep breath feeling the rage slowly fading from within me, I lowered my speed, gradually, till I finally came to a stop and sat down against a huge tree, completely breathless and shaking. Jayden huffed as he finally caught up with me again, he was hunched over, hands on his knees and gasping for air. "Geez, woman, you're fast... Were you just holding back before?" He asked between puffs of air.

"I was not pissed to the point of murder before." I answered nonchalantly.

"Remind me never to piss you off, M'lady." The joke fell on unamused ears.

I scowl at him. "Shut up Jayden!"

"Wow, if looks could kill ..." Jayden took a seat next to me.

I lean against the tree as much as I can and close my eyes. My breathing levels and not long after I found myself fast asleep...

17 September 2034, Project Z

I don't know how I got back home but when I woke up. I was in my bed. I check my watch. '3am... Shit, I have to get up my date with Jayden is at 4am!' I grab a set of sports clothes and slip them on along with socks and running shoes. I brush my teeth and comb my hair before heading out of our room. I rushed down the stairs to where Jayden was already waiting.

"Hey there beautiful, you ready?" I stare at him. He was wearing a simple T-shirt and baggy sports pants with simple black running shoes, he looked AMAZING. "Don't you know pictures last longer?" He interrupted my drool-session.

"Whatever Jayden, come on time to go ... Wait, where exactly are we going?" I asked mid-way through the doorway.

"The school's athletic field." He said as he slightly pushed me out the door.

"What? Is that even allowed?" I asked wide-eyed.

"Yes, everyone is allowed to use it if they are willing to clean up after themselves." He said as he started to jog in the direction of the school. I joined him seconds later and together we made our way there.

As we arrived he led me through the gate and onto the running track. "I thought we could run over here for a bit and then have a nice breakfast together." Jayden smiled.

"Sure, I'd love that. Thank you!" I chirped my heart basically rolling around in excitement.

We slowly started jogging together talking about everything and nothing all at the same time. My heart was racing, and not because this is our 4th lap but purely because I seemed to have fallen for this tall, attractive guy right next to me. 'Way to go, Alice, falling for a guy you've only known for like 4 days!' I sigh softly, in hopes that Jayden won't hear. This is very, very bad. What am I going to do?

If only I knew then what would happen, I'd have told him then and there exactly how I felt, but alas that is not how this story goes.

"Alice? You ok?" Jayden called from beside me.

"Yes, sorry. Just thinking and trying to remember how I got home yesterday." I furrowed my brow. 'How did I get home yesterday?'

Jayden blushed. "I-uhm-I carried you home and took you to your room where Nicole took care of the rest and helped you into bed. She feels terrible about what happened last night, when we get back maybe you should think about talking to her when she wakes up, she's terrified that you might hate her."

I sigh loudly. "I don't hate her. I was thinking about doing that already... And Jayden?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you for taking me home and being there for me especially last night." I smiled brightly and was rewarded with a small blush and his million-dollar smile.

"What else is a knight to do for his Lady?" Jayden smirked.

"Your Lady?" I frowned. "No way in hell Jayden, I'm only stuck on a date with you because you won yesterday."

Jayden laughed, good thing he has an affinity for jokes or he might have thought I was being a real bitch.

After our final lap, we started walking home, admiring the still starry sky even though it was like 5 am already the night was still in full swing. Jayden spoke about the different constellations you can find and how he wishes to see the aurora lights someday, yet we both knew that was not even remotely possible as no one was allowed to exit Project Z, not even us.

"Someday I hope I am there to see your dreams realized Jayden." I genuinely hoped that he would someday be able to do what he has been dreaming of all these years he'd been stuck here.

Jayden moved closer to me, slightly lowering his voice. "I hope so too, but not as a friend..." Jayden cut his sentence short Asif biting his tongue to prevent himself from saying something he shouldn't.

I was shocked, trying to figure out what he meant. Before I was able to ask about it we were home again cutting almost all contact short. Jayden silently beckoned me into the kitchen where he got some fruit, yoghurt and juice from the fridge.

"Fruit salad?" I ask.

Jayden nodded. "The best fruit salad you'll ever taste."

I smiled as I watched him work in the kitchen. He was quick, methodical and extremely graceful, after less than 10 minutes he placed an amazing looking breakfast in front of me. "Grab your bowl and come outside, we are going to watch the sunrise."

I followed Jayden outside and sat in one of the 2 amazingly comfortable hang chairs outside. "Thank you for the meal Jayden this looks amazing."

"Thank you, Alice, now let's dig in." We sat in a comfortable silence watching the horizon as we ate our fruit salads.

I was happy, for the first time in a very, very long time I felt completely at ease and happy. I don't care how long I've known this male, I'm just glad we've met. He is a great friend and I refuse to let my feelings come between us. Just as I made up my mind the sun rose, like a burning clear sign that what I just decided on was 100% the correct thing.

7 am, 2 hours later

We were joined by a very sleepy Leo. "Morning Leo." I purred to him.

"Hi, Alice mind if I take the whole bench next to you?" Leo yawned again, scratching the back of his head.

"Not at all Leo. Go ahead." I smiled brightly, receiving a 5-star smile from the overly attractive male.

Jayden eyed Leo slightly, something passed between him. 'Wait, what's with these two today? And what's with this sudden thick, competitive atmosphere?' I wondered, but decided to stay out of it.

Leo went to lie down. He was way too tall for the tiny bench, but still managed to fit on it in a comfortable manner. "So what have you two been up to this morning?" Leo mumbled sleepily.

"We went for a jog then came home, ate and sat watching the sunrise." I chirped happily.

"Sounds like fun, maybe tonight we can go out to watch a movie Alice, what do you think?" Jayden glared at Leo only to receive a broad smile.

"Sure thing, what movie do you wanna go watch Leo?"

"That's your choice when we get there." He chuckled.

"As long as it's not one of those chick-films where all they do is kiss then I am a happy lady." I huffed at the thought of it.

Jayden and Leo laughed. "I promise not to subject you to that kind of torture." Leo teazed.

The three of us chatted and laughed until Alaric came to join us sitting on the last open hang chair.

"Morning Alaric." I greeted him.

Leo and Jayden glared at him, clearly, he was still not forgiven or welcome for that matter.

"Hi brat.." He sat staring at nothing in particular.

Something about how he looks today pulled at the strings of my heart, and before I could even comprehend what I am asking him the words had already slipped from my mouth. "Are you ok Alaric?"

I was rewarded with one of the most attractive smiles I have ever had the privilege to see. "Nothing to worry about bratty, Just thinking of all the damned tests I have to start catching up on, on Tuesday, but since I haven't been in a single one of the classes I have no clue what I am going to do or how I am going to pass them."

I looked at him pondering for a second. "Alaric, do you need help? I just recently joined Project Z, but we were taught the same curriculum in the labs. I can tutor you, but it'll mean you need to start showing up for classes starting Monday."

To my and everyone else's surprise Alaric agreed. "Then it is settled starting Monday, you will be my student."

Alaric smiled his amazing smile again. "Thank you Bratty."

What the hell did I just get myself into, both Jayden and Leo were practically dripping with competitiveness making the air thick enough to cut with a knife.

"Alice!" Nicole practically jumps me and hugs me. "I am sorry I said all those horrible things."

I smile and hold her patting her back softly. "It's ok and I'm sorry too."

Nicole hugged me tighter. If I had a younger sister I'd think she'd be exactly like this, or at least that's what I hoped.

"Come on guys, you must all be hungry." I said getting up with Nicole still clinging to me.

"PANCAKES!!" Nicole shouted excitedly.

"Nope, Nicole no Pancakes today, we had them yesterday." I patted her head.

"Bacon and eggs?" Alaric asked gently and I nodded.

"Sure thing."

If I had known this would be our last few days all together like this I could've kept everyone trapped in the house, but as per usual no one knew the dreadful things that were about to unfold...