The Otherside: Alice: Tough Decisions (Book 6)
Chapter 22

Months flew by, but I felt like I was asleep. I felt like I was not fully grasping my situation anymore. Like I knew I had to decide my future, but I couldn’t feel the gravity of my situation. It stayed that way, going through the motions (attacks, training and all), until the last weekend before graduation. It was Saturday afternoon and Ace and I were training as usual by the pond in Otherside.

“Want to talk about it?” Ace said while we were taking a small break sitting looking out at the pond.

“Talk about what?” I was in denial. I hadn’t really talked much to anyone about anything since the day Trey and I talked last.

“Trey? Your big choice you need to make a week from today?”

“I-Uh, I don’t know what to say.”

“Seriously Alice?! I am tired of everyone walking on eggshells around you! Trey was right, and I should have brought this up a long time ago. People back home need you. Aaron gave his birthright to you.”

I snapped at him for snapping at me. I suddenly felt the pressure. “So what?!? Who says it has to be me? They can find someone else to do it! How about you Ace? You are the adopted son! Go take over!”

“I can’t! You can’t just forget about the people suffering back home when you know it is you who is supposed to help them! You can’t run from your fate!” He paused and took a deep breath to calm down. “I need you and you belong with me, not Trey. I am in love with you.” His arms quickly wrapped around my waist and he pulled me into a passionate kiss. I couldn’t describe the feeling, but it wasn’t bad. After what felt like a minute of shock my arms moved up and held his head. A part of me didn’t want it to end, but it did. There was a smile on both of our faces once it was over. “You are so adorable when you blush.” I quickly buried my face into his shoulder. I didn’t know I was blushing. He chuckled. He moved my head up by my chin to look at him. “I promised you I will never leave you. Part of that is because I can’t. I have always wanted to protect you and be there for you.” I was in shock. I didn’t know what to say in all of this. He was raised with me like my brother. I loved him too, but is it really in the same way? Then Trey popped into my mind. What about Trey? He pulled me into a big hug during the silence. “I’m sorry. This is all out of line. I understand if you don’t feel the same.” He said a little sad.

“No, I-I love you too.” I barely made it out. “I-I” I pulled away from him. “I don’t think I can choose between you two right now, I’m sorry.” I opened a portal and left him there.

As soon as I exit the portal into my room, Trey was there.

“Are you going to fight or not?” he asked sternly.

“Were you being a peeping Tom?”

He sighed. “Just answer the question so I can tell Nikki.”

“I don’t know.”

He attempted to push me into the wall, but I stopped him with a wave of my arm knocking his arms away from me. He was a little shocked.

“Don’t try to be forceful with me!”

“You need to make up your mind!”

“I will if you answer a couple questions for me.” He sighed and nodded his head. “Do you really love me?”

“Yes, but you are too good for me.”

“Why do you think I am too good for you?”

“I will corrupt your innocence. Good girls should end up with good guys.”

“That is not how life works, besides there is no clear line of good and evil. Are you just saying these things and showing love towards me so I will fight in the war?”

“It’s not like that at all!” he yelled.

“Then why don’t you just love me and stay!?” I yelled back.

“That is way more that a couple questions, but you should already know the answer to that question by now. Put this aside and fight with me.”

I sighed. “Fine, I will fight.”

I felt defeated as he silently nodded and left the room. I sat down on my bed and let it all sink in. After about 15 minutes there was a light knock on my door. I opened it to see Ace.

“Alice, I’m sorry. I was too forward, but I can’t hide...”

“No.” I said cutting him off. “Who am I kidding trying to go after Trey?” I shook my head. I stepped back from the door and let him in. “I want to give us a shot. Take me on a date. Just the two of us.”

“Are you sure that is what you really want? I want you to be honest with me.”

I paused for a moment staring into his sincere and soft eyes. I could tell he really cared and was concerned about me. “Yes, I really want to see if this can work between us.”

We both smiled, but I still felt pain in my heart.

“I will make plans for tomorrow night.” He said excited.

“Okay, I will be ready around 5. Sound good?”

“Perfect. See you later.” he said while leaving my room.

Now part of me was asking myself “What have I done?” but the other part knew I had to move on from Trey to get rid of the pain. This was the only way I could think of going about it.

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