We walk side by side with linked hands through Central Park. Derek claimed that we had to walk off all the delicious food we just ate. I'm guessing it's more like he wanted to spend time outside on a romantic stroll through a beautiful park at night. Which I find adorable.

Looking up at the black sky dotted with little white stars, I begin to remember the nights Hunter and I spent stargazing.

"Is everything alright?"

I focus on Derek and smile. "Yeah, it's perfect."

He returns the smile as he leads me over to a large willow tree, its branches fawning over us, hiding us from view.

He then sits down in the grass and tugs on my arm, pulling me down after him.

"Derek?"

"Hmm."

"Do you think we'll win? Do you think we'll be able to destroy the cure?"

He looks at me, his eyes softening. "You have to believe that we will Alison, and then we will."

I release the breath that I was holding and rest my head on his shoulder. "I just want to make this  a better place for everyone."

"I know." He begins to stroke my hair.

I look through the branches of the tree glimpsing a figure standing across the path. My body goes rigid. I knew someone was watching us.

"What's wrong?" Derek's eyebrows are creased in concern.

"Wait here." Is all I tell him, standing up.

"What? Where are you going?"

"Just stay here." I step out of the shadows of the trees and march up to Brandon fuming. "What do you want now?"

"Nothing. Can a guy just hang out in the park?"

I place my hands on my hips. "Not when the guy is spying on other people."

He gives me a smug smile. "I told you he had strong feelings for you."

"Get lost," I spit, pivoting on my heels my back to him.

"Actually, I have something to tell you."

"I don't want to hear it."

"You'll want to hear this. I can promise you that."

I turn to face him. "Spit it out then."

"Okay." He smiles. "President White is having a masquerade ball and guess who's invited?" He says dramatically.  "All the autocrats of the world. It's a perfect time to show all the other countries what's really happening in America, don't you think?"

"When is this ball?"

"In two months."

I inhale deeply, my heart thudding widely. "I guess he'll be going down then."

Brandon grins. "You bet."

"Who was that guy?" Derek asks when I return to him.

Tell him the truth Alice, he deserves to know it, and you know you can trust him.

"Brandon, he wants the revolution to rise once again."

"How?"

I meet his eyes. "We're going to crash your father's masquerade ball and expose him to the rest of the world."

"That won't work."

I frown. "Why not?"

"The security is going to be extremely high. You won't be able to make it past the gate."

"We'll figure it out with your help." I smile.

He sighs before pinning me up against the trunk of the tree. "I can try."

"Promise me that you'll try your hardest." I give him the puppy eyes.

"I'll try my hardest."

"You didn't promise."

He casts his eyes down on the ground. "Promises don't always come true; I don't want to crush your hope."

"If anyone knows that promises don't always come true it's me." My eyes begin to tear, remembering all the promises made between Hunter and me. "I need you to promise to reinsure me."

He wipes away my tears with his thumb. "Then I promise you that I'll try my hardest."

I smile weakly. "Thanks."

He takes a step closer, placing his hands on the tree as he leans in. "You're very welcome." His lips linger over mine. Waiting.

"Do it," I whisper.

His eyes lock on mine full of hunger.

"Do it," I repeat, closing my eyes.

I can feel his breath, but that's all. Opening my eyes, I dart under his arm.

"What are you doing?" He turns around to face me.

I go and pin him up against the tree, changing our roles.

"Oh are you bad," he grins.

"At least I'm not a tease," I smirk right before kissing him with the same hunger I saw in his eyes.

...

I awake from the door creaking open.

"Good morning," Derek says, walking up to my bed and pulling the blankets away. "Up, up, up, up..."

"Hey," I cry, attempting to get a hold of my blanket, but it's useless--- he won't give it back.

"Get out of bed sunshine and smell that coffee brewing."

I groan. "I'm up, can't you see?"

"I can, but you're still in bed."

"Give me a hand then."

He places his hand out and I take hold of it, tugging at it. He falls on top of me. Chest pressed against mine, heart racing.

"Have I ever mentioned before that you are a bad, bad girl?"

"You might have just last night," I admit, pushing his soft sandy brown locks away from his eyes.

He smiles before rolling off of me. "Get out of bed and dressed," he says, standing up and leaving the room.

That guy is going to be the death of me someday. Like a good girl, I climb out of bed and go to get dressed.

...

I find Skyler in the cafeteria at the FFM200.

"Iced coffee," she tells the machine.

"Hey." I come to a stop beside her.

She takes her iced coffee into her hands and then turns to face me. "Hi."

Chewing on my lip nervously, I begin. "This may sound weird, but I was wondering if you'd like to come over to my uncle's place tonight? He's not around and I'm having a party."

"Oh." Her hazel eyes widen as she sucks on her straw. "I'm not really a fan of parties."

"This one is going to be different than the ones you've been to, I can promise you that."

"Okay, fine.  I'll be there."

That was simpler than I thought.

"Great," I smile, handing her the paper I scrolled the address onto. "It's called for seven-thirty, which should give everyone plenty of time to get back here before curfew. See you then."

I walk off to go find the next person on my list, Robin.

...

Robin is with Joseph in the woodshop classroom.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing?"

They both glance up from the birdhouse they're twiddling around with.

"We're trying to finish this before class."

"Oh." I lean forward onto the table they're working at.

"Yeah Alice, what would you like?" Joseph watches me amused.

"Uh." I scratch behind my ear nervously.

Come on Alice, just invite them already. If Skyler said yes so quickly, so would they.

"I thought you guys might want to come over tonight to my uncle's place? He's not around and I'm having a party."

They both share a look. "Sure, we'd love to come."

I smile relieved, handing them another paper with the address scrolled on it. "Great see you at seven-thirty."

Three down, two more to go.

...

Why am I not surprised to crash into Demi in the bathrooms. This time she's sitting on the lid of one of the toilets in the bathroom stalls.

"Hey," I announce myself.

She looks up startled. "Oh, um, hi." She slips the coin she was playing with into her jeans pocket.

"Can I ask you something?" I lean against the bathroom stall's door.

"Yeah, ask away."

So I do. "Where'd you get that coin from?"

She pulls it out of her pocket and begins to examine it. "My grandfather gave it to me."

"What happened to him?"

Her eyes glisten with tears. "Nothing, I just miss him. He's the one who took care of me."

"What happened to your parents?" Once again I feel guilty asking, but I need to get answers in order to figure her out. And answers aren't told until you ask.

"Never knew my father and my mom gave me over to my grandfather when I was three. She said it was too difficult for her to 'babysit' me."

I look at her with pity. Poor girl.

She looks away, wiping her tears. "So what did you want?"

Oh, I almost forgot. "Um, I was wondering if you'd like to come over to my uncle's place tonight? He's not around and I'm having a party." This lie seems to get easier every time I repeat it.

Her eyes widen. "You're inviting me?"

"Yeah, I'd really like it if you'd come."

She smiles brightly. "Then I'd love to."

"Amazing. I'll see you tonight at seven-thirty."

I slip her the paper with the address before leaving the bathrooms more relaxed.

...

"Hey." I take a seat beside Noah.

"Hullo," he mumbles, swallowing the food in his mouth.

I begin to search the cafeteria for Jeremy, but he's nowhere to be found.

Noah follows my gaze. "Who are you looking for?"

"Jeremy, have you seen him?"

He shakes his head. "No, sorry."

"It's okay, thanks." I give him a forced smile, taking a bite out of my sandwich.

Jeremy is nowhere to be found. This can't be good.

"Are you okay?"

I glance up to see Derek standing before me, his large hands stuffed in his jean's pockets.

" Have you seen Jeremy," I ask.

"No, but I might have a clue as to where he is." He takes hold of my hands and helps me to my feet.

I can sense that something is off. "What's wrong?"

"My father's here and he requested to see you."

My blood turns cold. "Take me to him."

He gives my hand a small squeeze before bringing me to his father. Oh, am I stuck in the mud if this has to do with Jeremy.