"Then let's get married, wouldn't that be great? Your parents would be happy instead of shocked," Dorian Howards said.
Alice Conley rolled her eyes, "Stop changing the subject, you know I can't marry you."
"Why not?" he asked in return.
Alice Conley pressed her lips together and only after a while did she say, "Because I don't love you."
The smile on his lips froze, his dark eyes steadily gazing at her, and after a long moment, he suddenly smiled again, flicking her forehead lightly with his fingers, "You little liar, you almost had me there."
"I wasn't lying to you, I really..."
"Alice!" he abruptly interrupted her, a smile still on his lips but his eyes were solemn, "Whatever you are going to say next, whether true or false, it's best you don't say it."
Alice Conley's heart skipped a beat, this version of Dorian Howards felt unfamiliar to her, even a bit frightening.
