Alicia was lost in thought, oblivious to Jake's calls. He had to walk up to her and gently tap her shoulder to snap her out of her trance. She looked up at him, her eyes locking onto his. "I've been calling your name for a while now, but it seems like something's weighing heavily on your mind, Alicia," he said, his voice laced with concern.
"Is something wrong?" he asked her, his eyes filled with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"I'm fine, Jake. No need to worry," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "I just remembered something, that's all. Let's keep moving." Alicia led the way, her eyes fixed ahead. Jake's gaze lingered on her, his expression skeptical. He knew something was bothering her, but he decided to drop it, sensing she wasn't ready to open up. With a nod, he fell into step behind her, his eyes never leaving her back.
"As they turned left, the passage revealed a majestic staircase that ascended to the top. Alicia climbed it gracefully, her footsteps quiet on the stone steps.
At the top, a massive, old door stood before her, its surface worn and dusty. She turned to Jake, her eyes serious. "This door leads to my room. You can pass through it and return home," she said, her voice firm but hinting at a hidden truth.
Jake nodded, his eyes locked on hers. Then, with a deep breath, Alicia pushed the door open and stepped inside, Jake following closely behind her. As she entered her room, a wave of nostalgia washed over her. She made her way to her bed, surrounded by familiar comforts, and sat down, breathing in the sweet scent of home. Her bunny, Snowflake, hopped onto her lap, nuzzling her gently.
Alicia's eyes closed, and a soft smile spread across her face as she stroked Snowflake's soft fur, feeling a sense of peace and security wash over her.
Snowflake hopped from Alicia's hand to Jake's, her little paws barely touching the ground.
"It seems Snowflake missed us a lot,"Jake said, his voice filled with wonder and affection. He gently stroked her soft fur, and Snowflake nuzzled his hand, her big brown eyes shining with happiness.
Alicia smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners, 'She's always been a social butterfly... or should I say, social bunny!' Jake chuckled, and the three of them shared a warm moment of connection, the tension in the room melting away.
Alicia's eyes widened in alarm as the knock on her door sent her heart racing. She swiftly pushed Jake, still cradling Snowflake, under her bed.
"Don't make a noise, please," she whispered urgently, "and don't let Snowflake escape!" Jake nodded softly, his eyes locked on hers. With a deep breath, Alicia approached the door, her hands smoothing out her rumpled clothes.
She grabbed a nearby cloth and quickly wiped the dust from her face, her eyes darting around the room to ensure everything was in order. With a swift motion, she tossed the cloth aside and opened the door, her expression composed and calm, hiding the turmoil within.
Alicia's eyes widened in surprise as her mom and sister Selina walked into her room, their presence utterly unexpected. Her mind raced with anxiety, 'What is Selina doing here at the worst possible time?' she thought, her eyes darting to Jake, who was still hiding under her bed with Snowflake. She hadn't told her family about Jake's presence, and the last thing she needed was for Selina to discover him.
Alicia's heart raced as she tried to come up with a plan to keep Jake hidden, her eyes fixed on her sister, who was scanning the room with a curious gaze.
"Alicia," her mom called out, her voice firm but gentle. Alicia approached her, her heart racing with anticipation.
"Yes, Mom?" she replied, her eyes fixed on her mother's serious expression. The queen mother opened her mouth to speak, but before she could utter a word, Selina's sudden sneeze interrupted them.
"Tchoo! Ah, sorry Mom," Selina apologized, her eyes watering and her nose running. "I think there's a bunny here, and I'm terribly allergic to them," she sniffled, sneezing twice more.
The queen mother's expression turned concerned, her eyes darting between her two daughters. "Alicia, is there a bunny in your room?" she asked, her voice firm but worried.
"No, Mom, there's no bunny here," Alicia said, her voice steady, but her eyes fixed on a point above her mom's head, avoiding any glance at the bed where Jake was hiding.
"It's just one of my clothes made from bunny fur, that's why Selina is reacting like this," she continued, trying to sound convincing, but her heart racing with anxiety. Selina, still sneezing uncontrollably, took a step closer to Alicia, her nose twitching as she sniffed her clothes.
The sneezes grew louder and more frequent, "Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ah-CHOO!" until Selina stumbled backward, her eyes wide with distress. "I... I need to get out of here!" she gasped, rushing out of the room, her sneezes fading into the distance. Alicia let out a sigh of relief, her eyes darting to the bed, where Jake was still hiding, his eyes fixed on hers, a silent understanding between them.
Her mom's eyes followed Selina as she hastily exited the room, a hint of irritation flickering across her face. Then, her gaze shifted to Alicia, her eyes sharpening as she noticed her daughter's gaze drifting elsewhere.
"What are you looking at, Alicia?" she asked, her tone tinged with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.
Alicia's eyes darted back to her mom's face, her gaze snapping into focus as she tried to cover her momentary lapse.
"Mum, you came here to tell me something, so what's the important information you wanted to share?" she asked, her voice bright and innocent, but her heart racing with the hope that her mom hadn't noticed her glance towards the bed, where Jake was still hiding.
"Yes, I came with important news," her mom replied, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Next week, we have a grand royal ball where your father will introduce you to the kingdom as our beloved princess, alongside other distinguished guests." She paused, her gaze serious.
"So, I want you to look your absolute best that day. I'll make all the necessary arrangements, and I expect no mischief, understood?" Alicia nodded, her mind racing with thoughts, but before she could respond, her mom added, "I need to check on your sister, Selina. Anything you want to say will have to wait until later." With that, she turned and exited the room, leaving Alicia feeling both relieved and anxious about the upcoming ball.