If the Crown Fits (Completed)

Chapter Seven

Alice's POV:

The tears falling down my cheeks burn and I already know how red my nose will be. As soon as I arrive in my room, I start packing up my minimal amount of things. After about five minutes, I am ready to go.
I open the door and find myself nose to nose with the one person I am trying to avoid.
"Alice," Jackson whispers. "I'm sorry." He lightly pushes me back in the room and then locks the door and leans against it. No escape now.
"We need to talk," he says. I shake my head and my anger that had started to recede comes back full force.
"Let me go home," I say firmly.
"This is your home," he says standing his ground. "And we both know that I'm right. You belong here."
"I'm not the princess. I never was and I never will be. I'm going home," I demand. He shakes his head and drives a hand through his hair.
"What kind of person would I be to let you go back to that place? What do they even do to you?" he asks. I shake my head as tears prick my eyes. No one can ever know.
"Alice. Please. Tell me," he begs. I take a deep breath.
"They beat me. Both of them. Some days are worse than others," I finally say quietly.
He takes a ragged breath and I rub my arm nervously.
"How long?" he asks shakily.
"Four years," I whisper.
"Why am I telling you this? I can't tell you this you don't care about me," I say aloud to no one in particular. He shakes his head and strides over to me. He gently caresses my cheek and looks me in the eyes with a soft smile.
"Because you love me and it doesn't matter if you are Alice or Julia I am totally, utterly in love with you," he says before crashing his lips onto mine. And then everything comes back.
Four years old, Mom and Dad take me in my first parade in the kingdom as Princess Julia Kerrington.
Eight years old, I am introduced to Prince Jackson Colt of  Parrington and we immediately become best friends for life on a pact.
Twelve years old, Jackson and I run through the palace halls as Harry chases after us because we pranked him.
Fourteen years old, my parents are brutally murdered and I leave the love of my life. And then that night.
I walk down the streets in the night cold and scared. I see a man from my village and ask for help. He takes me to his cottage for food and his wife offers me a place to stay.
Her daughter doesn't like me very much and lies about me. She says I made her feel like a lower class and that I didn't know what it felt like. I said I wish I was one and wanted to forget. Her mother got an idea and gave me a drink to "let me start over". I woke up the next morning being told my mother had died in an accident with me but I had survived and was now staying with my Aunt Lenora and her husband, but was told he later that he died the day of my accident mysteriously. I later that night, howver,  found Lenora with a poison vial as she placed it in his hand and then she gave me another memory potion. When I awoke, my name was Alice Henderson and I was an orphan.
I grip my head in pain as it all comes rushing back in an instant. I fall on the floor and Jackson is immediately by my side asking what's wrong. After the pain goes away, my eyes meet Jackson's.
"J, I remember."
***
"What made Harry chase us when we were twelve?" Jackson asks. I roll my eyes. He has been asking me questions for the past half hour.
"We snuck into his room and dumped egg yolks onto his face," I say with a smirk. Jackson laughs and I smile. He holds my hand with a tight grip, to afraid to let go.
"Jackson, I'm confused," I say quietly.
"About what?" he asks stroking my hand with his thumb.
"I have been Julia most of my life, but Alice is also me and I really don't know who I am anymore."
"Listen to me," he says looking me straight in the eyes. "You are you and that is all that matters. And in this world, you get to choose who you are and whether you are Julia or Alice I will always love you."
"What about ruling the kingdom?" I ask worriedly.
"It's yours no matter who you are because you are the true heir. A name change doesn't make a difference."
I nod and brush Jackson's hair back into place.
"So what happens now?" I ask. He sighs.
"Now we fix everything."
***
The next morning, I wake up to see Jackson is no longer beside me from where we fell asleep talking last night. I hear yelling from the square and immediately bolt down as fast as I can.
On the way down, I bump into Harry. I inwardly groan because I know he is going to talk.
"So, I heard that Julia has returned?" Harry asks.
"I need by, warthead," I say with a smirk, answering his question. His eyes darken.
"I see," says Harry. "Father will not be very happy about this arrangement, but it is what it is. Nothing we could do now...unless you died."
He walks away with a grin on his fave and I involuntarily shiver before going on my way.
Once I reach the square, I expected many things. Uncle Jerry giving a speech, or someone being executed, or even Jackson announcing my return to the kingdom.
What I did not expect, however, was to see Lenora and her daughter tied to a post while Jackson counted off each lick they received from the whip.
***
DUN DUN DUN!! So I know you probably predicted the whole Julia thing because that was pretty obvious and cliché but what do you think about everything about Lenora? Did you see her as a murderer? Did you see Jackson as someone capable of hurting others. And let's not forget dear sweet Harry who loves to be a creeper that ruins everything and his sorry excuse of a father. Do you think they will do whatever it takes to keep the throne, even if it means killing Julia/Alice? And speaking of, how do you think she will respond to this whole opening up of memories. A lot has returned but will she also lose some in the process? Will her two different personalities overwhelm her? Can she rule the kingdom? And lastly, how about you #Jalice shippers out there (yes, I made a ship name for them. deal with it.)? How are you feeling? So I will be doing the last three chapters over the next three days and then the epilogue will be done either Saturday or Sunday. I promise to stick to my promise. So keep your theories going because there is more drama to come. Please add, comment, vote, and read my story.
Lots of love for ya!
XOXO,
~SB~