What do you do when everyone is staring at you?

What do you do when everyone is whispering about you behind your backs or even in your face?

You go along with it. The truth is that there is nothing you can do to change someones mind once they've made it up.

And so Alice learnt, albeit the hard way; when coldness is all you receive, coldness is all you expect.

But, coming here, at the Armeshire Manor, nothing could prepare her for the coldness with which Nico regarded her. Almost as if she was a stranger, nothing but the ghost of a past he so desperately wanted to forget.

She didn't even know why she came here in the first place.

To make amends? She laughed at herself, that was impossible now.

Maybe it was just for a chance to meet Leah and Nico and explain to them, all of the guilt that had been clawing at her for months, threatening to eat her alive. And just when she couldn't handle it any longer an invitation to the Armeshire Manor appeared in her mail box.

Inviting her to their revelries, and also mentioning the names of all the other guests who had been invited.

It couldn't have been a coincidence and yet Alice knew that she was here for a reason and she would not leave without fulfilling it.

Alice shook away her thoughts, as she mingled with the other guests at the revelry and faked smiles and laughter. She was just about to give up and return back to her room when Leah walked up to her.

She looked dazzling, as always. And almost automatically, Alice shrunk back - trying to make herself smaller and less noticeable. But she stopped herself, straightened her back and met Leah's eyes.

"Hey Leah. What do you want?"

"You know why I'm here Alice. You wanted to talk. So let's talk."

"Maybe we can go somewhere a little more private? I don't think you'll like what I have to say."

After she said that, Alice could see anger bubbling in Leah's eyes.

"I know exactly what you want to say. I know that you did it Alice. So just admit it."

"NO! I won't. And do you want to know why? Because I didn't do anything wrong. Its not my fault that you and your brother can't trust anyone but themselves. Not even me. The only person who was there with you even after everything. I should have left you all. Just like everyone else did."

And..........that was it. Leah exploded.

"Don't you ever come near Nico ever again.", she seethed. Throwing the glass of punch she was holding, all over Alice, Leah walked away, leaving everyone staring right at Alice and her soiled dress.

Glaring at everyone else, she held back her tears and went the other way. Nothing was ever going to be the same.