"I don't think this is going to work. You know I'm self-conscious about my arms..."

"Come on Sadie, I think it will look cute! Plus, you can't stay bundled up all the time. Show a little skin"

"But it's basically like what you are wearing. It would be untasteful for one lady to wear the same as another."

"Please Sadie," The blonde pleaded.

"Fine." I sighed. Taking the red dress and white pinafore, I dressed. I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. The red dress had short sleeves, and the pinafore buttoned on the middle. It didn't cover the chest like Alice's, but I kinda liked it better. The dress hit my knees and I stood there in my bare feet. She then handed me white and red striped socks. It was a relief, since the marks on my legs were worse than my arms. Somehow, they didn't fade as well. She also gave me an old pair of tan shoes that had been someone's at one point in time.

"See, you look lovely." Alice smiled. "Now all we need to get you is a date." I hid my red face as Alice laughed. We were good, old friends, so she knew how to embarrass me.

"S-stop saying such nonsensical things! I wish my coat didn't get ripped," I sighed, sitting down at the table in the room. I kept staring at the scars on my arms. Alice rested a hand on my arm, and gave me a reasuring smile.

"I know it's hard, but I believe you can get over it. They are barely noticeable anyways. I wouldn't have known unless you told me." I nodded at Alice, then the door popped open. Gray had walked in, carrying a tray of steaming cups.

"Oh Gray, how nice of you to have brought us hot chocolate," I cheered. Gray couldn't cook for the life of him, but he did make a delicious cup of hot chocolate. His face turned a little bit red, it was kinda warm in here. He set down our cups and my eyes sparkled. I needed something to take my mind of my bare arms, so I inhaled the heavenly aroma before taking a sip. "Delicious as always."

"Oh, Alice before I forget, Nightmare wanted to see you." Gray said to the blonde. She nodded, getting up and leaving, taking her cup with her. It was a nice silence between the two of us. I always liked Gray. He was pretty nice from the get-go. So mature. I liked his hair and tattoo too. He was definitely a better gentleman than Blood, or anyone else here for that matter. Handsome too.

Opening my eyes from my thoughts, I looked over to see the said man taking a seat. He looked worse for wear.

"Everything alright?" I asked, setting down the half drunk cup. He smiled slightly and nodded.

"Yeah, it's fine." I allowed my eyes to narrow, taking in his solemn face. He seemed to be drifting off into thought as he rolled his pack of cigarettes in his hands.

"I'm sorry for my harsh tone, but I do believe you are lying. I may not be that observant, but I see it in your face. What's wrong?" He eyed me for a moment before sighing.

"You know what I used to do before I started working for Nightmare right?" Tilting my head to the side, I tried to remember.

"Ahhh... an assassin?" He nodded and I gave a mental sigh of relief. "Wait, how long have you been working for Nightmare?" I asked.

"The sense of years here in Wonderland go by, so I'm not sure." He replied. I tapped my finger on my chin, trying to picture a younger looking Gray. I thought he looked pretty young already, but apparently he was like 28 or something. (Yeah like that's old...) "What is it?" He asked me when he saw my look.

"Well, I was just trying to picture how you looked before you worked for Nightmare." He gave me this weird look.

"I was irresponsible and unruly." He stated closing his eyes. Blinking, something over came me and I reached over to him and ruffled up his hair. His eyes shot open and he looked at me wildly.

"I'm sorry! But I was trying to see if the image I had in my head was accurate." I spoke my thoughts out loud, viewing my handy work. I smiled at him. "I like your hair like that, but I guess, yeah, it doesn't quite suit you now. Forgive me, I'll fix it." I started to pat down the messy strands back to their place. Gray must be really warm cause his face was really red. Or he's embarrassed. I guess I would be too if someone messed up my hair. "How do you-? I can't get this strand down." I mumbled.

"You have a very nice dress." I heard him say. I blinked at him in confusion. For once, I was glad that he was staring straight into my chest, rather than my arms.

"Oh, Alice got me it. I couldn't say no to her, although... I believe its too much skin showing." He looked away just as I licked my hand and patted down that annoying piece.

"I think you look very nice in it."

"Ah, thanks." Oh did I hate compliments. I really don't deserve them. I finally got his hair back to normal. Before I could draw my hand back, he grabbed me by the wrist. "Gray?" I felt my face turn a blaze at the contact. He wasn't looking at my arms like I thought he was going too. Only Alice knew of my past, I would like to keep it that way. Instead, he was gazing at my face. His golden eyes smoldered, keeping me frozen in my spot. I closed my eyes for just a moment and there were a sudden heat on my face. Before anything else could happen, the sound of the door knob turning caught our attention. Gray let my wrist go and I returned to my seat, tucking my chin in to keep anyone from seeing my blush. Alice entered and told Gray that Nightmare had crawled in his bed to escape the cold. He sighed and got up.

"I'll better get him back to work. Night." That's when I realized that it was night time.

"Huh, when did that happen?" Alice allowed me to share her room in Clover Tower.

"I know you're worried about Julius, I am too. But you got him to take a rest before you came here so he should be fine." She assured me. I was so tired that I didn't even bother changing.

"I'm so exhausted..." I didn't say much more as I face planted on the bed and fell instantly asleep. It was a strangle, dreamless sleep. It was weird how my dreams while in Wonderland all took place in an empty space or a field of flowers.

Something spoke. Then someone called my name. Then they screamed it.

"SADIE!" My eyes burst open to find my red hair flying up in my face. My stomach started to tumble around in my abdomen and I couldn't keep my mind straight. I caught a glimpse of blonde wisps. I heard Alice's voice as she called my name again. My brain went on overload and eventually shut down.

There was the constant pounding in my head. Drums echoing, that ringing in the ear the makes you cringe.

Then, came a stabbing pain in my side. There was noise, but my brain didn't register it. It happened again and again till the words were finally deciphered.

"HEY! Lady! Wake up."


So this has been revised to keep up with the revisions of Follow Me Down