I own nothing to do with AHS

Falling slowly

Looking out the window surrounded by boxes and plastic covered furniture Alice viewed the suburban neighborhood with deep disdain.

All the perfectly manicured lawns, bordering identical pastel little houses, that lined up within feet of each other, was a far cry from the farm she grew up in on outskirts of town.

She already missed the fields that went on forever, and the peaceful quiet that fell over the valley where she rode her horses.

Still in denial of the cards she had been dealt, she closed her eyes imaging herself there breathing in the wildflowers as she laid in the tall grass bathed in sunlight.

Jumping as the bedroom door opened, her husband of one week turned the corner snapping her back into reality to inspect her attire.

Obeying his wishes, she stood in the proper light blue dress with a hint of lace on the collar, that buttoned to her tiny cinched waist then flowed outward right below her knees.

Walking over to him carefully trying to get used to the matching blue heels he had bought for her, she smiled wearily hoping he was pleased.

Looking her over skeptically in his stiff grey suit, he sighed with a hint of displeasure hovering in his voice.

"The gloves, you forgot the gloves Alice, you're not sloppin' hogs anymore, you need to fit in here, you need to look the part."

Nodding she slipped on her little white gloves that she thought were ridiculous while turning to view herself in the mirror.

She looked like a model in a Sears catalog, as if she should be standing next to a stove for sale, smiling with a little bubble over her head describing how efficient and stylish it was.

Alice was young and beautiful, which was the reason why the owner of the bank made the deal to marry her, she would fit in perfectly given the right training on how proper housewives spoke, kept house, and cooked.

As long as she learned her place, things would work out fine. Of course this was not a worry for him, he was used to breaking things, bending them to his will.

Yes, he thought to himself, this free spirit will fun to wrangle into submission, he was quite pleased with the trade, and himself for that matter.

Having no choice in the matter, she did as she was told, but in her mind she desperately missed her little piece of heaven, the only place she had ever felt safe, her beautiful farm and all that came with it.

"Charles, is it really necessary that I go to this Tupperware party?"

Trying to contain his temper, he quietly placed his hat on his head, and picked up his suitcase for the convention he was attending in Georgia for the next week.

"Alice, I'm not going to explain this again. You are my wife now, which means you need to fit in here, you will do anything and everything it takes for these women to accept you as one of their own. I have a reputation to uphold in this community, I expect when I return next week that you'll have made a good impression, I don't think I need to explain what will happen if I'm left disappointed in you."

Still feeling the beating from the last time she talked out of turn, Alice silently shook her head.

She had been at the party going on two hours, listening to brutal gossip spun in eloquent sweet manipulative ways, by woman that looked just like her, as she nursed a cup of punch that was spiked with something very strong.

These women may have appeared like educated innocent ladies from good homes, but Alice was no fool, they were just vultures in fancy dresses with red lipstick smiles that would think nothing of picking your bones clean if you didn't conform to their ways.

As time went on something else seemed very strange to her as she sat with her legs crossed at the ankles, and her hands folded across her lap. as she was told.

Every so often a woman would emerge from the back bedroom appearing flushed and out of sorts, as a hoard of ladies gathered around her giggling with hushed whispers behind her.

Feeling her legs beginning to grow numb, and tired of being left out of all the little conversations brewing around the house, curiosity got the better of her.

Alice knew what she was about to do would most likely border on social suicide, but she needed to know what the big secret was.

Waiting till the everyone was seated for lunch, she quietly making her way down the darkened hallway, past family photo's as she followed the flicker of candlelight and soft music till she reached the back bedroom.

Looking back to make sure no one had followed her, she edged open the slightly ajar door, almost wishing now that she had just stayed put.

It was difficult to make him out at first in the shadows as he sat in the corner of the room, especially since he had his head in his hands covering his face.

Feeling as if she were intruding on something private, she went to back out of the room only to knock over a frame that was sitting on a small table against the wall near the door.

Gasping she looked up locking eyes with a very handsome boy who was just as surprised to see her.

"Oh, hey darlin' don't leave, I was just taken off guard is all, I was told Mary Lou would be the last."

Confused, Alice gazed down at the wrinkled bedspread and array of candles that were burnt down to the bottom of their wicks, and began to back away mistaking the wall for the doorway.

Smacking her head as she turned quickly to leave Jimmy gingerly braced his hand upon her hip.

It was quite obvious that Alice lacked the social graces of a proper lady, it was both refreshing and amusing to Jimmy who hated the snobby attitude that usually came with these jobs.

"Sweetheart there's nothing to be nervous about, I promise I'll be gentle."

Closing her eyes she couldn't help but be taken in by the soft sweetness of his voice that was a far cry from any man she had ever known.

Turning around slowly she faced him even more now completely perplexed about what he was doing in this room.

Jimmy was smiling wide at her now, it was a smile that would win over anyone with a pulse, and it definitely reached some place deep within Alice, somewhere she'd swear she'd never know pleasure from like other women.

He was strikingly handsome with his dimples and happy grin, but she could tell by one gaze into the depth of his wide dark eyes, that a well of pain was hidden just below the surface, it was easily recognizable, an exquisitely well crafted facade much like her own.

A mask crafted out of necessity, of survival.

Still he thought his charm was so well developed, that soon he'd be having her writhing and moaning like the rest of them in no time.

"That's it, you see now, I'm only here to pleasure you, why don't you just lay on the bed and relax."

That's when she noticed them, his hands, deformed, webbed, long and thick hanging down by his thighs.

It was then that the pieces to the puzzle suddenly fit together, the string of flushed girls parading from the room, the whispered laughs as they scurried away to talk in private.

Her face blushed the most beautiful hue of pink as she shook her head shyly giving him a bashful small smile so as not to insult him.

Any other girl who was unaware of the planned festivities would've probably ran screaming down the street, but Alice was different, her empathy for others held no bounds, her first thoughts were always of other's and their feelings, and Jimmy was no exception.

"I'm afraid I wasn't 'in' on … what was, umm planned today. I just kind of wandered back here, I'm not … this isn't… "

His face dropped immediately realizing that she had no idea why he was there, or who he was.

"You're not from around here, are ya Miss."

Quickly backing away from her, he hid his hands behind his back, mortified by what she must've thought of him.

Alice had just turned eighteen, and she looked it, she was nothing like the other woman with her tan skin and the cute pepper of freckles that crossed lightly over her cheeks and nose.

Her auburn hair was pinned up tight like the others, and although she looked like the gaggle of women outside, it was clear she was incredibly uncomfortable, as if she were wearing a costume.

"No, just moved here actually, as I'm sure you knew right away."

Knowing she could never pull this off, she was afraid he had figured her out, that she was just a country girl, a social misfit, who definitely didn't belong.

Instantly she saw shame covering his face as he backed away into the shadows where she first found him.

She felt horrible and utterly responsible as she tentatively walked towards him to sit on the edge of the bed.

Hunched over on the chair across from her, he hid his hands as best as he could crossing his arms over his chest, shoving them inside the cushions.

Instead of judging him, she felt for him, realizing that those hypocrite sheep by the pool were using him.

Taking a deep breath she held out her hand and softly spoke.

"My name is Alice, I hope I didn't insult you, I just wasn't aware of what was happening, and I guess you could say I'm a little too shy … for… well, you know, but it's very nice to meet you."

Raising his dark, sad, hopeless eyes up towards her, he couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Never in his life had any girl treated him like a normal man, especially knowing what he was there for, he just didn't understand.

Laughing slightly she moved her outstretched hand closer. "Am I wrong, is it not polite to shake hands when introducing yourself? I was raised on a farm, but I do know a bit about manners."

Hesitating briefly wondering if this was a trick, he slowly placed his misshapen hand into her dainty tiny white glove.

"M-My name is Jimmy, it's nice to meet you too… Alice."

She reminded him of a stray dog that had been kicked one too many times, and would do anything to avoid the pain of rejection and abuse, but along with that she saw a good person in a bad situation, a desperate situation, one where he had no choice but to do things to survive that were degrading, and eventually harmful to their soul.

She knew this because she had done the same.

"Listen, I know we just met, but I was pretty much forced into coming here today, I'm afraid these women don't like me very much, and I'd really like to leave. Would you mind getting me out of here? I'm supposed to get a ride with my neighbor, but if I have to stay here any longer I swear I'm going to drown myself in one of those disgusting jello molds."

Once again that toothy warm grin rose along his sweet face as he nodded. "Sure, if you don't mind riding on a motorcycle, I can get us out of here toot sweet."

Sneaking out the back door they ran hand in hand to his bike taking off into the impending dusk.

Jimmy rode for miles out, not caring where they went, just as long as it was far away from his home, if only for a little while.

Wrapping her arms around his waist tight, Alice, for the first time in weeks felt free as the cool wind untangled her hair from the confining pins leaving it flying behind her like the feathers of a bird.

Knowing of the curfew Jimmy was eventually worried about getting her home.

Leading him to her cookie cutter cul de sac, she grimly pointed to the light blue house with the white shutters.

Pulling into the driveway, Alice had him park his bike in the garage, to avoid gossip from her neighbors, that had surely heard his engine pull into their quiet street.

Once inside she turned laughing as she kicked off her tight heels that had been killing her feet all day.

"Jimmy! That was just, well… amazing!"

Alice looked completely different to him as she spun around with her arms stretched out, still on a high from their ride.

Her hair was dark red, the color of a sunset, long and wild all around her face, and her eyes, they shone like emeralds sparkling with life.

She was truly the most beautiful girl he had ever seen in his life.

It was only when she moved more to the right when he spotted the framed wedding pictured laying on the coffee table.

His heart sank, not that he even considered that he had a chance with her, but the way she was acting he never thought she was married.

Seeing the disappointment cover his face she followed his eye line to the photo.

Sighing heavily she picked it up running her finger over the face that resembled her own.

"So, you're married." he wanted to make the point before she did hoping it would somehow restore what little dignity he had left.

Flashing her green eyes up towards him, she shrugged her shoulders slightly as the happiness drained from her face.

"It's a long story."

Getting the point he worried that it was well beyond curfew as he turned towards the door.

"It's okay, you don't need to explain, I understand."

Reaching out to him, she grabbed his arm, causing him to turn back to her leaving him within inches of her eyes that looked up at him with such loneliness he felt it in his gut.

"No, you don't. Listen why don't you stay on the couch tonight. I haven't been here long, but I know about the curfew. I'm guessing if the cops catch you they won't be very understanding."

Jimmy looked around wanting so much to stay, but it just didn't seem right.

"He's gone, won't be back for a week, you're safe here. Please stay, we can keep talking, I can make us some sandwiches, you must be starving."

Lost as to why a stunning married girl would make such an offer to someone like him, his distrust crept up.

"Nah, that's okay. I know all the back roads, I'll be fine."

Sliding her hand down from his arm to his hand, she whispered softly, giving him a look of acceptance that he'd never seen from a stranger, especially from someone so beautiful.

"Please stay Jimmy." her voice was sweeter than honey, as was her kind eyes that pleaded for him not to leave.

Sliding off his leather jacket, he nodded before taking a seat on the couch that was still covered in plastic.

"So, since we have all night, why don't you tell me your story."

Looking down at the picture of her and Charles, she sat next to him slowly turning the image of them around, so she didn't have to look at his face.

"I don't think it's a stretch to assume you've had a difficult life Jimmy, I knew this before I even saw your hands, it was in your eyes, they were the same as mine, sad, lonely full of days you'd wish you could forget."

Jimmy grew with concern as he turned towards her totally captured by the moonlight shining in her sad eyes.

It was painfully obvious to him that he was already falling for her.

"Alice, what happened to you?"