A/N: Let me first thank all of you who reviewed! ChocolateMagicNingaBunniesXY : thank you I'm glad you gave it a chance! 12 : I don't hate you! I actually love you for R&R ing! :)) Yup, definitely O'Wanda 'till the end. I just love this pairing so much! And don't worry, I got that part mapped out also ;) about the ending I mean. For some reason, whenever i edit your username, it just shows 12 :( sorry about that! theselection-divergent-thehost : Thank you for reviewing! I appreciate it a lot! serima : Exactly right? But oh well. But wow thanks for your review! Somebody : Okay hi :)) thanks for the R&R! cheers. Vivi : thank you for ze review! yeah t'was a bit disappointing :| SamyJo : yeah I know definitely very au :)) it was just an idea for a book then I thought the chances of that happening is not really pretty good. then I just turned it into a fanfic. Thank you for your review!

Here goes nothing.

Chapter 002: The Tuxedo Guy

x

A shaft of light hit me smack in the middle of my face and I threw my arms over my head in the vain hope of catching hold of the curtains.

But instead they hit someone else.

"Ouch!" exclaimed a male voice from somewhere. "Aw jeez you've got quite a backhand there."

I was still quite sluggish with sleepiness but my head unconsciously registered the amusement barely contained in his sentence. My eyes finally opened and –

Well hello there sunlight!

I briefly closed my eyes again. I was not ready for the sun this morning.

After a few moments, I tentatively peeked at the offending light again and I saw a figure standing over me, one hand on his reddened cheek and a smile that was so wide it almost looked goofy. But it wasn't. It was a nice smile. A smile I could look at for foreve –

Hold the phone.

Did I know this guy?

I felt my eyebrows scrunched together in confusion.

"Wha-?" I tried to speak but sleepiness promptly dragged me under until my eyes were closing again and the man vanished from my view.

I vaguely heard a chuckle before everything was quiet again.

After a few minutes, or so I think - it could have been hours - I felt an arm shaking me awake.

In sort of a reflex, my arm went up and –

"Ouch! God, Wanda!"

That was not a male voice.

It was Sunny's!

My eyes flipped open for God knows how many times now and I bolted up on Sunny's bed. Flashes of yesterday night's events came rushing back to me like a speeding bullet train.

"You comin' or what Wanda?" Mel asked.

I shook my head without looking at her. "You go on."

x

"You okay Wanda?"

I gaped at the owner of the voice. Jared Howe. My History professor at high school.

x

A hand reached out to grab mine and when I turned around, I saw a man dressed in a tuxedo.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

"Let go of me."

"Is that your first wish? Are you sure?"

I was so bewildered there was nothing left for me to do but to run towards Sunny's house. Eight blocks left, I can do this! Between the seventh and sixth block, of course it was just natural for me to trip.

Ugh. Stupid physical body.

I felt a warm hand wrapped itself around my arm.

I looked back.

The guy's face was inches from mine and I could see that he was worried.

"Back off," I muttered.

His eyebrows went up and he let go of my arm slowly.

"I don't see any point of you running away," he had the gall to say!

I was cursing under my breath as I undid the straps of my silver sandals. I stood rather unsteadily and regarded the man before me. He was wearing a tuxedo but I got the feeling he wasn't one of Mom's guests. I'd have noticed someone like him right away. I mean, yeah he was nice-looking and all but after the lovely one-liner conversations we were having, I knew he had to be insane.

"One question," I said after a few beats.

"Only one?"

I didn't answer him.

"Fire away then."

"Do you make a habit of harassing young girls like me on a daily basis? Because, if that's so, the police station is just the corner right after this one. And I swear if you continue stalking me, I'll introduce you to some lovely officers who'd like some company."

I was fibbing of course. There was no police station. It didn't occur to me that if he lived in this neighbourhood, he'd have figured that out in no time.

"I think you're exaggerating," he said slowly as if I were a five-year old kid who was asking a stupid question. "Why don't you let me explain first – "

"What's there to explain?" I was holding my ground but I was ready to bolt even at the slightest indication that he was a rapist/murderer/someone who just got out of the asylum or all of the above.

"I give you three wishes – "

Up went my silver sandals and landed on his chest. The left one in particular smacked him in the face.

"Hey!"

But I was already three blocks away from him. It was a wonder what adrenaline could do in situations like these! Two more blocks!

One more block…

And I was ringing the doorbell and out came Sunny's Grandma who let me in without questioning my state of appearance, breathlessness and the fact that I was barefoot.

She did question me about the wedding though.

"How was it?"

"Oh it was very nice. Mom was sad you weren't there though."

"Phooey. I gave her a big present what more could she want? Besides, I can't miss Doctor Who, she knows that."

I gave a bubble of laughter that sounded panicked and a little bit crazy after what I had just experienced outside.

"Yeah she knows."

"Why's Sunny not with you?"

"I was supposed to get something!" I cried out from the top of the stairs. I could hear the television blaring and Sunny's Grandma was talking back to the characters rather earnestly.

"Oh Doctor, you do know how to make someone feel special"

I got under the covers, turned off the light and hoped Sunny was having too much fun so she wouldn't have to come home early. I do need solitude right now.

"Wanda?"

"Yes!"

"Ugh you're so hyperactive it's almost annoying," she said lightly as she drew the curtains back, letting more light in. Fortunately, my eyes were already adjusted. "And incidentally, you haven't said sorry."

I rolled under the covers and grabbed her stuffed fish so I can cover my face with it. "For what exactly?"

"Oh gee I don't know. I've got a checklist actually."

I ignored her.

"First you disappear last night without telling anybody – "

"Hang on. I told…"

"Who?"

"Um… I told Professor Howe?" My cheeks burned as I remembered our conversation and how I acted like a lunatic before him. Or like an irritating teenager with a crush on him. Ugh no.

She sat at the edge of the bed, her eyes going wide with excitement, her annoyance at me momentarily forgotten. "What? You talked to him last night?"

"Yeah," I drew the word out. "I didn't do a very good job at it. I think I got a panic attack."

"Oh sweetie." She patted my hair and grinned foolishly. "You didn't remember those tips I told you on how to act in front of your…"

"Crush?" She was tickling me and I bopped her on the head with her stuffed fish.

"Stop teasing me! It wasn't funny at all. I was horrible. He probably thought I was mad."

"Or… he probably thought you were cute!" Sunny's eyebrows wiggled.

Sunny's optimism was almost sickening. I practically had no chance. I was his student for God's sake. I told her this.

"Oh darling," she cooed. "Soon you'll be in college and he won't be our professor anymore. Then, he wouldn't object to dating a minor right?"

I groaned pathetically. "It's just… I feel like this is one of those times when we were fifteen and we were plotting to kidnap Johnny Depp because we were complete lovestruck fools whenever we watched his movies."

Sunny sighed dreamily.

"Oh no!" I cried dramatically. "I am not losing you to your fantasies of him. Sunny! Are you with me?"

Sunny snapped out a "Yes!"

"Good. Because I was going to say it was basically like one of those times."

"Which is what? Dreamy?"

"No." I gave her a shrewd look. "It's called… impossible. It would be impossible for me to go out with him."

"Okay let's stop this nonsense," Sunny said. "And let's go back to listing your offenses."

I flopped back down on the bed. I awaited her verdict.

"So wait," I interrupted her before she can even begin. "Jared… he didn't say where I was going?"

"Well we didn't think to ask him about you."

"Oh."

"You worried your family you know. And Burns was beside himself with worry. He started prattling about the probability of you getting kidnapped/murdered and whatever else vicious scenario you probably landed yourself in. Until Mel couldn't take it anymore and told him to shut up."

I laughed uncomfortably. I still hadn't told Sunny about the guy in the tuxedo. Should I?

"Then you almost made me trip last night because you left your stilettos by the doorway which is really rude what if I tripped? Then I did trip and landed on the rug thanks to you."

"My stilettos?"

She waved her hand to the silver things now carefully placed at the side of the bed. They seemed to gleam at the morning light and I felt my face drained of color.

How'd they get in there?

Oh God.

"How's your Grandma?" I asked Sunny worriedly.

"She's fine. Talking to the tv again I guess."

"Oh. Does she know a lot of guys around twenty-something?"

"What?" Sunny was laughing. "She barely knows guys her age. She barely leaves the living room! What's up with you?"

I chewed my lip. "Nothing."

So Sunny's Grandma seemed unharmed. But how did my shoes get there? Did he break in?

"Anyway, I dusted myself off, totally livid with your stupid shoes. I went about my evening rituals and when I was ready to let my bed take all my tiredness away, there you were. Hogging the covers, the blanket and everything. You kept pushing me off and I just slept in the guest room."

"Aw Sunny. I'm so sorry."

"It's far more comfortable in the guest room might I add," she quipped. "Then you slapped me in the face when I tried to wake you up."

I was laughing. "I don't know what came over me actually. I thought you were… a guy."

Her face told me she wasn't happy about that. "Wow thanks. That makes me feel so pretty."

"No it's not that. I guess it was a dream after all." I breathed a sigh of relief. Kind of explained why the silver shoes were still here. Because the chucking of the shoes to the guy didn't happen. Because the guy didn't exist. My heart gave a pang and I briefly wondered why.

Sunny stood up. "You want to change your clothes or something?"

I looked down and sure enough I was still wearing the dress. "Yeah. I'd like that."

"Well hurry. They're having breakfast downstairs. We'll wait for you okay?"

I nodded and she closed the door. I grabbed some clothes that I left at Sunny's room from our previous sleepover and put them on.

I tried to comb my hair but it won't stay put so I just sighed and looked for my cellphone.

I finally found it on top of Sunny's bookshelf. It was sitting beside… a wine bottle. My heart gave a lurch and I continued staring at it. Did I really carry it all the way here? I pried some dust away from the bottle and a flash of a vision swarmed before me.

Those eyes –

I gasped and it was a good thing the bottle was still in the shelf because I could have dropped it to the floor.

YOUR ARMS AROUND ME COME UNDONE.

What?

I looked at my phone and noticed that it was vibrating.

MAKES MY HEART BEAT LIKE A DRUM.

"Hello?"

Ellie Goulding's Bittersweet was cut off – my ringtone.

"Wanda honey?" my Mom's frantic voice came from the other end of the line. Uh-oh.

"Mom…" my voice sounded apologetic. Well why wouldn't I be? What kind of daughter ran away from her own mother's wedding? A bad one. Why was I bad?

"Oh thank the Heavens! I was so worried! Mel already phoned me and told me that you stayed at Sunny's apparently. But why couldn't you have told me about it? Despite me being the hostess of the event and all, I am still your Mother. That would never change honey. You could've told me instead of promptly going away before the reception even ended. I was really worried sick."

"Oh mom," I sighed into the phone. "I'm really sorry. It was… things got way in over my head and I was confused and Sunny's house was shining like a lighthouse. And I just needed… sleep."

I could see my mother's mouth thinning into a line when she didn't approve of things. "But still."

"I'm sorry for the surprise extra wedding present," I said lightly.

"I'd rather you didn't give it to me," my mother laughed. "But are you sure you're okay? You want me to come down there to the Ice's place?"

"Oh God please no," I murmured. "I mean, it's all good Mom. I slept really well last night and everything's fine."

I didn't want to rip her away from her honeymoon. I shuddered. Ugh. Her honeymoon.

"Okay. If you're sure."

"I'm more than sure. Mom I need to go downstairs, have breakfast with the rest of Sunny's family…"

"Oh. Okay okay. I love you okay honey? Don't hesitate to call me!"

"Yes Mom. I love you too."

After I laid the phone back to the shelf, it started ringing again.

YOUR ARMS AROUND ME COME UNDONE.

What now?

"Hello?"

"Wanda you are so in big trouble."

It was Melanie.

"Mom called and she said it was fine."

"And what about dad?"

Oh no. I forgot about him!

"Uh… I'll call you back later?"

I could tell she was scowling at the other side of the line. "You could've told us you know. Your friend, the redhead – "

"Burns?"

"Whatever. He was listing the ways you could have died. Or amputated. Or traumatized because of certain events. I mean, WHO EVEN DOES THAT?"

"He was nervous. He's got a tendency to babble when he's nervous."

"Well, you should have told us. That's the bottomline. If it weren't for Jared – "

I was so sure I misheard her.

"What?"

"Your professor. History, I think. We talked. And one thing led to another – "

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?"

"Why are you shouting?!" She was shouting as well.

"I was not," I denied. "I meant, What did you mean by that?" My voice was strained. What did she mean, ONE THING LED TO ANOTHER? My heart beat faster.

"We talked about you."

"And?" I was dying here. Why can't she just tell the whole story?

"He told me you were going to a friend's house. And I said 'Who?' Then he said 'Sonia or something.' Then I thought what he meant was Sunny."

"Cool story. What else did you talk about?"

"None of your business. Why are you so nervous anyway? Your grades weren't what we talked about, you dope. Of course, I'd already guessed it was something you don't want your big sister to know."

"Ha-Ha. How'd you even meet him?"

"Oh don't you know? He slid some garter into my legs and we just hit it off."

"What?" I whispered.

"The tradition, you idiot. I caught the boquet. He caught the garter. Tradition."

"Right," my voice was faint. I was now cursing myself for not chasing the flowers much accurately. I didn't even stay after that. It was all a waste of time. How very wrong I was.

Tears threatened to spill. "Mel I need to go call Dad. See you," I choked into the phone.

"Oh okay. I love you."

"You too."

I flopped back down on Sunny's bed, dejected. . I tried not to imagine Jared slipping the damned garter on my sister's legs. I sighed and proceeded to dial Dad's number.

"Hello?"

"Dad?"

I head utensils being placed back down on the kitchen counter. He was just cooking breakfast.

"Oh my little Wanderer. Where have you been?"

"At Sunny's. Mel didn't tell you?"

"I wanted to hear it from you."

"Sorry I didn't come home Dad. It's been crazy."

"I know. You'll be in time for dinner I hope?"

I smiled. Things were always easy with Dad.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," I promised him. "I'll be there later okay Dad? I love you! I'm going to have breakfast now with Sunny."

"Okay sweetheart. Love you."

At least that was one phone call that didn't manage to upset me. I heaved another sigh again.

I glanced back at my phone and saw that there were messages unread.

Tons from Mom, Dad, Mel, Sunny and other people.

But the one that mattered: Jared's.

Yeah I have his phone number. But it was only because of a field trip we had once and he gave it to the whole class so we could reach him. I never texted him once. Well, okay. Once.

My heart on my throat, I opened the text.

Many people missed you last night. Maybe I shouldn't have let you go. This is Jared.

I could only stare at it.

Maybe I shouldn't have let you go.

MAYBE I SHOULD'NT HAVE LET YOU GO.

Jared, you're such a tease.

I was smiling so widely, I probably looked foolish. Then I remembered the guy from my dreams and how his smile made me so –

I snapped out of it and forced myself to text something back. My hands were shaking as I typed. Pathetic but true.

Maybe you shouldn't have. I had a good night's rest though. And I'm sorry for making you guys worry! –W.

I smiled happily to myself. Then I noticed a message from Burns.

Messages.

- WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?

- are you dead?

- Oh God that was offensive right?

- Oh no. This is in the hands of the one who kidnapped you right? Listen thug, give her back! My father's a kick-ass police officer and I swear he will find you better than a bloodhound.

- Wanda.

- It has come to my attention that you are at Sunny's house. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. I swear the next time we meet, you are going to get a lecture. But. I'm glad you're safe :) Still mad though. Sweet Dreams!

I grinned. Oh my foolish boy best friend!

I texted him back.

Your father can sniff me better than a bloodhound huh? Love you Burns! Breakfast w/ Sunny bye for now!

When I finally got downstairs, Mr. and Mrs. Ice were clearing their dishes. Grandma Suzy was still in the living room, chewing some raisins. Jodi and Sunny were squabbling quietly.

"Oh Wanda honey!" Mrs. Ice cried out. "Your plate's over there. Had a good night's sleep I hope?"

"Very much Ma'am thank you!"

It was nice to have your best friend's family familiar with you as well.

Jodi was Sunny's twin. They had the same black hair although Jodi had hers cut in a cute bob. It makes her look more mature. The other difference about their appearances was their eyes. Jodi had dark ones, they were almost black. My best friend had gray ones. Jodi was accelerated and was already attending college. Sunny had no qualms about that because she didn't even understand half of her syllabus this quarter, she said.

"Ah the little runaway princess!" Jodi exclaimed as I poured cereals in my bowl.

"Shut up." I was grinning though. I knew she was only teasing. "I was already lectured by a lot of people today."

"Okay okay. But everybody was worried."

"Yeah I know."

"You want to go to church with me and Sunny today?"

I cringed at the word church. Reminds me of weddings and weirdly enough, blue eyes.

"No thanks. But if you could drop me off at the park, that would be nice."

"What are you going to do there?" Jodi asked me.

"Oh you know. Reflect and stuff. Get a little breather."

So that was how I found myself seated at the park bench, admiring the view of trees and the little pond with that little bridge.

And that was when I felt someone sit beside me. I didn't give it much thought but my nerves were prickling. I took a deep breath and turned my head swiftly to my right.

And he was there.

His dark hair was messy and he was still wearing that stupid tuxedo.

"Hi," he breathed.

My eyes widened. What do I do?

I focused my gaze back to the view of the trees and the little pond with that little bridge.

"Okay. That's just rude."

I didn't say anything.

"You know I pegged you to be the girl with some kind of manners."

My mouth turned into a frown. But that was all the reaction I gave him.

"You can't ignore me forever."

My head snapped back at him and we were face to face again. Ack, too close! I tried to glare at him.

"Proves my point," he smiles. "You can't ignore me."

I stood up with as much dignity as I can and headed toward the bridge.

He followed me, the nerve of this guy.

"Hey can't we just talk?"

I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Okay. What about?"

He ran a hand though his hair. That momentarily distracted me. His hair looked so soft. Okay. My train of thought is stupid. My heart was staggering now. I swallowed discreetly.

"About your three wishes."

That totally turned me off and whatever thoughts I was having about him.

"It's nice to meet you."

Not.

"And I think you're a nice person."

Not.

"But I think it's time to say goodbye."

Without further ado, I ran away from him and into the little garden maze.

I was struggling to catch my breath. I wasn't used to running so fast. Now if this was Mel, she'd have reached the center of the maze already. Or punched the guy in the tuxedo.

I heard heavy footsteps from behind me. I could hear them growing louder. How fast can he run?!

I pretended to dial my phone. "HELLO 911? THERE'S A CRAZY GUY STALKING ME!"

Then there was a hand to my mouth and I was pinned to the wall. I was about to bite his hand, when I saw…

That it wasn't the guy in the tuxedo.

He looked like a homeless person, around thirty something and he was brandishing a knife in front of me.

I had such rotten luck. I hadn't noticed that it was getting dark and thieves were bolder in the night. And that the maze was a trap to many people who'd gotten robbed… and killed.

I gulped.

Then just as I was planning to kick him in the shin, he landed in a heap near my feet, unconscious.

WHAT?

Then I saw the guy in the tuxedo holding a metal baseball bat.

x

A/N: Sorry to cut this so short. I had to cut one chapter into two because… it was getting really long and it might become too boring. So yes. Thanks for reading guys! Hope y'all review! Au revoir.