Ok, thank you for sticking with me on this story. Here is a bit more information on Jaxson and Lexy in this chapter that will help out the story line.

I do not own Alice only my two characters and my interpretations.

Chapter 2 –

I looked around to see that we were in a large room decorated in varying shades of red. The room was completely empty other than a small door that would fit maybe a rabbit and a table in the middle of the room. We moved towards the door and other than neither of us being able to fit, it was locked. I went to the table and saw a sign that said "DRINK ME" on it and it was sitting next to a small bottle with a purplish liquid in it. I pick it up and look it over.

"This wasn't here a second ago was it?" I turned and asked Jaxson. When I walked past the table to look at the door, I could have sworn that there wasn't anything on the table.

Jaxson shrugged his shoulders and walked over to inspect the bottle and I handed it to him. He pulled out the stopper to smell it. "It smells like a grape jolly rancher." He set the bottle down on the table and picked up the sign then looked to the too small door. "No."

I followed his line of sight but all I saw was the small door. Looking back at him I saw quite a few looks cross his face. Shock, dread, confused, fear and then his face went blank. It was like he just shut down. I walked over to him and stood in front of him. "Jaxson? Are you ok?" I got no response. This was not like him at all. "Jaxson?" I asked again as I poked him in the chest.

Jaxson seemed to shake himself out of wherever he went. Looking down at me he gave me his quirky half smile and turned back to the table. He put the sign back on the table and picked something else up. Turning it over, he shrugged and then passed it to me.

"I bet this will get us through the locked door." He picked the bottle back up absent mindedly and looked at me, waiting for me to respond.

Looking at the key he had placed in my hand, I would have to agree, it would more than likely open that too small door. "Even if we get it open how are we going to fit through that door?" I asked as I walked around him to the table. Looking down at the sign, then the door and then back to the bottle in Jaxson's hands, I was a little shocked at how long it took me to put two and two together. "Hey Jax, does any of this seem familiar to you?"

Again he had the multiple expressions cross his face and then he went blank. "Should it?"

I took a deep breath and decided to tackle one thing at a time. First up, getting out of this room and finding that rabbit guy, then I can figure out what is going on with Jaxson.

"I want you to know that I am not crazy, far from it. Look around the room and remember how we got here. Doesn't this all seem very similar to a children's book that we both loved as kids?" I sighed as I took the bottle out of his hands. "Girl follows a talking rabbit down a hole into a magical land of talking animals and a killer queen."

He looked at the door, then back to the bottle that I took from him. It was like he was trying to remember something but his brain would not let him. Either that or he was just more freaked out over this adventure than I originally thought. "Do you really think that we are living in that book? I mean I guess that could be true, either that or I am dreaming."

I shook my head because if this were a dream, I would be free to do what I want to him. I wouldn't be cowering behind some childish adventure. 'Focus' I told myself. This line of thinking is not helpful at all.

I looked down again at the bottle that I was holding and the dare devil in me came out. "Oh what the hell." I said as I put the bottle to my lips and drank a few sips. There was a slight tingling sensation and I looked at Jaxson to see his concerned look. The tingling moved from my core and spread outward through my arms and legs. It was so extreme that I closed my eyes and bit my lip to keep from groaning. I opened my eyes and I was staring at Jaxson's knees. Slightly shocked, I handed the bottle up to Jaxson. "Drink."

He reached down to take the bottle from me and took a sip. It was amazing to watch him go through what I just did. I could see the emotions cross his face as he started to shrink and he quickly closed his eyes. I could only wonder if he felt the same sensations that I did. Once he opened his eyes and let out a deep sigh I pointed at the door. "Ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be." Jaxson said as he walked over to the door. He pulled the key out of his pocket as I gave silent thanks that at least one of us remembered it. After opening the door he stepped through the door and stopped dead in his tracks. "Lexy you are not going to believe this."

"What are you going on about?" I asked as I stepped through the door after him. "Oh my God!"

All around me were the most beautiful and bright colors, one right after another. They were also very shocking as they were not the normal color arrangements. The grass was a vibrant purple and the sky was a dark green whereas the trees got to be a dark blue. Never before had I been in the presence of such wild beauty before. I could hear nothing other than the sounds of our breathing. Knowing that we had followed someone down here, I knew that we were not alone, but it was magnificent to experience the beauty in complete silence.

I turned away from the door and saw a path leading into the trees. It was covered in interesting yellow and green stones. I moved to walk down the path and noticed that the stones turned orange as if it was our very own bread crumb trail to follow back if we get lost. As I walk I reach out to touch a tree and gasp at how soft the bark was, so different from the trees back home. After just a few steps I felt a sense of serenity and calmness come over me and it made me smile.

"I can't believe these colors." Jaxson said as he caught up to me. He smiled as he looked into the sky and I couldn't help noticing how handsome he looked standing in this crazy backwards place, almost as if he belonged here. I started to lift my hand to touch his face, but let if fall back to my side with a sigh. With a sigh I remind myself that he does not think of me like that. Sister not a lover, remember?

"Should we follow the path and just hope that we don't get too terribly lost?"

Jaxson looked around at the forest, maybe trying to find something that showed that our 'white rabbit' had come this way. He shrugged his shoulders and started walking down the path. "The only way to get out of here is to keep moving forward, I'm sure." He said and started walking, but was stopped very suddenly in his tracks.

"You have no idea just how correct you are in your thinking."

I looked around trying to find the source of that voice. Turning a complete circle I found nothing and then I noticed a slight movement in one of the trees. I looked closer and I saw a pair of green eyes glowing from one of the branches.

"What the hell is that?" Jaxson must have followed my eyes and saw the glowing eyes in the tree.

In response to his question, a smile appeared below the glowing eyes and they started to move closer to us. Slowly a form began to appear around the eyes and that smile. By the time the form fully appeared right in front of us I was completely speechless, I was not expecting to see what stood there. She was beautiful, sexy even. Let me try to describe her for you although I fear that I may not do her justice. Imagine what you would get if you merged a human girl and a feline together into a hybrid. She was around my height, so about 5'8" and sporting a very slender yet lithe body. She was covered in a fine layer of fur that was a light blonde color with light tan stripes. Her long hair was a darker blonde and upon closer inspection, I could just barely see her cat ears poking through her hair. Breathtaking is only one word that can be used to describe the beauty that was now standing before us. She smiled at us and that is when Jaxson finally completely took notice of who was standing there.

"Wow" was all that he said and immediately I didn't like her, which was insane. I was jealous of her, which I never expected to happen to me, and she did nothing to deserve it, other than be the gorgeous cat girl that she is. I do feel the need to point out her attire as well, which is maybe what I was more jealous of. She had on light blue tight leather pants and a black lace tank. I could never pull that off.

Amazingly un-phased by either of our stares, she moved closer to us with an impish grin on her face. "I'm Cheshire Cat or Ches to keep it short. So, who are you two lovely people? We still have an Alice so you can't be our new Alice." She tilted her head to look at both of us in turn then walked around me as if sizing me up.

"Well, my name is Alexandra or Alex if you want to shorten it so I do not think that I am. Alex is close to Alice but yeah, not me." I tried to keep my eyes on her as she walked around me but that was not helping me stay focused on the conversation.

"Oh." Ches pouted. "I would so like it if you were an Alice." She came back around to stand in front of me. She clapped her hands together with glee at an idea. "Can I keep you? Please?"

Jax POV

'Seriously?' I thought to myself. 'This cat girl comes out of nowhere and wants to keep my Lexy?' I should my head. What was I thinking? I just called Lexy mine. She doesn't even notice me so there is no reason for me to call her mine. That thought made me sigh.

Lexy laughed and blushed at Ches. "I am not something to be kept but thanks for the compliment." She looked back at me as she said that, like she was making sure I was ok. I had no answer for her on that.

Ches pouted, sticking her bottom lip out. I do have to admit that was a very sexy thing to do and it made me want to kiss her and bite her lip. 'Control yourself.' I kept repeating in my mind. "Well we can come back to that later. So, Alex, who is this hunk that you brought with you?" She turned to look at me with curious eyes.

"My name is Jaxson." I said before Alex could respond. She seemed a bit flustered at the moment, but I wasn't sure why.

"Ok, nice to meet you sexy Alex and hunky Jaxson." She smiled impishly at both of us. "Why don't you two come with me to my place? I have food and we can discuss why or even how you two managed to find your way to Wonderland. It's not that far of a walk, I promise." Ches looked at us with hopefully eyes.

No man could say no to that look and as much as I hate to admit it, I was just like the rest of the men out there. "Of course, Ches. That would be greatly appreciated." Lexy shot a look at me before agreeing to go. Why did that look hurt me so much?

We followed Ches down the path and I completely stopped dead in my tracks as we turned the corner. Before us stood an amazingly beautiful and large castle. I cannot believe that this is Ches' home. Why would she need such a large home being such a petite girl?

"What's the matter?" Ches asked me with a pout. "Don't you like my home?"

Before I could respond, Lexy was showing how comfortable she was here by walking over to Ches and wrapping her arm around her waist. "It's gorgeous, Ches. Do you live by yourself?"

Ches laughed at her and put her head on her shoulder. "No, there are a few other people who live with me. You will get to meet them at dinner."

I looked at Lexy and how at ease she seemed to be around Ches. It hurt a lot seeing her like that as all I wanted was for her to be like that with me. If I hadn't known Lexy since we were kids, then I would have to wonder if I just had the wrong parts for her. So as that is not the case, all I could wonder was 'What was I doing wrong?'

Alex POV

As I walked towards the castle, still with my arm around Ches, I had to wonder what was going on with Jaxson. I mean, I know that we are in Wonderland, but he seems to be so jumpy around me and the looks he has been giving me as we walked hurt. He seems almost unhappy with me walking with my arm around Ches. 'Why?' I wondered. He had no interest in me so this should have no effect on him what so ever. As I mulled it over a thought hit me, he wants to be with Ches and he thinks I am getting in his way. It is not very surprising, I understood how any guy would want to be with her and I am sure that most women would want her too. Ches has the perfect body and if I had to be totally honest, if I had to choose between her and me, I would choose her.

Yes I have a low self-esteem issue, but I cope.

I give up trying to figure things out as we walk up the path to the front door, deciding that my attention is better spent on our surroundings. The castle was massive in size, but also had a very quaint feel to it. Most of the entryway was covered in a yellow moss and flowers of all colors that made it feel very welcoming, until you get to the keep out signs posted every few feet.

"Don't like company?" Jaxson asked. Apparently he noticed the signs as well.

Ches just laughed at him. "I like to choose who enters into my home. Now please try to stay close once we get inside. I have been told it is very easy to get lost if you don't know where to go." She opened the door and we follow her into one of the weirdest scenes ever. There was a little girl screaming at an older woman while yet another lady was chasing the little girl with a pepper shaker.

"You three. Really?" Ches shouted at them. "I can't leave you alone for more than a minute without chaos erupting. What do you have to say for yourselves?"

"Sorry Ches." The little girl said as she hid behind the older woman's skirt. She kept peeking around the older woman at us and then back to Ches.

With a sigh, Ches sighed at the little girl. "It's okay, Baby." Ches ran a hand through her hair before addressing the older woman. "Is everything alright here?"

"Yes, it was just a little mishap but we are all good now." The older woman said with a fond smile at the little girl. Turning back to Ches, she looked at us and asked, "So, Ches, who have you brought home this time? Hmmm?"

"Oh Duchess, spare me. This is Alex and Jaxson." Ches said as she pointed to us in turn. "I found them aimlessly walking around in Tulgey woods. Thankfully I found them before the Jabberwock found them. They are too cute to be left out in those woods alone." She pouted.

"Now I suppose I will have to cook for them too?" The other lady asked as she waved her pepper shaker in our direction.

"Yes, Cook. They will be joining us for dinner tonight so please make sure to add two more place settings at the table. Now you three have stuff to do I would imagine that do not involve running and screaming correct?" All three nodded at Ches. "So get to it. Chop chop." With that, the three left to go about their business. Turning to us, Ches gave us a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that. Now I think you understand why I do not like uninvited guests."

I laughed a bit nervously and Jaxin shrugged. I mean, what would you expect from us after the shocking realization has hit home that we really are in a different world and we were standing in a castle, conversing with a human/cat hybrid.

"Well then, follow me and don't fall behind." Ches led us down the hall to her favorite sitting room to wait for dinner to be served. I see a beautiful black couch with red designs on it. All I wanted to do was sit so I didn't take the time to look at the designs; I just sat and let loose a deep sigh. Jaxson excused himself, saying he needed a few moments alone and headed back towards the front door. I guess we are going to both try to unwind from this insanity in our own separate ways.

So that is how I found myself to be alone with Ches in the sitting room. I guess I should feel uncomfortable around her, seeing as how she came onto me just moments earlier and yet, I don't. Oddly, I feel completely at ease with Ches. I do have to admit, I was completely flattered that she wanted to keep me. For just that singular moment, I actually felt wanted. I smiled just thinking about it. Looking up at her a part of me wishes that just this once I could let myself go, but me being me, I shake the thought out of my head and focus on the important stuff. Like dinner.

"Well, Ches, is there anything that I should know before dinner?"

She smiled down at me from her place by the door. "Not really, just be yourself and don't worry too much about what those three do or say. We don't generally talk about Queen Alice that often so I would say she should be taboo during dinner. Other than that, all will be fine." She walked over to me and pulled a blanket off of the back of the couch and draped it over me.

I made a move to say something but she stopped me with a finger to my lips. I had a fleeting thought to lick her finger and see what she tasted like but she pulled back as if sensing my thoughts.

"Now I am going to go find that hunk of yours so you stay put." As she turned to leave she brought her finger to her own lips for the briefest moment and then she was gone.

Jax POV

After excusing myself from the sitting room, I went back outside through the front door to get some much needed fresh air. I wasn't completely okay with leaving Lexy alone with Ches, but I know she can hold her own if she has to. Taking a deep breath I start to pace as I sort through how this night now day has gone. Insanity springs to mind but if I were insane then how is Lexy experiencing this with me. Or maybe she is insane and I am tagging along for the ride. I mean, all of these fairytale creatures keep focusing on her right? So it has to be her, not me. That thought brings me to a new thought that this is really all centering on Lexy.

Before tonight, we were the typical friends. Hanging out with our friends, casually flirting and I was ok with that, for the most part. Being put in the dreaded friend zone is never an ego booster, but as I enjoy Lexy's company then I will make myself be ok with being friends. And then tonight happens. Who knew that tonight we would get sucked into this whirlwind of insanity in a strange world? Ever since this so called adventure started there was some kind of an electrical current that ran along my skin any time I got near Lexy.

I thought back to when we tripped as we were walking through the inside of the tree and I landed on top of her. That was the first time that I had to fight the urge to just kiss her. Laying there under me, she had her lips slightly parted as if she was asking to be kissed. I almost went for it, but then she touched my face and it was like a shock to my system. Such a shock in fact that I freaked out and got up, knowing that I should have kissed her, had wanted to kiss her, but as always I talked myself out of it. Unfortunately that seemed to be a new pattern for me, two missed opportunities.

I found a spot just off the path to the castle and sat on a rock and closed my eyes, trying to imagine what her lips would feel like on mine. Would they be soft and pliable? I didn't get much farther into that line of thinking, as I could hear Ches calling for me from the front door.

Ches stepped outside and walked over to where I was sitting. "I have been looking everywhere for you. Well not really since you said you were coming outside for a bit and a bit has passed. Cook has announced that dinner is read to be served." With that she turned to head back into the castle, but turned back just as I stood to follow her. Putting her hand to my chest she looked into my eyes. "Promise me one thing. During dinner do not make any mention of Queen Alice or any possible connections either of you might have to her. You never know who is on your side or against you."

"I won't say a thing."

"Great, thanks." Ches grabbed my hand and pulled me back into the castle. Pointing to the doorway to our right she said, "This is the dining room. Could you please go collect Alex for me? I need to go take care of something before dinner."

"Um ok, sure I will get her." I said but Ches was already gone. Wondering about Ches' ability to disappear into thin air, I walked down the hallway to the sitting room where I left Lexy earlier. Immediately I stopped after walking through the doorway. Lexy was asleep and I didn't want to wake her just yet. This gave me the opportunity to look at her without fear of her catching me doing it. I slowly walked closer to the couch Lexy was sleeping on and noticed just how beautiful and peaceful she looked.

I did notice there was a slight smile on her face and then she sighed. That sound was intoxicating. 'Get ahold of yourself. Either kiss her or wake her up.' As always, I was too afraid of the reaction I would get, so I chose the safer of the two choices.

"Lexy." I said and shook her shoulder. "Lexy, dinner is ready. You need to wake up, love." Love? Now why would I call her that? I have no answer for myself, I am just glad that she is not fully awake to hear my blunder. "Lexy, come on. Dinner is ready and Ches is waiting for us."

She slowly opened her eyes and looked up at me. That just woke up look was amazing on her. Damn my lack of courage. She looks even more kissable now than she did before.

Please do not ignore that cute little review button down at the bottom. I know you see it. It wants to hear all of the things these first chapters made you think of. Come on, you know how unhappy these silly Wonderlandian buttons can get when you do not follow directions. Again thank you for reading and I do hope to be reading comments and critiques.