This weeks update. Woo.

Might be talked into updating a second time this week.

*shrugs* We'll see.

Enjoy.

The next few days went by every bit as normal and routine as Alice was used to. Much of the time was her roaming her house in her pajama's after her morning run. Tina and Autumn usually made their way over again but that was far to common to even be considered as anything else. It seemed the more time that passed the more Alice brushed off her experience as nothing more then an odd dream she couldn't explain. It had to have happened to other people besides her so she wasn't going to dwell on it.

Today she was being dragged out, and even if it was her idea originally, she was rethinking it now. The day before she had told Tina she needed new shoes, and with Tina's constant need for new art supplies they thought that should make a day of it at South County's mall. It happened to be where most of the rich kids in the area found themselves shopping whether they wanted to or not.

She told Mikey about it earlier that morning, but he only laughed and wished her the best of luck. Even if it did give him an excuse to hang around with Alice and her friends, malls weren't his area and unless it was for a birthday or Christmas, he didn't set foot in South County's mall. Whatever he wanted on the regular bases he bought on the Internet.

"Don't wanna go…" Alice muttered, grabbing her purse.

"Then don't make the plans." Erin said. She was the other housekeeper that didn't nag her nearly as much as Lane did. Erin was more like a friendly ghost that flitted around the house almost completely unnoticed.

"Don't start…" Alice muttered.

Erin chuckled. "You need to have a good day out, Miss. Don't waste your summer. It is the last one you'll ever have before you graduate."

"Yeah." Alice muttered. She made a loud disgruntled sound when she heard a car honking from outside but it turned into a sigh. "I'll be home later."

Erin smiled, shooing her out the door immediately.

Autumn honked again, and had apparently already gotten Tina since she was sitting in the passenger seat. She put on a smile and climbed into the back seat. "Hey."

"You know, you'd have more energy if you didn't get up at five everyday." Tina mocked as Autumn pulled out of the driveway. "Seriously."

"I gotta start running." Autumn sighed; looking incredible displeased with the thought. She probably wouldn't start until again until school did but at least it showed it was on her mind to be considered.

"Could run with me." Alice offered.

Autumn all but groaned. "Yeah. Do you know what time I'd have to get up to get ready and drive here to meet you at your normal time? No thanks."

Alice grinned slowly. "I'd run a little later to wait for you."

"That's still to damn early." Autumn complained. "I like being lazy and sleeping in. It's summer for crying out loud and we won't be able to do it forever."

"Don't bitch." Tina commented, looking up momentarily from her book.

"I'm not..." Autumn muttered.

"What're you reading?" Alice asked, leaning forward to take a peak at the title. It was a rare day when Tina didn't have either a book or her sketch pad.

"It's about a girl who basically gets taken in by gypsies and connives her way to eventually become their leader. Or at least I think, I haven't gotten to the end yet." Tina mused; looking entertained by the plot.

Alice seemed to roll that idea over in her head before she nodded. "Sounds good, can I borrow when you're done?"

"Yeah, I'll drop it off to you tomorrow." She said.

"Dunno how you two read like that." Autumn muttered for a moment. "Though speaking of a good read, have you written more?"

Alice shook her head and sat back in her seat. "I've been having a different kind of inspiration lately. Old stuff isn't flowing. I might start something new though."

"No!" Tina whined. "You gotta finish it! I need to know what happens."

Autumn smiled. "As long as you finish them I could care less over the order. So hurrah."

Alice chuckled, getting the reactions she had expected from both of them. It delighted her to know they liked her little stories so much. It nothing else she could have a career in writing and that would make college a lot easier for her.

They spent the rest of the car ride listening to Tina whine and try to convince Alice she wasn't allowed to start anything new until she'd finished what she'd started. Another common argument with them.

South County's mall wasn't actually that far away, it could only seem like it with the crowds that usually flooded the stores.

"You'd think it was back to school or something." Tina muttered sarcastically. "The hell are all these people here for."

"To buy things Tina. To buy things." Autumn chuckled, nudging her with her hips to push her inside.

"Much like ourselves. I need some shoes." Alice complained.

"I still don't understand what happened to your others. They weren't old." Autumn pointed out. "We got them not, what? Not six months ago?"

Alice shook her head, walking off immediately towards a shoe outlet. "They just got messed up and I'm treating myself."

"Sounds good to me. I plan on doing the exact same thing. A summer treat." Autumn chuckled. "And with daddy's plastic in my pocket I intend to have a good little shopping spree to take my mind off things."

"What things?" Tina raised a brow.

"Things." Autumn waved her off. "We'll do Alice's shoes first so she doesn't have a fit, and then you and I can fight over where to go next.

Alice smiled a little. It would have been easier to go their separate ways and meet up later but it was more fun for them to stick together just to give each other a hard time. Besides, if they had wanted to go shopping on their own they would have. Going together made a better time for them anyway, and also gave them each an extra pair of eyes to avoid the people they didn't want to see.

"Throw in lunch and you got yourself a deal." Alice smiled.

"Deal." They smiled in unison.

Shoes weren't normally one of the things Alice fussed over but she did spend at least twenty minutes walking around the store wearing the shoes she liked the best. She had to be sure they were comfortable and that she'd be able to run in them. Tina and Autumn waited patiently, both having walked in the store knowing well Alice's odd habit. The two of them occupied themselves by trying on shoes for themselves and thinking up places they could wear each pair too.

Alice smiled, looking down at her shoes in a moment of happiness of buying something new. She already knew she would buy them but didn't mind an extra few minutes to test them out. The only thing that stopped her dead on her tracks was passing a pair of black boots. She could have sworn they were the exact pair she had seen White wearing. They almost even looked a little wore out as if they'd been used and put on display.

"Paranoid, Alice." She muttered to herself, rubbing her eyes and walked away from that display. She hadn't told Tina and Autumn about the weird dream and didn't plan on telling anyone else. She'd finally realized how crazy it all really sounded.

"I'm getting these." Alice announced, sitting back down next to the two to slip the shoes off and put her own back own.

"I should hope so, other wise we'd never leave." Autumn chuckled.

Alice chuckled, knowing they were probably right. "Well I like these, I'm getting them, and we can go. So neither one of you can accuse me of wasting your time."

"Oh, heaven forbid." Tina rolled her eyes. "My turn. Craft store."

Autumn raised an eye. "Your turn, when did we decided on that."

Tina just chuckled. "Since you decided your getting those shoes. If you and Alice are both getting shoes then I get the next store."

"She's got you there." Alice nodded, laughing softly when Autumn grudgingly followed her up to the register.

Lucky for them, Tina was picky enough she knew exactly what supplies she wanted and barely took fifteen minutes to get everything she wanted. It ended up being her who had to find Autumn and Alice loitering by the makers where they had been testing them out of the shelves by writing each others names. When Tina finally found them she had to practically drag them out of the store before someone found them.

Autumn dragged them to a few clothing stores and each of them left with a few bags in hand. It was almost impossible for them not to, but it was later going into the chocolate shop that the three of them nearly lost there minds. It was a weakness the three of them shared but after twenty minutes of merely browsing Alice some how got them out of the store and convinced the others to go to lunch like they'd agreed on.

They were sure it was the best time to take a break and headed for the food court since Tina still wanted to hit a bookstore before they left. Wandering off to get their own food was the only time the three of them split up. Awkwardly finding each other again and meeting up at one of the table to sit at had become a game for them.

They three of them used to go shopping all the time but it seemed to be happening less and less in the last few months. At times it was only because of conflicting school schedule, but even earlier that summer things had been quiet for them.

"School starts in August this year." Tina commented after they'd fallen into a small silence from eating.

"Blasphemy!" Autumn said, her eyes popping wide as if she hadn't heard yet.

Alice shook her head. "I did last year too. Don't you remember?"

"Yeah, but I also remember the good `ol days when we didn't start till like…the second week of September." Autumn glared at thing in particular. "The poor kids today are getting ripped off."

"Damn right." Tina chuckled. "But it being our last year I think you can relax."

"I don't." Autumn said.

"Then go on strike." Alice smiled, sipping from her drink.

Autumn grinned brightly at the idea. "Maybe I will."

"And probably get kicked off the soccer team in the process." Tina said with an amused smile as if she knew Autumn hadn't thought of that yet.

"You'd kick me off the team, Alice?" Autumn asked with a hopeful grin.

Alice smiled. "I may not have a choice if coach says you're off."

"Shit."

"You'd think the three of you would have something more important to worry about."

The three of them turned slowly to who interrupted them and didn't look the least bit surprised with the girl standing next to their table. It seemed she hadn't been sitting to far away from them with her own friends.

Winnie James-Runer. The red headed princess of St. Mary's Immortal Blessing High School. She was already named student body president at the end of the year before and was thought to be a saint. She was in more clubs and did more volunteer work then anyone else would even dream of. Some how she still managed to have a personal life and always looked pretty enough to have just walked off a runway. Not to mention the fact she was dating Kyle Richmin who was someone of importance in the school's ROTC, and secretly had her eyes on Mikey. All of that is easy to ignore, what annoyed Alice the most was the fact that she was Taylor Runer's half sister.

"Hello Winnie…" the three of them said together, looking a little less then pleased to see her hovering over them. There was nothing quite as disheartening at Miss Perfect herself wanting to get a word in on a conversation she wasn't apart of.

"Hello, do you mind?" she smiled brightly, taking the remaining seat.

"Oh no, please do…" Autumn said, taking a large bite just to keep her from saying anything more. It was always the hardest for her.

"So what's up, Winnie?" Alice asked, not looking at either of her friends. She was sure Winnie would see their amused looks if they were to spare each other a glance.

"Well I have noticed that the three of you hadn't signed up for any pre-scholarship volunteer programs." Winnie said with a chipper smile. Those programs worked like extra credit for the high schoolers. Unfortunately, Alice and the other two didn't have the patience. "Did the three of you not have the time to sign up for anything?"

"Winnie…" Autumn frowned, she really wasn't fond of Winnie at all. "We work our ass's off all school year long. Now when school starts again we'll sign up for something again, but we're not gonna waste days of our last summer to work."

"Ah, I see." Winnie said. "You're amusement is more important to you then the comfort and welfare of others."

"Well, yeah." Autumn raised an eye. "Right now, it is."

Alice and Tina had to look away to keep from laughing. It was already hard, but when Autumn got started it became almost impossible. It wouldn't have been so bad had Winnie not always have to act superior because of her 'good deeds'. She liked to make others appear inadequate compared to her.

"That's such a shame. Sister Elizabeth was hoping we would have more volunteers then the graduating class of last year." Winnie sighed.

Alice and Tina sighed simultaneously. Winnie had a way to guilt people into doing her bidding and everyone knew it. Autumn was the only one not susceptible so she took the heat to block the others from her conniving.

"Well they must have been of the truly blessed verity." Autumn said, smiling sweetly. "How could we ever compare?"

"Perhaps your right Autumn, but not to worry. We have plenty of other committee's that would be happy to see the three of you on board." Winnie said, not yet admitting defeat though she saw Autumn as some kind of strong opponent.

"Winnie, you gotta understand we have different plans." Tina interrupted. "Alice and Autumn both have soccer and I'm already in the art club and I am head of the design committee."

"Not to mention we gotta watch our GPAs." Alice said. If there was one thing they all knew it was that flattery got rid of Winnie the fastest. "We can't all be as good at multitasking as you are."

Winnie sighed and nodded. Sometimes they had to wonder if she really didn't realize she was as stuck up as she really was. She seemed to honestly think she was a saint among the high school drones she was forced to associate with. She was a different kind of spoiled. It wasn't that she always had to have things her way and she wasn't exactly a brat, but she did think she was a gift to the world and few could compare with her greatness.

"Well we have plenty of time to work out the small details. You may find you can schedule more time then you think. If not I'm sure I could help you with your planners." Winnie said thoughtfully.

"Oh would you, Winnie?" Autumn asked in a fake, awe tone that her friends saw through immediately. "Oh how kind and noble of you."

Winnie beamed, completely missing the sarcasm Autumn had so often used. "Of course, you let me know when I can be of some assistance."

"Sure will…" Alice smiled a little.

"Now I've interrupted your meal enough, haven't I?" Winnie laughed softly, getting up and pushing the chair back in. "You'll excuse me won't you?"

"Of course." Autumn mocked, watching as Winnie made her way back to her table of friends who seemed to want to know instantly why she'd wandered off. "What a tart…"

"Hard to believe anyone is that freaking perfect." Tina shook her head. "Way to make the entire student body feel bad about not being quite up to her standards. We don't all have that that stamina. That girl could sell lemonade from a stand in winter."

"At a discounted price so not to seem like a rip off." Alice chuckled.

"Don't know how you two are so chumming with her. She annoys me so bad, and it's just gotten worse as we've gotten older." Autumn shook her head, packing up the bit of her food she didn't finish before stuffing it in her bag. "Not to rush but can we hurry and get away from here. I got that nagging feeling like Winnie and her little gang will head back over here and I'm not looking forward to a secrete meeting with her whole gang."

Tina chuckled, both she and Alice packing up their food. "You gotta learn to chill when Winnie is near."

"Yeah, I don't know why she bothers me so damn much." Autumn muttered as all three of them wandered off. It was never a great day when you couldn't go anywhere without people you knew popping up.

Alice decided not to comment and glanced at Tina to see that she was also keeping her mouth shut. They both knew it was because Autumn's boyfriend, Jonathan Micthell in seventh grade dumped her for Winnie who only had him around for two months. Jonathan had tried to get back on Autumn's good side but she would only be scorned once by the same guy and then never again.

It was years ago and now Jonathan meant nothing to either girl but Autumn still held that hostility deep down and wasn't ready to part with it. She couldn't tolerate anything Winnie did now and always assumed the worse.

"Forget it." Tina said, dragging them off to the only book outlet in the mall that was worth their time. Again, they spilt up, each heading for a different genre. Having different tastes in books was one of the things that kept them so close together; there was less to fight over.

Oddly enough they spent longer wandering the bookstore then any other store they'd been to yet. It should have been one of those things that they expected but for some reason never did.

Their trip was only cut short when Autumn's father called to have her come home. She gave him some excuses and nearly hung up on him herself. She was sure he wouldn't notice for a few minutes anyway.

"C'mon, I'll take you guys home before I go see what he wants." She chuckled.

"You're gonna get yourself in trouble." Alice smiled. Autumn and her father never really got on. There was always an argument between them, which would end with an apology from both of them.

"We've wasted enough time anyway." Tina said, cutting Autumn off before she could answer and start a new rant.

The ride home never seemed to take as long as the ride there and in no time Alice was saying goodbye to Tina and Autumn as they drove off. She lugged all the bags she had with her towards the porch and carefully avoided the remaining small puddles that had flooded her driveway days before. She didn't want a repeat no matter how unlikely that seemed.

Getting sucked into a puddle twice would definitely prove she was crazy. When she got onto the porch she let out a relieved sigh, and actually started considering talking to someone. She brushed off the thought, the last thing she wanted was pills and people telling her she was trying to hold onto her adolescence or something else just as ridiculous.

Walking in she set her bags by the door and rubbed her hands together. They were almost numb from holding onto the bags but she ignored it.

"Hey, who's home?" Alice called, not expecting a response. When she didn't get one she grabbed her bags and took them up to her room. She kicked her shoes off and checked her phone once just to make sure she hasn't missed a call.

"You're home." Lane poked her head in. "You're mother's going to be late and your fathers flight was delayed."

"Ah." Alice muttered. "Okay."

"Don't look so broken hearted." Lane shook her head. "You coming for dinner?"

"Nah, I just ate a little while ago, I'll make something for myself when I'm ready. Thanks though." Alice said, pulling her bags towards her closet to put everything away.

"Sure." Lane said, shutting the door as she walked back out.

Alice sighed softly, pulling out her box of food from the food court to munch on while she put her things away. She didn't mind staying in her room and after so many years her room definitely was her sanctuary in the house. She had her own closet and her own bathroom and if it wasn't for food and her desire to watch the better TV downstairs then the little one she had in her room she could stay in there all she wanted.

She looked out the window for a moment to watch the sun setting before walking to her bathroom. Deciding she'd been too jumpy lately she filled her bathtub with pretty smelling soaps and hot water. The last few days she really had been paranoid at the smallest sign and it had to stop. Stripping from her clothes she settled into the water, feeling instantly better.

There was something about soaking in hot water that calmed her nerves. It was a perfect moment every time. She sunk lower into the tub with her neck resting against the edge. The only thing she needed to be careful of was making sure she didn't fall asleep.

She sighed, and her eyes were closed for over ten minutes before he heard a sound that was utterly sickening to her. The swishing, swishing, back and forth sound of waves pulling in and out from the tide. It was followed but the gurgling sound the drain in her tub as it emptied suddenly.

With an impossible force of suction she was sucked under water, trapped under a wall of water in her bathtub, and being pulled away.

Next chapter she's back in Wonderland. Snap, right?

Review please ^_^