"Are you sure you remember the way?" Alice asked me. We were invited to a tea party at the Hatter Mansion, but Alice wanted to stay and help Julius with his work, though Julius said she didn't have to.

"Yes Alice! Don't worry, I won't get lost." I laughed, I was excited for the party. Though I wasn't sure why..

Julius squinted. "Mind your safety, not only does it get dangerous out there alone, but the Hatter Mansion holds the mafia- don't forget that." I just nodded, skipping out of the tower and down the road to the Hatter Mansion.

The glorious gate came into sight, but as usual, the bloody twins weren't at their post.

"Am I early? Should I just walk in?" I gripped the gate, wondering what to do.

"K-Chan!" The twins yelled, suprising me. They tackled me to the ground, their scythes dangerously close to my face.

"Dee, Dum!" I gasped, falling onto the ground with the twins ontop of me.

"K-Chan, did you come to play?" Dum asked.

"Uhm..." I gasped, the twins were squeezing me, and their arms were around my neck.

"Gatekeepers, get off of her!" I heard Elliot growl, his shadow loomed over me.

"Shut up stupid rabbit!" Dee squirmed as he was picked up by the collar by Elliot, and then his brother.

I sat up, rubbing my head. "Thanks Elliot." I mumbled.

He extended his hand to help me up. "Come on, we'll show you around." They brought me around the back of the mansion where the tea party was being held.

By the time we got around it was midnight and Blood was already there. "I'm glad you could make it Kodie." Blood smirked.

"Me too." I whispered. All my confidence slipped away. I made sure to sit far away from Blood, but he just followed me and sat infront of me. Elliot sat next to him, and Dum and Dee on the other side.

"Sorry I'm late." Another familiar voice called from behind.

"Well, well, the Cheshire Cat decided to show." Blood smirked as Boris sat next to me.

"Yeah, well, I had to sneak out 'cause of the old man, ya know?" Boris smiled, showing off his pearly white teeth.

"K-Chan!" Dum called out, I glanced up at him. "Do you plan on staying at the clock tower?" He asked.

"Well yeah, for now.." But I do plan on going home...

"You should move into the amusement park! We'd have so much fun!" Boris laughed, his eyes gleaming mischeviously.

Dee looked at Boris as if he was insane. "No Boris, K-Chan should live here at the mansion." Dee rolled his eyes.

"I agree brother! That way K-Chan can always play with us!" Dum concluded, the twins each had mischevious glints in their eyes.

"Do you like it there?" Blood cut into Boris' and the twins arguement. The table grew quiet, waiting for my reply.

"Well, I guess, I mean, Alice and Julius are nice. Most of the time.." I laughed nervously. No. That wasn't it. Was it? No, something stronger, a feeling I couldn't describe attracted me to that place.

"Julius? Nice? Ha!" Elliot scoffed, his eyes glinted with anger.

"Well... he sure isn't the nicest person in the world or anything.. but he has his moments." This moment just got awkward.

"So you like Julius?" I couldn't understand the emotion that was in Blood's eyes.

I nearly choked on my tea. "Like? Depends on what you mean.. as friend I guess... but.. nothing more." My eyes narrowed.

Blood's eyes still glinted with that emotion, the one I can't describe. Elliot seemed far off, his eyes full of pain and revenge.

"A-anyways..." I tried to think of another topic, but I couldn't. Blood seemed to realize my embarrasment and grinned.

"I still think you should stay here.." Dum grumbled.

"Didn't we already go over this?" Boris laughed.

I could feel my face heating up, why did I come? I was never good at social events, could never pick a topic to talk about. When I did, I just made an idiot out of myself.

"Hey, hey! K-Chan!" My train of thought was broken by the twins calling out my new nickname.

"Yeah?" I could feel my face flush tenfold, everyones eyes were on me. Yet again...

"Were you even listening?" Boris laughed again. Wait...they were talking?

"What, you guys were talking?" I asked flabbergasted. Apparently I was so lost in thought I didn't hear them talking again. My reply had got the twins and Boris cracking up.

It soon grew light out, much to the displeasure of my eyes.

"Hey, K-Chan, come back soon, kay?" Dum started.

"Yeah, we wanna play some more!" Dee finished, the both of them grinning at me.

"Don't be a stranger!" Elliot agreed.

"Dee, Dum, escort Boris and Kodie out." Blood ordered, Elliot soon falling in step with Blood.

We soon arrived at the gate. "Next time you come, we'll show you our room!" Dee smiled at me.

"Yeah, we had fun today." Dum laughed. I don't know if I could say the same, it felt as if I just embarrased myself. Infront of guys, no less!

"Okay." I placed a smile on my face, not wanting to upset the boys.

I heard Boris chuckle beside me. "I don't know if that's a good idea." Boris grinned.

"Why do you say that?" I began.

"Shut up Boris!" Dum yelled.

"Yeah! We just wanna play with K-Chan!" Dee finished.

"Whatever do what you want. We'll see you guys later, I need to escort someone back to the Clock Tower." Boris grabbed my hand, dragging me along.

"W-what? N-no! You don't have to!" I stuttered, trying to yank my hand free, but Boris kept a hard grip.

"Nonsense Kodie. You're still new here, you don't know your way around yet. It won't do anyone any good if you get lost." Boris had stopped and dropped my hand.

"I don't plan on staying here long..." What possesed me to say that, I don't know. "I have to go home..." I sighed.

I looked up at Boris, then flinched, his ears were slightly dropped and his eyes were tinted with sadness. When our eyes made contact, he was his perky self again. "Live a little." He said.

"What?" I gasped. That saying rang a bell.. where have I heard that? I suddenly noticed we were walking again.

"Everyone here knows outsiders won't always stay here. But, have fun here, while you can." Boris grinned widly. "And what do ya know- we're here!" Boris waved his hand towards the tower that now stood before us.

"Thanks." I whispered.

"You're welcome. But their's no need to be shy." Boris waved as he headed off to the amusement park. "Come back to the amusement park soon!" He called out.

"Okay!" I said back. His words still rang in my ears. Live a little. "Chester..." I whispered, clutching my heart. My best friend had said something similar, oh how I missed him. Him and all of my friends that I have left in my world.

"You'll freeze if you stay out there for too long." Julius said, appearing at the door. In support of what he just said, a huge shiver shook my frame. Suddenly I was grabbed on the arm, by Julius, and was yanked into the tower. "Did you not hear what I said?" He grumbled.

"S-sorry, I was lost in thought." Julius looked me up and down, then walked away without another word.

I sighed, I was tired, confused, and still embarrased with the days past events. The best thing to do now was just go to sleep, even if it was noon.

I fell asleep with my friends in my mind. Will I ever get to see them again?