Thank you ALL for so much positive feedback on this story, and getting into it so much, I know you've all been waiting for them to kiss, however I feel terribly uninspired. I have the day off today, so I am updating, and I'll do my best for you guys. Thanks so much and remember to review!

Chapter 3 Part 2: The Journey to Iplam Heights Day 2

"How much of that paper did you read?" Alice asked when she had finished eating. Tarrant looked up from his bread to her.

"Enough," he stated. Alice swallowed the lump in her throat. She nearly choked, but didn't.

"What does that mean?" she asked. Tarrant didn't speak, he just stood and walked over to her, taking her face in his bandaged hands, and kissing her.

Alice's eyes grew as large as tea trays when Tarrant's lips met hers. Her chest began to hurt, and her heartbeat sped up. Her face warmed and her hands grew clammy at her sides. Her face in his hands, she didn't care about the rough dirty fabric, and her thoughts went at a million miles a second. She pursed her lips against his, and attempted to deepen their contact. This is what she had been waiting for… This kind of contact is what she wanted from Tarrant the moment she saw him for the first time in five years. When his lips left hers, they lingered only centimeters away from hers, and she longed to close the distance again.

"We need to get going, we have a long day ahead of us," he said lustfully. Alice could tell he wanted to close the distance again. His hands dropped to his sides, and his pale face showed the slightest bit of red. A wave of embarrassment washed over her suddenly and she turned her back to Tarrant. The embarrassment wasn't "Oh no I just kissed Tarrant" embarrassment. It was "I really liked that" embarrassment. And she was never going to admit it. Ever. "Alice?" he asked from behind her. "Are you okay?" Alice turned to face him.

"I'm just fine Tarrant. What made you think that I'm anything but okay? Why everything is just fine!" Alice cried. Then she did something completely outside of herself. She ran. Alice ran as fast as she could away from there, away from Tarrant, away from her problems, away… just away. She ran down the path in front of her, tears involuntarily streaming down her face. She didn't know what came over her; she just wanted to be alone for the moment, to think. The path ended, and she didn't know where she was. Alice opened her eyes and looked around in horror at the debris that surrounded her. Ash made the sky that was once blue a dull gray color. The ground was gray; the buildings sagged in the debris as if they too were as upset as Alice was at that moment. This town reflected how she felt. It wasn't her fault really, she just needed to think. Tarrant had kissed her. That she knew. She had kissed him back. Another fact that plagued her mind. Alright Alice, think only of the facts. Why do you feel the way you do? She thought to herself. She sank onto an ashy stool, or at least she thought it was a stool. She couldn't be sure.

"Fact Number one, Tarrant kissed me," Alice said matter-of-factly. Wait… hadn't that already been pointed out? Nevermind that. "Fact two, I kissed him back," she stated. Her face fell into her hands and she shook her head. The ashes were getting to her head. "Fact three… I liked it, oh botheration… I loved it," Alice muttered to herself. "Fact four… I love Tarrant," she said. "Fact five… he doesn't love me back."

"When did I say tha'?" an outlandish brogue rang out. Alice lifted her head and stared into a pair of gold eyes. Those eyes were attached to a pale face, and that pale face was none other than the face of Tarrant. She lowered her head again.

"You didn't have to…" Alice said.

"If anything, I'd say you don't love me," he lisped stepping closer to her. Alice shook her head.

"Quite the opposite actually," Alice said seriously. "Do you suddenly remember me or something? Or was it all a lie?"

"Alice, please… I don't remember anything before our meeting three days… or was it four days, ago! I thought you…" he began. Alice looked up at him again; his eyes remained the gold color they had been when he had found her.

"You thought I, what?" Alice asked standing up.

"I thought that you had feelings for me, that writing!" he exclaimed.

"That writing was how I wish our last meeting had ended. But I'm not so sure anymore since you don't remember who I am!" Alice cried. Tarrant tensed up. Alice crossed her arms over her chest in attempt to warm herself. Tarrant's warm hands encircled her waist suddenly, and even though she was mad at him, she wanted the warmth, and was glad for it. He rested his face in the crook of her neck and kissed it softly. She tensed at his touch as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"I don't remember when we last met, but I want you to know that I have some feelings for you too," he said. Alice blinked back tears and for the first time she looked at her surroundings.

"Where are we Tarrant?" Alice asked. Tarrant let Alice go and stepped to her side looking around at the debris. His gold eyes turned orange and he clenched his fists at his sides.

"My old home…" he muttered. "I'd know this place anywhere." Alice looked sadly at the Hatter by her side.

"This is Iplam East?" Alice asked.

"Yeah, it is lass. Let's get going, Iplam north is on our way and we need to restock on supplies." Alice turned away from the debris and began walking. Tarrant stood firm.

"Tarrant? Are you coming?" Alice asked. "We must hurry or our supplies will get stolen." Tarrant clenched and unclenched his fists.

"You're absolutely right Alice, let us depart," he said as cheerfully as possible. Alice gave a grin and ran off back into the forest. Tarrant ran after her, but he couldn't help but hurt inside, for he had lied to Alice to cover up a previous lie. And eventually those lies would pile up. And she would never trust him. But she had feelings for him, as he did for her. He had kissed her, and she liked it. But his heart hurt for Alice, because his lie was hurting her. Tarrant made a promise to himself right then and there.

When we find her father, I swear that I will tell her the truth. I will…

I'm sorry if this chapter sucks, but I'm horribly uninspired. What do you want to see happen next? Any songs that you think would help? Please review. HELP ME! I'll find something I promise! This isn't the end! She still needs to find her father, and Stayne has only made two appearences! So help me, and tell me what you thought of this chapter? Okay, bye.

~MrsNaara