Chapter Seven – Two Years After That

Say (Half Past Nine), by Hot Chelle Rae

Well I've got the ticket
We're out of time
Go read
y or not it's a half past nine
half past nine

And this city is red
There's nothing left
No looking back and no regrets
no regrets

Take my hand
This train won't wait for you
Well I'll do anything
if I can make you

Come away with me
and don't waste time
Say, say that you're leaving with me
Say, say that you're coming with me tonight

Could be the night
We'll be just fine
Say, say that you're leaving with me
Say, say, say that you're coming with me

And let's take a chance
we've come this far
A motion picture romance
The world is ours, world is ours

Come away with me
and don't waste time
Say, say that you're leaving with me
Say, say that you're coming with me tonight

It's now or it's never
I won't wait forever
I know this is right
Let's let love live our lives tonight

The Dodge Charger gleamed in the sunshine and Alice couldn't take her eyes off of it. She'd never been a car person, but for some reason this one seemed to have captivated her. She wondered if it was just because it was black and sleek, or if it was a bit of old Dukes of Hazard nostalgia. Whatever the reason, she couldn't wait to slide behind the wheel and drive that bad boy out of the city. It was only a rental, but Alice was seriously considering buying one for herself. Maybe after grad school.

"Remember to keep your cell phones charged," Carol said. "And don't pick up any strangers."

"We'll be fine, Mom," Alice said, running a hand over the hood of the car.

"Alice…"

"We'll call every night," Hatter promised. "So you'll not worry."

Alice turned around in time to catch the affectionate look her mother gave Hatter. She couldn't help but grin; she and her mom had come a long way over the last six years and were finally at a place where they could be friends. She knew her mother genuinely liked Hatter, despite her misgivings early on in their relationship, and it was such a relief to have everyone getting along.

"We'll be fine," Alice said again. She gave Carol a hug and kissed her on the cheek. "It's just two weeks and then we'll come back and get respectable jobs."

Carol laughed. "I know. I can't help but worry, though."

The trip had been Alice's idea. She wanted to drive out to Aunt Patty's, follow the old bus route only this time with stops to see the sights. She thought it would be a fun way to celebrate graduating from college – a road trip with Hatter – but she hoped to get some fodder for a follow-up book as well. When they got back she'd start her summer job and then it would be off to graduate school.

"Take care of each other," Carol said. She gave Hatter a big hug, and pressed something into his hand. "Have fun!"

Alice got into the car and quickly reviewed all the dials, knobs and levers so she'd know where everything was. Hatter slid into the passenger seat and put the window down so Carol could lean in and remind them one more time to be careful.

"We'll call you tonight," Alice said, and then they pulled away from the curb and headed off down the street. "What did she give you?"

"Prepaid Visa card," Hatter replied. He shifted so he could pull his wallet from his back pocket, and slid the card inside. "That'll be handy for gas."

"I'm so excited that we're doing this!" Alice said, bouncing just a little in her seat. "This is going to be way better than the bus."

"Dunno about that," Hatter said. He slid his hand under Alice's t-shirt and tickled her ribs. "Harder to snog this way."

Alice giggled and squirmed until Hatter took pity on her; he settled his hand on her knee instead.

"You'll have plenty of chances for that," she said with a smile. "Think hotel beds instead of narrow bus seats."

"Where's the challenge?" Hatter complained.

"Oh, I'm sure I can think of something." Alice shot him a sultry look.

"What's our first stop?"

"Gonna have to wait, sweets," Alice laughed. "We still have a long way to go."

*o*o*o*

"Best shower ever," Alice sighed. The water continued to pound down on her shoulders but she wasn't standing up anymore; she and Hatter were sitting in the tub, Alice pulled back against his chest. She could feel his heart racing.

"I think you killed me," Hatter gasped.

"I told you to watch out for the faucet."

"Can we get out now? I think I'm drowning."

Alice laughed. She pushed herself up, then gave a hand to Hatter. She took a moment to admire his body as he stood there under the spray. He had a lean build and a narrow waist, muscular without being overly so.

"God, you're gorgeous." Alice ran her hands over his chest, the water making his skin slick as a seal's.

"Isn't that my line?" Hatter nibbled at her neck, one breast cupped in his hand. The water chose that moment to change from fairly warm to icy cold, and Hatter screamed like a girl. Alice danced out from under the spray and half-fell out of the tub, ending up sprawled on the bath mat and laughing herself silly. She heard the water shut off, and then Hatter was standing over her, dripping.

"You didn't laugh this much the last time we came through Pennsylvania," he remarked. He gave her a hand up and wrapped her in a towel.

"The way I remember it, you tried to follow me into the bathroom, and then you bought me a candy bar." Alice took another towel and wrapped her wet hair in it.

"I'm way ahead of you," Hatter said. He walked out of the bathroom, the last towel slung low on his hips. Alice trailed after him, tucking her own towel more securely around her chest, and then started laughing again when she saw the king-sized Crunch bar in his hand. When she tried to grab it, Hatter held it up over her head.

"Sorry, but this is only for naked girls."

"Ah. I see." Alice narrowed her eyes, then ran at Hatter and knocked him backward onto the Queen-sized bed. They grappled for the candy bar until both were divested of their towels and Alice couldn't breathe from laughing so hard.

"This is more like it," Hatter said. He spooned up behind Alice and ran one hand over her hip and down her leg. Alice rested her head on his arm while simultaneously opening the candy wrapper.

"If only I could get a chocolate Hatter, life would be perfect."

"I'm better than chocolate," Hatter replied. Alice snorted.

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Unlike chocolate, I make you melt in my hands." And he proceeded to show her exactly how he could make that happen.

*o*o*o*

"Hatter, it's a thousand degrees. Just put the air conditioner on!"

"You know it gives me a headache," Hatter snapped.

Alice sighed. Kansas was unspeakably hot; she didn't know if it was always that way in June, or if they were having a heat wave. All the windows in the Charger were down, but the air blowing through them was too warm. Alice had stripped down to a tank top, and fanned herself with one of the maps from the glove compartment.

"Can we at least stop for a cold soda or something?"

"We're making good time."

Alice took a deep breath. The heat was making Hatter crabby, and that was making her crabby. If he'd only turn the air on…

"I'm begging you, Hatter. On my knees. We need to stop for something cold or I'm going to melt right here." Alice gave him her most pathetic face.

"Okay, fine. The next place I see."

"Thank you!" Alice leaned over and kissed his cheek. Hatter just grumped.

They drove another twenty-five miles in silence, Alice trying to visualize icebergs and snowstorms and trying not to hate Hatter. Finally there were signs for gas stations and restaurants, and they pulled off the highway.

"There!" Alice pointed to an ice cream stand. "Oh, God, yes!"

She was out of the car as soon as Hatter parked it, and joined the short line at the ordering window. There wasn't even a hint of a breeze, and Alice continued to fan herself with the map. She glanced back at Hatter, who was leaning against the car with his arms folded. His face was red from the heat and his short-sleeved silk button-down shirt was plastered to his chest.

"Do you want something?"

"Shake. Strawberry," was his terse reply.

Alice rolled her eyes. Maybe once he cooled off, he'd regain his normally happy demeanor. She hoped. Or else she might have to leave him on the side of the road and finish this trip by herself.

When it was her turn to order, Alice couldn't help but be jealous of the perky girls working the stand – it sure looked cool in there. While they buzzed around, getting her ice cream and Hatter's shake, she grabbed a handful of napkins and shoved them in the pocket of her jean shorts. She gestured Hatter over toward the shaded picnic tables and joined him there.

"Thanks," he mumbled when Alice handed him his shake. "What's in that one?"

"Ice water," Alice said. She set the second cup aside for later. Her more immediate concern was the sugar cone filled with chocolate ice cream, which she set about licking because it was melting fast in the hot sun.

"Ooooh, this is heaven," she moaned. The perfect antidote to a hot summer day. A bit of chocolate ice cream dripped on her chest and started tracking its way down; Alice caught it before it went underneath the tank top, scooping it up with one finger which she then popped in her mouth to clean off.

Hatter made a strangled sound and she looked over at him, surprised to see the look on his face. She knew that look, it was an I-want-you-now look. What she didn't know was why he'd gone from grumpy to lusty so quickly, until she drew her finger out of her mouth and saw the way his eyes were following it. She smirked.

"How's your milkshake?" Alice asked innocently. She went back to licking her cone, making an effort now to sweep her tongue around the chocolate in a languorous fashion. Hatter only grunted in reply.

"Can I try some?" Alice asked. He wordlessly handed her the milkshake, eyes widening when she swirled her tongue around the straw before sucking on it in the most suggestive way she could manage.

"Bloody hell," Hatter whispered. Alice put her hand to her mouth to keep from laughing as he surreptitiously adjusted himself under the picnic table.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

"We need to find a place to stop," Hatter said. "Soon. Now."

"Why?" Alice took another lick of her cone, and Hatter fairly launched himself across the table. He captured her face in his hands and kissed her, hard and deep, until she felt a bit light-headed.

"That's why."

"Oh," Alice said dazedly. "Someplace with AC and a pool?"

"Whatever. Let's go." Hatter grabbed her hand and hurried her back to the car; she barely had time to toss the cone and grab the ice water. The air inside the car was hot and stuffy, and Alice hoped they found a motel quickly, as much for the draw of air conditioning as a romp with Hatter. While he strapped himself in the driver's seat, Alice popped the lid off the ice water.

"Ever seen what I can do with an ice cube?" she asked.

*o*o*o*

Alice parked the car down the street from the St. George bus station. It was strange to see it during the daytime; it seemed all her visits here were at dusk. She half expected to see Doug waiting for them by the door, but of course they didn't need the transportation this time. After a quick stroll through town, they'd head over to Cheshire Falls for an overnight stay. Alice was hoping to revisit a certain overgrown balcony.

Hatter took her hand and led her to a metal bench nearby, where they could sit in the shade. Alice snuggled up against him, loving how solid he felt under her arm. Their trip was almost half over, and soon he'd be working out here in Salt Lake City and she'd be back in New York. It hadn't been easy, maintaining a long-distance relationship for all these years, but there wasn't anyone else Alice could imagine herself being with.

"What are you thinking about, love?" Hatter asked.

"I'm just wishing we didn't have to go home next week."

"Me, too." He kissed her forehead, and Alice smiled.

"This always seems like a leaving place to me," she said. "The first time we were here, I had to say goodbye to you and it broke my heart. I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."

The memory was fresh in her mind, and she thought it might always be. She'd fallen for Hatter fast. He'd filled up the space in her heart that had been left behind by her father, and letting him go had been so hard. Particularly for a selfish sixteen year old girl who wanted a happy ending.

"It was the same for me, yeah?" Hatter gave her a squeeze. "I didn't have the chance to know nice girls in Wonderland. I'd come from nothing, stealing and running cons, and then there was this sweet, pretty Oyster being so nice to me. Sometimes I don't feel I deserve you, Alice."

"There's a saying, Hatter. The past is history, the future is a mystery. Today is a gift and that's why we call it the present."

"I like that," Hatter chuckled.

They sat in companionable silence for a while, watching people walk by and enjoying a nice breeze that kept summer air from being intolerable. Alice had one arm propped up behind Hatter, her hand playing with the hair that curled at the back of his neck. She wished every day could be like this, and not just the too-rare occasions when they were able to be together. Maybe once she was done with grad school things would be different.

"Alice?" Hatter turned to face her and took both of her hands in his. She leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to his lips.

"I love you too."

Hatter grinned. "I do, you know I do. And I don't want to say goodbye to you anymore. I don't want to plan trips to see you three or four times a year."

"Hatter…"

"Let me finish," Hatter said. He squeezed her hands. "Every time we say goodbye, a part of me worries it'll be forever. That something will happen to keep us apart. I'd just as soon go back to Wonderland than be without you, Alice."

Alice looked at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I feel the same way, you know I do."

"Marry me," he whispered, and Alice forgot how to breathe. "Marry me, Alice, and be with me forever."

Hatter reached one hand inside his jacket and pulled out a little white box. He flipped it open one-handed, revealing a gold band with a small round sapphire gleaming on it.

"Marry me. Be my Alice for always."

"It's beautiful," Alice gasped. She reached out a tentative finger and touched it. "It's perfect."

"Will you be mine?" Hatter asked softly. "Will you be my Alice?"

"I always was," Alice said in a voice thick with tears. "I always will be."

Hatter slipped the ring on her finger with a hand that shook ever so slightly. He kissed it, kissed her hand, and pulled her against him in a bone crushing hug.

"I never thought I'd have anyone to love me," he said into her hair, and she could hear he was crying. "I never thought I'd have a proper family again."

Alice rubbed his back, crying herself. "I love you, Hatter. I'll never stop loving you."

She held him till he got himself back under control, and sat back to run his arm over his eyes. Alice put her hand on his face, using her thumb to wipe away his tears while simultaneously watching the sunlight glint off the ring. It looked so right on her finger, like it had always been meant for her.

"I'm sorry," Hatter said. Alice kissed him, tasting salty tears on his lips.

"Don't be sorry. Don't ever be sorry for how you feel."

Hatter twined his fingers with hers, turning her hand so that he could see the ring too. "When you start school again, I'll be there. I'll get a job in the city and we'll be together."

"I love a man with a plan," Alice replied.

"And I love you." They kissed, and it was full of promises that they both intended to keep.

All too soon it was time to get back in the car. Doug was a stickler for being prompt and not keeping people waiting, and Hatter didn't want to get on his bad side. Not when he had to tell him he was leaving Cheshire Falls for New York, to make a life with an Oyster.

When they got back to the car, Alice looked at Hatter over the roof. "Hey. You still have the key to the Town Hall?"

Hatter grinned, and held up his key chain. "You know I do."

They shared a look mixed with mischief, desire and love, and Alice hoped he would always look at her that way. It was funny, she thought as she slid back behind the wheel, how much your life could change on one bus trip.


AN: Thanks to everyone who read and reviewed this story! I'm so glad you liked it, and your kind words really put a smile on my face. You guys are the best!

Special props to my story helpers: Alaina Downs, Celticbriarrose, Kittyinaz and Smiles2Go. Go Team! Thanks also to the awesome band Hot Chelle Rae who have been very inspiring to me lately…if you haven't listened to their album Lovesick Electric, do it now!