Chapter Ten

Sighing, I climbed the steps to my front door and knocked. Emma had driven me home, and her car was waiting in my driveway, the purr of the engine interrupting the serenity of the forest, in case my parents weren't home. I was about to knock again when the door suddenly swung open and my mother's furious face appeared. "Get in here," she hissed, yanking me by arm. She waved to Emma before closing the door sharply. "Where were you?"

"With Henry," I said. "Why do you care anyways?" I tossed the question over my shoulder as I started towards the kitchen.

"Because you're my daughter," she said, and I scoffed. "How'd you get it into your mind to run away, anyways?"

I turned around. "I didn't run away. I was in town."

She continued, ignoring me. "It's that Henry, isn't it? He's a bad example for you." My mother paused for a moment, fingering her chin as she contemplated something. "I've got it! You're punished for a week, and you can't talk to Henry at all outside of school."

I walked towards her, outraged. "You can't do that. Henry's one of the greatest people I've ever met, and nothing you do will stop me from talking to him!"

"Go to your room," she said, quietly, her long finger pointing to the stairs. "Now!" my mother shrieked. I ran up the stairs and below I could hear a pot hitting the floor and a glass shattering against the wall.

I slammed my bedroom door and locked it before sliding to the floor.

. . . . . . . . . . .

That night I had no dreams. Just myself, falling through emptiness. Occasionally I would pass by something. A giant piano, a flowerpot, a hat, a book. I would try to latch on, but I would always miss and keep tumbling downwards. All I could hear was the ticking of a clock and my own voice repeating the words, "curiouser and curiouser".

Waking up, I could see the first lights of dawn streaming through my window. What an odd dream, I thought, and stood up, pulling my hair out of my eyes. I quickly brushed out my hair and was about to put on my school uniform before I realized that it was a Saturday. I pulled on a pair of jeans and a blue blouse and headed downstairs. I took a post-it note and a pen out of the family office (which we rarely used) and scrawled a quick note to leave by my parents' bedside. It read: I went to town. I'll be back later. –Paige

Finishing that, I grabbed twenty dollars out of each of their wallets to pay for my breakfast and lunch and then I headed down to the first floor. I pulled on a jacket and then headed outside. I skipped down the porch steps and stopped first at Jefferson's house before I began my trek towards town. I was relieved the door was unlocked, and I pushed it open, stepping into the entrance hall. The smell of tea still lingered as I walked into the living room. I picked up Henry's storybook off of the ground, where Jefferson must have dropped it when Emma entered. I turned and quickly exited, not anxious to relive it. I ran down Jefferson's steps before continuing down the road that led to town.

I walked for twenty minutes before I hit the sidewalk. Turning down the street towards Granny's Diner, I saw Henry sitting on a bench in front of the diner. "Hi, Henry," I said, going to stand in front of him.

"Hi, Paige," he greeted, looking up to meet my eye. His eyes lighted on the storybook. "My book!" he cried, shooting out of his seat and accepted it as I held it out for him. "Thank you."

"No problem," I said. "Do you want to eat at the diner? I haven't had breakfast yet."

He nodded. "Sure, but I don't have any money."

I pulled the crumpled dollar bills out of my pocket and held them up. "But I do." I smiled, and both of us walked into the diner, the bell above our heads announcing our entrance.

We both sat down at the counter and Ruby came to greet us. "Hi guys."

"Hi," we both replied.

"What do you both want?" she asked, pulling out her pen and a pad of paper.

"I'll have a cup of tea and some French toast," I said and looked to Henry as he began to make his order.

"Can I have some hot cocoa with cinnamon and some waffles?"

Ruby smiled. "Sure. I'll get that started for you." She disappeared through a door to the kitchen.

"How are things?" I asked, pivoting in my stool to face Henry.

"Fine. How about for you?" he replied.

"Had a rough night," I mumbled, pushing my hair out of my face. His expression asked a million questions, but I brushed them aside with a, "I'll explain later" as Ruby sat our drinks down in front of us.

I pulled to mug of tea to my lips, and gently poured some of the warm liquid down my throat. I closed my eyes as the warm sensation took over, and I could hear Jefferson's voice echoing around me. I suddenly felt a warm hand on my arm, and opening my eyes, I saw Henry.

"You kind of freaked me out for a minute there," he said, laughing slightly.

I smiled. "Sorry. I'm just thinking of Jefferson."

"It's okay. The curse will be lifted soon and you two can be together," he reassured. He pulled the mug of hot cocoa to his lips and drank some. He pulled it away and the whipped cream was sticking to his lips. I laughed as he wiped it away with a napkin.

"You missed a spot," I said, as I reached up with my right hand to wipe away a smudge of whipped cream. I cleaned it off my hand with a napkin and looked up to see his beet red face. Realizing what I had just done, I blushed too and mumbled, "Sorry."

Ruby came up and sat the plates down in front of us. "What's wrong with you two?" she asked, a smile playing at her lips as her eyes shifted from Henry's face to mine. "Enjoy," she said, moving away to take the orders of other customers.

We began to eat, the awkward silence being filled with the sounds of our chewing. "Paige?" Henry asked, his eyes averted to his waffles.

"Yeah?" I asked, hesitantly looking up to view his profile.

He glanced up at me and asked, "Do you want to go to the park after this?"

Like a first date, a taunting voice in head said. "Sure," I said, silencing the voice. "It'll be fun."

He nodded and wiped his face on his napkin. "Are you ready to go?" Henry asked. I nodded and we waited for Ruby to come with the check.

When she came back, I looked over the check, and handed her the twenty-dollar bill. She returned momentarily with the change, which I stuffed in my pocket, and Henry and I returned out into the November chill.

We walked to the park and found it empty. We strolled around to old fountain, silently, until Henry spoke. "What happened last night?"

I stopped and he turned to face. Taking a deep breath, I said, "My mother was mad at me last night because I got home later. She thought I tried to run away, and that you were a bad influence. She wanted to ground me by not letting me see you. I said that you were one of the best people I've ever met and that I wouldn't stop seeing you. She told me to go to my room and once I was up, she started throwing things."

Henry froze, his eyes boring into mine. "I'm one of the best people you've ever met?"

I nodded. "Yes. You made me believe, you're always here when I need you. You're my best friend," I said, and felt his hand slip into mine.

"You're my best friend," he replied, and nervously, he leaned forward a pressed a quick kiss against my lips. We both backed apart, blushing, but then a grin grew across my face. "What?" he asked.

"That was nice," I whispered, looking at my shoes. I cautiously looked up, and a thoughtful look was on Henry's face.

"Why don't we go to Emma's office? You can see Jefferson," he suggested.

"All right," I agreed, and he grabbed my hand as we headed off towards the police station.

. . . . . . . . . . .

We slipped inside the police station and the door shut quietly behind us. We walked into Emma's office and saw her sitting at her desk. Jefferson sat in his cell, his eyes traveling around the room. "Hey, Paige. Henry," he said, as he saw us.

Emma looked up and greeted us. "Hi guys."

"Hello, Emma," I said, before going quickly over to Jefferson's cell. "How are you?" I asked, cheerfully.

"I'm fine. You seem like you're in a good mood," Jefferson smiled at me.

With a sudden curiosity, I asked, "Do you get tea here?"

His grin widened at the question. "No, but if I asked Ms. Swan I might be able to get some. I never thought to ask," he said, and he looked past me at Emma. "Ms. Swan?"

"What?" she asked, standing up from her desk.

"Next time you go to get coffee, could you get me some tea?"

"I have money to pay for it," I said, holding up my crumpled bills.

"You don't have to pay," Jefferson said.

I insisted, "but I want to." No one could argue with that, and Emma took the money from before walking out the door, promising to be back in ten minutes.

"You're Paige's dad," Henry said flatly, as soon as the door to the police station shut behind Emma.

"Yeah. You're Emma's son." Henry nodded. "She talks a lot about you. About your 'Operation Cobra'. You're a smart kid, to have figured it out."

Henry beamed at the compliment. "You really think so? Everyone else thinks I'm insane."

Jefferson shrugged. "It's not that bad a thing to be insane. I should know… I am the Mad Hatter." A wide grin spread across his face as I broke down in giggles.

. . . . . . . . . . .

A/N That chapter was pretty light-hearted in the end. The beginning was kind of intense. And yes! It happened! Henry and Paige cuteness! Expect more of that, folks!

A few questions:

Do you want me to expand by writing in other points of view?

Do you think I should pair Jefferson up with anyone? I was thinking Emma.

Okay. I just realized that now I have to write a court scene. Time to break out one of my numerous copies of "To Kill A Mockingbird". I wonder who the lawyer will be…

Anyways, thank you all so much for the kind reviews, the favorites, and the follows. My mind is blown, and you all are so sweet.

I thought I could get out at least two chapters tonight, but I'm also working on a history project right now, so only one. I might be able to write two tomorrow, since it's a Friday.

Anyways, please review.

Goodnight!