"I wish that if the Knave of Hearts dies...I die."
When Will saw Alice again after her wish something was different. She'd saved him from death, and Will couldn't stop thinking about it. The Red Queen was set to watch him lose his head, but not Alice. She did quite literally put her life on the line for him.
And now, he couldn't stop thinking about it.
"Alice, what were you thinking?"
"What do you mean?" she asked.
She really is oblivious, he thought to himself. "Alice, you said you wished to die if I die..."
She slowed her step, "So? I meant it. I knew he wasn't about to kill me. He would have certainly killed you, though."
Will had no doubt about that whatsoever. Still, it did nothing to calm to raging sea in his heart. This would not do. He couldn't have feelings for Alice. Not Alice. Not now. Maybe before...before Cyrus. When he'd had his chance to have her. All those days and nights of just him and her together in Wonderland. He could have asked her for anything, anything and she would have said yes for him.
Now, things were different. She'd found love in someone else's arms. Someone else she'd give her all. Now, every time he thought of her he had to contend with the stabbing pang of jealousy, and the general unease of his growing feelings.
"Will?"
Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"Hmm?"
"Are you angry? Surely you can't be," she said.
"I'm not angry, Alice. I'm...I don't know what I am. I don't like that you risked yourself like that. Not one bit."
"Will, you're my friend. I'd do anything for you."
Even as she said it, Will's heart fell to his knees. Friend. He already knew that of course, but hearing her say there was nothing between them beyond friendship stung. A lot more than it should have. A lot more than he'd ever intended.
He hated Wonderland. Absolutely hated it. But, he had to be grateful for it as well. He met Alice here. And curse his heart, because he'd come to realize that the moment she touched it...there was never going to be anyone else for him.