Chapter 3: Running Into An Old Friend
The next day, Jervis was getting some breakfast at a local coffee shop. He was eating some scones with a cup of tea while reading the newspaper. The front article talked about Batman exposing Penguin's latest operation and had him hauled off to jail. "Oh, Oswald. You really should consider shedding your old feathers and actually turn to a better life like I'm doing.", he said to himself. After he finished his breakfast, he went up to the counter and left a tip. He then left the shop and made his way onto the busy streets of early morning Gotham. Meanwhile, Alice was currently on the streets herself and was on her way to the grocery store. She was trying her best to keep a positive view on things, even after the debacle that went on last night with her soon to be ex-husband. "This'll will be a good thing. I can be at peace now instead of wondering whether or not that bastard is sneaking around with some bimbo.", she said to herself as she was walking. Both Jervis and Alice were completely unaware that they were walking right up to each other. They were both so wrapped up in her thoughts as far as Jervis wondering how he will spend his reformed life and Alice wondering what life will be like single again, that they did not pay attention to when they accidentally bumped into each other. "I am so sorry, ma'am. I did not look where I was going.", Jervis said. "No problem, my fault, sir.", Alice responded. They both looked at each other and both gasped in shock at who they were looking at. Jervis was more shocked and scared than her that he just remained still with a shocked expression on his face. "Jervis?", Alice asked in surprise. Jervis then began to run the other way in terror as he didn't know how to talk to the woman he brainwashed when he first became the Hatter. Alice saw this as a chance to fix the best friendship she had ever experienced and chase after him. "Jervis, wait! Please stop running!", Alice said as she called after him. Jervis heard her, but didn't stop running as she chased after him. He then ducked into an alley as a means of escape. She saw him go into that alley and kept following him into it. When she entered the alley, she couldn't see him anywhere and figured he was hiding. He was hiding behind a dumpster and refused to budge until she was gone. "Jervis, I know you're in here and I know you can hear me.", Alice began to talk and he was listening, even though he didn't want to. "Please don't be frightened of me. I wanted to let you know I am not angry with you for what happened between us. I know you didn't mean for any of it to happen and I know that you would never hurt me. I just never knew you felt that way about me and I'm sorry if I didn't show it back. My point is that I understand why you did it and I am so sorry that it had to come to that. Believe me, if I could go back and change what happened, I would. And I know you would to. But most importantly, I forgive you for everything and that I'm proud of you for wanting to go back to who you were before from what I've read in the papers. I would honestly really love to rekindle our friendship because you were honestly the bestest friend I ever had and I could really use a friend right now.", she said out loud to make sure he could hear her. He did hear every word she said and it did start to make him less scared and more hopeful. Alice then got out a slip of paper from her purse and began to write something on it. "If you want that as well, please give me a call using this number.", she said as she set the paper down on the ground. "I do hope I hear from you and I really hope you forgive me as I've forgiven you.", Alice said as she left the alley. She could not believe what just happened in the last five minutes. But she did see it as a window of opportunity to get what she wished for last night and hoped it would end up paying off. Jervis waited until she was gone before he emerged from behind the dumpster. He walked towards the paper with her number on it and picked it up. He felt both hopeful and terrified at what just happened. "Oh, dear. What have I gotten myself into.", he said as he left the alley and tried to move on with his day, but couldn't help thinking about the woman he once loved, but yet did harm to actually want him back in her life. He just hoped things would go well with this and not bad.