"I can't find it anywhere!" The March Hare exclaimed.
The Mad Hatter turned around to see his best friend digging vigorously through his magic trunk.
"What did you lose this time?" The Hatter asked looking puzzled as The Hare pulled more and more bins and trunks out.
Hare sighed. "My cape! It's not in the trunk!" He slumped down, defeated on top of the trunk. "I've looked everywhere."
"Hey, did you check the hat rack? Or maybe the closet?" Hatter suggested.
"Hatter," Hare looked up. "Since when do we ever put things where they belong?"
Hatter was about to say something, when he realized Hare was right. "How true that is."
While the twosome may have had the attic catalonged alphabetically and always pulled it together for a tea party, but they were also quite disorganized. Let alone after one of Hares' magic shows. They would spend weeks making sure everything was perfect. This afternoon, their hard work of planning and practice would finally pay off. The Hatter and The Hare surprisingly were pretty good at getting ready for events. Well, certain events. Their favorites were Wonderland events like the spelling bee, triathlon, and when they would all get together to play charades or other games at the palace. And of course their daily 4 o' clock sharp, tea parties. However, usually after Hares' performances, they had a tendency to just throw props carelessly in the attic or yard and crash at the tea table. Hatter and Hare had already lined up all their props and acts in the Hatters' foyer, ready to be moved outside. Everything except for Hares' cape. He had never not worn it in one of his shows.
After the two had looked high and low, Hatter looked throughout the rest of the hat house, while Hare double checked the attic in a tizzy.
"Where did it go?" Hatter asked himself as he ran down the stairs. "I know it's around here somewhere."
Hare always left his things at Hatters' house, and why shouldn't he? He practically lived there, sleeping over most nights and even having a say in the organization of the attic and the grocery list. In fact there wasn't really a reason for Hare to not be living with Hatter, considering everyday he got up and just spent the day there anyway.
Hatter always felt bad when things of Hares' would go missing at his house. The least he could do was keep track of Hares' things when he came over.
"Now I remember!" he hit himself on the head as he went to the laundry room. He had put it in with the rest of Hares' clothes to get washed, which should have been clean by now. Hatter searched through a basket of a mix of his and Hares' clothes.
"Ah, found it!" he shouted holding it up, gleaming.
He raced back to the attic, cape in hand, about to end Hares' worrying. Sometimes he could really work himself up, not that it was bad or annoying, just that Hatter hated seeing Hare so upset.
"Hare! I found it!" Hatter shouted happily. "Hare?" he asked while looking around the attic.
Hatter heard some mumbling over in a corner as Hare was still digging in storage spaces. Hatter followed the chatter through the mess that Hare had made while searching.
Hare heard Hatter walk up, but hadn't turned.
"I couldn't find it anywhere still!" Hare cried. "Sorry about the attic, Hatter..." he added with a sniffle.
"Hey, that's alright. We were gonna mess it up anyway." Hatter smiled, when he heard a chuckle out of his furry friend.
"Guess you're right." Hare smiled.
"Anyway, Hare look! I found it!" Hatter repeated.
Hare shot up off the floor and took the cape laughing.
"Oh thank you Hatter!" Hare cheered hugging him. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
The two walked up to a full length mirror in the spacious attic, as Hare put it on.
The cape in question was a silky candy apple red that had the words The Amazing Hair-Raising Hare written on the back in yellow fabric letters. The collar was Hares' favorite part of the whole ensemble. It was made with a thicker piece of red cloth lining the neckline with cut out pink, yellow, and orange stars and cresent moons. Not only did it look fantastic, but also meant a lot to him because Hatter had designed and sewed it. Custom made, just for him!
"Well, what'd you think?" asked Hare once he finished tying it, turning to his best
friend.
Hatter laughed. "You look great, Hare!" he walked towards Hare more. "As always."
"Oh." Hatter exclaimed, noticing a detail on Hares' cape become unstitched.
" "Oh"?" Hare queried. "What do you mean "oh'"? Like a good "oh"? Bad 'oh'?"
"Nah, it's alright." Hatter reassured, before Hare had another panic attack. "A couple of the letters are peeling off a bit." Hatter inspected the cape closer. "No problem, I can sew them back, and they'll be as good as new!"
Hare looked up at Hatter with his soft brown eyes. "What would I do without you?" He gave Hatter a huge hug.
"I think the same thing about you." Hatter responded with a grin as Hare blushed.
"Well, your shows at 3, and its 2-ish now. You wanna have a quick cup of tea before we have to set up?" Hatter asked.
"I'd love too!" Hare smiled, jumping up.
They walked over to the attics door, as Hatter held it open for Hare.
"Just a cup or two, though." Hatter clarified, mostly for himself. "We can't fill up on tea and crumpets before this afternoons party."
Hare giggled, walking through the door. "I wouldn't dream of it!"
With that, the two headed downstairs to the kitchen.
After about a quarter to 3 they both started to prepare themselves for Hares' magic show. Hatter cleaned up the tea table as Hare continued to get ready inside. Luckily, there wasn't much to clean.
"Hatter!" a little voice squeaked.
"Oh, hi Dormouse!" Hatter waved at the small creature, who had popped out of the colorful teapot in the center of the table. "You've been awfully quite today, haven't you?" Hatter asked. "Guess you've been as quite as a mouse, huh?"
Hatter laughed at his own bad joke, as Dormouse gave him dagger eyes. "Gee, if looks could kill." Hatter said as he stopped laughing. "Anyway, what's up, little guy?"
"I was just wondering if you could pick up my mail for me today after the magic show?" Dormouse asked. "I'm supposed to get a package today. I really slept late today." he yawned.
"Sure! That reminds me," Hatter replied. "I'm supposed to be getting a package myself too. Well kinda."
"What do you mean kinda?" the Dormouse asked looking up.
"Well, the package is for me, but it's a gift for Hare." Hatter explained.
"Oh, what is it? "Dormouse enquired excited. "What'd you get him?"
Hatter looked around, making sure Hare wasn't around, then moved closer to the teapot, kneeling on the Dormouses' level.
"A new gardening set!" Hatter whisper-shouted. A lot of his tools are rusty and old, so I'm gonna surprise him with a new set!"
"When is it supposed to come?" Dormouse asked. Usually Dormouse never cared this much, but he loved surprises.
"The 14th, I believe." Hatter smirked. Oh, he knew that was the day it was to come. In order to keep it a surprise for Hare. He had memorized the date in order to pick it up before Hare could see it.
"Oh, so today." Dormouse replied, slipping back into the teapot.
"Uh, huh, ye- come again?" Hatter asked surprised. "Dormouse!" he called knocking on the teapots lid. He popped out again.
"Today. Today's date is the 14th." he repeated slipping away again.
"Wait, so-" Hatter told himself nervously, but was cut off by Hare.
"Hatter! Come on!" he shouted cheerfully as he approaches Hatter from the other side of the yard. "Everyone's here!"
Hare noticed the worried look on Hatters' face.
"Hatter? Are you alright?" Hare asked concerned, putting an arm around him. " You don't look too good. If you're not feeling up to it we could always cancel."
"What? No. I'm fine!" Hatter laughed. "I was just-". Hatter stopped for a moment. "You'd cancel your show, just because I don't feel good?" A smiled flashed on Hatters' face at that thought. Hare was really too sweet, and it was adorable.
"See!" Hare said pointing at Hatter. "I knew it. Come on, let's go inside, get you comfortable," Hare kept talking as he guided Hatter to the door of the hat house.
"Oh, Hare I'm fine!" Hatter explained stepping away from the door.
"Are you sure?" Because that's what you said about your sore throat and-" Hare started.
"Hare, really I feel great!" Hatter cut in trying to convince him. "I was lost in my thoughts, that's all!"
"Alright, if you say so." Hare said shrugging.
"Yeah, so let's go!" Hatter encouraged.
"Your audience awaits, Amazing Hair-raising Hare!" Hatter smiled holding out an arm that a laughing Hare linked his with Hatters' in return.
They had set up the pop-up stage prior to finding their props and have tea. Everything was decorated, and the two had also pulled out miscellaneous chairs for all their friends to sit in. The usual guests were there: The Queen, the Rabbit, the Tweedles, and of course Alice. Alice was great to have at the magic shows, because even if the messed up big time she would always smile and laugh. Who knows if the Cheshire Cat was out there. Sometimes he would pop up, other times he ruined the show. You could never know with him. Hatter hoped that maybe this show ended early. Maybe from another one of Hares' magical disasters. Maybe he wouldn't be able to open the trick handcuffs again. Maybe he would accidentally hypnotize someone again. Hatter on any other day wouldn't usually think this, but he had to pick up that package before Hare saw it. It wasn't that Hare would snoop in Hatters mail, it was that Hare might be suspicious of the package and could read what it contained. And that would spoil the surprise.
"Hare," Hatter said turning to his shorter companion. "You ready?"
"Yeah, pretty sure I'm good!" Hare replied looking up with a smile.
"Righty roo!" Hatter laughed, picking up a baton. "Let's get this show started!" He walked through the bright teal curtain and started twirling his baton.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Gentlemen and ladies!" Hatter announced grinning ear to ear. "It is my pleasure to welcome to the stage for another unforgettable performance, the one, the only, The Amazing Hair-Raising Hare!"
Hatter held out his hands, and right on cue Hare out from behind the curtain as well as everyone cheered.
"Thank you, thank you!" Hare said bowing.
"And now," the furry magician pulled his magic wand out from his sleeve. "The show can begin!"
Even though Hare had a tendency to mess up for some of his tricks, Hatter had to admit he was getting better.
The Hare had done a couple of his usual tricks: the handcuffs (used on himself), pulling various items out of his hat, and made a couple small things dissappear which led up to his grand finale.
Hatter wheeled out a large box, standing up right that was as tall as him.
"And now, for my final trick," Hare announced, holding his wand above his head. "I will make a person dissappear!"
Everyone gasped. Out of fear. It didn't take a genius to know, if Hare needed volunteers for a magic trick, you didn't dare raise your hand.
Hare scoffed playfully, aware of the Wonderlandians thought process. "Don't worry I'm not gonna make any of you dissappear."
At that everyone sighed in relief.
"I'm going to make the Hatter dissappear!" he said turning to his tall, gangly partner, motioning him to step in the large box.
Even though they had practiced this trick, it did put Hatter on edge, in fear Hare would actually make him dissappear. But Hatter did trust him, so he opened the box and hopped inside. As he heard, what he was pretty sure were the Tweedles questioning Hare if the trick would even work, he got an idea. In the back of the box was a hidden trap door, that he was supposed to step out of it when Hare said the magic words. Hatter figured he could kill two birds with one stone. When Hare said the magic words, he would leave the box and not reappear to pick up Hares' present, and to show everyone wrong that the trick would actually work.
Hare spun the box around. "Now, prepare to be amazed!" He stopped the box tapping in three times with his wand. "Abracadabra!"
With that Hatter jumped out in the back and ran off to the Wonderland mailbox.
Hare opened the box, and Hatter was no longer in it. Everyone cheered for him as he bowed.
"And now to bring him back!" Hare called out. He repeated what he had done before, spinning and tapping the box. "Abracadabra!" Hare opened the door cheerfully, but to his chagrin Hatter wasn't in there. He heard surprised gasps and chatter from the audience. Hare panicked. He checked behind the curtain and Hatter wasn't there.
Hare nervously laughed coming back on stage. "Um, perhaps different magic word?" He closed the door, once again tapping his wand on the box.
"Alakazam!" Hare shouted, opening the door. Nothing. He shut it again.
"Hocus-pocus!" Nope.
"Volia!" Hatter still wasn't there.
"Please?" Hare said downhearted staring into the empty box. Please was the magic word right? "Pretty, pretty please?"
"Hare really did make the Hatter dissappear!" Tweedledum shouted.
Everyone started murmuring. That really punched Hare in the stomach.
"I really did make Hatter dissappear." he told himself, trying not to make a scene.
Hare couldn't really focus on anything that the Queen was saying, with his mind racing. But from the sounds of it she ordered everyone to go out and look for the Hatter, assuming he had to be somewhere in Wonderland.
Hare was paralyzed with fear and guilt. He ran behind the curtain of the stage, and slumped down on the stage. He hadn't actually meant to make Hatter dissappear. It was just a silly little magic trick. What if Hare never saw him again? What is that was their last moment together? They did everytime together, it couldn't be. Then it finally hit Hare that he had essentially just erased his best friend from his life. Hare would never again those sparkling blue eyes that had so much wonder in them. His contiguous smile and laughter always brightened up Hares' days. Hare would never be able to help him style his shiny strawberry blonde lockes again. And forget about being Hatters' model. Even since he broke his mannequin, Hatter asked if he could use Hare because, in Hatters' own words, Hare was perfect for it. Hare put his hands on his face, buried himself into his knees, and began to sob uncontrollably.
"Mr. Hare?" asked a small voice.
Hare shot up, sniffling to see Alice looking down at him, with a concerned look on her face. "Are you okay?"
"I- I-" He stumbled on his words. I was about to say he was alright, but it was obvious he wasn't.
"N-n-no," Hare cried. "Not really, A-Alice."
Alice sat down next to him, not really knowing what to say but trying to comfort the distressed lagomorph.
"I didn't except him to actually dissappear!" He managed between sobs. "I mean it was just a stupid little magic trick, how was I supposed to know he wouldn't come back?"
Alice grabbed a handkerchief from the Hares' magic trunk, and passed it to him.
"Thank you." He cried, blowing into it. "It hasn't even been that long since he's been missing, and I already miss him so, so much!"
"It's ok, Mr. Hare." Alice spoke up. "We'll find him, we just gotta keep looking."
"Alice," Hare wailed. "Where does one even start looking for someone who's been "poofed" away in a magic show? For all we know he could be outside of space and time as we know it, defying all forms of the known laws of physics!"
That just made Hare bawl his eyes out, thinking that Hatter could live out his days all alone in the 4th dimension. Alice thought about that for a moment. Despite the Hares madness, he was very intelligent and did raise valid points.
"What if we went out to look for him?" Alice asked. "After all, you know Mr. Hatter best more than anyone. Maybe if you went out, you could figure out where he might have gone!"
Alice had a point. Hare would be able to narrow down Hatters' favorite places, and see where he went from that. Hopefully his magic would be kind enough to transport Hatter somewhere he loved.
"You know Alice," Hare sniffled. "That's not a bad idea! Come on let's go!" Hare cheered taking Alice hand and running off all over Wonderland.
It was around 7 and still there wasn't any sign of the Hatter. Everyone had went home by then, says they'd search around in the morning. Hare was still upset by the whole day and could go to sleep. He had gone back to Hatters' once everyone left and Alice went home. Hare sat at the end of the long tea table, all by himself. Dormouses' little snores could be heard from outside the teapot, which made Hare smile. Even though it was dark outside, there was a beautiful glow thanks to Hatter. He and Hare thought of nighttime tea parties, so he installed fairy lights around the tea table and rest of the yard.
Hare didn't really know what to do with himself. After sitting outside a while, he decided to call it a night. He went inside the hat house, brushing, washing, and put on his pajamas. He was about to go to bed, he just needed to grab some blankets from the attic. He decided was gonna sleep in Hatters' bed, hoping that wasn't weird. It's not like this would be the first he was gonna sleep in Hatters' bed. He had slept there before. But this was different. This time he wasn't sleeping with Hatter. Hare would be all by himself. That just put Hare in a panic, and started to weep once again. His cries became louder and louder. Hare didn't care though, he was all by himself and was overcome with emotion at this point.
"Hare?" a voiced yelled from outside. That stopped Hare dead in his tracks. He turned seeing the attic window was open, and poked his head out. He saw a tall, magenta figure with the silhouette of a top hat, holding a package.
He let out a large gasp. "Hatter!" Hare cried. As fast as his legs could carry him, he raced down the stairs to the tea table.
"Hatter!" he yelled as he charged out the IN door, running into Hatters' arms.
Hatter dropped everything, and put his arms out to embrace a sobbing Hare.
"Hare?" Hatter asked concerned, tilting Hares' chin up to meet his face. "Hey, hey what's wrong?"
"Well at the magic show," Hare spoke between sobs. "You never reappeared when you were supposed to. But I'm just glad you didn't stay missing forever!"
Hatter was about to add something, but Hare babbled on. "And I'm sorry! I'm so, so, so sorry! I-I never meant to make you actually disappear! I would've never forced you to do the trick if I knew that would happen!"
Hatter had so many questions, but figured it would be best to let Hare get it all out of his system. Hatter noticed Hare was shaking, and held him even closer.
"I would never want you to go away!" Hare continued. "I'm totally lost without you, and I wouldn't know what to do with myself! I love you and I wouldn't want you anywhere else, but here!"
Oops. He hadn't meant to say that last part.
Hare looked up as he heard Hatter begin to laugh. Hare cocked his head up at Hatter with tears still on his face.
"Oh Hare," Hatter cried. "I never actually disappeared!"
"Yo-you didn't?" Hare asked, wiping his face.
"No, I never appeared again because I left." Hatter explained.
"You left?!" Hare shouted. He wasn't mad just surprised.
"Yes and I'm sorry," Hatter apologized. "I didn't except it to take that long!"
"For what to take long?" Hare sniffled.
"Here, look." Hatter said pulling out a chair for Hare, that he sat in it. Hatter then pulled up a chair for himself at the tea table, putting a brown cardboard box in front of his best friend.
Hare looked at it for a moment, then looked up to Hatter, who was leaning on the table with his elbows.
"Go on!" Hatter motioned. "Open it!"
Hare gave a shrug and begin to remove the tape from the package. He digged in the box, until his hand felt something glossy. Using both hands, he took out the small box out of the package.
"Oh, Hatter!" Hare smiled, holding it up. The glossy small box contained a gardening set, that consisted of a fork, a trowel, and pruning shears. All three were a dark blue and had floral details all around. "They're beautiful!"
"I was trying to keep it a surprise," Hatter explained. "I didn't want you to see them, so I figured while I was in the box I could pick it up."
Hare looked back up at him, a small smile tracing his muzzle.
"I know it was a strange to run off like that, but I thought it would help the trick look more real too. Hare, I had no idea it would worry you that much, I'm the one whose sorry." Hatter confessed. "You're not mad...are you?"
"You know I am!" Hare giggled. "So are you!"
Hatter processed what Hare just said for a moment. "No, not crazy kind of mad! I mean angry kind of mad, Hare."
"Oh, no." Hare relaxed. "I'm not mad. Actually, I think that was really sweet..."
Hare stood up, taking Hatter by the hand and ran to the back yard, with his new tools in hand. They went to Hares' garden where Hare found a comfy place to sit, motioning for Hatter to take a seat next to him. Hatter realized that they'd be out here for a while smiling.
"Wait a minute." He replied, walking towards the hat house. "I'll be right back."
Hare had finished unboxing his present and starting gardening. Hatter quickly returned, lying down blankets and holding a tea tray with a pot, cups, and treats on it.
"Might as well make up for tea time now." Hatter chuckled, handing a cup tea to Hare, as he sat beside him.
"But it's past 4 o'clock!" Hare said sarcastically smiling, to which Hatter playfully rolled his eyes.
"You know," Hatter sighed, kicking back. "I could get used to nighttime tea and garden parties."
"It is awfully pretty at night." Hare agreed. "Especially with those lights."
A cold breeze flew by, causing the trees to rustle and Hare to shiver.
"Oh, here." Hatter said taking off his suit jacket, and draped it over Hares' tiny frame.
"Gee, thanks." Hare said pulled the jacket closer to him, sinking into it. Suddenly a worried look struck his face. "Oh but what about you?"
"Eh, I'm fine." Hatter said shrugging it off. "Besides, you look like your freezing!" He observed Hares' breezy yellow pajamas.
Hatter had a thought. "Were you off to bed when I came home? Became if you want you can go get some sleep, you don't have to stay up."
"Oh no really, its fine!" Hare admitted nervously. "To tell you the truth, I was gonna go to bed because I wasn't really sure what to do without you around."
Hatter paused for a second. "Did you really mean all those things you said? I mean, the not wanting me to leave because - because love me?" Hatter asked shyly.
Hare looked up from what he was doing. It caught Hare off guard for a moment, not knowing how to respond. Was Hatter touched? Creeped out maybe?
"Well, um-" Hare stuttered.
"Because I feel the same way about you..." Hatter said looking over at his best friend.
"You- you do?" Hare asked pleasantly surprised, looking at Hatter with a smile. "Really?"
"Of course!" Hatter confirmed. "Actually, I thought it was obvious and I looked stupid." Hatter let out a small laugh.
"You? Look stupid?" Hare asked over dramatically. "Never!"
"Well I don't know," Hatter replied not catching on to Hares' sarcasm. "I mean there was that one time I-" He stopping short as Hare gave him a peck on the cheek. Hare pulled back letting out a giggle, leaving Hatter blushing. Hare sighed putting his head on Hatters' chest, as Hatter put his arms around him. They sat like that, looking at the stars for a good amount of time. Hatter could see that Hare was struggling to keep himself awake.
"I think its about time, we get off to bed." Hatter said standing, helping Hare to his feet. The two went inside the house, saying they'd clean up outside in the morning.
After Hatter got into his pajamas, he went back into his room, where a sleeping Hare was waiting for him in his bed. He turned off the lights, climbing into bed, and got close to Hare. Hare woke up but was still groggy. He saw Hatter from his droopy eyes and got close to him as well. Hatter put an arm around him.
Hare knew that he would never want Hatter to dissappear, but so decided there was no where else in the whole world he'd rather be.