"..."
There was complete silence at the dinner table.
"..."
Gray spoke up calmly, eyeing Pierce with a raised eyebrow, "What has made you decide to join us for supper, Pierce?"
Pierce wrapped his arms around my neck and I scowled, feeling my face flush as he leaned over and kissed my cheek. "I'm keeping an eye on Alexis, chuu! She refused to come live with me, so I'm living here with her!" Gray's eyes widened in surprise, and he looked over at Nightmare for confirmation. Nightmare nodded, picking some noodles up with his fork. He mixed them in with his cheesy ranch sauce.
"It's true. They became a couple around two time periods ago."
Pierce beamed at the news, while I protested profusely. "W-We are-We are not a couple!" Nightmare bit into his food, raising an eyebrow at me. My face turned even darker. "Sh-Shut up! Don't look at me like that!"
"W-We're not?" Tears welled up in Pierce's eyes and I flinched, stammering as I waved my hands in front of him frantically.
"N-No! I-I mean, yes! I-I mean, we-we are b-but-but we're not? I-I don't know!" GYAH! Nightmare, help me! The Incubus smirked, thoroughly amused by everything that was happening.
"What she means to say, Pierce, is that you are a couple. She's just embarrassed about it because she's never had a boyfriend before." Pierce frowned, biting his trembling lip, before nodding slowly. He trusted Nightmare's words. He could read minds after all.
"I-I am not embarrassed!" I argued.
"Are too." Nightmare responded.
"Are not!"
"Are too~!"
"I am NOT!"
"Yes, you are!"
"GAH! Gray~! Nightmare's being mean to me!" I pointed at the older man, whining. Gray sighed and shook his head, placing his knife and fork down on his plate, before wiping his hands off with a napkin. "Help me!"
"No, help me!" Nightmare shouted, "She's not listening to me!"
I glared at him. "Why should I be listening to you? You tried to put me under house arrest!"
"I'm an adult, and it was for your own safety!"
"Didn't work, now did it?" I flinched, seeing Nightmare wince. The table grew extremely quiet and I sat back down in my chair, looking down at my hands, fiddling with my fingers. "I..." I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I wish I was able to say that out loud.
"It's fine," Nightmare said quickly, taking a drink of his water. Times like these, I liked that Nightmare was able to read minds. However, he quickly ran to the sink to spit out the water he drank, Gray having mixed in some of Nightmare's medicine when we were arguing. Nightmare coughed roughly and I sighed, completely used to these events. In all honesty, now that I think about it, even if I did go back to my world it would probably take years for me to get used to the boring life there.
School, homework, sitting on my butt all day without going on "adventures" with Ace and running for my life from the twins... Their favorite game to play with me was "hide-and-seek" which involved me running from them while they waved their weapons around. Jerks. Ace hadn't tried to kill me in a while, so that was good... Peter... Hm. I don't know about him. I do know that I needed to visit the Hatter's again; I'll ask Blood about the tea party during the next Assembly.
-the next time I see you, I want some suggestions-
I made a face, realizing that I still needed to think up of some baby names. I squeaked in alarm when blood suddenly spurted out of Nightmare's nose and mouth, splattering against the sink. He whirled around, horror written on his face. I stared at him in confusion, only to let out a sudden shout when he ran over as fast as he could and grabbed my shoulders, staring at me in terror. "You're not pregnant, are you!?"
"Wh-What the hell!?" Wh-Why would I be pregnant!?
"Pregnant?" Gray narrowed his eyes, and Pierce was smiling widely, a murderous aura surrounding him. "Who did you have intercourse with?" His gaze turned to Pierce, but I quickly screamed, slapping my hands over my ears as I stood up.
"I DIDN'T SLEEP WITH ANYONE, DAMN IT! I STILL HAVE MY V-CARD!"
Everyone seemed to visibly relax at that, but I think it was safe to say that everyone lost their appetite.
This. Was the most. Humiliating. Moment. Of my. Entire. Life.
"B-B-B-Blood just asked me to think of some-some baby names be-because Alice is havin' his kid!" My burned hotly and I wanted nothing more than to crawl in a hole and hide.
Nightmare looked like he just got slapped in the face. "Oh..."
I nodded, forcing a smile as I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah. Alice. Not me. Alice Dupre."
"I-I see then..." Gray mumbled and grew silent. Phew...Mama Bear Gray just barely avoided... I thought I was goner for a second there. Nightmare snorted at my thoughts, holding a hand over his mouth, while Gray cast him a confused look before turning his gaze back to me. "So Miss Alice is now with child?"
I nodded. Everyone seemed to find this hard to process, but found it not very surprising. I mean-I don't know the guy very well, but I could tell he was a perverted figure. The cane he carries says it all. His hat was cool though. I grinned, and Nightmare merely shook his head at me. I tensed when Pierce wrapped his arms around me.
His chin rested on my shoulder and I could feel his warm breath brushing against my neck. I bit the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to scowl and push him off. His ear twitched and he kissed my cheek, causing red to spread across my cheeks.
He's so lucky he's cute, otherwise he'd be six feet under by now.
Nightmare asked, his chin resting on his palm, "Have you come up with anymore creative threats?" I blinked and stared him, keeping a straight-face as I imagined very gruesome images in my head. Gray was left to care for Nightmare as the Incubus spat out blood. I smirked, reaching over to finish my food despite lack of appetite. Serves him right for making fun of me. Jerk. "I-I am not a jerk-!" He hacked, more blood spilling out of his mouth. I flinched, guilt hitting me like a ton of bricks.
No. Don't feel guilty. Then I realized it wasn't because I called him a jerk that I felt guilty, but because I was the one who made him start coughing up blood. I groaned and hung my head, feeling like a complete idiot and jerk.
The word that was written on my leg rang true. However it was no longer on my leg to remind me of the pain I went through, to remind me constantly of what I truly was. Unfortunately I had the feeling that I was never going to forget that painful time; the time that was still fresh in my mind. My body hurt just thinking about it...the wounds inflicted...the terrifying smirk sent my way...
I inhaled deeply and sighed, not noticing that I reached up and grabbed Pierce's arm. He blinked at me and smiled, and I stiffened when he moved and grabbed my hand instead, lacing his fingers with mine. He kissed the side of my head before resting his head on my shoulder, smiling. W-What was he-? I turned my head in confusion and watched with wide eyes as he lifted my hand up to his mouth and kissed the palm of my hand. "You're so cute, chuu...I'm going to keep you with me."
...
W-What? My face flared a dark red and I scowled, turning my head the other direction. "A-As if! Get your mind out of the gutter!" Despite my words, I didn't move or push him away. Nightmare and Gray smiled at the scene, and Gray stood to put the dishes away.
After Gray put the dishes in the sink, he seemed to remember something. He turned to Nightmare, who paled as sweat started to bead down his face. "It's best time for you to do your paperwork now, Lord Nightmare."
"I...I REFUSE!" He screamed and bolted out of the room as fast as he could, coughing all the way. I raised my eyebrows at the scene before laughing, finding it completely hilarious. However, watching them run out of the room I paused, realizing something.
Sarah. I still needed to talk to her. Would... I swallowed, my grip on Pierce's hand tightening just a bit. Would she let me stay here? I had no idea. I wanted to know, though. I... I blinked, feeling tears well up in my eyes. I missed them badly, but I...really wanted to stay here. Actually...
I think I'll wait a bit longer before I make my decision. Besides, my vial isn't even completely filled yet. I had plenty of time.
...Right?
I hoped that Jack would forgive me. Derek said it was alright for me to stay in Wonderland, but my father...he had no clue. Only Sarah did. I'm...going to wait. Definitely. I made one too many ties here in Wonderland to just up and leave. I had a choice to make. I wasn't about to choose now.
I wasn't about to leave Boris and Gray, and I definitely wasn't about to leave Pierce and Nightmare. Reaching into my pocket with my free hand, I pulled out the small vial and stared at it, seeing it three-quarters of the way full. I still had a long way to go.
...Wait, what I was forgetting? April...O'Neil? No, wait, that's a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle character...
Something about April. Huh. Eh, I'll ask later. If I remember.
I'll put up the link to We're All Mad Here: Circus Freaks once I actually post it. And seeing how this story wasn't as gruesome as I thought it would be, I'm putting the rating to "T". XD