o0O0o

As we walk out of my tea shop, I can hear Alice's timid footsteps behind me. The fact that she doesn't trust me brings pain to my heart.

We walk in silence, and I wonder what she's thinking about. I turn my head to look back at her. She's looking down and a half smile covers her face. I follow her gaze to her hand, her left hand. A large ring rests on her finger.

A jolt of pain shoots through my heart. It feels as though I've just been struck with a dagger that has been twisted in my heart. My face grows hot as my pain turns to anger. The bloody bastard gave her a ring.

"What does this mean?" I think to myself. Just dating? Engaged? Married? My face grows hotter as my fists clench.

Maybe he's dead already?… I smile at the thought. If not, I could always kill him myself? My smile broadens as I eye my right hand.

But… If Alice ever found out… With a sigh, I relax my fists. I could never be the cause of that pain for her. Never could I live with that guilt.

I shove open the door and outside light fills the hallway. I hold open the door for her. Alice looks up at me and hesitantly walks through the door. A flicker of a smile lights up her face when our eyes meet. The smile quickly fades as her eyes drift back down to the ring.

That fucking ring. I want to rip it off her finger and throw it into the ocean. Melt it. Something. I just want it gone. Off of her pretty little finger.

Alice gasps as she backs into the wall. My fist clenches, ready to fight off whoever has scared this beautiful girl. I follow her gaze.

She is staring at the edge of the sidewalk. She's hyperventilating. I search frantically for the enemy but to no avail. Panicking, I look to her.

"I-I-I have a thing about heights." she stutters between breaths.

I relax my fists with a chuckle as I walk to the edge of the sidewalk. I peer down. It is a long drop.

When the Queen started the casino, everyone wanted to live in her kingdom. Naturally, the population rose and the cities grew. Our small neighborhoods reached towards the sky and became a combination of ladders and long drops.

I turn to Alice, still pressed against the wall and trembling. I walk towards her, hand outstretched.

"Trust me." I coon, and with slight hesitation, she takes it.

Electricity runs through my veins as my heart starts to race. She timorously

follows behind me, clenching my hand, but not even the loss of circulation in my fingers can ruin the happiness that runs through my veins.

We reach the ladder in which we must descend, and I reluctantly release her hand. I climb down the ladder and wait.

My mind is racing. She's starting to trust me! Maybe we can push this Jack character out of the picture…

She's just, so beautiful. I need her in my life. Maybe I'll go back to her world with her? What do they wear in her world? I wonder if she always wears a dress.

Dress. A pleasant smile covers my face at the word as my male thought process starts to race. Alice, is above me, descending a ladder. In a dress…

"Maybe… just one peek…" I think as my eyes follow the ladder upwards. My eyes stop at her shoes and I advert my gaze down.

"No Hatter. Baaad Hatter." I think to myself as my eyes drift again to the foot of the ladder. No. I wont. If she were to catch me.

Pictures of her plash in my mind. Her blue dress and her red tights.

Tights. She's wearing tights. The memory of this discourages my male instinct with a sigh.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see her on the ladder. She's almost at the bottom.

I walk over to help her down by gingerly placing my hands on her hips.

As soon as both of her feet hit the ground, she pulls away, eying me warily. A hint of anger within her eyes. Her right hand gently strokes the ring.

I look down to avoid her stares and to hide the pain in my eyes. I turn and continue on the sidewalk. She follows, but leaves a bit more distance between us.

"Just when she starts to trust you, you mess it all up" I think to myself.

Maybe I wont go back with her. Maybe the Dodo already has rescued her beloved Jack and they will go back through the Looking Glass together where they will live happily ever after. And I, Hatter, will sit in this hell hole with my teas where I shall rot to my death, alone.

I bite my lip to fight back angry tears.

o0O0o