Muzik: I'm sooooooooo sorry!!! I wanted to get this up sooner, but my sister came home from college, and all kinds of shit's been happening! I really hope you guys aren't too angry, and I want to thank all you guys that reviewed, you're amazing! I've already started on chapter 3, so I'll hopefully have it up soon. But here's Chapter 2, as a belated X-mas gift!
Note:
'We're All Mad Here' = 3rd Person Point of View
'A Change In Melody' = 1st Person Point of View, Melody's
'Alice Is Close Behind' = 1st Person Point of View, Alice's
Disclaimer: Don't own Alice, but I do own Mel!!
Chapter 2: A Not So Great Date
~A Change In Melody~
"Jack's here!!" I nearly jumped out of my seat to threaten- I mean, meet Alice's new boyfriend. I was very protective of her, especially due to her past relationships.
"Jack!" Alice smiled as she hugged the blonde man. Carol and I had gotten her to wear a light blue sleeveless dress, ruby colored tights, and black boots. She stepped back, and gestured to me, "This is Melody, my best friend."
"Nice to meet you," he greeted, holding out his hand to shake. I put on my best fake-smile and accepted it. We'll see how nice it is when I'm through with you… But he does get points for the cool accent.
"Alice!!" Carol called from the kitchen, "Can you help me with this casserole?"
"Coming!" Alice gave Jack a quick peck on the cheek, then left to help. I grinned devilishly. Perfect timing.
"Sooo…" I began, looking Jack straight in the eyes, "Alice tells me that you're one of her martial arts students."
"Yes, she is a wonderful teacher," he smiled.
"I hope she would be, since I taught her everything she knows," I said, carefully watching his expression, "That being said… You know that I am very capable of kicking your ass."
His brow furrowed, "What are you saying?"
"I'm going to be blunt here," my eyes narrowed, "If you break Alice's heart, I'll break your bones. Are we clear?"
Jack kept his face guarded and emotionless, "Crystal." We kept like that for a few minutes, simply glaring at each other
"Alright you guys, food's ready!" Alice announced as she stuck her head in the room. I immediately broke the staring contest, and smiled like nothing had happened.
"Great, I'm starving!" I chirped as I skipped to the dining room.
~Alice Is Close Behind~
"Thanks, Mom! That was awesome!" Mel smiled as she got up to clear the plates. We had just finished dinner, and were seated around the table, conversing.
"Mom?" Jack asked, a confused look on his face, "I thought she was your best friend?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention," I said, "She's also my adopted sister. It's just that we don't think of it that way because in most families, the sisters are always bugging each other and fighting."
"And we rarely do either, so it doesn't feel like we're really sisters." Mel added as she put the dishes in the sink.
"So, what about your birth parents?" Jack questioned.
"They died in a fire when I was a kid," she replied, "Alice and her parents lived next door, and they were already like family to me. So, Carol and Robert adopted me, and we grew even closer."
Jack nodded, interested by this new information. We kept talking around the table for maybe an hour, when Mom pointed out that her shows were on.
"Would you like to join me, Melody?" Mel glanced between me and Jack, playing with her bracelet as she thought about it. I shot her a quick begging look, and she rolled her eyes before getting up.
"You owe me…" she whispered so low that only I could hear. I smiled in gratitude as they exited the room, leaving Jack and I alone.
"Your sister is quite protective, isn't she?" Jack asked.
"Hehe, yeah…" I blushed, "I'm guessing that she gave you the whole 'I'm gonna beat you to a pulp' speech, huh?" My blush deepened as he nodded. "I'm sorry, I need to talk to her about that."
"It's alright" he smiled, "It gave me a new perspective of her, and therefore, a new perspective of you. And I want to know everything I can about you." I was at a loss for words, and was relieved when his cell phone started beeping.
"Excuse me…" he apologized, standing up to check it. I relaxed, regaining my calm. All of a sudden, Jack stiffened, as if by shock.
"What's up?" I asked, curious.
He turned back around, a sudden sense of urgency about him, "How would you like to meet my family?"
I blinked, confused by this sudden decision, "Are they coming to town?"
"No. We'd have to go there."
"Oh, uh… okay," I sat up a bit, "When?"
"How about tonight?" What in the world?!
"…Are you crazy?" I asked incredulously. This was getting weird.
"It'll be an adventure!" he tried to persuade me, "Some things are more exciting at the spur of the moment, don't you think?"
I stood up, getting anxious, "No, not about things like meeting your parents… In fact, I'd have to get myself together, and-"
"Alice, you're perfect as you are," he reassured me, "And we can be back by Monday morning."
"But, I know nothing about them," I pointed out, "What if they don't approve of me?" It was getting kind of suspicious with how bent he was on going.
"Then I'll…" Jack paused, then rummaged in his jacket pocket for a moment and pulled something out, "They'll approve of you when they see you with this." He held out a cylinder shaped object to me. I hesitantly took it and then tried opening it. He moved to come up behind me.
"It's got a hidden catch," he explained, wrapping his arms around me and showing me how to open it. It clicked to show that the catch had been hit, and then he twisted it open.
Sitting inside, was a gorgeous ring.
"Wow," I breathed, "It looks really old…"
"It's been in my family a very long time…" he whispered. A wave of shock overwhelmed me.
"Wait, are you giving me this?" I broke away from our embrace and turned to him.
"Would you like to try it on?" he asked, trying to be dashing.
"Jack, a ring means something…" I explained, trying to keep calm. "… This is too fast…"
He looked disappointed as I gave the ring back, and I thought for a moment about changing my mind.
'You ought to pace this relationship a bit slower than the others you've had. Diving into it could screw the whole thing up!' Mel and her voice of reason suddenly repeated in my head. I swallowed, knowing it was true.
"No, this is way too fast…" I tried to keep my cool, knowing that the conversation would probably not end nicely.
"Okay," Jack finally nodded, "I'm sorry I got the wrong idea… maybe after you've seen my home, my friends…" Lord, he didn't give up.
"No, I can't come with you Jack!" I glanced back to Mom's room, hoping that she or Mel would come in and interrupt, "Not tonight…"
He went silent. I finally said, "Look… Maybe we should take it easy for a while… See how we feel in a few days and…"
"Alice, I-"
"Just…" I cut him off, "Give me some time…" I turned around, and walked to the door, waiting for him.
He silently followed, and I opened the door for him, "Goodbye Jack…"
Without a word, he pulled me into a hug, then walked out the door.
~A Change In Melody~
"He did what?!!" I shouted. What the crap was that guy thinking?! I mean, basically proposing to a girl with commitment issues, only a couple months after you met her?! I swear, I'm gonna wring his neck for all the distress he's causing to her.
"Okay, okay, let's panic or anything here…" Carol soothed. "Was it a diamond ring?"
"No," Alice sighed, "But it looked incredibly valuable…"
"So… after weighing all the possible cons with the unlikely pros, you just kicked him out?" Carol asked.
"I don't need the lecture."
"And it obviously felt too fast," I backed Alice up, "You can't help but feel nervous and unsure in those kinds of situations. I'd say that you might as well take the safe route to be sure."
Carol sighed, "Girls… Just because Daddy left doesn't mean that they all will…"
"Well…" Alice sat up, then stopped. She felt something in her pocket and pulled it out. "The ring…"
She looked confused for a moment, before realization dawned on her face, "He slipped it in my pocket!!"
Alice angrily got up, and headed for the door, "There's no way!"
"Hold up," I called, grabbing my bag, "I'm coming too!" I slung it over my head and across my shoulder before going after her.
~We're All Mad Here~
Alice and Mel ran out of the building together, glancing around for any sign of the blonde.
"Jack!!" Alice called. When there was no answer, the two girls ran a little towards the alley. Suddenly, a shout came from the other end.
"That's Jack!" Alice whispered, and they took off. They passed by another alley when they suddenly heard a grunt. They doubled back, just in time to see Jack being forced into a white van.
"Jack!" Alice shouted again as they raced to the van. By the time they got there, the vehicle was already speeding off. They tried to chased it, but it drove out of sight.
Panting, Mel and Alice stood there in shock and disbelief right when a white haired man in a suit appeared.
"I'm afraid he's gone…" the man said, walking towards them.
"…Who are you?" Melody asked, sinking into a defensive stance.
"A friend of Jack's," he replied, circling us, "I'm here to help him."
"Then why didn't you?!" Alice glared. "Who are those guys?!"
"Jack… took something that didn't belong to him…" the man said, "We need it back." He'd backed the girls into a wall, with nowhere to go.
"What are you talking about?" Alice gulped.
"The ring, Alice." He held out his hand.
"How do you know her name?" Mel's eyes narrowed. She tried to distract him while Alice was opening the box.
"Where have you taken Jack?" Alice asked.
"He's quite safe."
"Then bring him back and let him tell us himself." She demanded.
"I'm afraid he has to go back with me to face charges."
Alice finally got it open, and it clicked again. The man's eyes widened, "So you do have it!"
He tried to grab her arm, but Mel punched him in the jaw, and Alice grabbed him, swinging him around so that he was forced against the wall.
"Where have you taken Jack?!" she shouted. He suddenly gripped her arm and twisted it, making the box fall out of her hands. He pushed her into Melody; the two girls stumbled back as he ran for the box. Snatching it up, he bolted down the street.
"Wait!!" The two girls were close behind him as he raced into a warehouse that was under construction. After running through a floor or two, a giant mirror, old and dusty, came into sight right around a corner. Without missing a beat, the man jumped, and vanished through the glass.
Moments later, the girls came around the same corner, and gasped, trying to slow down. Alice stumbled right in front of it, grabbed onto the first thing she could. Gripping onto Mel's hand, she fell through the mirror, taking her best friend with her.
Muzik: Well, there ya go!! :D It was in a warehouse right?? I couldn't tell because it was so dark. ^^; Well, anyways, thanks for reading, and I again apologize for the lateness!! Please review, bye, and Happy New Year!!
