"Ugh…" I sat up slowly, my hand rubbing my aching forehead. My head was pounding. Memories slowly came back. I was on a couch in an unfamiliar room. I turned my head. This wasn't Kid's dorm.

"Where am I?" I shook myself completely awake. I stood. I stumbled forward. The floor was spinning. I sat back down. My head pounded. Slowly, I crept my way to the kitchen. I noticed there was a teapot sitting on the burner. I looked into it. There was tea in it, the bags hanging out of the pot. I turned on the burner. I sat down on the low counter.

Where am I? I wondered. I noticed there were drawings all over the place. Even on the counters. I grabbed one and looked at it. It was of a cherry blossom tree, and the petals falling gently in the wind. It was beautiful.

I remembered when I used to draw. I considered myself an okay drawer. I'd just draw flowers, or little doodles on scrap paper.

The kettle screamed. I placed it off the burner. The sound banged in my ears. I searched for cups. Thankfully there were tea cups in the cabinets. I poured my tea and walked over to the table and sat down. The drink felt good on my parched throat.

I stared at the drawings. There was one of the sun, the moon, a smiling kid, a balloon, the sky, the grass, and one of a shimmering lake. I looked at them in awe. I noticed there were big stacks of blank paper and pencils all over. I grabbed a sheet and pencil and began doodling.

I drew a camellia flower swaying in the wind. I hated it. It was trash compared to the other drawings. I crumpled it up and threw it behind me. I drank my tea.

I heard the sound of paper crumbling. "This is really good." I sat straight up. I turned my head to see a sleepy Roxas. He wore a wrinkled white shirt with black pajama bottoms.

"Uh…" I didn't know what to say. So this is his house?

"Oooh, tea." He walked over and grabbed a cup and the pot. He poured some and came over to sit on the other chair. He looked at me and gave me a sleepy smile.

"R-Roxas! Why, are you here?"

"This is my house, duh." He stretched.

"What am I doing here?"

"After you fainted Kid took you here to clean your wound. He left you here since you were passed out on the couch."

"Oh." He's so caring. I smiled softly at the thought of the symmetry-addicted boy's kindness.

"By the way," Roxas rushed into the hall. He came out with my checkered hat. "I believe this is yours."

"Oh… thank you." I smiled at him while I reached for it. He pulled his hand back. I frowned at him.

"I need to talk to you." He sat down. I looked at him and sipped my tea slowly.

Roxas spoke slowly. "When I met you… You were able to match wavelengths with me." I looked at him.

"Huh?"

"You." I said seriously. I'm not good with this… "When I met you… You were able to match wavelengths with me."

Alice raised her head. "Huh?" She said softly.

I sighed. "I don't know what I'm going on about, but I'm serious." She looked at me sadly, it pained me.

"Your head must be playing tricks on you." Alice said slowly. The girl lowered her head. She stared at my drawings.

"Are these yours?"

"Yes."

"They're pretty." Alice said. She's trying to get me off the subject. She put her face in her hands. "I have such a headache."

Silence…

Alice looked up. She looked different. Both of her eyes were purple. I thought one was blue?

I saw her blue eye again. I held my hand out towards her. She hesitated. I noticed her black and white band matched my rings. Alice shook her head. Her hands covered her ears now.

Alice closed her eyes and turned her face down yet again.

"My head's hurting…" She said, her voice strained. I reached out towards her and touched her arm. She flinched away.

"I'm sorry." Alice whispered. She stood up and ran out. She opened the door and slammed it shut.

"Alice…" I stared at her drawing I still had in my hand. The flower was smeared.

I ran outside, out of the dorms. The fresh air soothed my headache.

"Hahaha!" Himari yelled into the mirror. I was on the floor, screaming. I was crying, the tears spilling onto my white dress.

"When he said that… my head started to explode…" Himari laughed harder.

I banged against the glass. "Why?"

"I don't know."

"That's what scares me!" I turned around to see a menacing sight. The red heart was completely covered in blackness.

"Hmm…" Himari stuck her gloved hand out into the mirror. It turned into water again. She dropped a blue rose onto my lap.

"What's this?"

"Thought you like flowers. Sorry." Himari sat down with her back against the mirror. "I can feel your sadness, too, you know."

"Everything's been happening so fast… I'm not sure what I'm feeling."

"Yeah, like that's new."

I placed my hands against the window. It was solid again. I dropped my forehead against the cold wall.

"Why can't I go through the mirror like you?"

"I can come out as a shadow. You're light, you'll burn my world to dust." Himari stopped laughing.

"Oh."

I was sitting on a bench, panting hard. My head had stopped pounding.

"Damn. Why did I run away like a little girl?" I stared at my shadow. I saw red eyes and an evil smirk.

"Hey… this dimension's nice." Himari said.

"Crap, now you follow me everywhere." I laughed. Her grin grew.

"Sucks to be you, but it sucks more to be me. I can't go anywhere unless you go. Plus this grin will always be on my face. I'm only a mere shadow… a replica." I thought I heard a hint of sadness.

"Hmmm…" I said. "Can other people see you?"

"If they pay attention, the can see my eyes and mouth, but they can't hear me."

"So it'll seem like I'm just talking to myself?"

"Yep."

"Are you still in the mirror?"

"Yep."

"Hey Alice!" I turned my head towards the voice. It was Liz and Patty. They waved big waves then came over to me. "How's your head?" Patty asked.

"Fine."

"Good, good."

"Kid said you spent the night at Roxas's house?" Liz asked.

"Yeah." I replied.

"Is that the only outfit you have?" Liz poked my shoulder, sitting down next to me. Patty sat down on the other side. She squeezed my arm.

"Yeah, so?" I looked at my clothes. They were dirty, plus really wrinkled. I noticed my ribbon was out of my hair. I took my old red one from my neck and tied up my black mess.

"Come on, you need to go on a shopping spree." Liz tugged on my other arm, pulling me up. Patty followed, twisting and dangling my star earring.

"Oh goodie! I get to change out of these ugly clothes?"

I thought in my head. "You thought that crazy puffy black dress was fashionable?"

"Hey, I can hear you in your head! Cool!" She cackled. "And yes, it's very cute for me! So is yours, except you look like a bride."

I smiled. "You're crazy." I thought.

"Whatever. Hey, you know you can dismiss me if you want, but I'm good company."

"Eh? Why are you telling me this?" I looked at her red eyes.

"I'm supposed to?" Himari yawned. "Just think of me back in the mirror, and I can't talk or look through your shadow." Suddenly, the eyes and mouth disappeared. I laughed inside my head.

"You suck." Himari said.

"Peace and quiet, just what I need!" I laughed. My headache completely disappeared.

"How about this?" Liz held up a white tank-top. I frowned at it. They'd see my markings.

"I don't mind having one outfit." I chuckled. I really didn't care.

"Ew!" Liz whined, disgusted at the thought. She grabbed a million shirts and jeans and shoved them at me. I stumbled back into a curtain. I was in the dressing room. I tried on everything, showing Liz and Patty. They bought me three outfits, a white summer dress, a simple black tee with a white jacket and jeans, and the school uniform.

"What's your favorite color, Alice?" Liz asked. We were sitting down next to long tables, licking ice creams. (Patty's idea.) Patty got chocolate, Liz got low fat chocolate, and I got French vanilla. It's better than regular vanilla, Liz said.

"Why do you ask?" I licked away at the melting sweets.

"I don't know." She looked away from me.

"Purple." I replied nonchalantly.

"Okay."

"When's your birthday?" Patty's ice cream smeared face came close to mine.

"Uh…"

"Oh… no memories." She pretended to cry.

"Think of one." Liz offered.

"Hmmm…" I thought of a good date. My real birthday was May 21st. Aki's was April 6th.

"June 19th." That was the best day of my life. Me and Aki went to the beach. We went by ourselves, and it was our first (and only) time there, but we had so much fun.

"Why?" Liz asked.

"I remember water." I said, trying to look as if I was thinking hard.

"The beach?"

"I guess."

"Muahahaha…" Patty and Liz laughed evilly. I stared at them.

"Okay…"

We walked over to the electronics store. I was getting a cell phone!

"Are you sure? They're so expensive."

"Dude, we're like… loaded!" Patty exclaimed.

"Yeah… Kid's dad and all." Liz explained.

"I've never had a phone before…" I said, looking and pushing random buttons on the keypads.

I ended up choosing a green and pink phone. That's all I could say about it. I flipped it open and closed, looking at the default background. I got a cherry blossom keychain to go with it. It dangled like my earring.

"Here's how you take pictures…" Patty showed me a button on the side. She then pushed the big home button. The flash turned on, and she took a picture of our shoes. I laughed. I loved pictures. For the background I ended up taking a picture of me, Patty, and Liz together near a store.

As I fiddled with my new accessory, Liz and Patty went off ahead of me towards another store. After looking around near stores, I sat down on a bench. I sighed. I was lost. I stuck my phone in my pocket.

I shook the box I had in my hand. As if a thank you to Roxas, I got him a double pack of Pocky. I was trying to think of what to get Kid, for letting me stay at his home and everything.

I wonder what he's doing. I hope he's not mad at me…

"Hey, Alice!" A voice called.

"Hmm?" I saw Maka and Soul standing before me. Maka was smiling. She wore a blue skirt with a red bow at the end. She wore a white shirt with a big red heart on it. Her hair was still in pigtails. Soul wore baggy jeans and a wrinkled shirt on with a jean jacket.

"Oh, hey guys." I noticed something behind them. I turned my head to see someone familiar.

"Hi Roxas." I smiled.

"Hey." Roxas didn't look at me. He wore a black jacket and jeans with his same flats on.

"Catch." I threw the box over Soul's head and into his chest. He grabbed it and shook it.

"A little birdie told me you like Pocky." I laughed.

Maka chimed in. "Hey, do you know where the sisters are?"

I shook my head. "No… in fact, I just lost them."

"Hmm, okay. You have money with you? We're going to the bookstore!" She said as if it was heaven to her.

"They have one here?"

"Yeah, and it's the only store she goes to." Soul rolled his eyes.

"Maka… Chop!" Maka took a book that was under her arm and hit Soul in the head with it. I sat there, looking stupid.

"That's… creepy." I said to Himari. She nodded.

"Anyway, come on!" Maka tugged on my arm, getting me up.

"Please don't drag me." I pleaded.

We finally got out of the store. I got a book on poetry and a CD of pianos, guitars, violins, everything involving sound. I found out that Soul played the piano, after Maka looking at my CD, making me curious in wanting to hear him play. I flipped the pages of the new book, looking at the typed letters. Liz gave me some money, so thankfully I was able to pay for it.

"What is that, nursery rhymes?" Soul was in front of me, looking at the book I handled with care. I closed it and held it up to my chest.

"No." I didn't want him to see it. The writings were dark and almost gothic.

Soul stared at me with blood-red eyes. I didn't know what to do so I slowed my pace. (We were still walking.) I turned my head so I couldn't see him stare at me.

"Watch where you're going!" Soul called out right before I ran into a hard chest. Out of surprise, I dropped my book. I reached at it. The other person reached for it, too. We bonked heads. He pulled his hand back to rub his head, where I grabbed my open book and bowed slightly.

"Sorry!" I apologized. I looked up to see a Kid rubbing his forehead.

"No worries." He shook it off. "When did you get here? How's your head?"

I looked at him with wide eyes. "I'm doing fine, actually. How are you?"

"Looking for the twins."

"We're doing the same." Roxas came over between us. He chewed his Pocky. I noticed how my forehead was sore from hitting it with Kid's. I gently rubbed it.

"Hmm…" Kid stroked his chin. "Well, may I search with you?" He chuckled. Soul and Maka nodded, and eventually the five of us went ahead and looked for the two twin pistols.

"There you guys are!" I exclaimed. "We've been looking for you for over half 'n' hour!" The girls slowly turned their heads as we came up to them.

"Sorry…" Liz said, going back to stare at the window. Patty was practically breathing on it. I turned to look at what they were gawking at.

"Oh my…" Maka exclaimed. She too ended up almost hugging the window attempting to see what's on display. Because I was taller, I simply popped my head above hers.

"Oh my…" I whispered. There on display was an absolutely beautiful dress. The white frills had red ribbons tied around it, with it tying back and forth around the chest. The shoulders and wrists were a little bit puffed out. The dress came out like a skirt at the waist. The back dropped down like a tail-coat. It had matching black shoes to go with it. It reminded me of the dress I wear when I'm with Himari…

My eyes widened as my right arm, neck, back, and waist simply began to burn and sting. It was only on my markings, making me more suspicious. I released Himari back into my shadow as I attempted to soothe the pain on my forearm.

"Oooh… buy it!" The face laughed at me. "Something that looks so similar to your outfit, spooky huh?" I glared at her and sighed. I couldn't help but stare at the dress.

"I can't believe you girls are completely caught up in a stupid dress!" Soul sighed as he sat down on a bench nearby. We all turned to stare at him. He then noticed us and began to fidget in his seat before we went back to gazing at the white clothing.

Maka moved to the right so I was able to place my hands on the cool glass. I struggled to keep my breathing steady. More pain was coming out of the back of my neck. This really confused me.

"Take a look for yourself." Himari laughed before her red face disappeared. I stepped back from the window to look at my shoes.

First Patty reminding me of Aki… then Roxas saying that simple sentence about us matching wavelengths… and now this stupid dress…

I gripped my shoulder more tightly. I noticed that all three boys had gone to sit at the bench Soul was at. I wanted to go sit down but I didn't want to be around a bunch of guys on a tight bench.

I sighed as the pain soothed and feeling returned in my arm. I gently rubbed my shoulder as I attempted to nonchalantly read the book I bought.

"Mirror, mirror, on the wall,

Have I got it?

Cuz, mirror, you've always told me,

Who I am…"

The words came to life on the page. I smiled a blank smile.

"Bo-ring!" Soul snatched the book from my hands and read the verse I was just on. "Geez, you find this interesting?" I attempted to reach and grab my book, but he held me back by simply pushing the palm of his hand against my forehead. I pressed harder against his hand in order to break his hold, but he wouldn't budge. I wrapped my hands around his wrist and bent it up.

"Eh?" Soul exclaimed as I used the ham-lock maneuver by bending the wrist close to the shoulder blade. "Hey, hey, let go!" he dropped the book. "Geez!"

I quickly released him and reached down to grab the dirtied book. As I brushed it off everyone finally went back into being chatting bubble, the boys up from their seats and talking with their partners. Roxas was secretly whispering to Kid, as he slowly nodded. Kid walked up to me and smiled.

"Hmm?" I cocked my head at Roxas, then at Kid.

"Father asked to see you late last night, and since you were sleeping at Roxas's… had to give him a raincheck." He laughed. "Sadly I hadn't thought about it until Roxas reminded me. Wanna head over there to the Academy now? He asked to see you face to face."

"Um… sure." I didn't know how to respond. The thought of walking alone with Kid gave me the chills.

"Oh, Roxas said you left this!" Kid exclaimed as he reached into the black suit and pulled out a checkered hat. He handed it to me.

"Oh… um… thanks…" I grabbed it and held it, not putting it on. "I guess we all forget things." We laughed.

A/N

- Okay so I'm well past these chapters and like on chapter 15 :D! Yay... ugh... and I'm REALLY hating Roxas and Kid's character development! It's making me SO ANGRY! I'm thinking of erasing the last chapter and rewriting them, changing the story plot by stretching it out, cuz everything is happening so fast! UGH! *Sips coffee* Yes, Roxas is an artist, deal. With. It. I like the idea and I'm sticking with it! -Soul