"Wow," Alice said thoughtfully taking in the clamor of the bustling market. "Your world is quite interesting," she said picking up a trinket at one of the stalls to examine it. "It's definitely not as vibrant as Wonderland, but it has its own charm. It appears to be right out of a fairy tale," she said turning to Jefferson with a dazzling smile.
"What's a fairy tale?" Jefferson asked with curiosity.
"You know," she said after examining some more wares, "A story. An impossible adventure, with princesses and dragons and spells," she said wistfully.
"Oh," Jefferson said to no one in particular. "That doesn't sound too impossible," he said with a raised eyebrow.
"No?" Alice said with a surprised expression. "You have that sort of thing here?" She asked excitedly.
"Yes, not that I've seen anything like that in my experience though," he added meekly.
"That's a shame," she said, taking a few aimless steps forward and moving onto the next stall. "Perhaps one day you will," she said with an upbeat tone.
"Perhaps," said Jefferson, and took a few large strides to keep up with Alice. She seemed to be mindlessly wandering, exploring the market in a daze. "Are you getting hungry yet, Alice?" He asked with concern in his voice.
"I suppose I am," she said thoughtfully, and turned to face Jefferson. "Know of any good places?" she asked.
"A few," Jefferson said.
"Well lead the way, Hatter," she said grabbing his hand, and expectantly waited for Jefferson to guide them. Alice's hand was warm in his, and so small. She gave his rough hand a squeeze, and Jefferson's heart nearly did a leap at the simple action.
"Of course," he offered graciously, and began to lead them towards the direction of a bustling tavern called the Prickly Pumpkin. Upon entering, Alice took a deep breath through her nose.
"That smells positively heavenly," she said with longing in her voice.
"Wait until you taste it," Jefferson said, making Alice giddy with the prospect of oncoming delicious food.
"Ethel, might I get a table for two?" Jefferson called to an older bar woman, who eyed him back, her look dripping with curiosity and mischief. Jefferson let out a small sigh of exasperation, knowing that the nosy woman would be wondering who Alice was. Jefferson liked Ethel; she was a kindly old woman, almost like a grandmother to him, and often prodded Jefferson, to his discomfort, about taking a wife.
"Of course Jefferson," she said grabbing two menus and leading them to a seat. She smirked at Jefferson suggestively, seeming to ask Who's your friend? And Jefferson just gave her a stern glare and quietly groaned. Leave it to Ethel to make him feel like a young school boy embarrassed about his first crush.
Once they arrived at their table, Jefferson pulled out a seat for Alice, which she graciously sat down in and allowed Jefferson to push in for her. Alice tried to deny the feeling, but she couldn't help but feel a little blush come to her cheeks, she forgot what it was like to be treated like a lady. Although Alice was firm in her belief that she could do anything a man could, and detested being treated like a fragile flower, she couldn't deny the fact that the gesture was not unwelcome. Besides, the way most men had treated women back in England made it seem like they were trying to prove something by being chivalrous, whereas Jefferson did it as what seemed to be genuine affection.
"I'll get you your usual Jefferson, and what would you like dear?" She asked Alice warmly.
"I'll start with some tea if that's alright," Alice said with equal kindness. "And I'll just take a moment more to decide what to get," she said picking up her menu.
"I'll be right back with that," she said with a smile.
Alice picked up the menu, and peered at it thoughtfully. "What would you suggest I get my dear Jefferson?"
"Um... Well, Ethel does make a rather nice soup," Jefferson suggested. Alice nodded, and also noted to herself how curious Jefferson was. His shyness was so apparent, and almost everything he said had an air of timidness to it, like he was afraid he would say the wrong thing. Alice in a way found it endearing, but also couldn't believe that Jefferson carried himself in such a self-conscious manner. From knowing Jefferson since the day before she had already come to enjoy his company a great deal, and wished that he was confident in the person that she was coming to like so much.
Alice simply responded with a smile, and said "That's what I'll get," she replied confidently.
"Alright," Jefferson said with a small smile. He is quite adorable, Alice thought with affection. She never thought that a person so rash and outspoken like herself would ever find someone so shy and gentle to possess appeal to her like the way Jefferson did to her.
"Jefferson, could you tell me where there is a washroom I could use?" Alice asked breaking her train of thought.
"Oh, yes. It's just through that back hallway and to the left," Jefferson said.
"Thank you," she said pushing herself out up and out of her chair. "I'll be back."
Ethel returned with their drinks, placing a mug of ale in front of Jefferson. "So who's your friend, Jefferson?" She asked with a mischievous whisper. Before Jefferson could sputter out a response his attention was brought to Alice, who was stopped on her trip to the bathroom by a rather large, and seemingly drunk, man.
"Haven't seen you around here before, love," he slurred with bravado in his voice.
"Yes, I'm not from here," Alice politely replied.
"How about I show you around," he said placing an arm around Alice. "Starting with my bed," he suddenly reached his hand down to give her backside a squeeze.
Jefferson abruptly stood from his chair, prepared to run to Alice's aid. He may not be able to fight the man, but he could distract him from Alice long enough for her to get away. Before he had time to take a full stride towards them he was surprised by a large smacking sound, which came from the action of Alice head butting the man, and hitting his nose. It spurted with blood, and he moved his hands to slow the bleeding.
"Bitch!" He yelled angrily. Alice promptly responded by grabbing his neck and pushing him into a wall.
"I suggest... If you value your manhood, that is... That you stop talking. And leave me be," she said. The man let out a groan, and Alice pushed him harder into the wall. "And for future reference, treat women with respect," she spat releasing his throat. He gasped, and made towards the exit of the tavern, which was completely silent with the surprise of the event that had just transpired.
"Well," Alice said to no one in particular, straightening her clothes and letting out a huff, and continued her journey back to the washroom.
After the shock of the incident died down, Ethel turned to Jefferson. "That one's a keeper, she is," she said to Jefferson with admiration. "Don't let her get away," she said pouring Alice's tea.
"Ethel, she's just a friend," he said blushing.
"And that's why you have to court her, show her just how rare a find she is," she said quickly and wistfully, her voice full of romance.
"I don't know how to court a woman," Jefferson said sadly.
Ethel let out a sigh. "Just tell her how you feel... Don't miss your opportunity," she added softly. She placed a hand gently on his shoulder and then left Jefferson alone. He knew she was right. He thought of yesterday, and how quickly she had come into his life and how quickly he left. He had to seize the opportunity; otherwise he could spend the rest of his life regretting not having told her how he felt. And it was then Jefferson decided with a strong wave of resolve overcoming him, he would tell her.
Alice returned and took her seat. "I hope the food comes soon, I'm starving!"
"Well that was an exciting day!" Alice said plopping down on Jefferson's bed. She closed her eyes and let out a content sigh. Jefferson's cottage was alight in orange light from the few candles that he had lit after night began to fall.
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself," Jefferson said with a timid smile at Alice. Jefferson turned to put a kettle in his fireplace, and began working quietly in preparation for them both to go to bed.
They spent a few moments in silence. Alice stared at the ceiling in thought. "Jefferson..." she started, "Why do you live alone?" she asked quietly.
He took a moment before responding, "Well, my parents passed when I was a teenager, and I suppose... I don't know... I've just always kind of been a quiet child, a bit of a loner. I never had many friends," he said without self-pity in his voice, though this saddened Alice. How could a boy as kind and gentle as Jefferson gone without companionship for so long? Could no one see what an amazing man he was?
"Any... Any lovers?" Alice asked hesitantly, although tried to play it off as casual curiosity.
Jefferson coughed in surprise, her question taking him off guard. "Erm... No. I can't say many women have expressed desire to know my acquaintance," he said turning away from her to find sleep clothes from a wardrobe.
Alice smiled to herself at his clumsy response, and affectionately looked upon Jefferson, who seemed completely occupied with searching for his clothes. Her eyes drifted from his head of unruly brown hair, that was so long and unkempt, and continued to let her eyes wander until they drifted down his back, all the way down to his backside. It was a nice backside, she admired dreamily. She counted any woman who did not recognize Jefferson's loving personality and his entrancing... assets... as a fool.
Jefferson removed his shirt, furthering Alice's thoughts of admiration towards Jefferson's body as she watched the muscles of his shoulder and back contract with the task of picking up his night shirt and putting it on. Alice internally let out a sigh of contentment. She so rarely got to admire a beautiful man.
Jefferson turned to her; with slight surprise as she quickly averted her eyes from him, it was clear she had been staring. "What?" Jefferson asked self-consciously, his eyebrows furrowing in a most adorable fashion.
"Nothing," Alice said softly with a smile. She situated herself into his bed, and he to his corner where he had created a makeshift bed before blowing out the candles.
They both lay in silence a few moments, listening to the sound of the crickets chirping in the warm spring air.
"Goodnight Jefferson," she said quietly.
"Goodnight Alice," he returned, and they both drifted into content sleep.
Ugh writing is hard. Why can't this story just write itself? I put off writing this chapter so much. Hope you like it though, if you do, reviews motivate me to write faster!