Title: Treasure

Rating: T

Summary: Nick Midnight is a high school girl who's a victim of fierce bullying regarding her appearance and name. On one rainy day she falls into Wonderland and hopes to start a new life. Will she ever find anyone who will accept her for who she is, or will the vicious cycle begin again? Mary Gowland x Original Character

A/N's: Sorry that this chapter is so incredibly short! There was supposed to be a dream sequence and an encounter of sorts, but that will have to wait until next week. This past week I was caught up in the FBLA National Leadership Conference and was unable to write, so this is the product of a day and a half's work.

Thanks to everyone for their continued support and reviews, it makes me work so much harder. I was originally just going to delay this chapter until next week, but I made a promise to keep pushing one chapter a week for as long as I can. For the followers and favoriters, this is out now because of you!

Unfortunately because the chapter is so small, I had to change my name for it. The snazzy, punny name will come next week instead.

Chapter Five: Worth and Importance

"So you're the new Outsider, eh?" he asks me as he leads me inside the building and finally releases my hand from his grasp. We walk towards a set of lounging furnishings, decorated differently from the energetic Amusement Park theme in plain beiges and plums, and sat down across from each other.

The room we were in was completely filled to the brink with various types of musical instruments - percussion drums, a baby-blue accented piano, string and band instruments, and all that was in-between. The walls were colored plum as well, except for red brick fireplace that was currently not in operation.

I was brought back to reality and distracted from the hanging string instruments only when a hand graced and glided across my cheek. Shaking my head in surprise, Gowland leaned back in his seat and then turned to look out the window and the fierce storm.

"Yeah, that would be me..." I cross my legs and stare in the same direction as he did, watching the trees harshly billow back and forth to what seemed to be their snapping points. "Passed out on the way from school in a storm like this, and found myself in one of the forests when I woke up."

Gowland turns to look at me, a questioning look on his face. "Usually, when an Outsider comes to Wonderland, they have a wish to leave their world or for great change. Now, Alice was roughhoused and dragged here by the PM Peter White-"

"PM?" I ask, interrupting his speech. I can figure out that he meant Prime Minister, it's a typical abbreviation, but there's a feeling in my gut that he's about to ask a question I really don't want to think about right now.

"Prime Minister."

"Oh." Not skipping a beat, eh? He wasn't even sidetracked either. Well, that didn't work.

"Anyhow, if ya don't mind me askin', what brought you here?" And there's that question that I don't want to face.

Am I here of my own will? I don't remember giving consent to this, but…

What did bring me here? Not a person, Peter, like Alice most definitely. A wish to leave their world is how Outsiders normally come; I had thought about that before, I won't sugarcoat it, but I had never tried to… I had never gotten that far. It's true that I wanted to leave that world… Maybe- did I just die there lying there and this is all a dream? Am I in a hospital bed somewhere, unconscious and recovering?

Am I just thinking about this too much?

"I don't know," I respond, honestly, "I had wanted change, but I think after a while I just wanted to leave…"

Sighing, I continue on, "I think it will be nicer here - aside from the weather-," I sneak in a laugh, "People are more civil, except for one, even if they are a bit forgetful, so I've already decided I'll stay."

My mind drifts back to the incidents that have occurred over the past day and a half: shitty day at school, shitty afternoon at the Hatter's Mansion, alright night at the Clock Tower, bleh morning being kicked out, and sucky mid-day being forgotten in the woods. Things were better once I got to the Amusement Park, however; I guess my name hasn't reached this far yet, or the people are favorable and non-judgmental. They must be - everyone, the workers had said, knows about Gowland's real name, but they all refer to him as what he prefers to be called.

That also could be because he's their boss.

I look back at Gowland, finished watching the trees being abused by the vicious and out-to-kill winds, and see him with his elbows on his knees, face resting on his hands, and staring at me all the while looking saddened.

"Time is distorted here, but not paused. Aren't you worried that someone will go looking for you?"

Even with his tone and genuine concern displayed on his face, I couldn't help myself but laugh until it sounded like I was going to cry in emotional pain about the suggestion. Who would even bother?

"Me? Someone caring about me? Ha, that's impossible. No one from that place will ever care about what happens to me. They all probably will just be glad a nuisance is gone…" I look up at the ceiling, and take a deep breath, "It's not like I'm important anyways."

I close my eyes after speaking my last words as quiet as a mouse, and I hear rustling and movement. After a few seconds of peaceful rest, I feel a heavy weight being draped over my shoulders and I am pulled over to fall sideways on something soft. Curious to see what the weight came from and as to find out what the hell just happened, I open my eyes and am greeted by those obnoxiously loud colors once more. Gowland had moved to my couch and pulled me over to rest on his side; his arm was wrapped around me in a sense of comfort, and he had his head resting back against the top of the couch and was staring at the ceiling just like I had been.

"Of course yer important - you're an Outsider," he says quietly.

I make a noise that sounds like a cross between a cat being strangled and a scoff. "But if I wasn't an Outsider, would anyone have even talked to me in the beginning? If I didn't have a face, would Ace and Alice have helped me? Would Julius have housed me for one night only?"

He didn't answer. He didn't move a muscle.

He sat there and stared at the ceiling, perhaps searching for an answer, perhaps searching for an escape from me and my annoying self.

"Would you have talked to me?"

For a second there, I thought Gowland's neck was going to snap, at the high rate of speed at which he turned his head to look at me. "Of course I would've! I couldn't see shit when I was searchin' for my glasses - I couldn't' tell if ya had a face or not."

I started laughing - and so did he. Making fun of himself and his bad eyesight, Gowland stood up, sunk his glasses down his nose, and flailed his arms out to act like he was blind. He walked a couple of steps before he stubbed one of his toes on the nearby coffee table, and my lungs began to ache from my uproar. After the two of us goofed us for a bit, Gowland turned to me once more and was serious.

"Midnight."

"Yes?"

He paused before continuing, "It doesn't matter where you come from, it's what you do with yourself to get to your destination. If you weren't an Outsider, yes - some people wouldn't bother with you. Even as an Outsider, some won't bother with you."

He mumbled something incoherent about a jester and a warden before he placed his hands upon my shoulders. We met recently - only a few hours ago - but yet there was something captivating about this man. Mary Gowland; he didn't seem fake. What you see is what you get.

He's loud and bright. He's serious and kind. Fun-loving. Reckless.

Charming. Sweethearted.

At least that's what I got from the first impression anyways.

"But you can't let things bother you, sweet pea. What happens, happens, and most of the time you have to live with what life gives you."

He laughs and slams his hands down on my shoulders hard, causing them to sting.

"Now you stay up here in the Park and cheer up! Nothin' like some horseplay to cheer up the children!" He laughs and backs up before turning and running to the backside of the other couch. So this is how it's going to be, huh…

"You douchebag, that hurt! Get back here!"

"Hahahahaha!"

I grab a pillow and start to chase him in circles around the large room. There's a large bed in the corner that he makes a run for to grab his own weapon - but I get there first and steal an extra pillow so both my hands are full. I sit on the bed and bash him as he comes closer, but as I complete the action, the day full of adventure crashes down on me.

Finally realizing how tired I am, I feel the realm of sleep - Nightmare - calling me and lulling me to close my eyes and fall back on the plush bedding. I hope Gowland isn't mad at me for passing out on him…

Before completely losing my touch with reality, I feel Gowland turn me and move my head to rest on a pillow. A blanket is draped over me, keeping me incubated, and the sound of the rain becomes calming and no longer violent. A hand brushes down my hairline.

"Good night, Midnight."

Honesty: the quality or fact of being honorable in principles, intentions, and actions. This is a time I wish I had been more honest. With him, with myself.

For once in my life, I want someone to know who I truly am. To see who I truly am.

"It doesn't matter where you come from, it's what you do with yourself to get to your destination."

For once in my life, I want to be called by my real name.