Chapter 2

"Sorry," she apologized quickly, being one of her habits. "I wasn't watching where I was going." She didn't look at the person as she grabbed her binder.

"Quite alright, I really have no idea where I'm going anyways," the voice was deep, cueing Alice she had run into a boy. She noticed he had a hint of a Scottish accent. She looked up at him, surprised at what she saw. His hair was a wild red color, yet it looked perfectly natural, and his clothing was...peculiar. It was a reddish purple coat and she had no idea what else he was wearing. He got up, offering her a hand. She took it and she stood up, looking him straight in the eyes. He had the most green eyes she had ever seen before. Emeralds, she thought. She cleared her throat, remembering his remark.

"Where are you supposed to be?" she asked. He smiled, showing he had a small gap between his two front teeth.

"Lunch," he admitted, with that same smile. She laughed slightly, him joining her after a few seconds.

"It's down this way," she said, noticing no one else was around. At first, they walked in silence, glancing at the boy every now and then. He was doing the same and within a few minutes, their eyes met. They both looked away, a little embarrassed.

"So, I didn't catch your name..." Alice started, but stopped.

"Tarrant" he said. "But most call me Hatter. And your name?"

"Alice," she said a bit shy. Then, silence commenced again. They walked to the lunch room and Alice met up with her friends. Hatter caught her in the line of people and asked to sit with her. She approved and her friend Maggie just said, "Whatever. Hey, come over after school. I have someone you must meet." They ate, mostly talking about the music they listened to. Hatter asked Alice about the music.

"They talk about it all the time. I hardly pay attention," she said.

"As I've noticed," Hatter said. Her head jolted up, a little shocked as his comment. "I don't mean to be offensive, but they are weird. You..." he trailed off, leaving Alice to wonder what he said, thinking she looked off into the distance. Lunch ended and Hatter talked some more with Alice. She found him fairly nice and seemingly a smart guy. Her friends didn't as her about him, didn't even bring him up again to her. After school, she walked to Maggie's house where a few of her other friends Steph, Anna and Crista were. She entered the house where it smelt of smoke and alcohol. Maggie's parents were never home and Alice never saw them. The beer came out as well as the cigarettes and the small party commenced. The smell Alice was used to by now and her friend cracked her a beer which she drank in small amounts so it lasted her a long time and Maggie wouldn't crack her another.

Little did she realize that Hatter had followed her home from school. He thought it was her actual house, today being his first day at the school. He could smell the foulness of the house when one of the girls (not Alice) opened the window. He almost gaged in his mouth. Almost falling out of the tree, he regained his balance.

"This is not the Alice I met," he said to himself. He had a strange feeling inside that Alice was having a little trouble. Being only one day with her, he shook his head, knowing he shouldn't get involved. He'd just met her, but he would be sure to ask her about it tomorrow. he ruffled his red hair that was now sticking out in every direction before climbing down the tree.

She sat in the guest bedroom, which really served as her room. The posters were everywhere of who knows what, and all the cans were on the floor. None of them were hers, she thought that no one had bothered cleaning up, and she wasn't about to become the maid of the house. She leaned against the window, looking outside at the sunset. She sighed, thinking about the new boy at school. He was so nice, she kept thinking. Although, his hair is quite erratic as is his style. There was a loud noise, the doorbell, ringing throughout the house.

"Alice!" Crista was calling. "Come! Here's the guy I want you to meet." She went downstairs, seeing a rugged man at the door. He wore lots of leather and he and Crista exchanged money for more drugs.

"I'm Jeff," he introduced himself.

"Alice," she said with more confidence than earlier today.

"I'm here to propose a deal with you," he said. "You like the outdoors, I hear?"

"Yes," she said, keeping words as simple as possible.

"I will give you a trip of a lifetime. One you'll never forget. I will take you on a walk to the most fascinating place. But..." Alice waited. "You have to agree to follow my party of men and do whatever they say."

"Where would we go?" she asked, her curiosity overcoming her.

"A place you'll never forget," he said. "Really, no where in particular," Jeff answered. She was too intrigued.

"Okay," she said. "We have a deal."

"I'll pick you up next week and we'll go," he said. She was happy, and she never was asked by a guy before to go anywhere. It made her feel special. She wasn't thinking of the consequences because she was thinking about the walk she would be taking.

"Crista," she said when Jeff left. "Did you set me up on a date?"

"Maybe," she answered. Alice could never tell when she was saying yes or no when she said maybe. She would find out in a week. She returned to her bedroom after hanging out with her "friends". It was late and tomorrow would be coming sooner than she expected. The moon was shining bright and it was right where she slept, but more than the moon bothered her. The noise of the girls downstairs was extremely loud. She was used to this though, and fell asleep rather quickly.