"U-Um, Jackie ... ?" Nightmare questions as he pokes the back of my head with what I assume is a pen. I nearly rip his head off as my fists tighten, hiding my face in my arms. The soft couch in Nightmare's office cradles my stomach as I slowly breathe in and out.
What am I going to do? How am I going to face him after something like that? I have no clue what to do in this situation. Yeah, I ran off with Blood because Grey wasn't paying attention to me but then he goes and does something so stupid to me in return? He's just an idiot! I stiffen as Nightmare sits down in front of me tugging on my hair. I huff and smack my head onto the pillow on his lap.
"This sucks."
"I know."
"I don't know what to do."
"Neither do I." He sheepishly admits.
"Kill me."
"No."
"Please kill me."
"Asking me politely won't change anything." Nightmare lightly chastises, tapping me on the head.
"Hm ... ," I hum unwilling to move at all.
What's worse is that he is completely avoiding me. Sometimes, when I hear his voice down the hall, I try to catch up to him but he always manages to slip away somehow. UGH! Stupid mama bear ...
"Yes, I think mama bear is much better than mama hen." Nightmare stifles a laugh at the nickname.
"...I want mama hen back." I gloomily pout, deeply breathing out.
I want my old job back.
I want my old wrench.
I want my old room.
I just want to hurry back to the Amusement park so I don't have to deal with this crap. All of these new emotions. Stupid Grey and this stupid Clover Tower. I just want all the old back.
"So you want to run away?" Nightmare asks playfully tugging at my hair.
"...Yes." I whine smacking my head into the pillow and let out an aggravated muffled shout. I don't know what to do. I don't want to hurt anymore feelings. Mine are pretty much in ruins at this point.
"That doesn't sound like the Jackie I know." Nightmare scoffs.
"...Yeah? What would the Jackie you know do?" I've been acting weird this whole time during the switch. I've been needy. I've been clingy. Heck, I've even come to Nightmare of all people for advice! But ... It's honestly all I've got now.
"The Jackie I know would be brushing this off her shoulder. It's not your fault any of this has happened. It's just Grey." He reassures rubbing my shoulders. Yeah ... that's pretty right. What have I done to Grey to make him do that? It was his choice to do that stupid thing, not mine. "Exactly! So, why don't you just hop back to your feet, brush off this incident, and go fix me up a sandwich?" Nightmare lovingly hums patting my back. He's right. I shouldn't be sitting her moping. It's pathetic and weak. What I need to do is move on. I slip off the couch heading towards the door.
"I'm moving to Hatters."
"Oh yes well make sure it has extra pickles and - WAIT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?!" Nightmare shrieks at the top of his lungs as I trot out of his office. He's right. Besides, it will be fun with the twins and Elliot. Not nearly as stressful as it is here. And I really like Elliot. He fun, supportive, and overall one of my closest friends.
"Thanks Nightmare." I note, hopping into my room and pulled out a duffle bag. Nightmare came skidding down the hallway, catching the door.
"Jackie, you missed the point of that entirely!" He cries, nearly choking on his vomiting blood. I sigh and set a trashcan in front of him, letting him chuck up all he wants as I fold up my nice suit and change into my other clothes in the bathroom. I toss some light toiletries into the bag, zipping it shut and sling it over my shoulder. I frown at how light it is. I might seriously have to go and do some shopping on a loan and pay Blood back somehow. I wonder if Grey every got the chance to purchase those clothes or did he just leave? "NO JACKIE THAT'S EVEN WORSE - AARRRGGGGG BLECHHHHHHH!"
"Yeah, well, I've made up my mind. Like hell I'm going to stay here now." I heavily sigh, trotting out of the room and down the hall.
"N-No! Don't do it Jackie! It's SUICIDE!" Nightmare screams quickly following.
"G-Grey! Come here now!" I quicken my pace heading straight for the doors. I better hurry before he gets here. I have a pretty good idea how I will react if he does; burst into blubbering tears and drown myself to sleep. Yeah, that's a fun way to die of embarrassment.
"Ah-ah! Master Nightmare, Master Grey has gone to pick up some coffee for you so he won't be back for a little while -,"
"Nooooooooooooo! J-Jackie, I thought you said you wouldn't run away!" Nightmare shouts, reaching for me as I shut the door.
"What a freaking drama queen." I sourly mutter trotting off to the Hatter's Mansion. Well, this should be interesting.
‡
"Of course we would be delighted to have a foreigner stay here with us." Blood hums as he sets aside his paperwork. I nervously shuffle my feet.
"I need a loan too; about $300 will be plenty." Blood looks up, pleasantly surprised.
"Really? So soon?"
"Yeah. And then I'll work it off here with maintenance work. Anything mechanical you got I'll work on. Even guns." I add on a side note.
"You know how to operate a gun? Alice never did." He croons, intrigued as I set my light as a feather bag aside.
"Not really but I'm a fast learner. And I never said I would shoot one I just said I would fix it." I'm sure he's got a crap load of books in here about guns and maintenance.
"Well, I'm sure the twins will be excited to hear that. Unfortunately we do not have very many mechanical things here." He slyly says with a strange glint in his eye.
"I know." I grimace.
"Clover Tower has more than we do, I'm afraid." My eyes immediately narrow in anger, catching his predatory gaze. "Oh? Has something happened?" It almost sounds like he was expecting something to happen.
"None of your business."
"Do you speak that way to all your bosses?"
"None of your business sir."
"Much better." He hums as Elliot enters the room with a broad smile.
"Hey, Jackie, are you really going to be staying here?" He excitedly asks. I hold back my laughter as I spy his ears twitch in excitement.
"Yeah. I'm not sure for how long though."
"Exactly thirty two time changes of work, interest included." Blood says as he dots something in his paperwork.
"How did you get that?" I ask as he pulls out a sleek black suit case. He flips it open, drawing out a thick wad of pure cash. I literally hear my eyes go cha-ching! the moment he takes out the money. My money.
"Your debt." He says, waving the beautiful green paper in front of my face. I take the money feeling like I just made a deal with the devil. Oh man ... I wonder how this is going to turn out for me. Oh well.
"Ah." I note as I click my tongue, flipping the money in my hand before pocketing it, "yeah, that makes sense."
"Oh? You're taking out a loan?" Elliot asks.
"Yeah. Just for some clothes."
"Really? Then let's go now!" Elliot cheers dragging me out of the room. I barely snatch my duffle bag in time before he zips out.
"Elliot, wait. Is my room set up yet?"
"Ah. It will be set up before we get back. Promise. You there," Elliot calls out to a nearby maid, handing her my duffle bag, "prepare a room for her to stay in. Those are her things."
"Really? But it is so light!" She cries, hardly believing it. I grimace.
"Yeah. All my other stuff is at the Amusement Park." My mood immediately hits rock bottom. Ah~ all my stuff ... I want it back ...
"W-Well, let's go, Jackie. You like shopping right?"
"I hate it."
"W-Well, you like walking around town right?"
"I dislike crowds."
"Well ... you like fixing stuff?"
"I left all my tools at the Amusement Park along with my soul." I gloomily reply quickly loosing motivation to continue. Oh please just leave me here on the ground ...
Elliot sighs and remains silent, continuing to pull me towards town.
‡
"How's this Jackie?" Elliot asks holding up a pair of cargo pants, "see? They also turn into shorts."
"Yeah, those are nice." I say feeling the fabric. "I'm not getting much; just a few pairs of pants and tank tops." I've already got one dressy outfit and that should hold up for a little while. And whatever money is left over I can give back to Blood and start paying off. "Well, this should be good." I say, hoisting them over to the counter.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes I am." I say, handing her the needed amount of money as she rings it up and bags it.
"Thank you come again!" She cheers as we leave.
"Here, I'll carry that for you." Elliot hums slipping the not so heavy bag into his hand. I smile and happily relinquish the help. Hey, if he's willing to carry it by all means, carry it.
"Thanks." I say, grateful to have a helping hand. Well, the total wasn't bad at all. It was only about $200 including the black sneakers. I pocket the rest of the money, looking up to the sight I least wanted to see.
There was Grey, carrying a few bags of coffee as he chatted up a nice young lady who works at the Clock Tower.
"CRAP!" I squeak as I immediately dart into an alley, "I was never here!" I harshly mutter to a very confused Elliot as I dive into the dumpster. I stay deathly quiet as I hear Grey's voice grow louder. What is he saying? His voice sounds muffled because of the stupid dumpster. Well, at least it's keeping me hidden. I cover my nose from the awful stench listening as Grey grows further away.
"Um ... the coast is clear? Jackie, what was all that about?" Elliot asks as he lifts the lid, eyeing me in the middle of a bunch of black trash bags that had ripped when I jumped in. "EW! Jackie -,"
"I know I know I smell!" I grumpily growl, falling onto the ground. Well, that wasn't an overreaction. All I did was hop into the dumpster to avoid someone.
...
...
...
Wow that's just sad.
‡
BLOOD'S POV
"And then she proceeded to jump into a dumpster?" I ask, astounded by her obviously desperate attempt to flee Grey. That's hilarious!
"Yeah. I have no idea why! The second she saw Grey she immediately dove in. Ah, here's some of the extra money." Elliot notes handing me about $100 worth. Interesting that she is going to such lengths to avoid Mr. Grey ...
I can have some fun with this.
‡
Uh oh. How is this all going to go down when Nightmare tells Grey where Jackie went? 10 REVIEWS to find out!