Thanks to my reviewers! I know this took a while to update but I was working on it little by little and I wrote part of the next one too. So, enjoy!

It's been a hard day's night, and I've been working like a dog
It's been a hard day's night, I should be sleeping like a log
But when I get home to you I find the things that you do
Will make me feel alright
You know I feel alright
You know I feel alright...

~Hard Day's Night by The Beatles

I don't think it should surprise anyone that I work in a toy store- the kind that sells handcrafted old-timey toys like what you'd find in one of those historic town shops. I myself carve and paint most of the wooden toys like dollhouses and little animal figurines. I love what I do, and I couldn't ask for a better job what with a great boss and decent pay and hours. The only problem I had surfaced about six days before I was supposed to meet Veidt for tea.

"Look alive, kid, we got a new arrival." My boss Vincent called to me. He looked out the workroom door and beckoned an unseen visitor forth.

I pouted my lip. "You hired somebody? And here I thought our relationship was exclusive."

"Jack, this is Alexis. She'll be running the registers from now on."

A woman my age stepped into the room and I almost dropped my work in utter shock. This was the second time this week that I'd met an old high school classmate, only this woman was the last person on earth I wanted to see. Alexis Peterson was one of the few people I was genuinely afraid of.

A child of a bitter divorce and an overly religious mother, Alexis had grown up a social outcast and a miserable bitch to boot. Every day for a semester in junior year Alexis would walk behind my desk at the beginning of chemistry class and yank a fistful of hair from my head, and I never knew why. Eventually the hair pulling led to creepy, threatening notes in my locker- something akin to demented love letters- and it only stopped once her mother died after a fatal fall down a flight of stairs and her new foster family moved across town.

I hoped to never see that black-eyed little psycho again, but you can't always get what you want, can you?

Her shiny eyes were wide and hungry, staring down at me like I was her prey. If she had licked her lips like a wild animal, I'd have stabbed her with my whittling knife then and there. "Hello Jack." She rasped. She had a serious smoker's voice.

"Hey, Alexis, welcome to Geraldi's." I said, managing to sound friendly without vomiting.

"She's already had her training on the days you missed." Vincent informed me.

Alexis looked at me somewhat listlessly. "Are you alright? Vincent told me about the accident."

Damn little sociopath, pretending like she had a soul. "I'm here now, aren't I?" I laughed weakly. "I'm just a little sore is all."

Her face darkened unexpectedly and I inwardly flinched. "And the man who hit you?"

"Oh, he's just fine. He turned out to be Adrian Veidt if you can believe it."

She only nodded in response and I glanced nervously at Vince, who was completely oblivious to my discomfort.

"Well Alexis, let's get you to work!" he said jovially, guiding her out of the workroom. "Jack, you just take it easy."

"Easier said than done." I grumbled out of earshot.

There was no external conflict between Alexis and I for the next remaining days before the fifth, but I was sure she was watching me the whole time. I felt her eyes boring holes into my skull every time I turned around. On the fourth, I told Vincent about Veidt's invitation.

"I can't imagine what we'll talk about." I said to him.

"Well I'm positive you'll find a good topic." He assured me. "That's the best way to figure out if you want to go on a second date."

I stopped whittling my rocking horse and glared up at the old man. "Tea is not a date." I said firmly. "And that is not up for debate."

Vince grinned from behind his snowy white moustache. Finish your work girl, we're about to close up."

I was about to return to my work when I felt a presence behind me. I turned and to find Alexis looming over me with a dark glint in her eye. I blanched, trying not to pee myself.

"You need something?" I said shakily.

"Why would you date Veidt after he almost got you killed?" She said, her voice dangerously quiet. "Are you such a whore that you'll let anyone hit you?"

My jaw hit the floor. "What the fuck did I ever do to you? You hated me in high school and you hate me now, too? GodDAMMIT, you are one mean bitch." I threw down my knife and stormed out of the store, not even bothering to clock out.

XxXxXxX

Somebody left me flowers when I came home from work that night. Or at least that's what Claudia told me once I walked in the door.

"Sumbody left you roses." Claudia said teasingly. "Virgil found them in front of your door so we brought them in for you. That's them on the table."

I scrunched my face in confusion not entirely in the mood for presents. "Who're they from?"

The girl shrugged. "Beats me. They didn't leave a card. Methinks you have a secret admirer."

"Jack's got a boyfriend!" Virgil taunted.

Grinning coyly, I held the bouquet up to my face and inhaled the sweet scent. "Oh my, a gentleman sending such pretty gifts to a young lady?" I drawled in a heavy southern bell dialect. "I do declare!"

"So who do you think they're from?" Virgil asked.

"God only knows." I trailed over to the kitchen to find something to hold the flowers. I didn't have a vase but I decided a tea pitcher would do the job.

Maybe it was Adrian. That would be awful sweet of him but I had my doubts. He seemed like the kind of guy to give gifts face-to-face anyway.

"I guess I'll find out eventually, hmm?'

I normally don't hold my physical appearance in high regard, especially when it comes to clothing, but today just felt different. My dress was still casual but was what some might call church-appropriate. Then I swept my hair back into a loose bun and called it a masterpiece, contrary to Claudia's protests. It was nearing three thirty when it occurred to me that whomever was supposed to pick me up today probably didn't know my apartment number.

"Maybe we should wait outside for him." Claudia suggested.

"We?"

"Yeah, we. I'm not done hanging out."

I blinked. "Shouldn't you be in school right now?"

She scoffed. "No. It's three in the afternoon. Besides, a water main broke this morning and we were told to stay home."

"I bet that was your fault." I shook my head. "You little delinquent."

We waited together on the front steps to our apartment building, and sure enough, a sleek, black, luxury car pulled up in front. An older man in your average chauffeur uniform emerged from the parked vehicle and greeted us with a smile.

"Swank." I grinned, and Claudia whistled, impressed as well.

"Good afternoon, Miss LaBelle. Sorry to keep you waiting." The man said humbly.

I shook my head. "I haven't been out her for more than a minute." Claudia looked ready to contradict me so I changed the subject. "Where exactly are we headed? Adrian didn't really specify…"

The chauffeur opened the side door, allowing me to enter. "Mr. Veidt reserved a room at The Gardens for the two of you. Is that all right?"

My eyebrows shot up and I nodded vehemently I'd never actually be to The Gardens before but I'd heard wonderful things about it. Apparently it held extravagant weddings and the most incredible parties usually reserved for high society snobs that can afford it. Each room is extravagantly themed with different cultural backgrounds all in garden form, from Victorian English to Japanese Zen.

In my daze I felt Claudia tug on my sweater. "Since when are you and that jerk on a first name basis?"

"Since it turns out he isn't one." I stuck my tongue out as I climbed into the back seat.

"Whatever." said Claudia. "Just don't come back pregnant."