Chapter 9, A Carriage Ride with a Mad Cheshire Cat

Hatter was holding his hands out as if to showcase Cheshire, but that didn't mean Alice liked the huge push into the water. She thought it was kind of him to make such a gesture, but at the same time, it was just Cheshire.

Cheshire smiled his huge smile, bringing out his purple striped fur.

"What are you doing here?" Alice asked.

Cheshire smiled, and winked his eye at her.

"That's all in good time Alice, but if you don't mind me asking, why are you here of all places?"

Hatter stepped in beside her, to try and defend their whereabouts.

"We were just stopping by, on our way to the Queen's castle."

Cheshire shook his head, and his smile grew even larger.

Alice looked at him.

"What are you smiling about?"

Cheshire shook his head in disbelief.

"What?" Alice asked again.

"Nothing Alice, but why are you so worried?"

Alice whispered in Hatter's ear.

"Does he have something wrong with him?"

Cheshire flew up from his seat on the carriage.

"You know I can hear you, right?"

Hatter bent over laughing at the cat's move.

"I don't get it!" Alice exclaimed.

"Well that's ok." Hatter said.

He took Alice's hand and led her toward the coach. It was a sleek black ride. It had engravings of flowers and fairies on it.

"Is this yours?" Alice asked curiously.

"Um…. Actually it's not." Cheshire replied.

Hatter rolled his eyes and said, "Don't lie Cheshire. You've had this ever since your mother died."

Cheshire blushed and seemed to be embarrassed by Alice finding out that the carriage was his.

Alice smiled at him and tried to make him feel better.

"Well actually, I think this carriage I one of the most beautiful I've seen in my life."

Cheshire perked up and said, "Really?"

"Absolutely!" Alice said.

Hatter smiled and looked at Cheshire.

"So where are you headed to?" Hatter asked.

"Well actually I was on my way to meet Layla." Cheshire answered.

"Who's Layla?" Alice asked.

"Layla is Cheshire's girlfriend."

"Oh." Alice said.

"Yeah, she's amazing." Cheshire said dreamily.

Hatter sighed and coughed strangely into his hand.

"You ok?" Cheshire asked.

"Well…. Would it be too much to ask for a ride to the castle?"

"I guess I could give you a ride." Cheshire said.

"Hop in."

Hatter opened the door and stepped in. He held his hand out for Alice to step inside. She hopped in and closed the door. It was like a coffin inside the carriage. There was black silk covering the walls and sides, and the seats were mahogany leather. It was one of the most amazing things you could ever sit in.

Hatter reached up and slid the little door open so they could talk to Cheshire.

"So how has Layla been?" Hatter asked.

"Well, she's been rather well."

"I mean she has the same cute little face, but her whiskers are a real pain."

"So what does she do for fun?" Alice asked trying to get involved in the conversation.

Cheshire cleared his throat and continued the conversation.

"Well she really loves to paint; it has been a hobby of hers ever since she was little."

"Well that's cool." Alice said.

Alice was thinking that it would be nice to comment on the cat's relationship.

"Well I'm glad you found a cat you can spend the rest of your life with." She said.

"A what?" Cheshire asked.

"A cat, duh." Alice said.

"Oh I think you might have been thinking the wrong thing."

"What do you mean?" Alice asked.

"Well…. Layla is a mouse."

Alice couldn't believe her ears. She was riding with a complete mad house cat who was in love with a mouse. This world really was messed up.