Chapter 9

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"I know that I don't have to go and speak to my boss about getting you a job, but I want to. I think it would be good for us to form a strong friendship. Besides, my mom would be happy if you and I become friends," Alice said.

"Do what you will then. I'm not going to stop you. But I'm still going to do what is right by looking around and finding a job for myself. Have a good evening and sorry again for pinning you against the wall," Rowena said before turning on her heel and walking away.


Alice stood there watching as Rowena walked away, until Rowena was no longer in view. Alice then turned and walked away, but accidentally bumped into someone else, who had accidentally walked into her as well.

"I'm so sorry ma'am. I didn't mean to bump into you. I'm a bit lost, which isn't good for me, because I'm running late for a meeting," the man explained.

"I'm sorry that you're running late for your meeting that you need to attend. Maybe you can tell me a bit more about this meeting. Maybe I can help you get to your meeting on time," Alice said.

"Oh, I was looking to meet with someone about taking some defense classes. I feel that it would be helpful to learn that way if I have to walk to a destination at night, or I decide to take a leisurely walk at night, and somebody tries to mug me, I can whoop some serious tail. But I had to beg the instructor to give me time to meet with him. But if I miss this opportunity to meet with him, then I may never get another chance to speak to him," Jack explained.

"Allow me to take you to the dojo, that way you can make it to your meeting. Don't want you missing this meeting," Alice said while walking with the strange man to the dojo where she worked.

The whole way there Alice and the man, she learned was Jack Hart was new to the area, and that was why he wanted to take defense classes. Both Alice and Jack were talking the whole time that it didn't feel like they had just met, when they both arrived outside the dojo.

"Here we are. I wish you luck with your meeting," Alice said.

"Thank you," Jack said. Alice was about to walk away but was stopped when Jack spoke up. "Before you leave, may I ask you a question?"

"Sure," Alice said.

"How would you feel about going out to dinner with me? I know we just met, but I hope that you will take a chance on me," Jack said.

"I would like that. Casual or fancy," Alice asked.

"We can do casual and see where it goes from there. Maybe it will lead to a fancy dinner," Jack said.

"That works for me," Alice said while writing down her address. "You can pick me up at that address. I look forward to our date," Alice said before walking away.


Three months later


Jack made his way up to Alice's apartment with flowers in hand knocking on Alice's door, waiting for Alice to answer the door.

As Jack stood there waiting for Alice, the door behind him opened, causing him to turn and face the young woman was coming out of her apartment, catching Jack's eye. Jack kept his eye on the young woman who was leaving her apartment, failing to notice the young woman glaring at him.

"Hey moron, take a picture. It will last longer," the young woman snapped at him before walking away, leaving a shocked Jack standing there.

That was a bit uncalled for, Jack thought to himself, when the door opened behind him.

"Jack? Jack, what are you doing here," Alice asked, breaking Jack out of his thoughts, making him turn around, looking at her for a moment.

"I came to see if you had wanted to go to breakfast, but I got distracted by your neighbor," Jack explained. Is your neighbor always so charming, going around calling people names, should they look at her?"


Alice had a confused look on her face before it clicked in her head what her boyfriend was talking about. "Oh, you're talking about Rowena. Honestly, she's not a bad person, once you get past her tough exterior. I take it you had a run in with her, and it didn't go so well."

"If you call being called a moron a good thing. I believe your neighbor insulted me," Jack said kind of confused by what the young woman called him.

"Being called a moron is not alright. Basically, Rowena called you dumb," Alice explained.

"Why would she say something like that," Jack asked a bit confused.

"Rowena is not much of a people person. She prefers to live alone. But once you get to know her a bit, you would see that she is truly a good woman. She's a hard worker," Alice said as Jack led her out of the building.

"I don't want to know a woman who goes around insulting people, just because someone spares a glance their way," Jack said.

"How about we drop by her job, and you can see that she's not a terrible person," Alice said.

"Maybe we can meet up with her another time. Maybe we can have a nice little dinner gathering," Jack suggested. "We can pick a nice place to go, order a nice meal. We can even invite your lone wolf neighbor. Think she will agree to come out to dinner with us?"

"She might. If anyone who can talk Rowena into coming out to dinner with us, it's my mom. When I get back home, I can talk to my mom about it," Alice said. "But for now, let's focus on getting breakfast together and enjoy each other's company."

"Let's go," Jack said leading Alice in the direction of the nice little cafe that he passed on his way to Alice's apartment.

I can't help but believe that young woman shares some of the same features of myself. It can't be, can it? Is my mother speaking the truth by saying that my baby sister was taken away from her when she was born? But who in the world would want to take an innocent baby away from her mother, the moment that she's born? I can't think about that now. I have to think of a way to convince that young woman to come back to Wonderland. But how the hell do I convince her to come back with me, without putting her on edge; and chase her away, Jack thought to himself.


I don't like how long that guy was staring at me. It isn't possible that the queen figured out that I wasn't in wonderland. I shouldn't assume that the queen of hearts wouldn't send someone to come and look for me. She's desperate to get her hands on me. Mad March warned me that she won't stop until she got her hands on me. I have to move, before he brings me back to Wonderland, Rowena thought to herself. 

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