back to wonderland;

“Why don’t you clean up nice?” The blonde teased her friend as she walked up to her and took in the scene. “I haven’t seen you look this dolled up, in well ever. It’s a nice change don’t worry.”

“I,” Rebecca swallowed, not knowing what to say to Veronica’s kind words, “Thanks.” Cheeks slightly burning Rebecca nodded, agreeing. Usually she was in ripped jeans and a tank top. “Do I look too much like I’m at a funeral? I mean, love is death, I just want these people to know.” The dark hair girl shrugged slowly. “You look nice yourself by the way.”

“Hmm,” Wanda hummed lightly as she glanced away from the other girl, not fully realizing that she had been staring. “No, you look good. I just really like your jacket.” 

“Oh,” voice low, Rebecca looked down at her leather jacket. It was always attached to her. The most valuable thing she had on the island with her. Always there to remind her that life wasn’t always served on a goddamn silver platter. “Thanks, I love this raggedy old thing. I’m Rebecca, by the way.” Her smile was tight lipped, but it was a smile nonetheless. 

“No, Rebecca, you look amazing.”She said with a smile.

“Oh Aria, hey.” Her cheeks were pink with the color of her embarrassment for freaking out.  “You look amazing great yourself,” she eyed the girl with a tight smile. “Weddings really aren’t my thing...”

“Wh – no. I was just – there’s a tiny stain on your jacket.”

“For fu -- shit, of course, I would get a stain on my favorite jacket. Thanks, karma. You’re a really freakin’ gem” Rebecca eyes met the stain, feeling the flames tickled her soft white cheeks. 

There are so many things wrong with our legal system it isn’t even funny.

You can’t ever really change your peers minds. It’s absolutely disgusting to me...

“Your not?”

Some days it feels like home. Other days this feels like a place aliens created to research humans. 

I know I did, but I – I think I made a mistake. Rebecca, you’re not useless and you’re not garbage. I – maybe that’s true. Maybe I deserve better, but so do you. You deserve better than a – a killer. I’m sorry, I should’ve just stayed away.

A mistake breaking up with me? I don’t know -- I feel like it was good and -- and bad. Am I the only one who thinks I’m the equivalent of toxic waste? Wes, dammit, you freakin’ protected me. That’s more than I can say about anyone else. You did it to protect me. If that isn’t love -- I don’t know what it is, but I think it showed true bravery. I would be dead if it weren’t for you. Or worse -- jail. 

Teacher-student relationship where they both end up dead. Just wait a few years and you’ll be seeing a dozen books and film adaptations of this story. Tragedy sells.

Of my story? Or all the stories of the city you escaped from? Probably both. Human beings are so power thirsty, it’s disgusting. 

Alison felt her own eyes water and her lips tremble as she listened to her friend. She hadn’t expected to make friends on the island. Her plan was to stay disconnected from these people to survive. But just as it had at home, she had became connected to the people she formed a group with. Especially Rebecca. “Why are people looking for you Rebecca? We’re not going to let them get you. I’ll protect you- We’ll protect you. You have allies here. Friends.”, she said. She knew how it felt like to be on the run from people out to get her. “..You’re strong Rebecca. You’d be strong without me.” Alison hardly spoke from the heart, but when she did she meant it. She tried to smile, but her eyes betrayed her.

An overwhelming feeling took over; even her heart seemed to beat at a different pace. Letting out a breathy sigh Rebecca smiled. Showing off how grateful she was having Alison. Friends were not her strong suit, even then, but the group they had formed had bonded. It felt like it was for life. “Thank you,” her voice was as smooth as silk, “We’ll all look out for each other.” Now she felt the need to protect the group at all costs. “-- Thank you, I feel somewhat safer knowing I have this group of -- misfits on my side.” Even though Alison seemed more than capable of being popular; Rebecca felt she was still a sort of black sheep, like herself. “We’re all in this together,” despite this concept being foreign to her, she meant everything she was saying.

Really? Wow that sounds awful.

Yep. I was on trial. And found not guilty. I guess it doesn’t matter what the law says.