Lost In Wonderland

Chapter 10

Stepping out of my shower, I found a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt on the toilet. I tried on the jeans and they hardly fit. I sighed and ditched them, instead pulling on the sweatshirt. I walked downstairs and saw Cory moving around his kitchen.

I sat down at the table and he set a plate of spaghetti in front of my. I couldn't help but laugh. Cory made a face at me. "What's so funny?"

"It's just that... spaghetti is so mundane. You'd think in a place like Wonderland, I'd be served something exotic."

Cory smirked. "This is exotic to me. I thought that you'd be comfortable with it."

I smiled. "How very kind of you."

I ate the spaghetti quickly, hungrier that I realized.

After dinner Cory washed the dishes. "You can sleep in my bed," he said. "I'll take the couch."

"Really are you sure? I'm the guest, if anything I should be on the couch."

"No. You're the guest. I'll be fine on the couch just once."

"Thank you, Cory, for everything."

"It's no problem. I'm just doing what I think is right." Cory winked at me and my face lit in a blush. He wiped his hands on a towel and leaned on the counter.

"Do you feel tired?"

I shrugged. "Not particularly. But I'm sure once I lay down, I'll be out cold." I stood up and walked over to Cory. I pulled his cheek down to my lips. "Thank you,"

Cory smiled. "Go to bed, Aero, you're tired."

I nodded and walked out of the kitchen. I found Cory's room and fell into the bed. I was asleep in seconds.

. . .
My jeans were folded on the chair. I sat up, the sun starting to rise. I walked over to them and smiled, seeing they were freshly washed. I pulled them on and my extra pair of socks. I kept the sweatshirt on.

Walking downstairs, Cory already had breakfast ready. The meal was some sort of plant that tasted like eggs. I didn't even care anymore. I ate the meal happily, and helped Cory clean up.

I packed my bag with more water and my old stuff. I checked the time on my phone. It was frozen on yesterday's time. I sighed and pocketed the device.

Cory packed a few of his own things and we set off, working on day two of our walk through Wonderland.

I followed Cory through Wonderland, the colors vibrant and almost unrealistic. Only some things were bright, though. The ground was a dark grey color, like a faded painting, but the flowers were bright.

It all felt like an illusion. One I didn't want to be stuck in much longer.

Something tapped my shoulder. I glanced back and saw nothing. I looked back at Cory. "Did you just tap my shoulder?"

Cory glanced back at me. "No, why?"

A small shiver ran through me. "I just thought I felt something tap my shoulder. Probably a branch or something."

Cory smiled. "Okay, my dear,"

We walked on for awhile and I felt another tap. I stopped and turned around. There was no tree that could've caused it.

"Cory!"

He turned around. "What?"

"Something is messing with me." I huffed and crossed my arms. "What is screwing with me?"

"I don't know, Aero, I've never been very good at guessing games."

"This isn't a joke, Cory,"

Two yellow cat eyes blinked over Cory's shoulder. I tensed and slowly a cat's face appeared. It's fur was slightly purple, yellow eyes, and a wide smile. Cory turned around and saw the cat, slowly backing up toward me.

The cat smiled. "Hello," it purred.

"Who are you?" Cory asked. "A strange cat?"

"Cheshire," its voice was deep and soothing. I almost wanted to pet him. "What are you doing our here? You're in my land,"

"Your land? This is a public road," Cory glared at the cat. "And we're going to see the Prince."

"The Prince? What do you need with that stuck up, son of a—"

"I'd stop there. There are watchful eyes in the woods and if they hear bad words about the Prince." Cory put an arm around me.

"Well, it's true." Cheshire grinned.

"Well. If you'll excuse us," Cody started to pull me away from the cat. "Crazy cat," He muttered under his breath.

"I'm not crazy," the cat called after us, "my reality is just different from yours,"

"Come on," Cory pulled me away, glancing over his shoulder every once in a while, making sure the cat wasn't following us.

After a bit longer, Cory stopped walking and sat down. "Lunch?"

I sat down beside him and pulled out a sandwich from my backpack. I handed it to Cory and grabbed the other. As I unwrapped the plastic, I asked, "What do you think my parents are doing right now?"

Cory shrugged. "Whatever they were doing when you left. Wonderland is really weird with time, at least with the time with Humanity. It still passes, but in your instance, when you go back, it'll be where you left it. It passes for us, but not for foreigners."

"I've never been a foreigner before." I smiled. "So they don't even know I'm gone?"

"They're paused."

I nodded. "That's more comforting. I'm not as rushed to get back, then,"

Cory smiled. "Good. I hope you come to enjoy Wonderland."

"It's just... different."

"Unfamiliar. I get it. I'd be out of place somewhere I've never been before. You're doing well with it all. Just wait until we get to the castle. I think you'll really like it."

There was a pause, a lull or silence. "So, if you're not human, what are you? If you don't mind me asking," I added the last part in a rush.

He grinned. "Glad you asked..." He smiled. "I'm a halfling."

"A halfling?"

He nodded. "Yep. Half human, half fairy. I've got the look of human, but the lifetime and abilities of a fairy. It's pretty cool."

I smiled. "That is pretty cool."

We finished our lunch quickly and headed out.

I was now, more than ever, okay with being stuck in Wonderland a while longer.

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BTW: I think this'll just end up being a short story.