Chapter 1

Alice Myers

“I’m late, I’m late…” I mutter as I race through the corridors to get to class. Professor Marcus is not always forgiving, and if she makes me stand in front of the class to explain my tardiness, I won’t be able to stand it.

I keep muttering to myself, and I hear the jingle start in my head. The Knight rabbit in the animated Alice in Wonderland. “I’m late, and I’m late for a very important date. No time to say hello goodbye, I’m late, I’m late, I’m…” I can see the entire movie playing before my eyes.

“AHHH!” I let out an involuntary scream as I crash into a huge hard wall. I glance up and want to die. It’s not a wall I ran into, rather a concrete human body.

My eyes are probably the size of saucers as I stare up into the face of one of the four kings of Kenton. The Thorne “brothers” who rule the ice here at Kenton University and then the town along with their parents. I happened to run into the most ruthless one, Ace. He’s the hockey center and the most wanted bachelor probably among all the universities in this state. Which is code for entitled playboy in my book. The puck bunnies line up for him after every practice and game. He’s also the coldest and cruelest of the four.

Great, just what I needed.

My left pointer finger immediately begins scraping its nail along my thumb as I wait for him to explode. He’s not known for his pleasantness, and I pray he doesn’t remember me from the other two encounters we’ve had in the last two years. My thoughts roll around in my head as I shake it a little to focus. That damn Knight rabbit analogy distracted me.

“I’m…sorry. I was chasing a rabbit.” I say with agitation, and he narrows his eyes at me. They are the most interesting color, like a silver with a hint of the palest ice blue throughout. That nonsense slipped out and I wince realizing he’ll think I’m clumsy and nuts. I concentrate hard to focus and get my thoughts in line. Come on brain!

“Alice!” I hear my best friend cry out from down the hall.

I peer around the massive hockey player and see Lolita waving madly at me. The giant in front of me shifts to block my view shifting my attention back to him. Like I could forget he was here. They call him the Icebreaker because he basically mows down anything in his path to get to the goal.

An angry frown appears on Ace’s face as I chance a look back up. “Is that your ‘rabbit’ you were chasing?”

Oh god, his voice. I forgot how it affects you. It’s like the deepest, most gravelly sound I’ve ever heard. Not even in those online videos about the books I read do they sound like that. I can almost hear my eardrum tingling as it rolls through my head.

“Ummm, no. I…”

“Ace!!! Dennis!!!” A loud happy wail followed by a trill of laughter peals from behind me.

I dare not turn to look, but see Dennis Thorne’s blue eyes move from my face to the hall behind me. They narrow more and I wonder if he minds the attention. I had a class with him last year. He ignored me and every other girl in there. He’s almost as tall as his twin brother which is probably like jolly green giant height. I mean seriously, I could get a neck cramp staring up at these guys. Probably six-six or six-seven. They both have short ash blonde hair and while Ace’s is ruffled and messy, Dennis’s is styled smoother.

Ace tilts his head slightly as his eyes don’t waver. “Shouldn’t you be running after your rabbit… Alice?”

And now I know what an eargasm feels like when he says my name. What the hell is wrong with me today? This guy wants to kill me, I’m sure while I’m trying not to drool over his voice. And I shouldn’t, knowing he finds me as reprehensible as the rest of his team.

I nod quickly and begin to step around him, but not before whispering. “Sorry.” Hopefully that doesn't revisit me later with some form of revenge.

I walk fast, darting around the corner and peeking in the thin strip of glass to see Professor Marcus talking. Lolita catches my attention and I see her hold up three fingers. I nod and wait to see her reach down before she throws something at the windows on the opposite wall.

Professor Marcus turns to investigate the intrusion, and I slip in the door creeping to the first seat available. Lolita gives me a thumbs up with a sneaky grin. Luckily, none of the football or hockey teams are in here or they would draw attention to our subterfuge to make me squirm.

I pull out my notebook silently and begin taking notes of what she’s written on the board. This is one of my least favorite classes, but it’s mandatory for graduation. I do better with numbers than I do dry boring history. They just suit my scattered brain better.

When I was ten, my teacher noticed I was always spaced out except during math class. She called my foster mom, Lucille, and had a conference. After that, Lucille took me to see a specialist. Mrs. Nolan had suggested I was struggling with my focus so much and needed help. I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD, a milder form of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Rather than have the hyperactive component, I was withdrawn and would daydream most of the day. Extremely unorganized and my brain rambles around with the weirdest pattern of thoughts. A lot like living in Wonderland with Alice sometimes.

Chapter 2

Lucille was the nicest foster mom I had. I lived with her the longest too, for almost ten years. She took me to see a play therapist and other forms of interactive therapy where I learned some tricks to help me manage my situation.

I met Lolita Chapman at an art therapy class when I was twelve. She was there waiting on her older brother, Evans, who has his own focus issues. She walked right over and introduced herself to me. Turns out we went to the same school and in the same grade, but I had never noticed her. She asked me three questions; my favorite color, favorite food and whether or not I thought Miles Mondragon in our class was cute. After she heard my answers, she declared we would be best friends from then on. And we were. I was surprised. She learned tricks to make sure I stayed focused around her and would defend me when I needed it. It helped that most didn’t pay that much attention to me when she was around. Still don’t to this day. It’s never bothered me.

Lolita always tells me I’m beautiful, but I’m not too concerned about my looks. One more thing I don't have time to worry about. I am what I am and if they only want to judge me on my looks, then so be it. Which is five seven with very little to brag about for my figure. My light brown hair and brown eyes are nothing special or unique. I have a small smattering of freckles across my nose and upper cheeks. No where else on my pale skin.

Lolita's the typical American dream girl with blonde curly hair and dark blue eyes. Only an inch taller than me with a perfect figure and a year-round golden tan. All eyes are usually on her, which helps me a lot. Gives me time and space to organize my thoughts sometimes.

Class ends and Lolita comes to wait for me.

“That was close.” She says with a big smile, and I laugh.

“Thanks, Lolita. I hit an icy impasse.” She tugs my arm and puts her finger to her lips until we hit the hallway.

“Did he do anything to you?” She whispers worriedly.

“No, I think one of the puck bunnies showed up, so he was more concerned with that. Let me go with a little taunt, and that’s it.” I shrug, and we move cautiously around the corner. Thankfully, it's mostly empty.

"So he didn't remember you from last year?" She asks as we head toward her car.

"Didn't seem to." I say as I climb in.

Last year, I'd been in the middle of heading to a table in the student center with my lunch. Naturally, I'd been lost in my head trying to organize my assignments for the day. Wasn't paying attention which was completely my fault.

Colton, one of the football players had tripped me. I went flying as did my tray of food. While the fries and nuggets weren't a problem, the open yogurt cup was. Strawberry yogurt flew out and pelted none other than the quarterback of the football team, Richard. He'd snarled and gotten up shouting obscenities at me. In revenge, he grabbed his water bottle and dumped it on me. My shirt was completely soaked, and of course, it was mostly Knight, so it became transparent. I'd hunched into myself as they all laughed. It mostly cleared out after that. I sat there until the football team left.

A pair of extremely large feet had come to stand right in front of me. When I dared to look up, I stared into those narrowed angry eyes I admired earlier today. That was the first time I heard his voice. He had blotches of strawberry yogurt on his jeans, and I gasped.

"I... I didn't..." Before I could finish, he had growled. Full on growled like some kind of angry wolf.

"You f*****g did! Here, it's already ruined by you anyway. You should cover yourself!" He said angrily as I stared at the floor both humiliated and furious. I glanced up to see him reach behind his neck with one hand and pull the black hoodie he wore off in one swift, easy movement. He dumped it on my head and strode off. I'd tugged it on, grateful for it while wanting to burn it. All day long, I tried to ignore the scent of it.

Lolita teased me about it, but stopped when I told her the whole story.

"Burn it when you get home. But it's useful for now, babe."

Lolita's voice then echoes as she calls me softly. "Alice… Alice… tune back in, babe."

I shake my head. "Sorry, Lolita. Are we going to pick up Hunter? I can watch him while you go to the lab tonight."

"I appreciate it. We're going to make it, Alice. Last year of school."

I stem the hopeful joy and answer practically. “Only 155 school days left until graduation. Now to survive the final year of hell.”

Chapter 3

Alice

I’ve always had horrible timing. Not just with my focus and disorganization issues, but like the universe arranging events in my life. I woke up late this morning after setting my alarm wrong. The coffee shop we stop at for breakfast some mornings was packed which set me back an extra ten minutes.

I am a glutton for routine. Partly because it helps me stay on track and also because boring is comforting. Growing up in foster care, you had to worry about being moved around suddenly. Until I moved in with Lucille when I was eight, I moved at least three or four times a year. So doing the same old thing every day works for me just fine.

I'm letting the song lyrics roll through my head as I desperately try to remember the name of the actual song. I should just look it up, but I can only catch one word out of ten each time I hear it. It takes me a minute to realize the girl behind the counter is calling to me.

"Oh, sorry. I'd like a Chai latte and a blueberry muffin."

"Sorry, we just sold the last blueberry muffin to the guy in front of you. How about something else?"

More proof my timing sucks. Great!

I hurry to look into the case. I was really craving a blueberry muffin. One with plump juicy berries and extra streusel topping…

FOCUS Alice! I shout at myself.

"Umm, how about a cheese danish then."

"And we're out of Chai to make the lattes."

Double great.

"Just a regular vanilla latte then." I say with disappointment.

I walk back to my car nibbling on the danish I didn't want and sip my coffee. It's more acceptable than the danish. That stupid song tune begins dancing in my head again.

After my first class, I call my boss and see if anyone has inquired about me working for them. Mrs. Wreath sighs and tells me it's been very slow lately, but she’s hopeful something will turn up soon.

I hang up with her. I can wait a few more weeks before I really need to be working. I have enough saved to survive easily for another two months. But I don't like to leave that up to chance or get too close to being broke. Unlike a lot of my peers here, I have no one to fall back on if that happens.

I walk into my third class of the day and slither to a halt right inside the door. Usually I get to this class early enough I can get to the seats in the back. But somehow the two football players and the hockey team have shown up way early today.

I take a quick breath and focus on moving to the steps on the side. With luck, I'll walk right past them. But as I pass the second row, I feel the tug on my backpack and barely manage to stay upright.

"It's the curse. Did you guys know she was in here? Maybe we should tell the professor we won't sit in class with such bad luck."

I glare at Ethan Knight, the wide receiver for the football team. He loves to verbally tease me. Richard, the quarterback is here too. He glares at me with hatred. He thinks he has reason.

I stand still and stare at a spot on the wall before me. Class will start soon enough and they’ll release me. I used to pop off with snide rejoinders but it had no effect and seemed to put a bigger target on my back. My silence has honestly allowed them to mostly ignore me unless they are bored.

"Hey Thorne, you seen the curse in here before?" Ethan taunts. In my periphery I spot the four kings.

"I don't look for mice usually." One of the other hockey team members, Finley Jacobs calls out mockingly. "She could be fun to hunt though. You'd like that wouldn't you little mouse? If we hunted you. Not that the catch would be anything you enjoyed. We could exorcise the curse finally."

I stepped on his foot a few weeks ago and made him spill his drink on himself. He was flirting with two girls who laughed at him and took off. Since then, he’s been especially hateful.

I see even Ethan raise an eyebrow to that. That sounds dark and disgusting. Kind of like a walking sewer trap that guy. Before I can stop it, my brain is swirling around seeing some tall green goo covered guy that smells like rotting eggs chasing me like in the old Scooby Doo cartoons Hunter watches some afternoons.

"Hey, don't ignore me, you filthy little b***h! You should be glad I even noticed you." A vice-like grip descends on my wrist and my neck. I yelp in pain and fall, but the grip doesn't lessen. Ethan is on his feet.

"I didn't mean for you to touch her man!"

Finley is staring down at me, his eyes blazing. Suddenly, another hand clamps down on the one holding my wrist. It swallows his and even wraps around my hand a little.

"Release her now! You took it too far, Finley." Adrian Thorne's angry voice permeates my fear. "Coach will have your ass if she presses charges."

"Be ready, little mouse. Your time is coming. Press charges, and I'll make sure you really don't enjoy it." He snarls as he stomps away.

Adrian holds his hand out to help me up, but I shy away before using the wall to stand up. I'm going to have a set of bruises on my wrist and neck.

"Does your wrist feel broken?" He asks quietly.

"Would it matter?"

I stomp up the stairs to my seat away from them, refusing to cry. I hate this school and the athletic departments. The football and hockey coaches are brothers. Nothing would happen if I complained. They rule the school and then the Thorne family rules the city. If I didn't have a full scholarship here, I'd leave in a heartbeat.

Chapter 4

Richard scoffs. "I think I'll bounce today. Will tell Coach Miller she's in this class when I go hit the gym.” He raises his eyebrows at me as he smirks.

I slump down in my seat and make it through class, hardly daydreaming because I'm so angry. My wrist is throbbing too. I need to ice it. I let them leave first, not even moving for almost five minutes after they walk. I do see Adrian stare up at me for a few seconds. He's probably worried I'll call campus security and have his teammate benched.

I walk into my next class and take a seat. Before it begins, I see one of the campus clinic nurses walk in. She looks around and then points to me. "Alice Myers?"

I nod. She hands me an ice pack that can be velcroed around my wrist. "I was told to deliver that by the hockey coach."

I take it wishing I could throw it in Finley's face instead.

"Thank you." She smiles and walks away.

I leave my last class and decide I will stop and get an iced coffee as a treat for this awful day. I'm almost to the coffee shop when I hear a car going way too fast for this curvy one-lane campus road. I see a young blonde boy stepping off the sidewalk to cross the street. The car isn’t slowing down and I spot why. The driver is holding his phone up at eye level. That boy will be crushed.

"LOOK OUT!" I scream and my feet move of their own volition. I make it to him in time to grab him and throw us both to the ground. I managed to land with him mostly on top of me to avoid scraping him up. Ignoring the pain from sliding across the concrete, I hurry to wrap him up with as much of my body as I can.

The car clips two others racing straight through the spot the little boy was frozen in. He hits a tree not far from us, and I hear other people screaming.

One lady comes up and helps me to my feet. "I saw the whole thing. It's a good thing you were paying attention at that very minute."

More like a miracle I wasn't chasing a heffalump or something similar with my scatterbrain I think. I don't express that.

I crouch down, holding my hand out to him. "Hey. My name's Alice. Can you move your arms and legs, sweetie?"

He nods with tears in his eyes. "Do you hurt anywhere?"

"My knee." I glance at it to see the slight scrape.

"We'll get that all taken care of once the ambulance arrives. What's your name?" A small crowd has formed, but I ignore them and focus on him.

"Alb...Albert." He stammers out. His teeth are chattering, and I realize he could be going into shock from the scare. I struggle to focus and remember he needs to stay warm. Quickly, I tug the hoodie over my head and slip it on him.

"Here sweetie, we need to keep you warm. Talk to me ok. What were you doing out here by yourself?"

"My nanny left me. She's mean and she wanted coffee. I didn't want to go. She was mad mad and went inside. I was sposed to wait over there. But the wind took my paper. I chased it.”

My anger spikes at that.

"Albert, how old are you?" The woman who helped me stands listening. I think she's recording it with her phone, but I don't really care.

"Four."

f*****g i***t is my first thought along with needing to take a pair of pliers and a blowtorch to her sorry ass. She left a four year old by himself.

"Do you know her name?"

He nods slowly. "Betty."

The woman next to me scoffs. "She'll show up and be all concerned in a minute. You mark my words."

Before she could though, an ambulance's sirens make their presence known.

"Albert, the ambulance is coming. We'll see about calling your parents. Can you..."

"OH MY GOD! Albert? Albert?" A tall redhead comes running in, screaming her head off.

The woman next to me mutters, "Well, she makes quite an entrance." She clears her throat. "Are you the infamous Betty who abandoned your ward?"

"Shut up lady! Albert!" She runs toward the car. I glance down at Albert who is trying to hide his face in my hoodie. I smile at him.

"It's ok sweetie. You can hide in there. I won't tell her where you are until we get you near the ambulance."

Two of them park along with a fire truck and a few police cars. The lady with me is very helpful. She asks me for my name and number. I rattle it off watching Albert the entire time. She texts me something.

"I am Violet. I sent you my name and the video." Violet begins waving the paramedics our way.

"Was someone hurt here?"

"This brave young woman pulled that little boy out of the path of the car. They landed hard on the sidewalk. Might need to be checked over." I appreciate her taking charge.

"Miss, is he your son?"

"No, this is Albert. We just met." I smile at him, and he pokes his head out of the hoodie.

"Hi Albert, I'm Billy. Did you get hurt?" He crouches down beside me.

"My knee burns. My shoulder hurts." He says in a small voice.

"I tried to let him land on top of me. He may have bumped his shoulder." I say with regret.

"You did more than enough getting him out of the road, Miss..."

"Alice, Alice Myers."

"Miss Myers. Albert, can we put you on the stretcher in the ambulance to take you to the hospital? We'll bandage your knee first."

He shies away and stares at me. "Can Alice come with me?"

Billy stares at me. "Sure I can. Come on sweetie. I'll carry you." I lift him up, and that horrid screaming starts again.

"OH Albert! THANK GOD YOU'RE OK!" A blur of red hair moves in next to us and she yanks on Albert trying to take him from me.

He grips my neck tight, crying. "NO! NO! WANT Alice! NO!"

"Albert! Don't be silly. Come to Betty." She tugs on him again almost pulling us down.

Billy touches her arm at that. "Miss, you'll need to let him go. He doesn't want to go with you. Who are you?"

Two police officers have now come to our side.

"I'm his nanny. He's being ridiculous." She scoffs.

"Albert, I'm Officer Noah. Is she your nanny?" His voice is gentle and calm.

"Yes, but she left me!" He sobs into my neck, and I sway him back and forth.

"Could we put him in the ambulance so they can bandage his knee and then answer questions?" I ask softly.

They all agree except Betty. Violet shows the officers the video while we get Albert bandaged up. Officer Noah comes back over.

"Ok, Albert. You don't have to go with Betty to the hospital. We'll get her to call your family so they can be there." He throws Betty a dirty look.

"And Alice can come with me?" He asks in that small voice.

"She can if she has time." I nod at the officer.

"Great. I'll meet you there. Good thing you were here when it happened, Alice."

I silently agree. Maybe my timing is looking better after all to some people.

Chapter 5

Alice

“Miss Myers, we need to check you over also.” Annette, the nurse who finished looking at Albert, smiles at me.

“I’m fine. Just going to be sore.” I wave my hand at her.

“Well, that wrist doesn’t look like it. But that isn’t from saving Mr. Albert there.” She raises an eyebrow, and I glance at my wrist. I’d already forgotten about Finley. That felt like days ago. You could see the faint purpling blooming under the skin already.

I don't deny it. "No, but it isn't what you think it is either. Honestly, I'm fine. The EMTs looked over me before we left. I'll have scrapes and bruises, but that's it."

They bandaged the worst one on my arm after they cleaned it. It was going to be a pain with my clothes for a few days. Which reminds me, I've lost my hoodie for good, I think.

I see Albert snuggled into it fully after his examination. He looks pretty good in purple. I won't ask for it back. Especially with the orange popsicle he's dripping all over it. One less thing to try to wash today.

Oh wait, did I leave the dryer on when I left? Not that it matters a whole seven hours later, but since I heard no sirens, I guess my apartment complex didn't turn into a raging inferno. I'm sure the headlines would be so forgiving. 'Scatterbrained student sets fire to half of campus apartment life by leaving her dryer running while not at home.'

"Alice?" Albert is staring at me.

"Hey. Sorry, I spaced out a minute. Did you need me?" I usually do better with kids. For some reason, I don't go on twisty brain paths when I am with them, maybe because they talk a lot and are playing ninety to nothing, giving me no time to wander off.

"No. You made a face like you hurt."

"I probably did. I remembered something I might have messed up, and I got worried." I smile at him.

"Albert." A firm voice calls out, and I turn to see a woman with dirty blonde hair cut to chin length walking toward the bed. She wears a dark pink tea-length wrap dress and nude heels. Her makeup is understated, but her jewelry is not. She's dripping in diamonds. Not huge ones, but several pieces. I count a tennis bracelet, two other bracelets with some type of diamond and precious stone, three rings, earrings and a diamond necklace to match her bracelet.

"Grandmother." Albert says quickly, and goes back to eating his popsicle like she'll take it away.

"You aren't the nurse I see." She looks down her nose at me.

"No, but I can call Annette." I press the call button on the bed but don't stand up. I'm tired and honestly sore already.

Annette walks over a friendly smile on her face as she greets our visitor. "Hi, you must be Grandma."

"I'm Cindy Morris, and that is my grandson, Albert. Is he injured? An Officer Noah gave me the accident details but nothing about his injuries.”

“A few scratches and maybe some shoulder bruising. Miss Myers used her body to cushion his fall." Annette sounds proud, and I watch that woman's cold blue eyes turn toward me.

I have a feeling they are never warm considering the way she looked over the precious little boy in front of me. Not a hug for him after the traumatic event he went through too. My heart hurts for him. I remember wishing for hugs not much older than him. Wondering what it would be like to be soothed with love rather than quick words to toughen up.

I reach over and squeeze Albert's arm with a smile. I'll be sure to hug him before I leave if she lets me at least. Someone must give him affection because he seems very sweet.

Vaguely, I hear an irritated voice filter through. I became accustomed to tuning out yelling and aggravated voices as a kid the way I grew up. Reminds me I need to call Lucille and check in. I miss her.

I turn back toward Mrs. Morris realizing that's her voice I'm tuning out.

“Miss Myers! Are you even listening to me?” I snap back to her. Her shocked outrage is obvious.

“I’m sorry. It’s been a long day, and I think the shock of it all is finally creeping in on me.”

It is. But I don’t like to explain my wandering mind to strangers unless necessary.

“I asked if I could compensate you in any way besides your hospital bill.” She folds her arms and taps her foot.

“Oh no! That’s more than enough.” I watch the relief in her eyes.

“Very well.”

And like that, I am dismissed.

I turn to Albert. “I am happy I got to meet you, Mr. Albert. You were a big brave boy today.”

“I’ll miss you, Alice.” He stares at me sadly.

“Miss you too. Bye, Albert.” I give him a hug and leave reluctantly. I never had a grandmother but Cindy Morris seemed like she didn’t even come close to deserving that title. With a little finger wave, I start walking out of the triage area.

I walk outside wondering if I can call an Uber back to campus. It's not the shortest walk from here. As I pull up the app on my phone, I hear a whistle.

"Hey, Alice." I turn and see Billy, the EMT. "You need a ride back to campus? Our station is right next to it."

I give him a grateful smile. "That would be awesome."

He nods. "Come on. You can tell us about the prim and proper dragon grandmother that was meeting with the abandoning nanny."

I laugh at his descriptions. They drop me off right where the accident occurred, which is fine. My car is only one block over.

I glance at the tree where a tow truck is working to pull the car away from it. I shudder internally, glad a little boy is not pinned between the two. Or anyone else. Billy said the driver had some broken bones but should recover. Hopefully, their phone broke, too.