The Otherside: Alice: Tough Decisions (Book 6)

Months went by of the same old school and before I knew it Halloween was around the corner, and well Duncan wanted to throw a Halloween Party at his house. We decide we would have our group dress up like Wonderland. I decided since my name was Alice that I might as well play the part. Duncan was going as the Mad Hatter. The twins were going to be Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum; Trey being the Dum. Rachel was going as the Queen of Hearts, and Aaron as her Knave of Hearts. We spent many afternoons after school on this and getting everything together. Aaron and Duncan managed the invite list; they know a lot more people than I do that’s for sure. Ace, Rachel and I worked on decorations, while Trey, well, did nothing really. He just lounged around watching people work and throwing out negative comments here and there. But all that aside, we got it all ready in time for Halloween.

Halloween night, I came down stairs with my blonde hair pulled back by a black headband and my Alice blue dress. I met the twins (with red and white striped shirts, black pants, suspenders and their hair temp dyed orange) and Aaron and Rachel (which were covered in red, white and hearts). We all walked over and met up with Duncan and finished the party set up. Duncan was dressed like a gentleman with a top hat. He had black pants and jacket with an orange vest and purple bow tie. His black top hat had a purple and orange ribbon tied on it.

Not long after we set up the last bits of preparation, people started trickling in and dancing eventually started. I was mainly hanging out with Duncan and listening to the conversations he was having with his friends. Ace came and talked with me some, when the girls weren’t playing which twin was which game. I think Trey enjoyed the game a little more than Ace, but I think Trey just likes attention.

Everything was going great. Duncan left to go to the bathroom and that is when things got, well, Trey came over to me and whispered. “Meet me outside in 2.” Luckily I know how to tell them apart by facial expressions now. Trey normally looks like he is up to something, which in truth he normally is. I was confused as to what he wanted to talk to me about. I was thinking worst case scenario, I can always beat him up if he is planning something bad, so I went with it. I saw him immediately exit out the front door. When a few minutes passed I snuck out to him.

“What’s going on?”

“I need to talk to you about Duncan.” Once he said that, I realized he was on Ace’s anti-Duncan side. I tried to walk back inside, but he put up a barrier so I could not escape. “Listen to me, or at least hear me out. I know my track record is crap and you still have not forgiven me, but I have evidence you need to see.” he sounded as if he was pleading.

“I don’t want to hear about this again!”

“Alice, I know we don’t have a good relationship and that’s my fault, but Ace does not know I am doing this. I am telling you how it is for you and Ace.” He motioned with his hand and projected an image of me and Ace kissing on the ship.

I slapped him across the face. “How do you know about that?” I asked angered.

“Your past is an open book for me and, unlike Ace, I don’t ask for permission.”

I sighed and shook my head. “Get to the point as to why we are out here!”

He waved his hand and his projection changed to Duncan and a girl in a bunny suit making out in the bathroom. His hands were all over her. “That is what is happening right now inside.”

I turned away from Trey. “I will talk to Duncan about it later.” I was trying to be strong and not break down.

He walked towards me and turned me around. “Unlike everyone else, I am not afraid to show you the truth. This isn’t the first time he has done this and a lot of people know it.” He started pulling up projections of all these girls with Duncan and began pointing to each one. “There is Amy while you were away with Ace for the first Summer. Oh! Let’s not forget Samantha during Homecoming this year while you were dancing with Ace. And we cannot forget all the women who got their cherries popped this Summer while Duncan was on vacation this year. Oh and there is...”

I cut him off before he could explain them all. “That is enough.” I said turning around from his projections again. I felt a tear run down my cheek.

“I am sorry, but somebody had to do it and after you didn’t believe Ace when he tried to warn you, well…” he paused. “Anyway, you deserve better than this.” I stayed silent not looking at him. I didn’t know what to say as the tears kept coming. Trey pulled me into an awkward hug. “I know, I am not as good at this as Ace is...” there was continued silence. “Alice..” he started off as he put me at arm’s length so I could look at him. “you know Alice doesn’t always end up with Hatter in all parody the stories. It could be with the knave... if you are into incest and all. I don’t think you are into women even though that would be hot if you were with the Queen.” I rolled my eyes at him. “so that leaves Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum, but I hear Tweedle Dum is an asshole so I would choose his brother.”

In the original story Alice doesn’t have a love interest.” I said with a fake smile.

“Alice don’t give me that fake smile filled with sass. Stop pretending and give Ace a chance!” he said putting the projection of Ace’s confession up.

“He should have told me. He apparently regretted that night! Now let me go home!” I yelled at him.

“But Alice, he...”

“No explanations from you. It is something that should come from him. I am done.” I said in a firm voice.

“Fine, stay in your fantasy of denial.” he said as he took the barrier down.

“If anyone asks, I got sick.” I said as I stormed away.

When I got home I told Grandma Christina and Grandpa Harrison, who were on the couch watch scary movies, that I wasn’t feeling well and then went to my room.

This hurt worse than being told that my mother was trying to have me killed. Then again, I was seeing Duncan do it through Trey’s abilities. I am still skeptical about my mother. Why would my mother betray me? Never thought Duncan would, but here we are. What was I going to do? What was I going to tell Duncan? Should it just be a talk? Or was it the end? The night was full of heartache and tears. I don’t know when I fell asleep, but I knew it was after everyone came home by the noise down stairs. Ace came to check on me, but I pretended to be asleep. I heard Trey’s voice call out further away than where Ace was standing. I was assuming at the door.

“Why don’t you tell her?”

“You wouldn’t understand our situation.”

“I saw what happened and you both know what happened and yet it’s somehow an invisible elephant in the room.”

“Stay out of it and leave things be.” I felt a kiss on my forehead and then I heard him walk away. “Do not meddle in things you do not understand, Trey.” he said sounding angry.

I heard footsteps leave and some grow closer. I was assuming Ace left and Trey came in. “The things I do for you. You are so much trouble, and yet...” I felt a stroke on my head. “somehow worth it.” he sighed. I heard his footsteps leave and the door shut.

What did Trey mean? He is so very confusing. So now on top of every other confusing thing, one more gets thrown into the mix: Trey.