Chapter Two

I THINK I'M IN SHOCK .

Or maybe this is delayed shock kicking in since I did waste a couple of minutes thinking I was dreaming.

"You."

I feel like laughing again at how calm he sounds.

He doesn't even seem to care he's just as naked as I am.

Doesn't even seem to notice the way Jamieson is shooting daggers in his direction.

He's just so, so calm... even as he turns to Rebecca and casually trains his gun at her.

"Is this your room?"

"Y-Yes," Rebecca stammer out.

"And have you any idea how I ended up here?"

"I d-don't know. But maybe she does?" Rebecca looks at me helplessly. "You were so drunk last night."

Was I?

"And you borrowed my room key because you didn't want to sleep in your room alone."

Did I?

"I thought you meant...you wanted us to be roommates or something, but I didn't know you meant... this ."

Jamieson's face turns red with rage as soon as Rebecca's meaning becomes clear. "You fucking whore."

I want to say something in my defense, but I don't know if I have the right to.

Because I can't remember a thing from last night.

"Is this why you've said no to me?" Jamieson spats. "Because you didn't want me to know you've been a fucking whore from the start?"

He charges towards me with his fist raised as if he were about to punch me, and I instinctively raise my arms to protect myself.

But nothing happens.

Because the next thing I know, I hear the sound of a gun cocking.

And the stranger saying—-

"Out."

"Who the fuck—-"

"Now."

When I open my eyes, it's to see a tearful Rebecca tugging at the back of Jamieson's shirt. "Let's just go, Jamieson," she pleads.

Since when did she start calling him by his name?

"Please."

My boyfriend is still staring at me with hatred in his eyes.

I really think he'd kill me if not for the gun that's now pointed straight at his head.

Rebecca cups Jamieson's face. "I'm so sorry this happened. You don't deserve this. But we can't stay here. Let's just go. Please."

Jamieson takes a step towards me.

"One more step," the stranger warns in his unbelievably calm voice, "and I'll blow a hole in your kneecap."

"I'm sorry," I choke out. "I don't know—-"

But Jamieson's already spun away, and my heart shatters into pieces as I watch him leave with Rebecca by his side.

Is this real?

I don't understand.

This can't be real.

The door slams shut behind them, and a hysterical laugh escapes me.

Six impossible things are only supposed to happen before breakfast if you're in Wonderland, but this...

This is real.

We're in the real world, so how is it that everything's that happened so far is completely impossible?

Me waking naked in another person's room.

(One)

Next to a stranger who's also naked.

(Two)

Because Rebecca thinks I had a drunken one-night stand with him.

(Three)

While Jamieson accuses me of leading a double life as a whore.

(Four)

And then the two of them walking out on me like I'm the villain in my own story.

Five out of six, I think dazedly.

And as for the last impossible thing to happen before breakfast—-

"Are you alright?"

—-is for the stranger, of all people, to be the first one to ask me that.

So am I?

I look at him, and I just don't know what to say.

Am I alright?

I don't even know what to think.

Can anyone be alright after what...happened?

But when I see him putting his gun away—-

"Why do you have a gun?"

The words simply fly out of my mouth, and I think...it's all because I'm desperately in need of distraction.

"Special Ops."

I want to think he's joking, but I have a feeling he's not the type to joke.

"You haven't answered my question."

And I guess that's the reason why he's able to sound calm despite all the craziness.

"Are you alright?"

How do I answer him?

I truly don't know if I'm fine, but it just sounds so pathetic to even think of saying it, and that's why—-

"I'm sorry about this," I apologize unevenly instead. "I don't know how we ended up here."

"Do you remember anything about last night?" he asks.

"Nothing."

I want to ask him the same thing, but I can't.

Because I realize I'm afraid to hear what he has to say...

In case he does remember anything.

"She called you Alysse. Is that your name?"

I nod.

"And those two?"

"Rebecca—-"

"A friend of yours?"

"She's Jamieson's PA."

He raises a brow. "He needs a PA?"

"He's f-famous."

"For being a prick?"

Hurt wells up inside of me. "Please don't call him that."

"Did you miss the part of him wanting to beat you up?"

"I know what he did was wrong. I just don't think there's any point in calling him that."

Golden eyes narrow at me. "How long have you two been dating?"

I'm tempted to tell him to mind his own business, but then I see the gun still within his reach—-

"Since high school."

—-and I remember that a little loss of privacy is better than losing one's neck.

"But you still haven't had sex."

"Sir!"

"And the other woman?"

Is there something wrong with my face? Am I not expressing my shock and indignation clearly enough?

"Has she always been that obvious about her feelings for your ex?"

"He's not—-" Wait. Did he just say Rebecca had the hots for Jamieson?

"Never mind. Your face says it all."

So now he notices what's on my face when it suits him?

"You really haven't had a clue about those two, have you?"

Aaargh.

"Will you please stop insinua—-" I end up squeaking in surprise when he suddenly stands up.

Has he forgotten he's naked?s

I cover my eyes, but of course it's too late, since I've already caught a glimpse of the hard muscles of his bottom what I shouldn't have seen.

Un-be-lie-va-ble.

Have I fallen down a rabbit hole without knowing?

Even Wonderland doesn't have this many impossible things happening before—-

No!

He's suddenly tugging my hands down, and since my strength is obviously no match for his, my hands inevitably fall away—-

"Open your eyes, Alysse."

Will he kill me if I don't?

"Or I'll kill you if I don't."

My eyes fly open, and golden eyes gleam back at me in amusement.

"I'm joking, of course."

Aaaaargh.

I'm tempted to shove him off, but...I decide to focus on the positive instead, which is the fact that he's at least put on a pair of military pants...

His lips curve. "You seem surprised. Did you think I was lying about my job?" He gets back to his feet while speaking, and I turn my gaze away when I see him retrieve the rest of his uniform from the floor—-

Aaaaah!

I almost end up screaming again.

Are those my clothes?

And underwear?

He turns around, and when I see his gaze follow my line of sight—-

Noooo!

But it's too late.

I end up tumbling off the bed, my limbs all tangled up by the covers, while Mr. Special Ops effortlessly retrieves my belongings from the carpeted floor.

Dear Self, can we just take the coward's way out and pretend this is all a dream?

I'm just so, so tired of embarrassing myself again and again in front of this guy.

Can we just pretend like we're in Wonderland, and we no longer have to force things to make sense?