AlicexHatter 52-56

52)pride and prejudice
    Fall is a beautiful time to be outside. The crispness in the air. Leaves turning color. It's just chilly enough for a sweater and a hot beverage. It is definitely beautiful out. At least until the snow hits, but that's another story for another day.
    Alice Liddell had pulled on a light sweater over her dress and went out to her front porch carrying a burgundy throw blanket over her arm, a cup of peppermint tea in one hand and a copy of Pride and Prejudice in the other.
    It was some time after she had gotten herself settled on her porch swing that she felt a presence behind her.
    She shook her head. 'It's just my imagination,' she thought. But she still felt it as she kept on reading.
    "'In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." An all too familiar voice behind her quoted a passage on the page she was currently reading.
    Alice shrieked and jumped up, dropping her book and spilling the remainder of her tea. Standing just behind the porch swing and the guard rail was none other than Reginald Theophilus III with a quizzical look on his face.
    "Mr Theophilus, how DARE you sneak up on a person like that?!" Alice scolded as she straightened herself out.
    "It was easy. You didn't notice me come up the walkway and I was curious what you were reading." Reginald shrugged as if it was nothing.
    "A proper person would kindly come up the walkway and ask politely." She carefully folded up her throw blanket and wiped up the spilt tea.
    "So what ARE you reading? " Reginald ignored Alice's lecture, glancing at the book.
    "Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. One of my favourites."
    "'You must allow me to ardently tell you how ardently I admire and love you.'" Reginald required. But not in the same manner as before. He had said it this time in a softer and more passionate tone.
    Alice blushed, not knowing what to say. It was almost like he was a different person when he said it.
    They were like that for a few minutes, staring at each other in silence.
    "Cricket," Reginald finally said, snapping her out of her trance.
    "Er...right..no, I should go inside, it's getting late." Alice stuttered as she gathered her things and hurried back inside.
    Reginald was left alone, frustrated once again. It seems like he always says the wrong thing at the wrong time around her.

54)bittersweet
    Reginald sighed and slumped down the walkway. He removed his hat and ran his hand through his hair in frustration as he walked back to his house.
    He never could seem to get things right with Alice. Once it seemed that he was getting a couple of steps closer, he would say or do something that would cause her to pull back. He knew she was starting to like him, no matter how mad he may seem, but something was holding her back.
    Maybe he just needed a new tactic. A new plan to win over Alice's heart. With a renewed determination,, he picked himself up returned his hat to his head, and headed to tea.

55)mythology
    "I do not believe in such nonsense," Alice decreed as she crossed her arms.
    "Believe what you will...or not." Reginald crossed his arms mockingly, rolling his eyes. "But the jabberwocky and the bandersnatch do so exist."
    "If they truly exist, then why have I not seen them?"
    "You would't want to see them. They are horrid and terrifying creatures!" Reginald's voice raised a little, a slight hint of a Scottish accent trying to sneak out.
    "It's all party of mythology, they do not exist."
    At that moment, there was a loud screeching roar. A shiver went up both their spines as their eyes widened in terror.
    "I think it is time to head home." Reginald squeaked.
    "Y-yes, I agree."

56)because we can
    "A hammock!" Reginald proclaimed.
    "Pardon?" Alice was confused.
    "We could go lay in a hammock for tea this weekend!"
    "How absurd!" Alice set her tea cup down. Alice didn't mind being in a hammock with a good book and a cup of tea, but not at this time of year, not in the middle of autumn. 
    "Well, why not? The tea will keep us warm! Their are blankets! There's nothing keeping us from doing so! And," Reginald lowered his voice, "we can keep each other warm." He winked.