<span style="font-style: italic">(Sorry, Falcon Bertilles! LilyofSapphires pointed out some things about Dumas - and then I realized that he's four inches taller than Meryl ^^; I've edited the last post a little as well so that it's more realistic. Sorry!)</span><br/><br/>Meryl laughed merrily at being called adorable by the boy named Dumas. How sweet of him to return the compliment! But he seemed so nervous and Meryl couldn't help but caring for him instantly. But Jeb ruined her motherly daydreaming by saying in a bland, almost rude tone, "Are you alone, Dumas? Do you live around here?"<br/><br/>"I've never seen you around; you must be new. We can help you get back to where you need to be!" Meryl suggested happily. Jeb immediately shot her a look that she didn't catch. Take him back? They were going to be late for their classes! He didn't have time to stroll around town to place this obvious tourist back where he belonged. He shifted his weight. Jeb was not a very patient person and he hated being late for anything. However, he didn't want to leave Meryl, not after he already offered her a ride and especially not alone with this weirdo. She looked even smaller next to Dumas because he was already short for a man. Jeb felt like a hulking giant in a gathering of midgets.<br/><br/>He sighed.<span style="font-style: italic">I guess I can miss today's lecture,</span>he moped internally. To Dumas, he said, "Are you with someone else? Are they lost too?" He knew that this boy was lost; that his babble about knowing where he was because he was right here was obviously a play at trying to be cool.<br/><br/>----<br/><br/>The Hatter frowned. Had he already asked Alix that riddle? Well. Then it was time to make new ones. But not now; now was time for tea - and to find Louis. Without another word to Alix, the Hatter drifted away, down the stairs, and out the grand doors of his home. The sun was blinding and the Hatter stumbled to a stop, covering his eyes, head down. "Owww," he whined. But the sun was not to stop him: he simply continued with eyes covered and head down, avoiding the trees and bushes with an uncanny ability. "Looooo-iisssss!" he called down to his feet. "Louis, we are having a tea party. Wake up, where ever you are...."