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Or maybe I’d just forgotten who I really was.
Hollywood had a way of doing that to people. Especially people who grew up around a camera crew and producers who coached you how to act in front of your own family. When everything surrounding you was fake, how could we know what was real?
The closeness I felt with Chess was real. My adoration for Ransom was real. My affection for Hatter and my fascination with Callister were real. My desire to help Amari was real. My dedication to Jack was real.
If it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be in the courtyard.
The least I could do was give them everything I had.
I might’ve been the unlikely savior of Wonderland, but I would not back down.
I left my empty cup on the balance beam and walked over to the starting point of the obstacle course. There was training to be done, a psycho bitch queen to be defeated, and a destiny to be embraced.
And I was just getting started.
I did some stretches, then walked around the course, inspecting the ropes. I gave one of them a tug before daring to climb on and swing. I half-expected the rope to fall down and crush me or turn into a snake and bite me, but no...I just glided back and forth, swinging through the air like a kid at recess.
Nobody was there to watch me play.
No paparazzi, no reporters, no camera crew, no fans.
I felt so carefree. So relaxed.
It was lovely.
Out of the corner of my eye, the double doors to the room opened and Jack slipped through them like a shadow. I laughed at the bewildered expression on his face as he realized I’d beaten him to practice by over an hour.
Dragging my toe on the icy floor, I stopped swinging and jogged over to greet him.
My grin disappeared the second I saw Jack’s expression.
His eyes were wide, and his nostrils were flaring. He looked like a wild animal that had been cornered. Then his expression hardened.
He took a step backwards, then another, putting more space between us.
“There will be no training today,” he said abruptly. “You may go.”
I blinked in confusion, then motioned towards the complex network of rope ladders. “Why? C’mon, Jack. I’ve already warmed up. I’m ready to go when you are.”
He clenched his jaw, forcing himself to look away from me.
“We arenottraining today. Please leave.”
His cold rejection hurt so bad it stung.
“Look, I know I fucked up on my first day, but I thought by now I’ve made it up to you. I thought you’d be thrilled that I’ve been here for over an hour. If you’re not gonna train me today, I think I deserve an explanation.”
Slowly...ever so slowly, Jack forced his head to turn in my direction. The way he was acting made it seem like it was causing him pain.
“You’re bleeding,” he said through tight lips, looking at me like I had a massive, gaping head wound that was drenching my face in blood. He took another step back.
I gaped at him, stunned and offended.
“So what? I feel fine.”
Instead of answering right away, Jack stared determinedly at the selection of weapons mounted on the wall. He folded his arms across his chest, not bothering to hide his revulsion. “There will be no lessons until you’re no longer bleeding.”
“Why not? I’m perfectly capable of physical activity.”
