Days went by since that night. Alice wanted to tell James how she felt, but she had no idea how to go about it. Should she be subtle about it and wait for him to figure it out or should she go and tell him right off the bat? She felt torn. What if he laughed at her when she told him? What if he was disgusted and wanted nothing to do with her after that? Or worse… what if he didn't feel the same way about her? Alice was so distraught and confused that she couldn't even focus on her work.

"Alice? Alice, is everything alright?" Helen's voice asked.

Alice suddenly looked up from her paperwork and saw her mother standing in front of her desk with a concerned look on her face.

"Yes, mother?" She asked.

"Is everything alright, dear?"

"Uh, yes. Yes, I'm fine." Alice quickly got up from her desk and went over to another corner of the room.

"No you're not." Helen deduced. "You're hiding something."

"No I'm not."

"This is about James, isn't it?"

"James? …No."

"Don't lie to me, Alice. Just talk, please."

Alice paused and shut her eyes for a moment before letting out a defeated sigh. She quickly closed her office door and looked back at her mother.

"I think I might have feelings for James." She blurted out.

It was then that Alice began to explain everything to her mother. She told her about her thoughts, her fears, and even what the Hatter said to her in her dream that night. Helen almost couldn't believe it. By the time Alice was done, she heaved a heavy sigh and slumped back into her chair, running a hand through her blonde hair.

"And that's about it." She said.

"…I knew it." Helen smirked before getting an idea. "You should invite him to Margaret's party."

"What?!" Alice's eyes widened in shock.

"You heard me. Take him with. That way, you two could get to know one another better. It's worth a try. What have you got to lose?"

Alice paused and thought about what the Hatter told her before she woke up; he told her to listen to her heart and to not run away from her feelings. She looked at her mother and relented.

"Fine. I'll ask James if he wants to come with us. And if he does… I'll tell him how I feel." She sighed.

Helen smiled. "That's my girl."

Just as Alice was about to head out the door to find him, James suddenly opened the door and nearly crashed into Alice. They looked at each other with wide eyes before they hesitantly started to talk.

"Alice! I, um, I-I-I… How are you?" James quickly asked.

"Good." Alice answered just as quickly. "Um, James… there's something I wanted to ask you. My sister and her husband are having a party in three days and I was wondering… if you'd like to come with me and my mother."

James paused. "Me?"

"Well… yes. But it's fine if you don't want to go. I understand."

"No, no, wait. I'm not saying no. What I mean is… I'd love to come."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Well, in that case… great! What do you say my mother and I pick you up at six on Saturday?"

"That sounds great."

"And be sure to wear something nice."

"I will. I'll see you then."

"Great."

They smiled before James headed out the door to head back to work, leaving Alice and her mother alone in the office once again. When Alice turned around to face her mother, Helen had a smug smile on her face. The girl merely rolled her eyes and smirked.