When Worlds Collide | Mad Hatter OUAT x Reader |

Chapter 2 ✂ The First Impression

You got that piercing hazy feeling in your eyes just as the sun hit your face through the apartment window. With a groan, you tossed yourself to your side trying to get an advantage of the shadows for your sleep. Just to your misfortune, you went a little too far off the bed's edge- just a little. You fell to the ground with a hard face plant.

"Ughh..." You cursed under your breath, planning to doze off on the hardwood floor. Oh hell, you didn't miss out on the dead mouse stench nearby, but these nights have been restless for you and all you wanted was to shut your eyes...slowly... with absolute silence and peace. You're unlucky soul just happened to miss out at the fact you only had a minute before sirens went off. And with that, your lousy alarm shrieked causing you to scream hysterically. You raised your head, glaring up at your table before slamming your fist at the alarm's button.

Without a moment delayed you got to your knees and crawled to the bathroom, so weary and absolutely lazy to even feel floor underneath your feet. Once you got to the doorway of your bathroom, you threw off your baggy shirt and went towards the mirror we a toothbrush stuck between your teeth. You glanced back at the dull apartment room, noticing how-- lonely it was. There were no pictures hanging on the walls, no second bed, no laughter, no nothing. Just a bed, a closet, a rather decent kitchen with good interior designing. It was a small place but things in here were worth a fortune. All thanks to where you worked.

Something clicked. Damn! You're zoning out again. With that you finished fixing yourself up and ran towards your bed, rummaging through covers in search of your phone. Once you'd found it, you were browsing for a song to dress to, when your eyes met the time.

"7:53? B-but wait..." You mumbled in shock staring back at your alarm clock which said 6:30.

"Oh no... No no no! NO!" You hollered fuming with anger as you threw the damn thing to the brick wall.

"Everything alright there (Y/N)?" The old women next door called.

"O-Oh yes, Ms. Kilmer!" Your voice wavered in regret as you grabbed your clothes. As fast as your limbs could help, you threw on your clothes and shoved a mushroom pizza in your mouth before running out the door. Of course, you took the steps because you thought it'd be faster. How logical.

Missing a step on your way down the stairs, you crashed and tumbled till you reached the last floor. Grumbling in colorful language, you towed yourself off your feet and grabbed your bags. "Crap, Ruby's gonna drive off without me!"

You darted out the door with attempts of putting on your shoulder bag. You hadn't noticed how rapidly and blindly you were walking. Just as you glanced up from the floor with your hands tangled in the strap of your shoulder bag, your shoulder painfully crashed into another dazed being.

"I'm so so sorry!" You blurted out as you quickly gathered your things.

"No it's fine, it was my mistake. I didn't watch where I was going." His voice was like the warmest thing, frosting your emotions. You thought you'd stare at the stranger if you'd steal a glimpse of them, but oh lord! You couldn't help yourself.

Those eyes, so striking in a shade of unknown blue, lips that were sharp and curved like a bow, hair that looked so silky, your fingers twitched. Your eyes had a mind of its own while your hands searched the ground for your things. Darn it, you're being a creep again. That's not so surprising anymore.

Then you snapped out of your trance just as a pair of cold fingers met yours. Your eyes didn't move but you noticed how the young man's eyes widened as he glanced up at you. There was something so fragile in that locked glance between you both. You felt it riding through you like vomit but... much more pleasant.

"Hi...." His voice wavered as he smiled ever so softly.

"H-Hey..." You said breathlessly. Trying to break the silence between you both, you shook your head lightly and took the large box by your feet. "This is pretty heavy, what's in here? A dead body?" You asked teasingly as you handed it over to his arms.

"A telescope." His grin grew wider as he noticed the colors in your voice.

"A telescope huh? Do you like astronomy?" You asked idiotically probably stuck in your sleepy state of mind.

"Uhh... I guess you can say that." He chuckled. You laughed lightly, shaking out your nerves.

"I-I... Should probably get going." You said, sliding your shoulder bag on. "I'm gonna the miss my ride--"

In perfect cue, Ruby honked, slowly rolling off on its wheels to threaten you. "No, wait!" You hollered, running after the car, knowing if you didn't catch it in time, it would be worth two hours of walking. You knew Ruby doesn't like waiting and you knew from experience.

"I'm Jefferson by the way!" The guy called out to you.

You glanced over your shoulder with a childish puzzled gaze. "Cool..." You muttered, smirking slightly, before leaping into the car. You knew what answer he was expecting but you wanted to tease him.

"Took you long enough." Ruby blurted, starting the car up. Biting down at you lip and glancing at the mirror, you saw Jefferson's face softening with disappointment. You didn't think someone would get so upset over not exchanging names but you felt regret flushing through you. And with an unsteady sigh, you reeled the window down.

"(Y/N)! My name's (Y/N)..." You shouted, slightly breathless. You felt the heat rise up to your cheeks as you found a smile creep onto his lips. With a grin of your own, you brought your head inside the car. You buckled up not daring to let your eyes wander back at the mirror.

"Mmm...." Ruby hummed with a smug grin as she switched glances between you and the stranger. You knew exactly what she thought. You thought you were enough of a blushing mess so you tried avoiding a conversation with the girl. You were sort of in your own world for a while, every sound seeming to fade away into complete silence in your consciousness.

"So do you think you can do it?" Ruby interrupted you from your zoned out state.

"Yeah... Wait, w-what?" You snapped, utterly puzzled.

"Do you think you can take over for me?"

"I'm sorry, what were we talking about?"

She let out a dreadful sigh. "I was wondering if you could take my shift tomorrow. I can't make it and I was hoping you'd be free to make it there."

"Oh sure! Don't worry bout that, I'll take over it." You smiled reassuringly.

"Thanks (Y/N)..." She said finally parking after what seemed like forever.

"No thank you." You lightly laughing as you got out of the car.

"Hey (Y/N)," Ruby called out as she pulled down the windows.

"Yeah?"

She changed her gears just before saying, "You both should hang out sometime."

"W-Who? What?" You anxiously asked.

She didn't say anything but with a wink of an eye and a tight smirk creeping onto her red lips, you knew exactly who she meant. Before you can argue, she drove off, leaving your face to heat up.

"Well then..." You smiled to yourself before heading into the shop.