I had been coughing all night from the smoke still in my lungs, and I couldn't sleep. Who was that man? Sighed and fell back onto my bed. I still hadn't a clue where I was, and I still needed money. How was I ever going to manage that?! Oh well, I let sleep take over my concise problems as a dream formed in my head.

~

At nine o'clock sharp I was dressed and had already eaten breakfast as I mulled over my options. Could I possibly afford getting a job?

WAIT- THIS IS A DREAM, RIGHT?! I'm still debating about what I'm going to do with my life, and what am I doing?!? I can't stay here forever...

..Right?

I sighed and sat back in my chair. I needed money; because no matter if you're in a different dimension, there's a currency, and a price for freedom.

I mean, I had to pay for my college tuition with an old guitar an-

...

Oh. There's the answer. I smiled to myself, pulling my auburn hair into a loose braid as I climbed the inn's stairs to my room. Rushing in and out with guitar in hand as well as a fedora from my suitcase, I raced out to make a few coins.
My first place to set up was just outside of a small coffee shop, and began the start of a long day.

"Lately I've been, I've been, losing sleep. Dreaming about the things that we could be~" I sang softly as the guitar held the notes in a melodic way. Well, I got about six coins, but then the owner decided my choice in music was stupid and began cussing me out to leave. I guess I took the opportunity.

"Because I'm happy! Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof! Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth- OW!" I exclaimed as a small pebble was thrown at my head.

DAMN KIDS!!

THEY DONT UNDERSTAND MUSIC!!!

In the end, I only got five coins out of the mess. That's only because a woman felt bad for getting stones thrown at me. She smiled a smile with crooked teeth as she secured her bonnet on her head before walking onward. I sighed and packed up as the kids celebrated at their victory.

Finally, my last hope was outside the little hat shop I had found earlier. It said Hatter's. Hm. Seemed so familiar, but I name from where. Oh well, I'm losing sunlight; it's already four in the afternoon! I sat down, and began with a new song.

Instead of singing,- since I knew anyone in their right mind here wouldn't know the lyrics- I just played Payphone with guitar alone. It seemed to have a greater affect than with singing, because more people started to walk and stay for the song. Wow, if I had known that was the problem, I would've stopped along time ago!

I wonder what some of my classmates are thinking right now. If they even noticed my disappearance, and if they are searching. I know they care, Carlotta and definitely Houston would totally be searching if they knew if I was missing. Don, Heather, Valerie, Eddie, Fallon.

All of my friends.

Before I had known it, my fingers ended the song and everyone around was clapping vigorously. Out of the bunch, there was a low chuckle that caught my attention, and I looked up to see a man.

The man.

He came sauntering up just like last night. Except today, he wore a cream colored short with a green vest tight around his torso. His legs were thin and wiry; while the leggings seemed to be painted the same green.

"Hello little hero!~" He cooed sweetly, but it only made me sick to my stomach. His eyes were sharp with a devious manner; almost hidden beneath his bushy eyebrows. I glowered my eyes at him, and grasped my guitar tighter.

"I HAVE a name." I spat at him, "it's Amelia Starr!"

"Well then, hello Amelia." He interrupted me, which only made me that more pissed. "You may call me Wizard Salazar." He bowed elegantly, tipping his green hat for the day. I rolled my eyes and kept a weary eye on him. He stood back up, and gave a toothy grin.

"Your talent is superb. I just came by to give you this." Wizard Salazar then proceeded to pull out a small fabric pouch that jingled. I couldn't stop the curiosity from filling my eyes, and I stared at it. He pulled out a handful of coins, and dropped them one by one into the fedora.

One.

By.

Freaking.

One.

Damn you. Go die. In a hole. By freakin sharks with laser beams on their heads.

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Because you're interesting." He answered as if it were elementary knowledge. I rolled my eyes and snorted as he raised his eyebrows before bidding me a good day before strolling on his way. I couldn't help but sigh.

"Two meetings into him, and he already gives me goosebumps." I murmured, rubbing my arms up and down with my hands. Well, time to move on.

~

I began walking back down the street; few cars still on the roads most likely headed home. Twenty-five silver coins. That's what Wizard Salazar gave me. I still don't know if I can trust him, but right now, he seems a lot better than with that Howl character.

Stealer of hearts, or pervert?

Yeah, I'm sorry, but I'd take the perverted Harry Potter any day. Sighing for what seemed like the millionth time that day; I was stupid enough not to look where I we going. And clang went the coins onto the ground. Nooooooo......

"I-I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, looking up at the man, and he stared back at me through ocean eyes. Looking confused yet surprised at the same time.

"No, no, it was me who was not looking where I was going." The man mumbled, bending down to pick up the fedora and coins along with it. He deposited the coins into my satchel at my side and placed the fedora onto my head; causing my auburn hair to fall into my right eye as I looked up. "That hat looks much better like this than as a collector." He gave a slight smile.

With the flick of his hand, a flower appeared in the palm, and he placed it in my hat ever so tenderly.
Damn.
I never mentioned he was hot, did I? Feeling my cheeks heat up, I tuned my head down to the ground. I could hear him chuckle, and bend down to see my eyes. His blonde hair fell over his shoulder, as his one earring dangled. It had an alluring green jewel encased in metal around it. Pretty cool. Where did he get it?

"You should be more careful." He advised me, taking my wrist in his hand and pulling me back down the street I was headed. "You know Howl could steal your heart if you're not careful!" I snorted at the comment.

"He only takes beautiful women. I'm fine." I heard him laugh, his voice ringing in my head as if I had heard it somewhere before.

"I would think that you could be in very big trouble." He stopped abruptly, causing me to almost crashing I his face which had whizzed itself around to see me.
I looked away, and there we were; in front of the inn. I told him I'd be more careful from now on, and he bowed shallowly, and gave me a grin before walking back down the street with a skip in his step.

"What a peculiar man..." I whispered to myself jokingly before entering the inn and trudging up to my room. I wonder why he was so persistent for me to be careful. It's not like I'm-

Holy crap! Did he just indirectly say I was beautiful??!? I couldn't stop a little trickle of blood leaking from my nose as the sentence once again rang through my head.

~

The next day's routine was the same as the first. Get up at the butt crack of dawn, get dressed, go down to breakfast. Then race out to catch a few more coins. This time, the shop owners of Market Chipping were gracious enough to let me set up outside of their market. I sat down, and before long, people gathered around and talked to one another cheerfully.

"Oi! Mistro! Play a jig!" One man requested, and the first thing that came into mind,-weird as it sounds- was Thrift Shop. So I began to play fast, and people began to dance in a lively manner in the senate as each couple were careful with how much space was accessible to them.

I laughed as one man dared another to dance to a slow song with an attractive woman with layers upon layers of dress fabric on. She held her head high; something I strangely admired in her stature.

"You're pretty good with that guitar." I looked up to see one of the workers smiling down at my fingers as I continued playing.

"Yeah, Ol' Lizzie and I have been through a lot." I patted the wood lovingly. It was a tradition in my dorm to name any instruments you had. So I decided to name my guitar after the friend that gave me it.

The same with my mother's earrings. You know, the ones I had to trade in for a week at that hotel? I named them both after my mother and father. Too bad they're gone. A pang of longing filled me as I missed the weight of them on my ears.

"My name's Lottie, who are you?" She asked, still entranced at my strumming. I smiled at her childish curiosity, and looked back out at the dancing crowd as Lottie's dark brown hair bobbed with the slight wind.

"I am Amelia Starr. And strange as it sounds, I don't know where I am." I replied.

__________________________

Slowly making progress, hopefully. tell me what you think of this chapter, and I thank EVERYONE who tells me to update. You guys are like a reminder people read this. Keep being awesome, all of you!

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~ Saturnthehero.