Hmm… I was not really sure whether I wanted to put the author's notes at the top or bottom, but I think, at least for the first one, I will post at the top.
I just have a few things I would like to say before we get started. First, this is my first fan fiction, so while I would very much like to hear your comments and critiques, please keep in mind that I am not a seasoned professional here ^-^ Second, I am going to be pulling from the original book, as well as the 2003 movie version for character appearance and locations. Third, that means that Hook's appearance is heavily based off of Jason Isaacs portrayal of him. Fourth and finally, if you think I am mistaken on a point in the story (description of a person or place etc.) please let me know as well as tell me where you got the information (book, comic, sequel, movie etc.) and please don't just say "you are wrong about x" and end it there. I cannot learn from my mistakes that way.
I do not own Peter Pan, any of the movies, or Jason Isaacs (sad day on that last one though) I do, however, own Clarissa and this particular story. This is completely not for profit.
Now, if you have stuck with me through my ramblings, here we go :D
~Daring to Dream~
Clarissa was running. She didn't have a destination. She didn't care where she was headed. She just had to get away. When she finally slowed and her head cleared enough for her to realize where she was, she allowed herself a tiny chuckle. She was at the old docks, the last place anyone in this town would look for a "proper young lady". She had to be careful here, lest someone see her and think her a whore, or try to solicit her. She heard footsteps, so she moved closer to the shoreline to hide in the long shadows cast by the evening sun. She sat in the sand until well after the sun went down.
She had always loved fairy tales, especially those where a simple girl had been rescued by a handsome prince on a white horse, one who saved her for no reason other than that it was the right thing to do and fell in love with her for all the right reasons. She had always dreamed that would happen to her, but those dreams faded away. Her parents had arrainged for her to be married and she had panicked. Eliot was a perfectly lovely man. He was kind and smart and most certainly could support her, but he could never love her. He already had eyes for another young lady, but Clarissa's parents had gotten to his parents first. He mother had assured her that marrying for security as opposed to love was a normal part of growing up, but it terrified Clarissa. Though she knew it was a childlike fantasy, Clarissa wanted nothing more than to find true love and get married, in that order, but that would never happen if she was forced to marry Elliot.
That was when she decided to run away. Both for herself and for Elliot. If she ran, she wouldn't have to marry just because her parents wanted her to and Elliot would be free to marry the girl he loved. She thought she might have better luck finding her place in the world if she could just get away from this one.
As she looked out across the sea reflecting the newly star-spangled sky, she spied a dark shape at the water's edge. It was a small boat, just big enough for two people. She made sure that there was no one around to see her before making her way to the tiny craft. It was partially buried in the sand and looked like it had not been disturbed in quite some time. Clarissa felt quite sure that it was abandoned. She dug some of the sand out from around it before pushing it into the water. After watching for leaks and finding none, she climbed into it, noticing gratefully that the oars were there as well. She paddled listlessly for a while, wondering exactly what the hell she was doing. One moment she was resting in her room, warm and comfortable in a light dress, and now here she was, rowing into open water, running from the only life she had ever known simply because she was too afraid to grow up. She looked up into the sky, hoping to find some sort of sign. What she found were two stars slightly brighter than the rest. The one to the right seemed to be twinkling more fiercely, as though it were calling out to her. She aimed the boat in that direction and paddled a while longer before nodding off to sleep, the boat continuing its course 'til morning…
Ah… please R&R I will continue this and I promise it will get better. I have a good middle planned out, I just have a hard time starting out.