Wendy stared hopelessly out the large window, forsaking her studies for the time being, though she left the rather large book to sit in her lap. Her eyes traveled down the drive of their estate, past the treetops, and finally swept into the majestic sky. After Neverland, the stars had always made her feel very alone.
"Quite appropriate," she murmured to herself, glancing back at her brothers' beds. Mama had shipped the boys off for school, fully believing that her children should be institutionalized after they'd come back from their trip. Granted, Wendy could see her mother's point of view in sending the boys off. They had caused quite a bit of trouble, once accidentally setting a tree on fire.
Wendy, as the eldest, would be sent to University first, so the children's mother decided it would be a waste to have her leave as well, but Wendy wished she hadn't been left so alone. Papa rarely came home, Mama didn't talk much nowadays, and even Nana, the family dog, had died a long time ago.
"Still, no use in dwelling," she thought to herself, "I'll be going to University soon enough anyway. I'll be eighteen, and Mama will be happy to be rid of me."
A loud knock resounded from downstairs, jarring Wendy out of her thoughts. Still holding the book, she exited the room, and started for the banister. As her hand touched the cool wood, she heard the door open, as her mother greeted the guest. She nearly turned back to her room- the old nursery- but her curiosity got the better of her, and she continued.
As she entered the room, she saw a young man, perhaps twenty, standing with her mother, "Miss, I told you, I have a project to discuss with Wendy," he said, clearly exasperated.
Wendy's mother licked her lips carefully, twirling the wine glass in her hand, "And you can't discuss the nature of this 'project' with me?"
"No Ma'am, begging your pardon, but it really is in the early stages. We need to perfect it first."
Wendy interjected, "What project?" alerting the company to her presence.
He looked up at her so suddenly, that Wendy took a step backwards. His eyes were so incredibly familiar... She almost laughed to herself at the name that burrowed into her brain, that nearly escaped her lips. No. She was confident that there was no way he could possibly be- "Project Neverland," he informed her.
"What?"
"You asked. I'm calling about Project Neverla-"
"Yes I heard you!" she snapped, irate, then stopped herself, "Sorry. I was a bit short. But yes, of course I remember. You're just... rather late..." she looked over at her mother, who took a sip of wine, shrugged, and left the room.
The young man crossed the room, until he and Wendy were a breath apart, "Who are you?" she whispered.
"Peter," he remarked simply, "Peter Pan."
Wendy dropped her book, and it collapsed to the ground with a loud 'Thud!', barely missing her toes, "You're lying," she hissed, "And besides, we shouldn't talk here. Follow me."
Wendy stormed up the stairs, forgetting her book, angry with the man for lying so blatantly to her face. Still, he knew something, and she had to get to the bottom of it.