Loving Wendy-Bird
-(1)-
I stirred the thin soup in the bowl. The boys and Peter were all out hunting. John, Michael and I decided to stay instead of go home after Peter rescued us from Captain Hook. I'm pretty sure that *jerk* is dead, but heck, I don't know! Anyways, it was really me who decided, and John and Michael just stayed with me (because I am awesome and honestly, what would they have told Mother?).
I hummed softly as I whisked the light soup into the thick broth. Just as I finished and grabbed the wooden dishes and silverware, Peter flew in, followed by the Lost Boys and my brothers. They yelled and trampled inside. It's a wonder they stayed hidden in here for so long! They greeted me with shouts of "Mother!" and "Wendy-bird!" Even Tink trilled into my ear happily. We were getting along much better nowadays.
Peter grinned at me and sauntered over while the boys sat down noisily at the table. "Looks great, Wendy-bird." Peter had been acting so differently towards me after the plank-walking incident (example- he never called me 'Mother'), but I think it might just be he was worried about the fact that we all probably would've died.
And maybe he just decided to act differently only towards me.
I smiled and shook my head softly. I picked up the hot bowl and carried it over to the table, unaware of the looks Peter was giving me and how my hips my faintly swaying rhythmically.
I dished out the broth to the boys then slipped away to the exit, glad that I got rid of my blue dress in favor of some clothes that Tiger Lily gave me- dark brown pants, forest green shirt, a leather belt with two separate strips, and small boots that reached just above my ankles and fit perfectly. My hair had gotten longer and I let it flow freely down past my shoulders.
"Wendy!" Peter called out. "Wendy, aren't you going to eat with us?" He gestured frantically to the empty seat next to him and I swear just a second ago Slightly was sitting there.
"Oh, sorry Peter, I'm not very hungry. Anyways, I told Tiger Lily I would visit he rafter I was done with dinner."
"But you're not done dinner! You need to sit and eat!" Peter persisted. He really had been acting oddly lately.
I groaned theatrically and stomped over. I made a show of grabbing his spoon, holding it up, dipping it into Peter's broth, and ate a spoonful. "There! I ate. Satisfied?" I gave him back his spoon. His eyes furrowed.
"No."
I smirked and said, "Tough nubs. I promised I'd visit Tiger Lily, and I will not break my promise!"
Peter pouted and got up. "Wendyyyy…!"
I smiled a small smile, "Look, I promise I'll be back at some point in time tonight!" I gave him a hug, he tried to hold me in the hug longer than I was comfortable with, and I pulled away and fled out the door, eager to talk to Tiger Lily. I shouted a goodbye over my shoulder and ran through a path in the woods to the encampment.
The scent of the forest invaded my senses- the exotic flowers that flourished in the deep shade and up in the tall trees, the high grasses that swayed, the wild undergrowth.
I had gotten much quicker after I came to Neverland, falling into my old ways of evasiveness. Falling into y old ways of being nimble, quick footed, and hiding myself. I bounded over a large log like a gazelle and hit the ground running. I loved to run. After years of not being able to run, being 'too-old', I had forgotten my love of it and eventually had grown out of my crippling shyness.
A smile grew on my face as I heard the camp celebrating. The Indians loved to celebrate. I'm not actually sure what this one was for, but Tiger Lily begged me to come. I had been teaching Tiger Lily English, and she had been teaching me- well, whatever her language was called. I was very good at it, surprisingly, but figured it might be a little embarrassing to ask what it was called.
I leapt three times until I slid into a stop elegantly. Tiger Lily grinned and ran over to hug me. She chattered eagerly, "I am so happy you came. It is birthday!" She pointed to a camp 'elder'. Since no one got old here, you were considered an elder if you lived for 250 years or more, which was considered a great feat since loads of the Indians die from the dangerous beasts in the forest.
"Since you good amazing, we want you to sing!" She beamed a little nervously.
I gasped and smacked her arm. "Tiger Lily! I thought we agreed that we would not tell anyone about the singing!" Tiger Lily had found me singing one day while I was brushing my wet hair by the stream after a bath. Needless to say, it was embarrassing and she made me sing all the time, every time she saw me.
The forest was looking oddly appealing… "Well Tiger Lily, it was nice seeing you! Bye!" I heard Tiger Lily and the other tribe members' protest, but I quickly scampered out.
After running for a little while (with the odd feeling of being watched, which put me on guard), I paused and leaned the side of my face against a tree. I sighed, "Thank God… I really didn't want to sing in front of everyone…"
"Why not?" Peter's voice came from above me.
I jumped and looked up, "Jeez, Peter! You scared me!" Peter was flying in circles above my head.
"You were on guard. You pretty much scared yourself," Peter stated matter-of-factly. "Anyways, why didn't you want to sing for Tiger Lily and everyone else?" he questioned.
"Well, because- Wait a sec… were you following me?!" I exclaimed, my eyebrows arching.
Peter blushed and stammered, "I was- uh- worried that- what if- he could- I thought you- I didn't want-"
I interrupted him, "OK, so you're having difficulty forming your sentences, but why were you following me?" I was genuinely curious.
He hung his head and flew down until he was only a foot or so above me. "I thoughtyouweregoingtoleavemeandNeverlandandIdidn't wantyoutobecauseIloveyouandyoushouldn'teverleaveme becauseIwon'tallowit!" Peter gasped in air.
I stared at him… All I caught was 'leave' 'Neverland' 'I love' and 'I won't allow it'. "Um… What?"
He smiled weakly at my completely baffled look, and gently grabbed my hand and lifted my off the ground. He flew high above Neverland, past Mermaid's Lagoon to the Hangman's Tree. He hovered above it with me wrapped up in his arms. He held me very tight, and it was getting a little awkward, since I couldn't exactly excuse myself like I usually did considering we were suspended in the air.
"Wendy? Can I ask you something?" Peter looked to me, uncertainty tainting his face.
"Uh, sure. But, you wanna land before you do?" I glanced pointedly towards the ground which was- holy crap, too far, waaay too far. Despite how I acted, I was afraid of heights. I loved to fly, but when I wasn't in control... Small problem.
Peter shook his head, "No."
I blinked, confused. "Why not?"
"If I say something you don't like, you can't run away until I let you." Peter stared into my eyes.
"I don't know Peter… if you're that worried I'll freak out and run away, maybe you shouldn't tell me." I was scared of what he had to say. What if he wanted me to leave Neverland or something? Though I was pretty sure he said he wouldn't let me leave. But who knows? I might just be super delusional… Because Peter doesn't like me and never ever will, contrary to the firm beliefs of Tink and Tiger Lily. I think they were kidding and trying to get a funny reaction- even though Tiger Lily and Tink don't talk or like each other even distinctly.
Peter took a deep breath, "I'm in love with you."
I stared at Peter, eyes wide with shock. When I finally regained some sense, I whispered, "Put me down."
Peter said desperately, gripping my waist a bit tighter, "This is why I didn't tell you on land. I knew you would run."
"Put me down. Now." I was reeling from shock and I needed some time to myself to think about… this.
"No! Wendy, please let me explain! I told Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily and they said that Tiger Lily could distractyouat one of her tribe's celebrations to get you to calm down and Tink told me I should tell you in the air and Tiger Lily said she was right and that if I told you on the ground you would run! So they said they would both tell you so when I told you it wouldn'tseemtoo much ofasurprise." Peter was rushing and the words spilled and slurred together.
He stared at me desperately, and I shook my head in disbelief, "No, no you don't… this is just a little joke that you and Tink and Tiger Lily wanted to play on me."
Peter wildly shook his head and cried out, "It's not! Please, Wendy, I'm not tricking you!"
I stared at him, "Fine, then you just think you're in love with me. What about when you get bored with the idea of being in love? What then? What happens to me?" Tears brimmed my eyes, but they never fell. Just like what used to happen. They never fall.
"Wendy…" Desperation filled Peter's voice.
"Peter, put me down please. Right now." My voice came out in a quiet croak.
Peter miserably dropped down. When we neared the ground he slowed his descent and tried one more time, "Please don't go…"
I tried to pry his fingers off my waist so I could go, but his eyes darkened and he clenched his fingers tighter and pushed me up against a wide tree. We were a good 30 yards away from the burrow, so they most likely would not see us.
Peter Pan, the eternal boy, kissed me.
