I stood at the newsstand with my friend Susan Pevensie as she picked up a TIME magazine. I groaned, knowing that this could possibly make us miss our train back to Finchley. A boy about our age walked up and put his school bag beside Susan's.
"You go to Saint Finbar's?" Said the boy.
"That's right," said Susan, looking up and smiling slightly.
"I've seen you…" said the boy and I nudged Susan. She nudged me back as the boy continued, "Sitting by yourself…" I couldn't help it, I began giggling. Susan stepped on my foot and I tried to contain my giggles.
"Yes, well… I prefer to be left alone…" said Susan.
"Me too," said the boy. I began laughing again. The boy just stared at me. "What's your name?" he asked Susan as she turned back to her magazine.
"Phyllis," she said. I burst into a fit of giggles, nearly falling off the bicycle rack I sat on.
"Susan!" shouted a voice, as Lucy came running up. I slapped my hand over my smile and my laugh as Susan rolled her eyes. "You'd better come quickly," said Lucy seriously. I stopped laughing, knowing that whenever Lucy sounded serious, it was bad. Susan and I picked up our bags and ran off, following Lucy, leaving the boy staring after us.
* * * * * *
"Fight fight fight fight!" Everyone was yelling as we pushed our way through the crowd. I stood on my tip-toes, trying to see who was getting beat up this time. When the two big bullies picked the boy up and turned him towards us, Susan sighed. It was Peter. I suddenly felt someone push past me.
"Edmund!" shouted Lucy at the same time that I shouted, "Ed!" Edmund joined in the fight, pulling one boy off of Peter, which allowed Peter to attack the other boy.
"Go on, Ed!" I shrieked, egging on my best friend, and earning myself a disapproving look from Susan, "Break his nose!" I shouted, ignoring her.
Suddenly a shrill whistle sounded from one end of the train platform and four men pushed through the crowd on the platform as those on the stairs began pushing back, all trying to leave at once. "Act your age!" said one officer dressed in an army outfit as the other three pulled Peter, Edmund, and the two bullies apart.
* * * * * * *
"You're welcome," said Ed as Peter set his bag down and sat between Lucy and Edmund. Lucy laid a comforting hand on Peter's arm.
"I had it sorted," he said, sounding bitter as he stood and shook Lu's hand off.
"What was it this time?" asked Susan, sounding exasperated as Peter walked towards the tracks.
"He bumped me," Peter replied shortly, turning around and pacing towards the four of us sitting on the bench. I rolled my eyes.
"So you hit him?" Lucy asked, her eyes full of concern. I adjusted myself and laid my head on Ed's shoulder.
"No." Peter said, turning around and walking towards the tracks again, "After he bumped me, they tried to make me apologize. That's when I hit him."
"Really is it that hard just to walk away?" Susan asked.
"I shouldn't have to!" Peter said, pacing towards us again, "I mean, don't you ever get tired of being treated like a kid?"
"By the lion, Pete! Stop pacing!" I yelped quietly, earning myself a glare from the tall blond boy. I glared right back as Edmund replied.
"Erm, we are kids," he said, looking at Peter as he turned towards us again.
"Well I wasn't always," he replied bitterly, seating himself between Lucy and Edmund again, "It's been a year. How long does he expect us to wait?"
"I think it's time to accept that we live here." said Susan, as she looked around, "Oh, no… Quick, pretend you're talking to me." Following her line of vision, I saw the boy from the newsstand walking towards us. I slapped my hand over my mouth again, hiding my wide smile and my laughter, earning myself a glare from Susan deep enough to penetrate anyone's soul.
"We are talking to you," Ed smirked. Susan sighed and stared at him, as exasperated as ever.
"OW!" Lucy shrieked suddenly, jumping up.
"Quiet, Lu!" said Susan reproachfully, looking around again to make sure no one had seen Lucy's outburst.
"Something pinched me!" She yelped, pointing at the bench.
"Hey, stop pulling!" Peter yelped just as suddenly as Lucy had, standing and glaring at Ed.
"Not touching you!" Ed shot back.
"Look, would you all just—" Susan began before a train went by much too fast.
"What is that?" I said, standing and pulling Ed with me. On the other end of the bench, Susan stood up too.
"Feels like magic!" Lucy said excitedly. Looking at her I saw the broad, trademark, ear-to-ear smile that meant how happy she really was. None of us had seen her smile like this since we accidentally came back from Narnia. She smiled at me and I smiled back at her.
"Quick, everyone hold hands!" Cried Susan. She took Lucy's hand, Lucy took Peter's hand, and I took Edmund's.
"I'm not holding your hand!" Ed shouted at Peter.
"Just do it Ed!" Peter and I shouted together. I looked straight ahead, and through the windows of the train speeding along in front of us, I thought I saw a beach. I smiled widely at Edmund and he returned the smile, making my heart feel just that much lighter, and my world just that much brighter. The tiles on the wall began peeling off, one by one, revealing a bumpy, stone wall beneath each one. Suddenly the train sped out of the tunnel. But we were in a different tunnel now. A tunnel that led out onto a beach. Walking to the edge of the tunnel, we peered out for a moment. I pinched my arm. It hurt. Lucy stepped out in front of Susan and smiled. The two girls took off, shedding their shoes, sweaters, and stockings. After a moment, I ran after them, laughing, pulling off my stockings and shoes. I heard the boys laughing behind me as I pulled off my sweater. Suddenly, arms were around my waist, as someone picked me up. Whoever picked me up began laughing.
"EDMUND PEVENSIE, YOU PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!!!" I shrieked, pounding on Ed's back with my fists.
"If you insist!" he laughed, before throwing me into the water. I landed with an almighty SPLASH! And a scream. When I surfaced, Ed was rolling on the ground laughing. I trudged out of the water and when he stood, I jumped onto his back. Attempting to throw me off, Edmund began bucking like a horse. I laughed and Edmund whinnied in response, running to the water. As Edmund dropped me, I splashed Lucy, who, in turn, splashed Peter. We all began splashing each other and laughing. Edmund stopped splashing and looked up at the cliff high above us.
"Ed? Ed!" Susan shouted, turning her head to look at him. I waded through the water and touched his arm.
"What is it?" I asked, as the others waded over to us.
"Where do you suppose we are?" Edmund said, still staring at the cliff.
"Well where do you think?" Peter replied, looking happier than he had in a year.
"I don't remember any ruins in Narnia." Ed said, pointing at the cliff. We all turned our heads and stared. High above us lay the ruins of what was once probably a large castle.
