Chapter Three – Innocence

"What's on the lunch menu today?" Wendy asked as Violet came back from buying her lunch.

"Chicken caesar salad," Violet replied, sitting down beside Wendy. "What do you have for today?"

"Same as yesterday," Wendy sheepishly answered.

"My aunt always makes sure I have a 'variety' of stuff to choose from," Violet rolled her eyes. "Tell you what, let's swap lunches."

Wendy protested against it, but Violet won in the end. Soon, the other three joined their table. Asher sat down and opened his laptop, engulfing himself in research and homework. Mandy started gushing about how great Fred would be that night at the football game. Violet and Wendy sat quietly, chewing thoughtfully as Mandy spoke, allowing Fred to modestly protest in his defense.

"You're like coming to tonight's game, right Wendy? Vi?" the cheerleader asked, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

"I'm busy," Violet swiftly answered, obviously not interested in school activities and pep-rallies.

"I have to baby-sit my brothers," Wendy replied truthfully.

"Aw, c'mon, girls," Fred said, trying to tempt them. "It'll be fun."

Violet seemed to stare right through him, giving him a bored, dull look. "No."

"Sorry, I can't get out of it either," Wendy shrugged.

"Can't your dad hire someone to do it?" Fred asked, disappointed. He REALLY wanted to get to know Wendy. She was obviously smart (seeing how she had at least four honors classes), sweet, shy, and very pretty.

Wendy shook her head. "He's too wrapped up in work. Besides, I like looking after my brothers." Besides that, she wasn't really a fan of sports. She could've left Nana to watch over the boys, but she didn't have the heart or will to do it.

Fred frowned. "Ok…well, you guys are still coming on Friday, right?"

"Duh," Violet rolled her eyes.

Wendy nodded, her gorgeous eyes lighting up. "I'm excited! So are my brothers."

"Do you like do like EVERYTHING with your like brothers?" Mandy asked, getting annoyed. "Like, don't you like ever do ANYTHING like by yourself?"

Wendy felt downtrodden. What was wrong with her brothers?

"Leave her alone, Mandy," Violet growled, narrowing her eyes. "You got a problem with her and her brothers? You don't even know them. I met them yesterday; they're wicked awesome. So back off."

Mandy was wide-eyed, and opened her mouth to say something, but ended up keeping it shut. Wendy shot a grateful look at Violet, who smiled back at once. Fred noticed and smiled a puzzled smile. How was it that a girl like Violet could become friends with Wendy when he couldn't even get the time of day from her?

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

"Thanks again for sticking up for me and my brothers," Wendy said as the two walked home from school that afternoon.

"Hey, no problem," Violet shrugged with a grin. "You guys are pretty awesome. I didn't expect to make to friends to be honest."

The two ebony-haired girls giggled at that.

"Speaking of which," Wendy spoke up. "I was wondering…you don't have to answer if you don't want to, but…you don't seem to mix in much with Fred, Asher, and Mandy. Why do you-?"

"-Hang out with them?" Violet finished the question. She shrugged once again. "To tell you the truth, I used to be just like Mandy. We were best friends in middle school, and up to first semester in our Freshman year. But after a while, I began to like things she didn't. For example…" She motioned towards her pierced ears and nose, then her clothing. "I got into this kind of stuff. I began to look at poetry, like E.A.P-" (their nickname for Edgar Allan Poe) "-and I looked at different styles that I'd never noticed before. And somewhere along the lines, I knew I was fooling myself by being 'friends' with Mandy. She's not real, y'know? She makes me sick."

They were just around the corner to Wendy's house, and a light drizzle began to rain upon them. They lifted the hoods of their jackets to cover their heads, and quickened the pace.

"When I told Mandy that I thought we should take a break from being 'friends', it was like she couldn't let go. I think she needs me, just because now that I'm different, people think I'm cooler. And of course, there are the little peanut-heads that she dragged along to form this 'group'."

Wendy gave Violet a sad look before digging the key to the house out of her pocket. "I'm sorry, Vi."

Violet's amethyst eyes twinkled. "There's no need for you to be sorry. I got a REAL friend, a new friend, and her name is Wendy Darling."

Wendy smiled genuinely and hugged Violet fiercely. She couldn't believe it; she had a FRIEND! "Thanks, Vi. Thanks so much!"

The drizzle turned into rain, and thunder shook the sky. With girlish screams and plenty of giggles, the girls unlocked the door and entered the house. The two girls took off their coats and set them on a rack to dry.

"Jon! Mikey! Dad!" Wendy shouted. "Anyone home?!"

Nana bounded down the stairs and up to the girls, licking their faces and barking loudly.

Wendy laughed. "Hello, Nana!"

"Wendy!" Running after the great Newfoundland were Jon and Mikey, smiles plastered on their faces. "You're home!"

"Where's Dad?" Wendy asked after she had hugged them.

"He picked us up, dropped us off here about ten minutes ago, and left to go back to work," Jon replied, looking unhappy as he told her.

"He said we could order a pizza, though," Mikey said enthusiastically. "I want extra cheese!"

"Oh, hi, Violet," Jon smiled politely, remembering his manners. "Are you going to stay for dinner with us?"

"I dunno, it's up to you guys, and I'll have to call Kelly," Violet answered, smiling at the older boy.

"Who's Kelly?" Mikey asked, looking at her with his innocent chocolate eyes.

"My aunt," Violet replied.

"Well, tell her you have to stay here with us! We captured you for dinner!" Mikey instructed her, causing them all to laugh.

"Yes, Vi, please stay," Wendy insisted. Jon nodded his consent as well. Violet grinned and told them she would, but she needed a phone. Mikey took the liberty of dragging her next door into the kitchen, showing her where it was. "And ask her if you can sleep over here tomorrow when we get back from that amusement park," Wendy told her. "Dad won't mind."

"Of course he won't," Jon muttered. "He's not even here more than half the time."

Wendy hushed him and took her brothers upstairs to see if they had any trouble with their homework. Shortly afterwards, Violet came into Wendy's room and smiled.

"Good news," the violet-eyed girl announced. "Yes to both of the questions!"

"Fantastic!" Wendy squealed, enveloping her in a hug. "Now let's finish our History homework, so that I can order a pizza later. Oh, what toppings do you like?"

"Just cheese is cool with me," Violet shrugged.

"That's funny, because Mikey, Jon, and I like plain cheese, too," Wendy grinned. "Oh! Have you heard of this band called Evanescence?"

Violet's eyes bore into Wendy's as her jaw dropped. "Yes."

"Do you like them?" Wendy asked. "'Cause I do."

"I think God sent you to me!" Violet squealed, sounding almost exactly like Mandy. "Can we play some music while we finish our homework?!"

"Absolutely!" Wendy grinned. "Let me find my iPod."

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

"Is anyone gonna have that last slice?" Violet asked, pointing at the last piece of pizza.

Mikey burped. "'Cuse me," he said immediately. "Nope, I'm full."

"Same here," Jon nodded, patting his belly.

"Me, too," Wendy added.

Nana nudged the box closer to Violet, who grinned and patted the dog's head. "Thanks, Nana. In that case…" She took the slice, closed the box and took a bite. "Thanks again for letting me stay."

"Anytime," the three siblings said simultaneously. Everyone laughed at once.

"Vi," Mikey piped up. "Is the Never-Neverland park like the REAL Neverland? Y'know, in the story of 'Peter Pan'?"

"Well, the park is designed to have a mixture of pirates, Indians, mermaids, fairies, and Lost Boys, but I wouldn't say it's the real thing," Violet answered, taking another bite of her pizza.

"I heard there was a gang that lived in the park," Jon mentioned nervously. "Is it true?"
Violet shrugged innocently. "I never saw any gangs there. That's probably just a stupid story somebody said to either frighten or attract the public."

"Even so, we're going to stick together," Wendy said firmly.

"Does Peter Pan live there, Vi? Have you seen him?" Mikey asked, his eyes wide with hope.

"Are you guys in love with 'Peter Pan'? I know I am. And I've never met anyone who's…well, kinda obsessed with the story."

"Are you kidding?" Jon grinned. "That's one of our number one favorites!"

"Yeah, and Wendy used to have a REALLY big crush on Peter Pan when she was little," Mikey blabbed on. "That's what Jon told me. Right, Jon?"

Jon turned as pale as a bed sheet, while Wendy's face blushed tomato red.

Violet laughed. "Who WOULDN'T have a crush on Peter Pan? I was in love with him when I was eight years old. I still love the guy, don't get me wrong, but I'm not fan-crazy about him. Say…come to think of it, you guys are 'Darlings', right? Maybe he'll fly to your window, Wendy. Wouldn't that be the best?"

Wendy could only nod. She was still embarrassed about what her brothers had said.

"Vi, you didn't answer the question. DOES Peter Pan live in the park?" Mikey persisted, hungry for an answer.

"Well…I never saw the guy, but I've heard stories about a person who chases after people who've tried to harm kids while in the park. Who knows, Mikey? Maybe you'll be the first to spot him!"

Mikey's eyes shone at the prospect. He couldn't wait for tomorrow evening!