Chapter Seven
And the Curtain Falls
Author's Note: Thank you for those reviews, they're awesome! Here's chapter seven, hope you like it!
Daniel and I make our way into the Royal Opera House later that night. Thankfully Sophia stayed to help me get prepared before she took the rest of the day off. She had pulled the laces on my corset so tight I could feel my lungs constrict. She only loosened it a little bit so now I'm forced to stand and sit a straight as a post and take quick, hollow breaths. I'm wearing a rather old green dress that Mother had given me just for the opera, along with white, silk gloves. Sophia also helped me sweep my hair into a graceful knot in the back of my head, adorned with small sprouts of baby's breath that she conveniently picked from a display in my room.
We receive our programs and join the throng of people.
"Wendy! Oh, Wendy Darling!" I hear a shrill voice call my name.
I turn and see Cecily Hampshire gliding toward me with her husband of four months, Charles.
"Cecily," I say, trying to keep the contempt from my voice. "How nice it is to see you."
"Oh Wendy I haven't seen you in ages!" she clasps my hands in hers and kisses me on the cheek.
"Yes, it's been quite a long time. How are you doing?"
"Oh splendid! Charles is the perfect husband!"
I look at Charles, he's speaking with Daniel but watching the backside of Emily Pitch at the same time.
I smile at Cecily, "That's wonderful."
The lights flicker above us and I'm both grateful and disappointed, I really don't want to talk with Cecily anymore, nor do I want to sit through this opera.
"Oh, I best be going, lovely to see you," Cecily says, kissing my cheek and walking away.
Daniel and I reunite and he guides me to our seats. We sit in a private box that is rather high up. I pretend to be enjoying the show, it's very hard.
It's seems as if days have passed when the opera finally ends. I'm extremely tired as the coachmen helps me into the carriage, Daniel sits beside me and the carriage begins to jostle along. I'm irritable and angry, how can Daniel just announce we're going to the opera? I never said I wanted to go! I don't speak to him as we travel down the street.
"Well, that was a good show, don't you think?" he asks.
I look outside and watch the houses drift by me, "I thought it was rather dismal, the opera is sort of boring to be honest." I look back at Daniel.
He looks kind of annoyed but this expression fades into a smile, "I wish you had told me, I wouldn't have forced you to sit through that show."
I narrow my eyes, "I did try to tell you."
He looks confused, "No you didn't."
"Yes I did Daniel," I say coldly.
The carriage pulls up in front of my house and I get out before anyone can open the door for me. I hurry up to my front door and unlock it, Daniel tells the driver that he's going to bid me goodnight and he'll be back. I'm already inside the entrance hall, taking off my shawl and throwing it at the side table along with my gloves.
"Wendy, I didn't know. I thought you'd like the opera, it was a chance for you to socialize with your old friends! You hardly ever accept calls or call on other people, I was just-"
"That's just it!" I cut across him. "You're always worrying about me and making sure I do everything right and carefully! Daniel, I don't want to be friends with my old friends, they're wicked girls and there's a reason I don't speak to them! I don't need you arranging my socialization for me!"
Daniel looks angry, have I hurt his pride?
"Good night Wendy," he says, marching out of the house and slamming the door behind him.
I shake my head, lock the door and go upstairs. Sophia won't be here until tomorrow and my bedroom is dark, I don't even bother to light a candle. I pull the flowers out of my knot of hair and shake it loose so it falls around my shoulders and back. I undress behind the screen from force of habit and put on a silk nightgown. When I climb into bed I find someone laying beside me.
A scream erupts from my throat.
"Ack!" the person says.
I jump out of bed and move across the room, "Who are you!"
"It's me, it's Peter!"
"Peter!" I hiss, walking closer to him, seeing his face in the milky moonlight. "What are you doing here?"
"When that woman left I climbed up the side of the house and waited for you, I got a little tired so I just laid down."
Yes, this is the real Peter Pan.
"I'm sorry I just came in here but I've missed you and I haven't had much time to talk to you," he says with remorse.
This is true, I've been very rude to him. I down beside him on my bed and look into his bright, emerald eyes. He's wearing brown pants and a white buttoned shirt under a tan vest. He took off his shoes and his jacket and placed them by an armchair.
"Can we talk now?" he asks hopefully.
Oh God what would Daniel think? What would anyone think if they knew a man was in my room, a man I wasn't betrothed to. Oh sod it! This is Peter! My Peter.
"Yes, let's talk now."
"I heard you fighting with him downstairs," he starts in immediately. "Are you still getting married?"
I laugh, "Yes we're still getting married."
"Oh," he's disappointed. "I was hoping... Never mind. How are John and Michael?"
Unfortunately they didn't come to our little reunion with the Lost Boys and John is positively convinced that Peter Pan wasn't real. Michael doesn't know yet, unless one of the Lost Boys told him.
"They're fine."
There's an awkward silence that passes between us, making me sick. Before I can say anything to break it, Peter throws his arms around me.
"I missed you so much," he says.
"I missed you too-"
"I want you for myself, Wendy," he looks at me. "It may sound selfish but I don't want to share you with that-"
"I'm not being shared," I say. "I'm going to be his wife and I'm going to be your friend, that's all there can be between us Peter," I'm almost biting back my words, after the realization that Daniel controls most of my life I don't know if I want to marry him so much.
Peter stares at me pleadingly, "But I want there to be more."
There's a short silence again, then Peter slowly leans in and kisses me. I don't break the kiss, I just melt into the warm nostalgia of it. I feel free, I feel like I'm not restricted by society and every link that holds me to it. I feel like I'm running in the fields of Neverland, plunging into the crystal lagoons and dancing among the fairies with Peter's arms around me. My head is light and giddy with happiness, I feel like I'm flying.
I want so desperately to continue kissing him but I break away.
"No, Peter, I'm engaged-" he kisses me again, ignoring my hollow protest.
I push him away, knowing that this is wrong.
"Peter," I say, very out of breath. "We can talk all you like but we can't do this," I shake my head. "Not anymore."
The look on Peter's face can't be described as just disappointed or just angry because it was a mixture of both. I know he's angry that I'm getting married to Daniel and disappointed about it as well, I can't disagree with him though. The silence between us is almost too much to bear.
"Can you still fly? Where's Tinkerbell?" I question.
He shakes his head, "I don't want to talk."
I don't know how to respond, "But you-"
"Can we just lay here? We don't have to do anything I just want to be with you."
I think for a minute. I rather not be by myself tonight and Sophia will be gone until tomorrow, she won't see Peter here to even tell Daniel.
I nod and we lay down next to each other. He smells like dried leaves and the streets after a cool summer rain. He's holding my hand in his and I don't protest. He traces figure-eights onto the back of my hand with his thumb and it tickles.
"I really do love you Wendy," he whispers.
My name breathes on his lips, causing tears to spring into my eyes. He's so handsome, so eager to love me... So in love with me. He's back, after all these years with not so much as a shadow from him, he's here, laying beside me, ready to run away with me the second I say when. But I can't, I hate to say it but I can't. I have responsibilities, I have commitments and I hate it. My chest is tight with agony. I want to run away with Peter. I want to leave Daniel and the whole of England if only I can feel free and innocent like I once did. I want to be with Peter but I can't.
"I know Peter," I whisper back, tears choking my voice. "I'm sorry."
He doesn't say anything back and in minutes the world melts into oblivion and sleep takes over. Wisps of a dream float inside my mind, confusing me and delighting me to no end.
Fairies dance and skip about in the air, twirling and floating with a bright, golden glow around them. They giggle and join hands, forming a ring around two people who are dancing slowly in midair. I see the mermaids shooting through black water and looking above the surface only to hiss at me and attempt to grab my skirt and pull me under the frigid water. I see the Lost Boys as young children, running around the forests of Neverland, playing a game of hide and seek.
I see the faces of the dancing couple, it's Peter and me, we're dancing on air as adults now. The fairies are acting as golden lights around us, illuminating the dark forest as much as they can.
I'm sitting in the Indian village around a blazing fire. Music is playing around me and I feel content and happy with the heat of the flames radiating against my face. I see my brothers, sitting beside me, grown up, in Neverland. I look across the fire and see Peter. The orange glow of the fire is lighting up his face and he's smiling at me, his golden hair flopping into his eyes.
The scene turns to the Jolly Roger. I'm tied and gagged, Captain Hook's back is turned to me and he's taunting Peter who's at the very edge of the plank. He's laughing as Peter frantically tries to get out of this fatal hold.
Suddenly, Captain Hook pushes Peter with the end of his sword and he falls into the water. I try to scream but the cloth in my mouth is preventing me. Hook is laughing hysterically, he turns around I see his face. It's not Hook, it's Daniel.
I bolt upright in bed, breathing heavily and screaming softly. The sun is up and the London traffic is busy, Peter wakes up with my swift movement and incessant carrying on.
"What's wrong? What is it?" he asks frantically.
"N-Nothing, I'm fine. I just had a bad dream," I take a deep breath. "What time is it?"
Peter checks the clock on the wall, "Nearly ten o'clock."
I gasp, "You need to go."
I push him off the bed and he stands as I do. I grab the robe off my wardrobe and put it on, buttoning the buttons as Peter puts on his shoes. I don't hear anything else in the house so I assume Sophia hasn't come back yet.
I sigh, "Sophia isn't here yet so just sneak downstairs," I open the door and he walks out.
"I suppose it isn't proper for a lady to be seen outside her bedroom wearing her robe!" he jokes.
"It also isn't appropriate for a gentlemen to be in a lady's room without a dignified reason, now go!" and I push him out of the room, laughing as I do.
I hear him hurry down the stairs and I'm about to get dressed but I hear a high-pitched scream that belongs to woman, reverberate from the entrance hall.
Oh no.
Sophia.
I hurry downstairs and see Peter stuck between the door and the stairs and Sophia pointing at him accusingly.
"Y-You-You scoundrel!" she screams. "You spent the night didn't you? You-You scoundrel, you!"
She sees me standing at the bottom of the stairs, guilt etched onto every angle of my face.
"And you! I knew you were keeping company with other men behind Mr. Shaw's back!" she looks like she's about to explode. "Wait until I tell him! He's coming over right now!"
Oh God, no!
"Sophia, no, you don't understand," I say desperately, walking over to her, reaching for her arm.
"Don't you touch me!" she shouts, running into the kitchen to hide until Daniel gets here.
Peter looks at me helplessly, "I'm so sorry Wendy I didn't-"
"It's not your fault," I say softly. "You better go before he gets here."
He nods, grasping my hand and giving it a squeeze. He sends me a look as if to say, 'Be careful, don't let the idiot step all over you.' I smile and he leaves.
I'm frantic and nervous as I dress. I hear Daniel come in and I hear Sophia talking to him quickly and she's brazen about it. I feel shaky and hollow as I walk downstairs to see Daniel listening to Sophia as she finishes the story. He turns to stare at me and he looks so disappointed in me. I feel like scum.
"Sophia would you please excuse us for a minute?" he asks icily, not breaking eye contact with me once.
"Of course sir," she says, disappearing into the kitchen.
He's silent for an antagonizing minute, then he sighs, "Wendy I know we had a row last night but I never thought you would do something like this behind by back-"
"Daniel, there was nothing-"
"He did spend the night did he not?" he says and it cuts my heart like a knife.
I don't reply.
"Wendy, how could you do this to me?" he's near tears, I feel horrible. "I love you, I've always loved you."
I try to speak but he continues.
"I've never been wrong to you! How could you do this?"
I'm crying now, "I'm sorry Daniel, there was nothing between us. He just stayed here, we're such good friends, you don't understand!"
"It's not right," he shakes his head. "You're the one who doesn't understand!"
"Daniel-"
He cuts me off, "Wendy, this is- this is just unforgivable!"
"Please Daniel, I didn't mean to hurt you, he just slept here, I promise you."
Daniel looks so completely distraught.
"I can't talk to you right now," he shakes his head, moving toward the door.
"Daniel! We are still getting married, right? You still love me, don't you?" I sound so pitiful.
He swallows, "I'll talk to you later, good bye."
And he leaves. Sophia sticks her head out of the kitchen to see what's happened.
"Is the engagement still on?" she asks.
I turn slowly and look at her, "Get out."
"Wha-"
"Leave, now."
She knows how angry I am and she finally leaves, and now I collapse in the entrance hall, crying endlessly, because I probably ruined everything.
Author's Note: Oh scandalous! Haha, there's chapter seven, hope you liked it. The drama is about to unfold, a character is going to die (I'm probably getting your hopes up by saying that so, sorry.) Haha. I'm not gonna lie though, the honey mustard is gonna hit the fan in the next two chapters! Thanks for reading! Please review!
