9 - Boys

Mira trekked behind Peter on their way home. He had grown quieter the later the day got. Only glancing at her every once in a while.

Her clothes started to feel lighter as the afternoon sun dried them after slipping into the water, reaching for Constantia's sea shell.

She remembered the warmth she felt in her gut when Amala introduced her as their 'friend,' and then how it froze when hearing Peter chime in.

'It's Mira. Not Marella.'

Pearl assured him that they knew that but thought Marella suited her much better.

'Shining sea. Deep and beautiful like a sapphire.'

Mira's ears flushed, and watched as Peter's eyes narrowed.

'That's enough poetry for one day.'

He hooked his arm in Mira's and led her off, not releasing until they were well and truly away from the lagoons.

She could once again feel the weight of his thoughts but decided not to intrude. Instead, she decided to walk silently behind him, only making a sound when Peter stopped quickly and turned to her.

"How did you speak to them?"

"I...I don't know. I guess I just picked it up along the way." Mira looked up at him with her most honest eyes.

He was only a few inches taller, staring down at her with a searching look, but she never broke the gaze.

"You're different. I don't know what, but there's something about you."

"Is that bad?" she said with a wary look.

"No! Well, I'm not sure. It's just confusing, that's all."

Mira's mouth pulled into a fine line as she nodded and started to walk again. She took a moment to think about what he had said as she watched him slide underground beneath the big white tree.

'I suppose all this is a bit odd, compared to what life was like last week.' Mira thought. 'But this boy taught me to fly, I swam with mermaids, there's pirates in the cove, and at least one fairy flying around somewhere. I can't be any odder than the rest of this place.'

Mira shook her head free of the thought and slid down after Peter.

At the bottom of the slide there was a group of boys all staring at her and taking a simultaneous gasp. Suddenly the room erupted with voices, moving as a group towards her.

"She looks different from Wendy." One boy observed.

"...and Jane!" Another added.

Peter opened his arms in an attempt to calm the crowd.

"She's still a girl though, right?"

"Does she tell stories?"

"Not all girls tell stories acorn breath." One corrected.

"Quiet!" Peter bellowed. "This is Mira. She was taken by the pirates and will be staying here for a while. I'll take her back as soon as we figure out what is happening to the island."

With that comment, there were muffled whispers within the group. Mira looked at Peter's expressionless face in the hope that he would give her some clue as to what he meant. However, he kept his stony look fixated on the group of boys.

"Slightly, report!"

One of the boys stepped forward quickly and adopted a military stance.

Mira watched as his breathing was accentuated by his overly squared shoulders pushing his chest in front of him. She smiled at how his posture contrasted his wild and untamed look, not only in his boyish appearance, but also by the twinkle in his eye.

"Nothing much more to report, Sir. The rest of the forest is like the bits you saw, Sir, before you told us to take over, Sir. The plants are browning and the sun is less warm, Sir. The fairies are scared, Peter." He winced at his break of character.

"At ease." Peter's mouth smiled at the boy, but his eyes were dark with worry.

Slightly hunched over and ruffled his hair. Smiling at Peter to reassure him, before walking straight up to Mira, clutching her hand and introducing himself.

"Hi, I'm Slightly. Peter's right hand man. And this is Nibs, Cubby, The Twins, and Tootles; all his other hands."

Mira laughed and introduced herself to the boys who welcomed her. She looked over to Peter who had collapsed into a chair, the weight of the day finally falling onto him.

"So ..." Cubby, the smallest of the boys mumbled, "do you tell stories?"

The rest of the boys groaned at the question but shifted their eyes back to Mira, collectively curious about her answer.

"Well–" She began to respond but was cut off by Peter.

"I don't know about her stories...but she can talk to mermaids." He leapt on top of the table in every manner of dramatic flair. The boys turned to Mira and gasped.

"You spoke to the mermaids? With all the weird clicking and singing? And they didn't kill you?" Tootles asked with an exasperated look.

"N…no? They were quite lovely."

"They only like Peter."

"Yeah they can't stand us!" Nibs piped up with a laugh.

Mira's eyes flicked to Peter who was looking at her so intensely she felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she turned away hoping he wouldn't see.

Peter leapt down from the table and ordered the twins to collect the bags stashed in the corner of the room. On their return, the contents of the bags were poured onto the table top. An assortment of fruits and berries in every colour. It was only then that Peter realised how hungry he was. He walked over to Mira and guided her to the seat next to his at the table. Peter could feel the smooth buzz that occurred when they touched and was beginning to expect it every time he came close to Mira. He sat beside her and watched as the boys tucked into the feed.