A/N: Okay, I am soooooooo sorry I haven't updated for a long time. I started college a couple months ago, and I have lost most of my inspiration for this story. I've also felt like my writing could be better, and if I have like, a week off and feel like writing, I would like to revamp this story. Any ideas or encouragement would be greatly appereciated.

Chapter 10

I woke again to a bunch of screaming boys. They had apparently found the school supplies that were now being doled out by my almost-too-patient mother.

"This is so cool-"

"I wanted orange, not blue!"

"Can I swap you the dog folder for the car folder?"

I groggily brushed my hand over my eyes, wiping the sleep from them. I looked behind me and saw my Peter's gently sleeping face. I smiled and shifted slightly, closing my eyes again, feeling Peter's warm body heat on my back. I had meant to go back to sleep, but opened my eyes wide as I felt Peter slide his arms around my hips, one hand going up my shirt. I turned around to face him, to smack him one, but realized he was still asleep.

"Wendy..." he murmured. Suddenly, he crushed my body against him as he held me so tightly I couldn't breathe...I...can't...breathe...

"PETER!" I yelled, with everything I had left, so it was fortunate he let me go immediatley. I stayed where I was as he gazed at me, both of us gasping for air. I said shakily, "What...was ...that?" He looked shame-facedly away, and muttered something I couldn't heear as I regained my breath.

"What?"

"...I said...I was dreaming about...the same thing you did last night."

"What?" I was breathing with difficulty again.

"I...I dreamed about...the faceless man you told me about, except I saw him killing you and I couldn't..." he choked on his words, "I couldn't do anything but watch...watch the life drain from your eyes." A dry sob choked him again, and I pulled him roughly to me, holding him close as he held me likehe thought I would disappear any second.

"We cannot go on like this...we have school tomorrow!" I half-whispered to myself.

"Maybe all the homework will make us so tired we won't dream..."

"But we can't count on that. We have to figure out the source of this nightmare issue and...somehow...fix it, I don't know!" After I said that, I thought of the mermaid's warning. It was a bad omen of things to come. But when? When would it happen? Would I die today? A year from now? Or was it a metaphorical warning? Maybe I would leave Peter and...no, I would never leave him. I looked at Peter, who was still trembling slighty. I flattened him on the bed with a kiss I would give him if he were going to die tomorrow. He rolled so that I was beneath him without breaking contact. I turned my face away from him and he continued the kisses of fire alng my neck. He pulled away suddenly, and I sat up straight as I heard it too. My mother opened the door. I looked at the TV, hoping my mum didn't notice our red faces, where Bugs was at it again, as Peter had flipped it on in the nick of time.

"Aren't you two coming downstairs to pack your backpacks and eat breakfast?"

"School doesn't start until tomorrow, Mum." I said, hoping I sounded nonchalant.

"All right then, just make sure you come downstairs for a bit, then maybe you two can get some new clothes." I smiled to myself, saying out loud, "All right, then."

Peter turned off the TV a little after my mom left as I flipped over so I was on my stomach. I gasped a little when I felt his body weight on my back, his fingers lightly going up my arm to caress my hand. I looked over at our entwined hands...

A hand covering my nose with a cloth, evil yet beautiful eyes stabbing my soul...

I flipped over to face Peter, afraid. He stared down at me with concerned eyes. My frightened face melted into a smile, as I said, "Don't worry, I'm fine." Peter smiled back, and helped me up and off the bed. We walked downstairs inot the havoc of the boys still exclaiming over their new school things, like it was Christmas or something. I sat and ate peaches with cottage cheese, with difficulty due to my injured hand, while Peter stuffed his face with Fruity Pebbles. I nearly spit out my peaches laughing at Peter's face - it was exactly that of a chipmunk - he had his cheeks bulging with cereal, and his eyes were asking me why I was snorting cottage cheese. I smiled and shook my head as I forced down my food. We left shortly for the mall, it was my favorite place to go shopping just 'cause there's a nice wide variety of clothes I can get there. Not to mention all the awesome food I could get in the Food Court. My mouth watered just thinking of the orange chicken and smoothies. When we came in the doors, I automatically ran into the pet store that I swear they had put there to divert you from your purpose in being at the mall at all. Peter followed me, protesting weakly, but I knew he had a weakness for kittens and puppies. That, I supposed, was due to his duty to care for sick/injured animals with the Indians when he lived in Neverland. We gazed longingly together at the puppies, the kittens, and even some ferrets. Peter eventually gathered his wits after much "Awww"ing, and dragged me from the shop. Ufortunatley, on the way out, I bumped into a young man, probably my age, and was seperated from Peter in a sudden throng of young girls. I looked up to apologize, and and my voice was strangled in my throat. The boy was taller than me, with blood red spiked hair and an incredibly handsome face. That kind that makes your gut clench when you see him. That wasn't what sent the shudder through me. It was his eyes. Crimson hatred. When his eyes found mine, the hatred dissolved, replaced by intense curiosity. I whispered, "Sorry..." and tried to slide past him, but he caught me by the waist. I shivered...he had such an impact on me...why? And where had I seen those cold eyes before? He bent down, stillo holding me around the waist, and whispered in a warm, intelligent voice, "Who are you...?" His face was much too close. I tried to slip away, but his grip tightened, and he held my shoulder. I tried to find Peter in the small crowd. The stranger saw my hurt hand suddenly, taking it in his free hand very gently. A jolt of pleasure went through me, quickly joined by fear...where was Peter? I found myself caught by his eyes, he was looking me over the way Peter did. We stared at each other for a long time, until I found my voice.

"Please let go. You're hurting me."

He stepped back, looking a little surprised, "So sorry, lady." This time I barely detected a Scottish accent. He then left me standing there, dissappearing into a herd of even more shoppers. I slumped to the ground, as if only this...man's presence had kept me standing. Peter found me like that, not even thirty seconds later.

"Wendy! Are you all right? What happened?" He looked around at random shoppers with paranoia. I put my arms around his neck as he put his around my waist to help me up. I hung limp in his arms, then regained my footing, still leaning on him. I whispered, "N-nothing. I'm fine. I just felt a little faint." There was nothing to worry about, just an odd encounter. Peter took me to the food court, holding my hand like he thought someone was going to kidnap me, and bought me a strawberry-banana smoothie. Soon we were laughing and talking again, and I'd forgotten the whole incident by the time we were done shopping.

A/N: Okay, r and r! I have to go to class now, but please r and r! Yell at me for not updating in so long, whatever. Okay, I'm outta here. Hope you enjoyed it!