Chapter 11

Darcie POV

I woke up, my eyes sore from crying. It felt strange waking up alone, I got changed into a simple blue dress and slowly opened the door. Peter was sat on the bed; he didn't even look up at me. I went towards the door to leave.

"Where are you going?" His voice called out, still angry.

"To reception." I mumbled, he scoffed, I've had enough of him. "What the hell is your problem?" I turned around to him, he still looked away.

"Right now? You." He grumbled.

"You're pathetic." I scowled.

"If I'm so 'pathetic' go find daddy dearest, I'm sure he'd agree with you." He looked at me, hate in his eyes. "I wouldn't care if you went to live with him and never came back."

"I hate you." I slammed the door behind me, all this over my father? He was being so stupid, and this time he couldn't blame it on any potion. I headed down to the lobby and saw Demetria scribbling away in the hotel's book. Her dress was white today, still hugging her curves and she smiled to herself singing slightly. I walked to the desk and cleared my throat.

"Um, hey Demetria."

"Donna." She nodded.

"Darcie." I corrected. "Could I have another room maybe?" She looked up at me, her eyes glowing.

"Something wrong with sharing with Peter?" She smiled, I nodded.

"Yeah there is." I sighed.

"Do tell!" She giggled, just as the mermaids did in Neverland, and leaned closer. In some way I found this almost comforting, like having a piece of Neverland here still. Yes she was happy something had gone wrong with me and Peter but she was a mermaid, all the mermaids are helplessly in love with Peter.

"He just got very angry." I shrugged and she smiled.

"Well, Peter does have a bit of a childish temper. Usually fired by jealousy. I've known him for a long, long time and he does get ever so jealous, he wouldn't admit it to anyone though." She smiled at me, handing me another key. I went to get John's credit card out but she stopped me. "No, no, it's fine." I knew she was just happy to have me and Peter apart, it made me laugh slightly. The hotel door swung open suddenly, a tall woman with black glided in, sunglasses covering her eyes and a long black dress. I was mesmerized by her; I stood at the desk still watching her.

"A single room, please, best you have." She ordered Demetria. The lady then looked me up and down. "You remind me of someone.'

"I do?" I looked at her face, her red lipstick curving up into a smile.

"Yes you do." She grinned at me, showing her perfect teeth. She wrote down her details and paid for her room and then snapped her fingers. "Aha! Yes, Carl Farren, a man I know, you look like him."

"Carl Farren? That's my father!" I smiled and she took her sunglasses off revealing her grey eyes.

"Is he here?" She smiled.

"No, he's not. If I may ask, how do you know him?" I couldn't take my eyes off of her, she was beautiful.

"Oh, we are business partners, back in London. And if I may ask, what are you doing alone in Paris?" She put her hand on her chest.

"Oh, I'm not alone; I'm here with my… friend." I mumbled, if I could even count Peter as a friend right now.

"Oh, well I'd love to talk more. Carl and I are rather good friends and I'd love to meet his daughter properly. I'm Alma." She gave her hand for me to shake, I shook it.

"Darcie." I smiled.

"Lovely name! I know the most beautiful café here, we'll have tea and cream cakes yes?" I hesitated but nodded. I turned to Demetria.

"If Peter asks for me, tell him I'm out with a friend of my father's." Demetria nodded and Alma threw her designer bag upon the desk.

"Take this to my room, I'll be back later." Alma took my arm in hers and led us out, chattering to me about all of her favourite places to visit in Paris. I thought about her and my father's friendship, was she more than a friend? It would be lovely if my father could find someone after my mother. She seemed really nice and she was offering to buy me tea and cakes even though she had just met me. We sat down in a very fancy café, the chairs were a cream colour and the table cloth had not a single crease. The flowers in the middle of the table were a light pink colour; she ordered our tea and a cream cake each. I took a sneaky look at the price and refrained myself from gasping.

"So, I presume you don't live with your father, where do you live?" I couldn't tell her about Neverland.

"Um no, I live with my uncle." I let an internal sigh of relief. She nodded and our tea came in a fancy cup and saucer with a delicate flower design on. Our cakes were set next to the cups of tea; the plates also have the flower design.

"So, you're here with you friend Peter… Romantic trip?" She giggled. Alma used a fork to eat her cream cake; I decided to do the same instead of my hands. I imagined Peter being here, eating the cake with his hands, getting cream on his nose, I smiled slightly.

"Yes… well, he got angry last night." I sighed, she put her fork down and dabbed her mouth with the silk napkin.

"Oh dear. Why was that?" She leaned in closer, concern on her face.

"Well… Peter and my father don't exactly get along. Peter just snapped when I mentioned him…" I shrugged.

"Darcie, my dear, he can't stop you from seeing your father." She said and I nodded. "Peter doesn't own you."

"Yes, I know." I gave a weak smile. She talked more about herself and her life in London; she seemed pretty vague on London even though it was her home. I had to make up where I went to school and how I met Peter. She didn't know about Neverland and I wanted to keep it that way.

"I should probably head back soon. Peter might be wondering where I've gone." She rolled her eyes slightly but nodded.

"We shall have to do this again soon, tomorrow maybe?" She smiled; I returned her the smiled and nodded. "Excellent, same time?"

"Yes, see you tomorrow." She kissed each of my cheeks, a very high class persons greeting or farewell. I walked back to the hotel; I walked on the marble floor of the lobby. I still needed to get my things from Peter's room; I was staying in a different room. I took the lift up to the top floor and knocked on the room's door. The door swung open, revealing a much stressed looking Peter.

"Where were you?" He whispered. I fiddled with my hands, looking at my feet.

"Out. With a friend of my father's…" I shrugged.

"I know, Demetria told me you were out with a friend of your father's. You had me worried sick." I refused to apologize to him. "You were out alone in Paris! Reality isn't safer than Neverland Darcie. And with pirates around here now?"

"What would you care? I thought you wouldn't mind if I never came back?" I scowled at him.

"I would care…" He said in barely a whisper, almost inaudible. I walked into the room and picked up my things. "No, you stay in the king size bed. I'll sleep on the single…" He walked into the next room. I smiled slightly; he had cooled off since this morning. Later that evening I climbed into the big bed on my side; my back facing away from where Peter would be. I shut my eyes and tried to sleep. I heard a door open and a pressure on the bed. A warm breath tingled my neck and whispered, "I'm sorry…" Peter kissed my cheek and I pulled his arm over me.

"Stay." I breathed, I could feel him smile and he slipped under the covers. He slid his arm around me and pulled me closer to his chest.