Lauri was packed quickly the next morning. While Tara was finishing up, she pulled out paper and pen and scribed a letter with extreme delicacy but her eyes were filled with the passion of her believes. Tara passed her by and rolled her eyes, "Lauri, this is ridiculous. You know I love you and believe in all of this, but I don't think that he even comes to this world anymore. Its too full of hate."
Deciding to keep last night's experience to herself, Lauri shrugged, "But it's of no pain for me to leave a note!"
Tara rolled her eyes and zipped her suitcase up. "Whatever, Lauri. I'm ready, lets get going."
"Hold on a second." Lauri pulled a tack out of the hotel desk and walked to the window. Leaning out, she tacked the note to the window frame as so it was just out of sight of anyone inside the hotel room, but in plain view of anyone outside.
Together the girls tugged their suitcases down the stairs and to their rent a car. Lauri's father finished packing the trunk of the large van, and the two families hopped in. Tara turned to her friend with sudden realization, "Lauri, what exactly did you put in that letter?"
"Oh, not much. Just who I was, that I'd been waiting and my address."
"That's what I thought." Tara turned to face the front, and then squealed, spinning, "You put what in there?"
Lauri simply giggled and slipped out of the van as they pulled up the airport.
Tara chased her down, dragging her suitcase behind her and nearly tripping over Lauri's. "You did not! Say that you didn't!"
"I did."
"Lauri! What if someone finds it? Someone who can't fly and wear's green tights!"
"I doubt anyone will. I put it out of sight."
"You are so insane! Just remember that when some crazy British rapist arrives on your door step, that you'll hear me singing 'I told you so'!"
Lauri giggled again and followed her family to the gate, they were late and the plane was already boarding. "No worries, Tara, because hopefully that British rapist'll be Peter."
Tara rolled her eyes, shoving her friend gently as they handed their luggage to the attendants. "I wish you'd take this seriously."
They boarded the plane in silence and after a brief fight over the window seat, they settled down. As the plane started down the runway, Lauri turned to Tara. "Wouldn't it be great to fly without stupid metal wings?"
"Yeah, it'd be awesome. I wish we could fly."
"So do I. Maybe if we keep wishing…"
"Don't get your hopes up, Lauri."
"They already are." With that, she rolled over and stared out the window at the city below them. Soon after, she had fallen asleep again.
Lauri had always believe in Peter Pan. Of course she'd seen all renditions of the story, but it had all started when her great aunt Wendy would tell her stories before she'd fall asleep. For as long as she could remember, she dreamed of going to Neverland, but unlike Aunty Wendy, she would stay with Peter. This world was too harsh and full of hate; she wanted to stay in a world full of happiness and fun, in a place where she'd never grow up. But as she did grow older, her infatuation with Peter grew.
Her head whirled often with thoughts of flying, pirates and pixiedust. She and Tara grew up watching the cartoons, reading the books, and laughing when they got it all wrong. Aunty Wendy had seen Peter Pan, and so they knew he wasn't blonde, and was rather older then often described. She blocked out the frequent hours spent in the hospital, visiting her poor Aunty Wendy who didn't have much time left. They were incredibly painful. Slowly Wendy was dying, so the family moved her to an American hospital to be closer to home. Maybe that was why her Peter Pan fascination intensified to a whole new level. She hoped that maybe, just maybe, Neverland and Peter would take the pain of loss away.
Lauri didn't notice how homesick she'd been until they arrived at the airport. She and Tara were still half-asleep, and stumbled toward their vehicles. The rest of the day passed in a haze as Lauri managed to unpack before going to bed. Silently she cursed jet lag as she snuggled into her blankets.