Peter flew after Sicily, catching up to her easily. She turned and smiled,
leaning over on her back and floating forward with her hands behind her
head. "Enjoying yourself?" He leaned over and tickled her. "Of course." She
squealed and fell through the sky, plummeting toward the sparkling water
below. Her arms were flailing, and her eyes were terrified. "Peter!" She
screamed as the water grew closer. Peter's breath knocked out of him as he
looked into her departing cinnamon eyes. His mother had eyes like them, he
thought sickeningly. He clutched his stomach and bent over, his hair
flopping into his eyes. She had been scared the first night he had left,
her eyes exactly like Sicily's- Sicily! He was angry at himself for zoning
out, especially while she was in danger. Peter pushed his body against the
wind as it rushed into his ears. His back arched involuntarily, and his
neck cracked sickeningly. From below, Sicily screamed again as his eyes
closed and his body went limp, falling past beside her and hitting the
water loudly. Forcing the tears from her eyes, she forced herself to think
happily. "Um...uh- the kiss!" She jerked to a stop in the air and began to
float upward again, six feet above the water. Sicily dove gracefully into
the water on her own, shoving her eyes open in the salt water. She saw a
blurry dark shape lying on the ocean floor, and upon closer inspection, she
recognized it as Peter. Hooking her arms underneath his, she dragged him
above water and draped him on a rock. Performing CPR did not help. A woman
rose out of the water beside her. Her skin had a bluish tint, and her hair
was a deep red color, more vibrant than Sicily's. Her head was lowered, but
her eyes were rolled up so that she maintained eye contact. "I can heal
him, if you request my help." The words appeared in Sicily's head without
the woman speaking, which was both frightening and intriguing, but Sicily
made a quick decision. "Yes, please." She said. The woman slithered out of
the water next to Peter on the rock, and exposed a shimmering indigo fish
tail. Small groups of scales randomly decorated her body above her waist.
She reached out a hand with webbed fingers and slid it under Peter's neck,
which was twisted at an ugly angle. Suddenly, deep blue smoke rose from her
fingers, and there was the hissing sound of water meeting heat. Peter's
head rolled into its normal position and his neck untwisted into the usual
straight arrangement. He still didn't wake. Slowly, the woman leaned over
and kissed his bluish lips, and the same smoking sound ensued. His eyes
opened, and he sat up. Smiling at the mermaid, he thanked her, and she
giggled like a schoolgirl. Leaning forward, she kissed him again briefly
and dove into the water soundlessly, without a splash. Peter ran a finger
through his hair sheepishly and looked at Sicily. "Sorry. That was Miranda,
and she's had to save me three times this week. She feels that my kisses
are payment." Sicily laughed and said, "No worries. I'll probably be
kissing more than you while I'm here." His eyes flashed and she grinned.
"Now, what do you mean, save you?" "Well, I can't die. If I die, Neverland
dies with me, and there will be much more pain in the world than you could
ever imagine. Nothing hurts the world like a child screaming, tormented,
because they're being abused, in whatever way. The neighbors ignore it, so
I fly them here, give them hope. Therefore, when I'm reckless, for instance
the way I flew with my body straight into a sharp wind, Miranda has to
bring me back, I guess you could say." Sicily nodded. "That makes sense."
She stopped treading water and rose into the air, extending a hand. Peter
took it and got up off the rock, floating next to her. "Let's go meet the
Lost Boys," She said. When they were inside the home underground, her
attention immediately fell upon a sulky boy of about Peter's age in the
corner. He had dark hair, a deep tan and piercing green eyes. He was
stocky, and dressed in a pair of baggy jeans. Peter introduced her to the
rest of the boys, but she wasn't paying attention until he got to Benno-
the hot guy. She flipped her hair and gave him a dazzling smile. "The
pleasure's all mine." She extended a hand and he shook it, making a fist
when their hands parted and placing his hand on his lap. She told Peter,
"I'll be sleeping in...?" He said proudly, "Wendy's house," and led her
through the woods into a cozy cottage. Benno opened the tiny piece of paper
slipped between his fingers. "When Peter comes back, go to my bedroom." He
smirked. Sicily closed the door behind herself and locked the quaint latch.
Pulling him over by his hips, Sicily pressed her lips to his, slipping her
tongue into his mouth. It tasted of saltwater from the mermaid and she
thought to herself, "We'll have to make sure he knows his preferences." She
pulled back and leaned over, kissing his neck and leaving him breathing
heavily as his skin burned where she'd touched it. Peter put one hand
steadily on her stomach, and she slid up her shirt underneath it, leaving
it resting on naked skin. Slowly, he pulled away and sat on Wendy's bed and
leaning against the wall behind it. Sicily sat in his lap and put her hands
on his cheeks, continuing to make out with him. He put his hands on her
butt, sliding his hands up the bottom of the pajama shorts but over her
underwear. Twisting slightly, he laid himself on the bed and Sicily fell
into place on top of him, one leg on either side as she readjusted. She
pulled off his shirt and threw it out the window next to her, sopping wet
and kissed his chest. Then she laid her head on it, gently, pretending to
sleep. She felt him roll her over and get up, opening the creaky door and
slipping out. She jumped up and smoothed her hair, lying on the bed and
waiting. Moments later, Benno entered. She asked him point-blank, "Am I
attractive?" He looked caught off-guard, then answered, "Yes." "Good," She
said, then walked over to the door and kissed him passionately, letting him
taste her tongue. He slid a hand up her shirt, and she smiled. "He moves
fast," Sicily thought, and she closed the door behind him. Benno leaned
against it and she, in turn, leaned against him. Suddenly, she heard
Peter's voice beside her. "What- what's going on?"
