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Despite everything, Wendy was still animated as ever to be going to the Cermonial Ball. It would be the second one she had ever went to.
Her first one. . .was a complete disaster. She was eleven and booted out for causing mischief. Something to with the giant punch bowl and a woman's new hairdo. Aunt Millicent was especially nervous for this ball, it was very important that Wendy did not mess this one up. Though, she showed her anxiety in stern expressions.
That afternoon, Aunt Millicent decided to dress Wendy up instead of Josie. The maid had picked out a nice elegant black dress but Aunt Millicent went overboard this time. She picked out sky blue petticoats, a satin slip, and a strange piece of material that wrapped around Wendy's trunk. Wendy asked tensely, "What is it?"
Aunt Millicent said with a warning tone, "A corset, it shall shape you into the perfect woman." She took hold of the laces and yanked them tightly.
Wendy gasped. This contraption literally squeezed the life out of her. She doubled over slightly and Aunt Millicent pulled once more, tying it up stringently; "It shall help your posture also."
She strided out, "Be downstairs in a minute."
Wendy slowly and painfully edged her way to the door, clutching her side when the telephone rang. She made a unaided sound and answered, "H...hello?"
A voice on the other line said, "Wendy?"
Wendy made a face, "Byron. I cannot talk right now, I'm on my way somewhere."
He apologized, "I'm very sorry about yesterday. I don't know what I was thinking -"
She coughed, "I have to go..."
Wendy slammed it back into the receiver and went to the carriage outside, she was feeling awfully dizzy and lightheaded from the lack of oxygen. They rode downtown and stepped into a enormous building, inside was a lit with the glow of the chandeliers. Wendy stepped in, nodding to various people, trying not to look too unhappy. She had to stay at Aunt Millicent's side and finally got an oppurtunity to sneak away as her Aunt drawled into a long conversation with a Duke.
She looked around and located Peter Pan right near the grandfather clock, talking to a red haired boy, only he looked different. In this grown-up setting, Peter seemed more pleasing to the eye somehow. He was dressed in a suit and his hair was thankfully still untidy as ever.
Wendy walked to him. he whispered "Wow, Wendy. You look -" Peter frowned, "- Unnaturally skinny."
She said coyly, "It's a corset, why, you don't like the way I look?"
He shook his head, red touching his cheekbones, "No, no. You're beautiful, no matter what you wear." Peter turned to the boy, "Uh, Wendy this is my best friend Fred. Fred, this is Wendy."
Fred shook her hand, "So, your Wendy. He talks so much about you that I probably already should know you."
Wendy smiled then she froze up, her face tightening in agony as she bent forward. Peter straightened her up, "Wendy, are you alright?"
She forced a grin, "Never better. Would you. . .like to dance?"
Fred said merrily, "I would most certainly like to." Peter punched him in the arm and Fred walked away amused.
Peter's magnificent eyes perked up as they stepped onto the dance floor, waltzing gracefully to the soft instrumental music. Wendy looked into his eyes and wished she could have stayed in his arms forever, if only she could have this blasted thing off her!
"Peter. . .there's. . . ."
She collapsed promptly onto the marble floor and Peter didn't hesitate to go to her side, he said her name several times and Wendy did not respond. She was not breathing either. The persons nearby watched on innocently as Peter tried to wake her and Donna came running from the crowd dressed in a dark purple ballroom gown. She said to him quickly, "Get her and follow me."
He effortlessly lifted Wendy's limp form into his arms and tracked Donna into a sitting room.
She said as Peter laid Wendy into a couch, "I'll watch the door." The stylish door shut closed.
He brushed back her auburn curls and pondered on what to do, his eyes caught the delicate corset. Something clicked in his head. He ripped off the laces with stumbling fingers.
Peter hauled it off her and gently patted the side of her face, "Wendy? Wake up, Wendy."
She wheezed and her witty eyes flew open, Wendy muttered, "What happened?"
"You faint when we were dancing, why were you wearing that thing?"
Wendy whispered, "I had to. . .Aunt Millicent," She said horrified, "O, she's going to kill me for sneaking off!"
"Wendy -"
"Especially with you -"
"Wendy, I -"
"She'll have me locked up for sure this time -!"
Peter silenced her by forcing her to look into his eyes, "Wendy, calm down..."
She took in deep breathes and her face returned to color, Peter said firmly, "You can't let your Aunt control you like this. You have to stand up to her."
Wendy asked mildly, "When did you become judicious all of a sudden?"
He cocked an eyebrow, "After three years of you."
A cherry blush ran up her pale cheeks and Peter fell in love with that color. He had a sudden desire to give her a...kiss but Donna poked her head in and said, "You'd guys better get back. Everyone is getting suspicious."
Peter helped her up and they walked out of the room, Wendy said as the stepped outside, "I can go from here Peter."
He shook his head, "I'm going with you back to your house, if you can't talk to your Aunt, then I'll have a few words to say to her."
She hide a smile, "I think I can handle her Peter. Aunt Millicent may be heartless but she has a sensible mind." They rode in Wendy's carriage to her house and Peter stood by her side as they entered the warm apartment. Aunt Millicent was already inside and looked ready to yell at her niece, but her eyes found Peter and became surprised. She yanked Wendy out into another room, saying dignified to Peter, "Excuse us." Aunt Millicent looked at Wendy and asked, coolly, "Where's your corset?"
Wendy said, "I got rid of it, it was too restraining."
Her Aunt blinked harshly, "It cost a pretty penny missy. You won't ruin the next one, get upstairs and I'll put you in another."
Wendy said quietly, "No."
Millicent frowned, the creases on her face deepened, "What did you say?"
Wendy adjusted her stance, "I refuse to wear that death trap and you cannot change my mind." Aunt Millicent took in this and did the next rational thing on her mind, she slapped Wendy across the face. The blow made Wendy's neck crack and she turned her head, her face expressionless. Millicent took her arm and wrenched Wendy back to the front, the woman said to Peter, "You have to leave young man, goodbye." She slammed the door in his face.
Peter would not be divest of so quickly. He looked around the exterior of the house and found Wendy's window open, Peter scaled up the oak tree nearby and looked through it asAunt Millicent finished lacing up another corset on Wendy and she remained there passive.
The brownish gray-haired woman left her, claiming dinner was ready. He ascended in and saw that Wendy had not moved, Peter murmured, "Wendy?" She faced him, a red print of a hand glared on her face. He stepped closer and gently touched it, Wendy winced and dissolved into tears.
She clung to him weakly and Peter held her close, smoothed back her tresses. Wendy said sullenly, "I tried Peter, she wouldn't have it! She hit me, she always said she would but I never thought -!"
Wendy stopped as Peter walked out of the room, fully attending on going downstairs and taking revenge on Aunt Millicent.
Shefollowed him downstairs, crying out, "No! Peter, don't hurt her. . !" Her breathing hitched and she blacked out, falling down the last steps. Peter turned around and dragged her off the stairs, "Wendy!"
Aunt Millicent came out of the dining room to see what the noise was about and halted when she saw Wendy's unmoving body.
"Don't stand there woman, get help!" Peter snapped.
She spun at the heel, muttering, "I'm dreaming...I'm dreaming..."
He sighed, sheathing his dagger on a belt of his pants, and cutting off the green ribbons on her corset. Peter carried her upstairs as it dropped heavily onto the tile floor.
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