Chapter two

"Hello, Wendy!" a voice chirped from the mahogany window sill.

Carlie was not aware of anyone besides herself in the room and did not hear the voice echoing throughout Wendy's room.

"Wendy? Please…" the voice pleaded. "Please don't be mad at me. I had to do it. Don't ignore me, Wendy. Please."

Carlie opened her eyes and found herself looking up a boy around her age. He had tousled blonde hair and blue eyes that held years of joy and happiness. He stood a few inches taller than Carlie and was decked in green skeleton leaves. Around his feet were a few scattered brown leaves falling from his clothing. He had an air of magic, mystery, confidence and cockiness all at the same time.

"Why would I be mad at you?" Carlie was confused. She had never met this boy. But something about him was familiar.

"Because of the boys. I had to take them home with me. Really, I did. The Lost Boys are my brothers."

"Oh… no way." Carlie thought about the boy in Wendy's tales and then shook her head.. "Who are you?

"You've forgotten about me!" he stepped backwards a little bit. "I promised I wouldn't forget about you, Wendy! I thought you would never forget! I thought you loved me, Wendy."

"Peter?"

The blonde boy nodded, painfully.

"I'm not Wendy, Peter."

"Yes you are!" Peter couldn't bring himself to believe that Wendy was not here waiting for him. "You look just like her!"

"No, Peter, I'm not." Carlie whispered softly.

"Then who are you? What have you done with Wendy?" Peter was frantic. He drew his sword and pointed it towards Carlie. He was scared and angry with himself for leaving Wendy that cold February night.

"She isn't here…" Carlies voice trailed off. She always seemed to put others before herself, even if she would be completely miserable in the long run, which she often was.

"Where is she?"

"She passed away, Peter. I'm her great-granddaughter."

Tears filled Peter's eyes. "To who was she married to?"

"She never married. She adopted my grandmother. She waited for you for 101 years, Peter."

Peter found a strange sense of satisfaction that his Wendy had waited 89 years for him. But he didn't understand how she had aged so much.

"But I was only gone a month…" he whispered.

Carlie looked towards the carpeted floor as Peter scanned her face.

"I was really gone that long?"

Carlie nodded.

"Oh…" he frowned and then his sadness was overcome by happiness and excitement. "Come away with me to Neverland!"