Dewdrops fell lightly onto Julie's head that early morning as she faintly woke up. She sat up and looked around her, confused. Then, she felt a great pain in her head and put her hand to it.
"Great, a headache! That's all I need!" She said aloud to herself. Julie slowly stood up and looked around, "And I'm completely lost!" She had forgotten what had happened the day before from the massive headache she bore at that moment.
She began to walk around in the midst of the wondrous forest. Then, Julie suddenly got whiff of something foul. But, she didn't see anything around her that looked like it would smell. Then, she picked up a part of her white blouse and sniffed the horrible stench.
"Ugh! I need to wash this, and I don't think I've taken an actual bath in days!" She walked off into the forest, hoping to find somewhere to clean off.
"Are you sure you haven't seen her?" Peter asked Javen, who shook his head nervously.
"No Peter! I promise!"
Then, Peter began to walk away from the outside of Julie's empty room. But, Javen then noticed something that he hadn't before and followed his leader.
"Peter, what's that?" The boy pointed at his face.
Peter moved back in confusion, "What?"
They boy then lightly poked Peter's cheek, "You have a very small bump on your face, I've never seen it there before. It looks like a zit. My older brother had those; when I was back with him in the orphanage, but he was sixteen!"
Peter's eyes went wider than four carat diamonds, "What?" he whispered to himself.
"It looks like…it looks like your grow-" But Peter covered Javen's mouth faster than he could fly.
"Don't! Don't you say another word! Don't even breathe one about this to the others! I'm fine! Nothing's wrong!" And as fast as he could, Peter flew off the platform of the bridges in the trees into the sky.
But indeed, Javen was right. Peter Pan was no longer the eternal thirteen year old boy. He was now fourteen years old.
"Yes!" Julie sighed as she finished washing her clothes near a small waterfall. She used sweet smelling flowers to clean them as best she could, and was now laying them out to dry.
She felt a little weird about being completely naked out in the middle of a forest, but then, she realized just that. She was in the middle of a forest with no one around. Julie grinned suddenly, and stepped under the rushing water of the waterfall with some wild sweet flowers and began to actually smell approachable again.
It felt amazing to finally scrub all the dirt that had piled up from the days before; it was relieving all together. Then, as she came out, she looked for something to dry herself off with.
She thought a moment, and then decided to just sit in the sun; no one was there. It was such an experience; she had never been completely naked outside before. At least, she hadn't in this paradise at this age. She watched the deep valleys and hills light up in the sun, the flowers and plants sway in the warm wind of eternal summer. Julie closed her eyes and smelled the sweetness of the world around her, and all at once, she felt complete.
As her hair dried, Julie put on her fresh white shirt, navy jacket and blue plaid pants, feeling very refreshed. Then, she put her green all star converse shoes back on and laced them up. After, she picked up her coat and pulled out her small brush. She lay the coat down and sat in the small patch of grass in the sunlight, softly brushing her long, wavy light brown hair. Then, she pulled her hair back up into the tight clip, as the shade rushed over her patch of grass.
Slowly, Julie rose from the ground and wondered the gigantic lands of Neverland. She walked along peacefully, putting her hands in the pockets of her jacket. Suddenly, she felt a rough crumple in the bottom of her left pouch. Curiously, Julie took the wasted paper out and held it in her hand.
She smoothed it out and read the faded words in the sheet. She stopped, reading the lines over and over. She couldn't believe she still had this. For hours she walked through the deep dark jungles and bright sunny hills reading the paper over and over, studying it again and again. But, if anyone had seen her, they would not have believe she spent hours reading a letter over and over that was only four lines long.
Finally, finding a spot to sit in the middle of a field of wild white flowers, she dropped her face to her hands and began to cry. It killed her inside seeing this old memory come alive in her again; she had tried so hard to forget everything. But, even in the midst of Neverland, there are still those who choose to remember.
The hot sun beat down on the girl, and Julie began to feel very faint from lack of food or water. Tears covered her face as she struggled to breathe; but the air stood still, causing Julie to feel as though she were suffocating.
Julie's eyes burned, failing her suddenly. Taking one last attempt for air, Julie fell to the ground, in the middle of the field of white flowers.
Julie tossed and turned. She felt out of breath, it felt as though her heart was pumping harder than it ever had. She heard loud noises all around her, then a scream. All of a sudden, there was a sharp pain in her left shoulder.
Her eyes flickered as she struggled to move. But her body wouldn't let her. She moaned out in pain and agony, but knew it was hopeless. She was alone; full of pain and memory.
"I'm here." A voice called to her. But, Julie didn't believe it. She kept her mind on loneliness, sadness, no one.
"Wake up, please, Juliet."
Then, as if a force gave her the strength, Julie opened her eyes, finding comfort in a pair of soft, calm blue diamonds.
"You rescued me." She whispered to Peter, barely able to speak.
"I had to." He replied deeply.
"Why?"
"Because you weren't with me. You were gone before I knew what had happened."
He picked up a goblet full of crystal water and put it to her lips. She drank, and then began to cough.
"What happened to you?" He wondered.
Julie struggled to find the words, "I…I…I just fainted from the sun, that's all." She lied.
"Oh. You must be hungry. Here." He gently put his hand behind her and helped her rise up.
She looked at the plate of fruit and bread that he had laid out, and thanked him, "You didn't have to do this."
He smiled plainly, "Of course I didn't, but I did anyway."
After she had eaten, she noticed that she wasn't in her own room. She stood up slowly, taking the wool blanket she was wrapped in with her. It was a very big room made out of bamboo and palm tree leaves. It had a small hammock overlooking the back porch, out towards the lands of Neverland.
Julie leaned on the bamboo railing and held the blanket around her, enjoying the peace, "I never knew until now how beautiful this place was. I never knew how much I relate to it."
Peter came up beside her curiously, "Relate to it? What do you mean?"
But, Julie shook her head, "Nothing." She went to the opposite side of the room and looked out from behind the leave-covered door, seeing she had a full view of the Lost Boys' secret hideaway.
"What room is this?" She asked curiously, even though she felt she knew the answer.
"Mine." Peter said warmly, taking her back to lie down, "You should rest."
"Why do you care so much about me?" Julie asked as she sat.
However, Peter didn't know himself, "I don't know, but I know I've never been this gentle with anyone before."
All at once, they locked eyes as Julie sat down next to him. But then she remembered, and turned her head from him.
However, Peter followed her and asked softly, "What happened to you?"
Blankly, Julie responded, "What do you mean?"
Concerned, he watched her eyes curiously, "You don't trust many people Julie. I don't' think you really trust me. What made you so guarded and distant?"
"I don't know what you mean!" Julie snapped suddenly. She closed her eyes and stood up, finding herself looking out at the Jolly Rodger in the distance.
But before she knew it, she wasn't standing alone, "Yes you do. Tell me what happened to your heart."
"My heart?" Julie questioned Peter.
"It's obvious that it's been broken for a long time. Why?"
"You wouldn't understand. You've never been in love." She replied.
Peter thought about the word to himself, then said, "What is love exactly?"
Julie turned to him suddenly blurting out, "It's a feeling you get when you are with someone that means the world to you. Someone you would do anything for and not care where you are with them, but just as long as you are with them! Everything in life is wonderful because of love!"
Julie fell to the ground in tears, and slowly Peter asked her, "Who did you love?"
Not caring anymore, she took a deep breath and said, "Johnny. He was everything to me. We went out for almost a year. But then, one day, he looked and talked to me a way he never had before. And that's when I knew…that's when I knew that it was over. The dream was over. That day I realized that dreams are just wishes that your heart makes. But they end up slipping from your fingers in the end. Dreams don't last forever; love is just a feeling resulting in pain."
Then, a soft hand came to her face. Julie slowly looked up into Peter's concerned yet understanding eyes. He wiped her tears away and whispered to her, "Obviously the boy was blind."
Julie laughed chokingly, not expecting him to say that, "But you've never loved Peter, you have no idea what it's like to be rejected. I was just a dreamer."
"But without dreams, there is nothing. Dreams are what make everything possible. Dreams fill you with hope. If we didn't have dreams, no one would try to achieve anything. If you didn't dream, you wouldn't have come after Lynn, because you would feel it useless to try and save her. You have to believe in yourself in order to save her Julie. I know once you go out there and fight, you will!"
Julie then thought to herself, 'I already tried, but I failed.'
But then, Peter took her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes, "You won't fail, not when you have me and your dreams."
Even though she was in such despair, Julie found comfort in the boy's words. Just then, she reached out and brought Peter in for a hug.
Surprisingly, Peter wasn't scared, but secure and hugged her back. After a few moments, Julie got up and walked to Peter's door.
"Umm, how do I get down?" She asked curiously, opening the door to a giant fall through the high trees.
"Here, give me your hand." Peter flew up and out, reaching for Julie.
She smiled, and took his hand. They flew down to the ground below, where many of the Lost Boys happily greeted her.
Then, Julie left Peter with them and went over behind a tree where she saw Brinkley hiding behind.
"Brinkley, can I talk to you?" She said sweetly.
But he talked first, "I'm so sorry about what I did; Cap'n Hook said he'd gut me like a codfish if I told anyone!"
Julie laughed and nudged him on top of his head, "Its okay! Don't worry about it! I'm fine, see?"
Slowly, Brinkley smiled and sighed, "Okay."
"Good!" Then, she took Brinkley on top of her shoulders and they all marched off towards the dining hall.
After the Lost Boys, Tinkerbell, Peter and Julie finished dinner, they went to what many of the boys called, 'The Story-Telling Terrace.' It was on the very edge of the island, resembling a porch being a small round area sticking out from the trees. There were many chairs to sit in, all different, and one distinct chair directly in the middle. That was where Wendy sat to tell the boys stories, and where Jane sat as well.
Now, as Julie entered this legendary place for the first time, she was in awe. Peter led her to the chair and said, "This is where the best and brightest story tellers have sat in the past, and now, it's your turn to sit and tell us a fantastic story!"
Julie looked at the old whicker chair and sighed. There were two items strung onto each arm of the chair. One of the items was a handkerchief, it was Jane's item that she gained while fighting the pirates near the blue lagoon. The other item, which was on the right arm, was a ribbon which Wendy received from the Lost Boys. These things were there to represent what meant most to each story teller as they came and left Neverland.
And now, it was Julie's turn to tell stories in this spot. Then, when it came close to the time that she would leave, she would leave her most precious item she obtained ultimately from Neverland.
"We've heard all about Cap'n Jack Sparrow, now, tell us another terrific story!" yelled out one of the twins.
"Yes tell us a tale!"
"Please Julie!"
Having enough of all the screaming boys, Julie put her hands in the air as she stood before them and shouted, "Alright! Okay, I have a story!"
"YAY!" They cheered, and then got comfortable on their pillows, chairs, or in their baskets. Peter sat down on a comfy chair, intent on hearing Julie's story.
Getting comfortable, Julie sat down in the chair and cleared her throat, then started, "Listen up and I'll tell you a tale, of a boy and girl, and their love story."
"Wait! Love story? I don't wanna hear any love story! I want to hear about action and adventure!" screamed out one of the boys.
"Yeah! Pick something else! That sounds icky!" shouted another.
Julie put up her hands calmly, "Hold on just a minute! I haven't even started! I think it's a story you'll all enjoy! It's got sword fighting, magic spells, adventure, revenge, and true love!"
They boys looked at her skeptically and gave in, "Alright. Go ahead!"
"Now that's better. As I was saying, these two were-"
"But wait!" cried out Brinkley, "What's the name of the story?"
"Ah!" Julie nodded in agreement. Peter watched as she leaned over in her chair and looked at each boy in the eye, "This story is called, 'The Princess Bride.'"
And then, she told them the tale, from start to finish. Each boy hung onto every word she said, eager to find out what happened next. Even Peter was very interested in this story. It wasn't like any of the others he had heard because; this one was the first that told about true love. Never had Wendy or Jane spoken about that. No, it was fate that Peter first heard the meaning of true love from the lips of Juliet Annesley herself.
After the sun had set, and the boys were scurrying off to bed, Julie walked slowly back to her room, with Brinkley hanging onto her waist.
"But I want you to tell the story again! I like to hear about Indigo!"
Julie laughed at him, and stopped in front of her room, prying him off of her body, "I know you do. If I have time in the next few days, I'll tell it to you personally."
The boy cheered and let go of Julie in less than a second, running off to his room yelling out to the world, "Hello! My name is Indigo Montoya! You killed my father, prepare to die!"
Watching him go, Julie felt a pair of eyes watching her. As she turned towards Peter's room across the bridges, high in the trees, she saw the blue eyes watching. Then, they slowly disappeared into the bamboo and palm tree house. She thought a moment, wondering what Peter was thinking, then went into her own room, exhausted but content with her day.
She took off her white blouse and her shoes, then slipped on her purple tank top and got into bed. She looked up once out into the ocean that seemed to call to her softly, singing to her. Peacefully and soundly, Julie fell fast asleep.
But, it wasn't long after till she wasn't alone. Peter flew in from her ocean window and looked at Julie asleep in her bed. For the past two days it had been troubling him, though he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was that was troubling him. But, he knew it was there, he could feel it in his gut. Never before had he ever looked at a girl this way. It was like he was gazing onto a sleeping angel. Her hair looked so soft in his eyes, as did her rosy cheeks and warm lips. Then suddenly, Peter realized what was going on. He flew up away from Julie quickly, and then rocketed out of her room, bringing a gust of wind all around her.
Julie woke up from the sudden breeze, and breathed the sudden warm sweet summer air that now filled the room. She thought for a moment about who could've…but then she realized that was silly. Julie nestled down into her quilt and gradually fell back into her dreams.
But as it has always been, the dream remained the same…
