A/N: Hello you wonderful people! I'm going to apologize right now for everyone who is now mad at me because they thought I was updating the other story. I'm sorry. I don't know what is going on with that one. It's stuck. The chapter is almost done.. I just can't seem to finish it! I'm all out of ideas. It's sad and I know it must be frustrating ( and by frustrating I mean you are all ready to rip my head off.) all of you. (well. All of you that read it, that is.) So I'm so so so so so so so SO sorry. : ( If anyone has any ideas or suggestions I'd be GLAD for you your help! Just email me. My screen name is in my profile thingy.. It won't let me post it on here. Other then that, I don't know what to do.. except cry. Waaaaaaaaaa. Phooey.
Anywho, Thanks to all of you who reviewed: ) You are AWESOME! SooOo..Here is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it! As always, sorry for my HORRIBLE spelling and grammar mistakes. Review, review, review! Please : )
Chapter 3
The worst deal EVER made.
Riley braced herself as the boys rushed towards her.
OOooooh gosh. I'm dead. I'm dead, I'm dead, I'm dead.
She wasn't ready to die! Let alone at the hands of a bunch of bushman kindergartners with pointy sticks. It was ridiculous. And pathetic.
She didn't have to go out like this.
I REFUSE to go out like this!
She would just.. just...
I'm doomed.
The girl sighed.
What was taking so long anyway?
She peaked an eye open.
In front of her, the blurry vision of dozens of boys formed. Their heads were all turned backwards, listening to someone else shout something..something that sounded a lot like..
"STOP! Don't kill him!"
Don't kill him?
Riley eyes widened. She dropped her arms and nodded violently in agreement,"Yes don't kill him!" she paused for a moment, "I mean.. me."
Hang on, I'm not a him. Whaaa?
Suddenly, the group of boys all shifted to one side or another; clearing a path for someone else- A taller boy, that looked all too familiar...
Oh CRAP.
It was him! The one from the ship. The cursed, twit, of a boy! The one who could.. fly.
Riley swallowed.
She knew who this boy was. She'd read the stories. Despite how bizarre it was, it had to be real. Peter Pan, flying extrodinare, leader of lost boys, mortal enemy of Captain James Hook the pirate, and the youth of Neverland was heading towards her.
Oh dear lord..this HAS to be a dream.
Reaching her, he lowered himself to the ground directly in front of her. His eyes locking with her own.
Riley froze, as Peter Pan's eyes scanned into her.
"Who are you?" he finally asked, his eye brows furrowed in a puzzled expression.
" NuUughhh.." came the reply. She was frozen to the spot.
He asked again, "Who are you?"
Her own eye brows shifted in confusion.
Didn't he recognize her?
Then it hit her, she still had her hood up!
She opened her mouth to tell him, but no sound would flow from her mouth.
What was wrong with her? She always had something to say! So why could see only stare at the boy instead?
Giving a sigh at her silence, he shifted position, and continued. "Not much of a talker I see. In that case, I will just have to explain my situation to you." He leaned closer. " You see, my men here want to kill you and I don't want to deny them their fun, but ...I believe in a fair fight."
Riley dumbly nodded her head in understanding, slightly surprising herself at the movement.
"So, to satisfy both them and myself," he went on. " I'll give you a chance." He stared at her, waiting.
She stared at him stupidly, right back
The boy leaned closer yet.
Too close! Too close! Too close! her mind sang.
A smiled began at the edge of his mouth as he softly explained, "That means," amusement danced in his eyes. " I suggest you run."
Suddenly it all clicked in the girl's head, and she sprang up, shooting off across the grass, not even daring to look back.
XXXX
Peter continued to kneel down in the grass for a moment, his hand extended out, commanding the boy's anxiously awaiting behind him to hold back.
Then, not a second later, his hand dropped, and he shouted, "GO!"
At the signal, every Lost boy standing behind him raced forward after the mysterious person. Weapons in hand.
Peter himself then got up and headed off in the opposite direction of the boys, his own plan in mind.
XXXX
Racing through the trees, Riley quickly examined her surroundings, her breath short, and cut off.
She couldn't take much more of this. She had been exhausted before all this started. Whatever energy she had left, wasn't going to last long. And even though she couldn't see the boys, she could still hear their war cries not far behind her. She had to think fast.
What am I going to do?
Luckily, her question was soon answered.
Looking to her left, she glanced at what appeared to be a small opening in a rock, just big enough for someone to squeeze through. The opening was so covered with moss she probably wouldn't have even noticed it if the corner of it hadn't been unveiled.
Riley sped forward, quickly slipping herself into the crevice, being careful not to tear down the moss on the outside. Once inside, she used the tiny uncovered area to see back out at the forest.
Watching closely, she saw the untamed boys run right by her small hideout without casting one glance its way.
The girl took a deep breath, realizing the whole time they took to pass she had been holding it in.
Her lungs once more full of air, she leaned back a little from the opening. Riley took of her cape, smoothing down her hair as it rolled down her back. Looking up for the first time she noticed that the crevice was more of a cave, and was actually quite tall. When she stood up straight, she was still feet form the ceiling.
Letting out a another sigh, she whispered to herself, "Now what?"
Without warning, before even getting a chance to scream, an arm shot out from the darkness wrapping itself around her waist, quickly followed by another one that snaked its way up to cover her mouth. Her body was held tightly to her capture.
Wasting no time at all, she was pushed forward through the opening of the cave.
Riley struggled to free herself, which was not making it easy for her kidnapper to move with her.
The hand on her mouth moved off, but instantly returning, this time holding a dagger. It moved to her neck.
Riley stood still.
The stranger then pushed her forward again. And helplessly, She moved forward too...
Riley was panic struck.
What would happen to her? Who even had her?
COULD THERE NOT BE ONE MOMENT ON THIS BLOODY ISLAND THAT SHE WASN'T BEING ATTACKED BY SOMETHING?
It didn't take long before she found out the answer to at least one of the questions, as her captur , let out a crow. A CROW?
The girl groaned.
Oh no...it's -him-.
Within seconds, she was once more surrounded by the so-called "Lost boys."
The dagger pressed to her neck immediately jerked away and she was push forward onto the hard ground.
"Ow!" she cried, scowling at the ground. Then lifting her head, her eyes fell on all the stunned faces gazing upon her.
A swarm of voices sprang up all at once.
" Girl!"
"It's a girl"
"He's a girl! ..Er, I mean, she's a girl!"
The voices drowned out all the sounds of the forest, but one voice was still heard through it all.
"QUIET!" the voice bellowed.
All went silent.
Riley laid stone-still upon the ground, scared to look behind her.
Peter spoke up, " It's you!" he exclaimed happily. " From the ship! I knew it was you the second I saw you. Nothing gets past me."
"Now don't we just know everything." Riley mumbled mockingly, as she got up and faced him.
All self-confidence left her as their eyes locked once more.
Speaking with more courage then she felt she had, she asked, " So, what are you going to do now?"
Peter began to circle her slowly. "Well, I could kill you sense you had your chance to escape and failed, but.." he hesitated slightly. " You intrigue me.You, a girl, managed to escape Hook," He paused, and grinned to himself, " Well, with the help of me of course."
Flames brewed up in Riley's eyes. "And just what it that supposed to mean? Because I'm a girl I'm not able to do stuff like that? And I have you know I could have gotten away just fine without your help you brainless, irritating, egotistic-"
The boy put a finger to her lips, quieting her, his eyes twinkling.
Riley growled, only making the boy's grin grow.
Why does he do that? It's like he thinks it's funny when I'm mad!
Peter didn't answer her question though, instead he motioned to the Lost boys. "I've decided we are going keep her for now as our prisoner." And without another word he flew off towards his hut.
Crowds of boys rushed forward. Grabbing her hands, they tied them behind her back swiftly. Then, pulling her by the shoulders, they moved forward.
Again the sight of the hideout filled Riley's eyes making them widen in amazement. Finally, reaching a long wooden pole in the center of everything, she seemed to have found her destination, as she was pushed forward. Her hands were quickly untied, then retied around the back of the pole.
Riley let out a groan. Doesn't this guy have a heart! The lost boys finished their work, then stood grouped in front of her, staring for what seemed like hours. She was starting to feel a little uncomfortable under everyone's gaze.
She cleared her throat, " Uh, shoo.."
Peter Pan popped back out of his hut, and strutted toward them. The boy's gawking turned away from her. She let out a breath in relief, Riley was almost glad to see him.
Almost.
They all backed away, leaving a path for Peter to move through. Getting to her, he stopped, turned around, and spoke. " I want to talk to her alone."
No one moved. Instead they gazed between Riley and Peter curiously.
"Can she tell us stories?" One of the boys finally asked quietly.
" Will she play games with us?" another asked, a little louder.
" Is she going to stay forever?" three boys asked together.
" Will she make us take medicine?" The another boy questioned, his nose wrinkled in disgust, similar reaction's quickly following from the rest of them.
Riley snickered silently at the sudden assault of questions on the boy leader.
"Is she going to be our new mother?"
She chocked mid-snigger.
They stared at her.
She stared at them herself, in complete alarm.
They can't be SERIOUS, can they?
Peters shook his head, " Go, go, go! I'll tell you what I decide later!"
They all smiled shyly and scrambled off.
Peter then turned back around towards her. "Now, for you.."
Her eyes widened, but she shook her head.
No, Okay, keep cool, keep cool, just keep cool..
"I'm not your mother!" Riley piped out in a very panicked, high-toned squeak.
She mentally smacked herself. Oh very cool..
Peter laughed. "Don't have a spaz attack, just tell me your name."
She snorted, "Now what makes you think I would tell you my name, let alone answer any of your other questions? -And I wasn't having a spaz attack!" She finished with a sneer.
Peter leaned his face in, only inches from her own, narrowing his eyes.
"Because," he began in a dangerous tone, "I could kill you at any moment I wish."
With a threateningly glare of her own, Riley herself inched forward.
"Really?" she hissed. "Then what are you waiting for! It sure beats staying tied to a pole for the rest of my life!"
Peter opened his mouth in reply, but nothing came out. He didn't know how to respond!
"Well, so what," he finally snapped out.
"Well, so what? Well, so what?" Riley questioned in disbelief. " That's the best you can come up with? That's pathetic!" The girl laughed.
"Is not!" the flying boy parried, with an angry stare.
" Is too!" the girl retaliated quickly.
"Is not!" her hissed.
"Is too!" she growled.
"Not!"
"Is!"
"Not!"
"IS T-" Riley was cut off as Peter's dagger reached her neck. "Okay! Okay, it's not!"
Peter wore a smug grin.
The girl scowled. "Cheater."
" That's what I thought. I'm leaving now, maybe you'll be in a more co-operative mood in the morning." He turned to leave, but suddenly stopped. "Oh, and.." he paused, an innocent smile creeping up his lips. " Have a nice night."
With that, he walked away, a smirk playing on his face. It didn't last long though, as behind him came the soft echo of a voice stating, "Is too.."
Peter stomped off to his hut.
XXXX
Peter Pan paced his hut wildly.
"What do we do now?" he questioned the bright ball of light flying above his head.
A series of chimes were heard in reply.
He snorted. " Tink, if I wanted to kill her she would be dead already!" The tiny fairy put the it-was-just-a-suggestion-look on her face. It soon changed to a look of horror as Peter continued, " Maybe we should let her go. I mean, I could always keep an eye on her and see what happens.."
The tiny ball of light jumped up and down madly waving her slender arms around.
"Come on Tink! It's not like anything bad could happen!"
The fairy shook her head in disagreement, but peter wasn't paying attention.
His mind was made up.
XXXMeanwhile, outsideXXX
Riley thought frantically.
How am I suppose to escape?
She looked beside her for anything that might help her. A stick, a sharp rock, her bag..
Wait! That's it! My bag! ..but where is it?
The girl let out a sigh of defeat. She had no clue where he bag could be! Now what? She thought angrily, kicking her foot in frustration, and sending her bag flying forward.
Her eyes widened. MY BAG! Looking to the ground, she saw her bag lying not far from her feet. She nearly laughed out loud. What luck! Then, she rolled her eyes. And what stupidity..
Who would be so dumb as to lay her stuff right next to her?
Who cares! she thought, Just get it already!
Stretching her foot forward, she managed to looped the bag's strap around her shoe, and drag it forward. Then, lowing her body to the ground, she managed to nudge the bag to where her hands could reach it. After a few minutes of not-so-smoothly unzipping the bag, she stuck her hand inside it and felt around till she felt her Swiss army knife.
After pulling it out, Riley began hacking at her binds. Much time had passed when finally the last rope fell to the ground and her hands were free. Now she was free!
With a quick smile, she grabbed her bag and quickly ran off into the dark forest surrounding her.
XXXBack at Peters TentXXX
Peter decided to let her go.
That was that.
He headed for the opening of his hut when out of no where, Slightly raced in, almost running straight into the flying boy.
The lost boy catching sight of Peter quickly announced, "Guythatgirlescapeseegottatellyousoherenow!"
Peter's eyes widened.
"How?"
"Idon'tknowIjustsawherrunoff!"
" Are you kidding me?"
"NoshesgoneIswear!"
"WHAT?" Peter grabbed up his sword and headed towards the doorway. Reaching it, he fliped the flap covering it open and began his way outside, but stopped suddenly, turning back to the little boy. " Oh and Slightly.." The boy looked up at him. " Breathe."
With that, he ran outside, Tinker Bell at his side; Her chimes filling the air.
Peter snorted. "I know I said I was going to let her go anyway, but this is totally different!" She chimed again. "HOW? I'll tell you how! When I said I was going to let her go I was giving her the right to leave! But she just left! Escaped! THIS MAKES ME LOOK BAD!"
The fairy rolled her eyes and floated off.
Peter took a quick glance around, before he himself flew off over the trees with one thought in mind:
Finding that wretched girl.
XXXX
Riley raced through the forest in an unknown direction. She really didn't care where she ended up as long as it was away from that.. Flying cretin.
Finally, her lungs began to empty, and she slowed to a stop. Breathing in and out, she looked around.
Although she felt safe knowing she was well hidden from the sight of the flying boy, she didn't quite feel so safe about being in the dreaded forest once more. The fact that it was night time, not helping any either.
Shivering from the cold of the night air, the girl wrapped her arms around herself tightly.
What had she gotten herself into? Things weren't exactly any better then they were before were they? Stuck out in the middle of the night, in an unfamiliar area, with everything seeming to be after her?
I'm starting to think I was better of tied to the pole! ..Wait! What am I thinking? Any place is better then being stuck to a pole..
I hope..
Riley decided it was best to keep moving. Moving where, she wasn't quite sure. Would she be stuck running from pirates and annoying flying boys for the rest of her life?
The thought was hardly appealing.
The girl let out a moan, then- squeaked in fright, as a rustling noise was heard behind her.
Swinging around, she nervously grabbed for her army knife- the sharpest thing she owned at the moment- and held it out in front of her with a shaking hand. She searched the area.
There was nothing there.
This place must really be getting to my head.
Riley let out a sign of relief, she flipped the knife shut, placing it back in her pocket. She looked back up.
And screamed.
Directly in front of her stood HIM. Riley fell backwards, a shriek of fright still echoing from her mouth.
Peter rushed forward, quickly placing his hands over the screaming girl's mouth. "Geez! Why are you always so loud?" He slowly dropped his hands.
"YOU?" she quickly blurt out. " Why- I mea- How did you- I mean..I AM NOT LOUD-" Peter cut her off, quickly putting his hands back over her mouth.
She breathed heavily, her heart still beating a mile per minute.
"Look, I promise I'll move my hands if you will just shut up!" Riley narrowed her eyes at the boy, but none the less he lowered his hands. And surprising even to herself, she remained silent.
"That's better." He smiled. " Now," his face grew serious. "Why'd you ran off?"
Riley finally begging to shake off her shock, rose from the ground and laughed bitterly, then began walking away.
The boy's hand came down on her shoulder, stopping her.
"And just where do you think your going?" he demanded.
"Away from you." she removed his hand from her shoulder.
"Why do you hate me so much?" Riley turned to him with a frown, the randomness of the question catching her by surprise.
But quickly reclaiming her cool, she snapped out, " Well, maybe it's because you took me as a prisoner! Or maybe because you tied me to a pole for the night! Or is it maybe because you threatened me with your dagger. Multiple times! But wait, Oh no, that couldn't be it." Riley rolled her eyes.
"It was just a game."
"Ha," she laughed bitterly. "I'm sure it was!"
The girl began to walk off.
"Then let me make it up to you!" he yelled out to her retreating form.
Letting out a frustrated sigh, Riley turned back to him. " And just how are you plan-" she never got to finish, as without the slightest warning she was scooped up in his arms and lifted high into the air.
Riley was to startled to even speak, but then again, she was smiling to wide to get any words out.
Oh my gosh.. I'm..I'm Flying!
This was the most wonderful feeling she had ever felt!
Peter looked down and saw the smile on the sixteen year old girl face, and couldn't help but smile himself. Laughing, he soared even higher over the mountains and plains, seas and forests of Neverland, eventually landing softly on a cliff high above the water.
Standing up proud, the boy waited for his praise, but it never came.
All was silent.
Then, out of nowhere, "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING!"
He was confused. Just a moment ago she was so happy! But what happened next gave Peter his gratitude. As Riley turned her face away from him in anger, he caught the sight of a small smile playing on her lips.
He grinned as well.
After a few seconds of silence, she spoke up. "Well, I better go. Bye." She quickly began to walk off.
He is going to stop me and tell me I'm going to be his prisoner any second...he is...he will..I know he will...isn't he...Yes, he is...any second. Just wait.. One..Two...Three-
"Wait!"
I knew it!
"What's your name?"
okay, so maybe I was wrong..
"M-my name?" she stuttered out the question as it caught her off guard. She didn't know what to tell him. Did she really want him knowing her name?
NO!
She folded her arms stubbornly. "I'm not telling you!"
Oh real mature there Parkerson.
Peter sighed. "Come on, I saved your life, you owe me!"
"Saved my life? HA! I was doing just FINE on my own thank you. All you did was distract me."
"You were about to get clobbered by pirates!"
"I was thinking up a plan!"
"You were screaming your head off."
" Oh, go away."
The boy rolled his eyes, then grinned an idea forming in his head.
"Let's make a deal then."
She eyed him suspiciously.
"What kind of deal?"
" I save your life.. again-"
"You mean for the first time."
"-and you have to tell me your name." he finished, ignoring her comment.
She went silent for a moment, thinking.
"So, what your saying," she began, finally, " Is that if you save me from certain death I will have to tell you my name?"
"Basically."
Riley stood silent for another second, considering it, before nodding her head.
"All right.."
Peter's face shone brightly. " Great! Can't wait! See you later!" The boy rose from the ground.
" But I'm telling you!" They girl yelled after his retreating form. " I'll never need saved!"
She swear she heard his laugh before disappearing from sight.
Riley growled.
"Idiot," she mumbled, before walking off into the woods once more.