Author's Note: Hello dear readers! Thank you to WickedFaith, Shining Star of Valinor, Gemini Enchantress (dontcha just love that smirk? Hehe), kasmira 36 (every fairy tale ends in a happy ending, doesn't it? And who's story does mine remind you of?), Zeldy, YMM Starlet, StarrySkyAtNight, Stardrops (yes, Peter really lost his memory..so sad, isn't it? And he had a hard time remembering because although Neverland is such a wonderful place, it can make people forget things easily!), hefalump, and black-velvet-roses11 for reviewing! Oh, and I'm sure you're all wondering when, where, and how Wendy and Peter will meet (that is, if they ever do…muahahaha…), but I enjoy the build up of it, don't you? By the way, I think it's important to note that Peter will be known as William (for now, at least) for the sake of clarity. But please always keep in mind that William is Peter. Don't start mindlessly thinking William is a totally different person, kay? Kay. Here we go…
Chapter 6: The Charming William Locke
"…The sword spun around twice at the tips of Nicholas's skilled fingers, and when he caught it securely in his hand, he pointed the blade directly at his enemy, who was pitilessly kneeling before him. 'Your day is done, Captain Crook,' Nicholas proclaimed as he pressed the tip of his sword against the bottom of Crook's chin. And then, with one mighty swing of his weapon, Nicholas relieved the old pirate…of his head!"
A young boy cried out in excitement.
William Locke stood on his bed holding a heavy silver sword high in the air, acting out the scene he had just portrayed. A cocked smile appeared on his face from the satisfaction in hearing his younger brother's purge of excitement, and he watched the little boy next to the bed, swinging his own sword in the air.
"Come on, Nicholas!" William yelled to his brother, gesturing him to climb onto the bed. "I challenge you to a dual!"
Nicholas looked up at William with sparks in his eyes.
"I accept!" he exclaimed daringly with a swift movement towards the bed.
But before the brothers could have at each other, their ultimate enemy appeared.
Mrs. Locke stood at the doorway with her hands on her hips and her eyes nearly bulging out of her sockets.
"Uh-oh," William let out, suddenly not in the mood for a fight anymore.
He and Nicholas remained motionless for a moment, as if they'd been frozen by their mother's deathly glare. William was perched on top of his bed, with his sword held out in front of him, and Nicholas had his knee on the edge of the bed, having just attempted to climb onto it.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mrs. Locke demanded as she stared wide-eyed at her boys. "And for heaven's sake William, why are you standing on your bed with your shoes on? Those are satin sheets you're stepping on!"
"Oh, Mother, I was just telling Nicholas a story," William tried to explain to a fuming Mrs. Locke.
She did not concern herself with the words coming out of William's mouth, however. Instead, she looked to the objects in the boys' hands, and when she realized what they were, she marched toward her sons, pointing a protesting finger at them.
"Are those your father's antique swords?" she shrieked, snatching the one in Nicholas's hand.
"Ummm, well, yes…" William admitted, jumping down from his bed. "Father doesn't put much use to them anyhow…"
"Excuse me?" Mrs. Locke bellowed, taking the sword from William's hand. "You know how much these are worth, William! And do you know how dangerous it is for you and your seven-year-old brother to be fooling with such weapons?"
"Please calm yourself Mother," William advised Mrs. Locke, laying his hand on her shoulder. "None of us are hurt, and besides, these blades are dull."
In an unexpected calmer tone, Mrs. Locke addressed Nicholas, who was standing by fully prepared to accept his punishment.
"Nicholas, go downstairs," she told him as she gently stroked his cheek. "Lunch is ready."
Without a word, Nicholas ran out of the room, relieved to have escaped any more chastisement.
"William, sit with me," Mrs. Locke ordered her son as she set the swords down and took a seat on his bed.
William sat next to his mother, knowing that she was going to attempt another of her "serious talks."
"You must stop telling your brother such…ghastly stories," Mrs. Locke said, properly fixing the collar of William's shirt. "They'll get to him, you know."
"I see no harm in stimulating a little boy's imagination," William tried to point out. "especially in this uninteresting society."
William looked at his mother, who couldn't help but smile at the truth he spoke. He knew that somewhere deep down, she wanted to agree with him. It'd seemed to William that the birth of Nicholas had sealed his parents' fate—that from then on, they had to be the responsible adults required by any parent; that they could no longer be the young, feisty, fun-loving friends William had come to know when he was first adopted by them. With time, however, he had noticed the spectrum, and how far he was drifting away from the end his family was set upon.
"I spoke with Ms. Winston yesterday," Mrs. Locke said, uneasily moving away from the previous subject. "She told me she found you sleeping in her class last Friday."
"I wasn't sleeping," Peter told Mrs. Locke, moving his eyes back and forth as if he were physically searching for an excuse. "I was just…"
"Resting your head?" Mrs. Locke offered with a tone of amusement. "And speaking of last Friday, it was a bit odd how you were nowhere to be seen in the house when Mr. Blankworth came for your piano lessons."
"Do you really think I need lessons every Friday?" William asked.
Mrs. Locke sighed, affectionately running her fingers through William's short, dark blonde hair.
"Yes, I do think so," she replied hopelessly. "William, you're sixteen years old. Don't play such games with me."
William was becoming more and more uncomfortable the longer he sat with his mother. He hated these kinds of conversations.
"Mother," he suddenly said to Mrs. Locke in a pleasant tone that, in the least, did not seem to fit that of the current discussion. "You know what you're missing?" He gave Mrs. Locke a clever smile.
"What's that?" Mrs. Locke asked, looking down at her beaded black dress.
"You're missing a nice pair of earrings to go with that outfit," William said, getting up from the bed. "In fact, I think I'll go to the jewelry shop right now and find the finest pair for you."
And with that, William started off.
"But-William, wha-" Mrs. Locke tried to say, but her son was already gone out the door.
"Oh heavens," she whispered to herself, laying a hand on her forehead. "That boy…"
Within a blink of an eye, William was dressed in his black overcoat and favorite derby hat, heading out the front door of the Locke manor. He made his way casually down the street and whistled a familiar tune as he turned the corner, heading towards the homes of his two best friends.
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"I hear they're thinking about making boxing a legal sport."
"I suppose that's a good thing for you, Abe. You could finally put you're 120 pound body to use, eh?"
"Oh yes. And you'd be put to good use as well. I'm going to need a good punching bag."
"I'd like to see you try and make me a punching bag. If we had a boxing match, I put you in your damn place!"
"Ha! Henry, if we had a boxing match, you'd be as good as a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest! Ha ha! What do you think, Will?"
William looked at his two best friends, who were pushing each other down the street, and laughed at how dense they both sounded.
"What do I think?" William repeated the question his companion had posed. "I think I'd knock both of you out before you even knew what hit you."
It must be said that when William, Abram, and Henry were together, impish behavior was present. Ever since the first day the three boys had met each other at the London Boys' Academy and discovered their shared mischievous demeanors (not to mention their rebellion against "high society" manners), they'd been inseparable. As the sons of wealthy businessmen, Abram and Henry were allowed many of the luxuries William also had. Henry, however, was the only one of the three who hadn't protested when his parents insisted he go to an office for work. And when the other two had mocked him for it, he shut them up with a simple, "I'm not going to be a spoiled daddy's boy forever, you know."
Truth be spoken.
"What did you drag us out here for anyway?" Henry asked as he struggled to fight off Abe, who continued to shove him as they strolled down the street.
"I need to go to the jewelry shop for my mother," William replied as he casually tipped his hat to a young lady, who walked past him with a mad blush. "I have to get a pair of earrings for her."
"Oh, so you brought us along for another bribery extravaganza, did you?" Abram scoffed as he stopped jostling Henry to nudge William.
"What happened this time?" Henry questioned William, who was already chuckling and shaking his head with the thought of what had happened at home.
"Hmm, where should I start?" William said comically, almost as if he was proud of the fact. "She found me with my father's antique swords, she spoke with Ms. Winston about my falling asleep, she knows I missed last week's piano lesson—"
"Right, we get the point," Abe pitched in as the three turned into the small jewelry shop.
"Afternoon boys," an old man behind a case of glimmering silver and gold greeted them. "How can I help you today?"
"Good day," William said. "I'm looking for a nice pair of earrings for my mother."
"Oh, I'm sure I have just the pair," the salesclerk assured as the boys made their way towards him. "Why don't you have a look at this fine selection here?" He rested his hand on top of the glass case in front of him.
"Indeed, a fine selection," William insisted as he scanned the extravagant jewelry before him. "Wouldn't you say?" He looked to Henry and Abram, who were leaning against the case indifferently.
"Oh, yes," Henry answered uninterestedly. "A fine selection."
"Good afternoon there ladies," the salesclerk said, looking over William's shoulder to greet some newly arrived customers.
William turned to the door and saw a girl standing meekly beside a middle-aged woman, who was undoubtedly her mother. As soon as the girl noticed William, she smiled and began twisting a lock of her hair nervously, which only seemed to egg William on. A half-smile appeared on his face as the girl eyed him shyly, and he nodded to her chivalrously.
"Young man," the middle-aged woman suddenly demanded, breaking the eye contact between William and the girl. "I would suggest you cease looking upon my daughter in such a way."
William thought fast.
"Oh, I greatly apologize, miss," he spoke without faltering. "I was actually admiring your earrings." He turned to the salesclerk and addressed him. "I would like to get my mother a similar pair. Those earrings look just marvelous on that lady." He said it just loud enough for the lady and her daughter to hear.
The lady's long face crunched up in confusion before turning into one of embarrassment.
"Oh…I…well," the woman stammered, "I greatly apologize then. I thought you were…well…goodness…"
William pressed his lips tightly together, trying to hold back a threatening laugh. Abram and Henry seemed to be doing the same.
"I'll be with you in a moment Mrs. Drake," the salesclerk told the lady, putting her out of her misery.
"That's fine," the lady answered. "We'll just look around a bit. Come, Catherine."
The girl followed her mother further into the store, softly giggling. As she made her way by William, the witty boy turned out his hand just enough so that his fingertips grazed the front of the girl's own hand.
Instinctively, the girl drew her hand back towards her chest, but when she realized William's sly gesture, she looked over her shoulder and smiled shyly at him.
"Some cleverness there, Will," Abram whispered with a little laugh.
"Sir, how about this pair?" the salesclerk asked William.
Oh right, William thought, the earrings.
He turned back around and looked at the pearl earrings the salesclerk had just pulled out of the case.
"Perfect," William told the salesclerk. "Just perfect."