Chapter 3 'Partners in Crime'
A sneaker collided against her stomach, making Lily grunting in pain. She bit her lip to stop from screaming. If she made a sound, the patrons of Granny's diner would hear her suffering and that wouldn't mix well with her attackers. This wouldn't have happened under Graham's supervision.
The beloved Sheriff's death had taken a toll on the town. It had been weeks since she last saw him. How something like this could happen to a perfectly healthy man...it didn't make sense. The hospital said it was heart failure, though she couldn't help suspecting it as a lie.
His heart just stopped. Out of the blue.
Nobody cried as much as Lily did during the funeral. Not even the newly deemed Sheriff Swan, who had been present during Graham's final moments, shed a tear. Lily never knew how much Graham meant to her. He was there to guide her throughout her life.
And now he was gone.
Without the sheriff's protection, Lily's bullying worsened. Today, behind Granny's, Lily had wrapped up tutoring at Miss Blanchard's and was walking home on a Saturday afternoon when she was ambushed. She saw the short yet brawny figure of 11-year-old Manny Alvarado crumple the back of her jacket in his fists before dragging her into an alley where her bullies gathered. She could spot Allison and her cackle of friends off to the side, cheering on her attackers and occasionally laughing at her torment. Some of the bullies were kids from her age group, the ones she was supposed to be in school with- high schoolers.
No words were exchanged. Only fists and kicks. They stripped her of her backpack. The girls dumped out the contents and rummaged through it. The boys did the more physical damage. Lily didn't want to dwell on the details. It felt interminable in her eyes but it only took a few minutes. The kids had better things to do on their Saturdays.
Lily leaned against the dumpster. Her eyesight turned against her, blurring everything in front of her. She yearned for someone to come and help her. No one did. She tugged her sleeve and gasped at the markings her bullies left behind. The skin running along her arm was discolored with an unpleasant shade of purple. A line of blood trickled from her cracked lips and her head still rattled from the impact of the dumpster.
She strained to call for somebody but her words reflected how she felt. Broken. She didn't have the strength to move, she didn't have hope. The pounding in her head only worsened when she continued to lay there. The last few seconds before succumbing to the darkness, a faceless stranger called out to her.
Later that night, slightly edging towards dawn, the Sky Eaters awoke to the shouting and something being dragged along the dirt. The Chief pulled away the folds of his tent upon hearing the women and children cheering and singing. Red Panther, Tigerlily's uncle, hurried through the village to inform the Chief of amazing news. Once the words 'jaguar' and 'capture' reached his ears, he parted the crowd of villagers surrounding the heroes of this glorious achievement. There before him was an unforgettable sight : Tigerlily and Peter stationed in the center and on their backs, the carcass of the mighty jaguar.
The men relieved the two of their burden by carrying the jaguar to the firepit and Tigerlily was free to tell her father the whole story. She straightened her posture and spoke excitedly as she told it. Peter had never seen her like this before. Her eyes danced with life when she explained the clever idea to catch the jaguars by triggering the traps, hands moving to vamp up the tale. But once finishing, the Chief's attention was focused solely on Peter.
He whisked the former menace to the firepit and thanked him for his glanced back at Tigerlily, her face hardening back to its regular stony features. She was left to swallow her self-pity before catching up with her father and Peter. She imagined being at this very spot, in front of the firepit, when her father would bestow his adoration for her. But there she was scuttled off to the side, playing translator.
"Peter Pan, of the fairy clan," he bellowed. His voice traveled far for everyone to hear. The crowd shifted to listen.
"You, Peter Pan," she translated curtly.
"You had blessed us with food that will last us the winter. And for that we are forever in your thanks. Your bravery had won our respect and our protection. No longer you are a thief to us. You are our hero. You saved us all,"
Thin-lipped, Tigerlily forced the next sentence out of her purposely paraphrasing the Chief's speech,
"You brought food. Thank you,"
Peter looked quizzically at Tigerlily, "Are you sure that's what he said? It seemed quite lengthy."
"Yes," Then the boy was ushered into the arms of the adoring villagers before he could speak. They began a feast in his honor, dismissing any grudge against him for stealing their water jugs. The rest of the day revolved around Peter. And if there was something that Peter loved more himself, it is attention. Tigerlily remained in a stony silence. She hardly eaten or joined in the festivities, and when it was time to send Peter home she jumped at the chance to escort him.
She pushed Peter along the path to Pixie Hollow. To say she was furious was an understatement. The glory and recognition belonged to her, not him. On the way, he graced her with details of the feast, which only fueled her hatred to a brilliant blaze. It was until they were a left turn away from the Hollow when Peter stated the obvious.
"You're angry with me,"
"We are almost there," She didn't want to talk about it.
"I tried to say you helped too. I didn't mean to get all the attention. I wasn't even trying," His words conceited but tone was sincerely sorry.
"Are you apologizing?"
"I've never done it before, but I believe that's how it should go," He etched circles along the dirt path as they go. He spun around, making patterns absentmindedly, "Don't get too used to it."
"Just answer me this," she said stiffly, not having forgiven him yet, "What use is my mother's bow to you?"
"Nothing," Jealousy simmered into confusion as they stopped in the middle of the path, Pixie Hollow was beaming at them over the next hill," Let's just say, I was testing you."
Peter went on to explain his actions, "You see, as much as I like exploring this island alone, I think it would be nice to have someone accompanying me on my little adventures, someone willing to risk their life for the thrill. Someone who lives here and wouldn't leave once they wake up…" His voice inflection gave away sadness. He must have been playing the dreaming children on the beach. Probably had to say goodbye to newfound friends and playmates.
"You proved that you are worthy of my companionship. Crossing the patch showed you have tact. You were brave when you entered the cave first. You risked your life, with a bow as an incentive. You have fire," He smiled, "And frankly, I like fire."
Tigerlily didn't know what to make of this. If what he said was true, then that meant Peter's incompetence was on purpose. Letting himself get trapped, walking into the patch, wanting to go inside the cave first... they were tests. This boy was smarter than he led on. From the short time she knew Peter, she figured he was a selfish and boastful child. But seeing him now, the way his eyes casted a somber gaze, she only saw a lonely boy. A boy who did what he did to get her attention. He wanted a friend.
"To sum it up, when something exciting happens you are my partner in crime,"
Eloquence on top of everything too, she thought to herself. Tigerlily had been firm with her decisions until Peter entered the picture. Though her common sense said not to trust him, every other part of her body said otherwise. She recalled how amazing it felt to run. To run far and fast. Her legs longed to run free, her hands yearned for the feel of her axe- No. She would never drop everything to run off with some boy.
"Nothing happens in these jungles," she said, which was true. The Sky Eaters tribe never experienced such action as the jaguar chase displayed. Only a few occurrences were worthy of being deemed as exciting and they were in the span of hundreds of years.
"I beg to differ. Now that I'm here," Peter spread his arms, motioning for the whole jungle to listen, "something will always happen," Tigerlily didn't doubt it. This boy brought trouble wherever he went.
"Are you in or out?" She looked at him. His arms were wide open, inviting. He was persuasive, she gave him that.
Instead of giving an answer, she brought her face inches away from his, "Tigerlily. My name is Tigerlily,"
"Fitting. So, is that a yes or no, Tigerlily?"
"I have duties Pan," she said his name for the first time, "I will not throw them aside to gallivant the island,"
Peter's smile didn't waver, "There are some bottomless pits along the mountain ridge and I'm simply curious to where they might lead, I plan to be there tomorrow morning. Be sure to join me before the fairies wake,"
"I did not say-"
"I know you'll come," he teased, "Once you stop denying what you want," He bowed politely to her, "Until next time." Then he went swaggering off towards his fairy guardians alone but was met by one of them along the path. A sweet angelic voice called out to Peter. A ball of green light whizzed by. Tigerlily squinted to see a petite woman, with mite height, amidst the green light. She wore dazzling garments and had golden hair fluffed into a bun. The only thing to shame her beauty was the scowl fixed on her ruby lips.
"Peter Pan, where have you been? Running out in the middle of the night without so much of a hoot about where you're heading!" she fired off her concern like a rifle, not waiting for Peter to respond, "You don't know the dangers of this island at night."
"Maybe that's why I keep sneaking out then?" He shot back in defiant nature, "To see for myself. Geez, Tink you are not my mother."
"Tinkerbell," Tigerlily cut in. The fairy finally acknowledged the girl's presence. Her face softened and the cheery nature, that fairies were known for, returned.
"Ah Tigerlily. You are doing quite well. Not hanging around the mermaids, I see."
"Thank you for saving me then,"
"Oh you are very welcome. Just helping out a fellow island native. Do you mind if I take Peter from you now now because Queen Clarion would like a few words with him," she added a glare the boy's way, "Nice seeing you again." Peter groaned before following Tink towards Pixie Hollow, then Tigerlily bid her farewells and traced her way back to her village. As she crossed the hill, she heard Peter shout.
"Oh and one more thing!" The next second, he flew to her side, "Remember the tree, the one where we met? You'll find a surprise there," Before Tigerlily could ask, he lightly tapped the top of her head teasingly and rushed off.
"Lily? Lily?" A woman's voice brought her out of her little slumber. Lily woke up sprawled out on a chair inside the Sheriff Station. She panicked when she remembered the previous events and tried to get up only to grunt in pain.
"Take it easy, Lily," she turned around to see Sheriff Swan sitting on Graham's old desk next to a first aid kit. The sight made her sick. What makes this woman think she could slap on that badge and call herself the new sheriff? Swan hadn't been here that long and suddenly she replaced Graham. As if Lily didn't trust her already, she was there with Graham when he died. For all she knew, Swan was responsible for Graham's death. "You'll be able to get home soon."
"Why am I here?" she asked. She found her backpack settled on her lap, much of its contents were hastily packed inside. She searched for her cell phone Mrs. Tailor gave her for emergencies but couldn't find it among her papers.
"I figured you don't want to go to the hospital. I know I'm not a grade A nurse but it'll do," Lily stopped her shuffling to inspect Swan's handiwork on her injuries. It didn't hurt as much as it did before but what she was feeling was far from gratitude.
"I might have gotten a concussion and you took me to the station. Which of us is the adult here?" she replied wryly.
Swan sighed and lowered her gaze for a second, "You get in a fight, go to the hospital, and then your foster parents find out. They think you're trouble on legs and ship you out to the next home without a second thought. I get it,"
"You were in the system," Lily gathered. But that didn't make her feel sorry for the woman. Swan grew up in the foster system only to put her son through the same thing. The blonde Sheriff sighed again, a clear sign that she didn't want to talk about it. She went to the mini fridge Graham had underneath the desk and came back with a purple popsicle.
"Here. It will help with the swelling," And an empty stomach, Lily thought. She took the treat warily..
"This is your first warning," Swan said, "The next time this happens your foster parents will be notified. Stay away from those kids. If it gets worse, call the station," Lily nodded but with no intention of doing so, "There is this program we have at the school for troubled kids. And ontop of the tutoring at Mary Margaret's, your schedule is going to get filled up kid,"
Lily continued to lick the popsicle. The cool taste simmered her negative feelings at the moment. She didn't know who to be angry with, her bullies or Swan or maybe herself. She berated herself for being such a coward. She should have said something, told an adult. But what good would that do? It would only bring the Tailors into this mess, "So, that's it? You're going to let me go?"
"Once you feel better enough to stand,"
Pushing back her chair, Lily got up and shouldered her backpack. She didn't waste another second. Halfway out the door, Swan's voice stopped her.
"Hey," she said, offended, "Whatever made you dislike me, remember that I saved you another transfer,"
Lily crossed her arms. She didn't want to thank this woman just yet. She stuck out her chin defiantly, "I will keep that in mind...Sheriff."
Tigerlily found herself walking back to the ravine. She ended up at the site where she had caught Peter. The net still lay at the base of the tree. She collected it with plans to fix it once she returned to her tribe. Then with Peter's words in mind, she poked around the tree. Bushes and plants surrounded the perimeter so she had to shuffle through the greenery. She kept her head back, anticipating a rabid animal to emerge as she searched.
She caught hold of something. Brushing away the leaves, she saw her mother's bow. It was hidden expertly. Peter must have planted it there after she had left with her hunting party. She went to pick it up and shoulder it off her back. But when her fingers brushed against the the surface of the bow, she felt an impression on the usually smooth surface. On the upper limb, there was a crude engraving of the letter P.
It was an omen, a sign. Tigerlily was a firm believer in superstition and she knew, from that moment, her business with Peter Pan was far from over. The next morning, she surprised herself by stalking off to the base of the Nevermountain. Peter leaned casually against the rock face. The sun irradiated more heat that day so he went with only a vest which exposed much of his torso. His arms were crossed and he grinned.
"Let's begin, shall we?" Peter clapped his hands together, plan brewing in his mind, "We need to get up the mountain. I would fly, but that would take the fun out of it. Rope would-"
Tigerlily cut him off by throwing a roll of rope his way. She dismantled the net from yesterday to make enough climbing rope for both of them. He raised an eyebrow when he caught it, "Always a step ahead. I like that."
The princess rolled her eyes and examined the mountain. She made her own judgments, "It takes a half day to climb this part. It is best to be hydrated before beginning," Peter held up a canteen and made a big show chugging down its contents. He tossed it to Tigerlily for her to drink.
"We think alike don't we?" he said, "I have a feeling we will make a good team."
A/N: Another chapter done!
Okay, we get to see how Peter and Tigerlily's relationship progresses. And soon we will find out Peter's backstory of where he was from and exactly why he was on a ship.
Can't wait for tomorrow's episode but I am incredibly upset about the hiatus. How do they expect us to wait that long without going crazy?
Anyway, I'm thinking about breaking the curse around Chapter 10 but it depends on how I would like to develop Tigerlily's past as well as getting a sense of how Lily's life is up until the curse breaks.