"Who is that kid?" Emma asked as she slid into the driver's seat of the old yellow Volkswagen and slammed the door shut.
Henry glanced up at her briefly before following her gaze to the teenage boy disappearing down the sidewalk.
"That's Felix," he responded with a smile.
Emma's brows furrowed as she looked over at the kid.
"He said his name was James."
"That's his cursed name," the young boy answered. "His real name is Felix."
"Oh, right. The book," Emma began with a slight sigh and a smile but then frowned. "Wait, he's in there too?"
Henry nodded.
"Yeah! He's with Peter Pan. They're true loves."
Emma just stared at the boy for a moment before looking back out the front windshield.
"I don't remember that in the movie," she finally remarked.
"They don't remember each other either," Henry continued with a frown. "That's why I wanted to talk to him. I thought that maybe if he saw the book, he'd remember who he was and how happy they were together... but it didn't really work out."
Emma looked back over at the boy, noticing his suddenly crestfallen appearance. She gave him a sympathetic, sideways smile and patted him on the head.
"Look, Henry, I know you just want to help everyone but... I don't think you should be hanging around an older teenage boy."
Especially one that looks like he could be in a gang, she added to herself with a slight wince.
Henry's brows furrowed quizzically as he looked back up at the woman.
"Why not?"
Emma hesitated, not quite sure how to put her concerns.
"They're just... bad influences," she finally settled on with a sigh.
"Felix and Peter Pan aren't bad. They just..." Henry looked away for a moment as he thought before turning back to Emma with a smile. "... like to have fun."
Emma remembered the warning James had given her about keeping a closer eye on Henry. It HAD seemed like he was just pulling her leg to scare her into keeping Henry from bothering him anymore. Emma narrowed her eyes at the thought that she had actually been played by a teenager.
Just then, the shop door right across the sidewalk suddenly opened as a brunette teenage boy stepped out with a delighted smirk plastered to his face. He waved to the blonde woman in a green dress inside the building who merely rolled her eyes but then gave him an amused smile in return. The boy pulled the collar of his dark green coat up around his neck before heading in the opposite direction down the sidewalk.
The two merely watched when Henry suddenly turned back to Emma with an eager grin.
"That's Peter Pan!"
Emma cocked an eyebrow in disbelief as she glanced back over her shoulder at the teenager.
"That's Peter Pan?" She repeated doubtfully.
"Yeah! That must have been who Felix was waiting for!" The boy continued excitedly but then frowned. "Wait, why would Felix be waiting for him? They don't remember each other."
"Maybe they've met here," Emma suggested with a shrug, not really seeing what the big fuss was about. It wasn't exactly unusual for a couple of teenagers to be friends.
"Maybe..." Henry mused, his brows furrowing.
"Well, either way, you still have school," Emma finally remarked with a scolding look at the boy as she buckled her seatbelt. "No more running off."
Henry smiled innocently up at her.
"Sure."
Emma raised an eyebrow at him in amusement.
"And no more lying either."
The yellow car slowly took off down the road, disappearing from sight.
The brunette teenage boy walked along with his hands stuffed in his coat pockets before casting one quick glance over his shoulder and then suddenly darting down a small alleyway. He ran down the lane and then turned left, quickly racing past the backs of the shops lining the road. He glanced down each alley that he passed by, feeling increasingly impatient.
As the lane played out and he ran out onto another small road, his eyes suddenly caught sight of the blonde young man only a few yards down the sidewalk. The boy quickly spun around and pressed his back against the building as he waited.
He couldn't resist the wide devilish grin that spread across his face as James casually passed by the alley, unaware. The brunette silently stepped out from around the building's edge and casually leaned back against the wall with his hands in his pockets.
"Hello," he greeted, a mischievous smirk lighting his face as he watched the other male's reaction.
James instantly froze, his body going rigid as the soft, playful voice wafted over the cold air. He knew not to turn around. He knew if he looked at the boy's flawless features it would be all over.
But that voice.
That voice could make him do anything.
James slowly turned, his eyes immediately catching that bright blue gaze. He felt his breath hitch in the back of his throat.
"You know," the brunette began, pushing himself off of the building and casually stepping over to the taller male. "It's very rude to stalk someone and never say hello."
James forced his expression to remain neutral but the brunette could tell there was a war raging behind those silver eyes.
"You didn't think I noticed you watching me for the last several months?" The boy scoffed. "Please, I'm not dense."
A quiet breath suddenly escaped James' slightly parted mouth as his eyes trailed down to the boy's tinged red lips before tracing back up to those blue orbs.
"Well?" The boy suddenly asked, an eyebrow rising on his forehead.
James just stared at him blankly.
"You were waiting for me outside that shop for over an hour. You must have had something pressing on your mind," the boy explained.
For only a brief moment, James felt a rush of panic shoot through him but he merely gave the boy a tiny smirk and shrugged a shoulder.
"I forget," he remarked simply.
The shorter boy tilted his head and raised an eyebrow again, clearly unconvinced.
"Well, isn't that convenient," he replied with a hint of amusement. He was rather enjoying this game. "My name is Peter," he continued, holding his hand out towards the other male. "And you are?"
James' expression slowly turned cold as he stared at the outstretched hand and then looked back into the boy's light, mischievous eyes.
"None of your business," he muttered darkly before turning around and continuing on down the sidewalk.
Peter merely stood there, his arm lowering to his side as he watched the other male disappear. He smirked a little to himself as his fingers clenched into a fist at his side.
This was going to be more fun than he had ever expected.