The next day started off normal enough. Wake John and Michael up, get ready, make them breakfast, say good-bye to Mom and Dad, pay attention in class, answer every question you know the answer to. Wendy went through the day enjoying the routine and normalness to it. It wasn't until lunch that the day took and unexpected turn.

Wendy was on her way to meet Grace in the cafeteria so they could eat before going to the library when she saw him.

"Tell me, Peter. Do you live in the hallway?" Wendy asked stopping in front of him. Peter raised an eyebrow as if that was the most fascinating and amusing thing he'd heard all day.

"Maybe I just stand here in hopes you'll walk by," he replied standing so that he was looking down at her. Wendy suddenly became fascinated with her shoelaces.

"I doubt that's true," she said still looking down.

"Tell me, Darling. Whens the last time you ever did something fun?" Peter asked tilting her chin up so that she was looking at him.

"I do a lot of fun things," she argued stepping back.

"Oh yeah? Like what?" Peter asked like he already knew the answer.

"Like.. Like.. None of your business!" Wendy spat feeling childish.

"That's what I thought. Tell you what, Darling. A bunch of us are going into the woods. Why don't you tag along?" Wendy stood speechless. Go into the woods? During school hours? For what?

She voiced these questions to Peter, who just laughed.

"Take a risk, Darling. You might find it's worth it," he said walking off. Wendy stood watching him walk for a minute.

"Coming?" he asked turning around.

"We're not supposed to be off ground during school hours," Wendy pointed out, but she was hurrying to keep up with him.

"That's why they call it a risk Darling," Peter said smirking at her. She was really beginning to resent being called by her last name.

Wendy followed Peter out the back door of the school and up the path leading to the woods. When they got there, a group of boys was already waiting. They greeted Peter happily and eyed Wendy curiously.

"We don't usually let girls here," Peter explained.

"Of course," was all Wendy could say.

"Boys, Wendy. Wendy, the Lost Boys," Peter said introducing everyone. Wendy waved shyly and took a seat next to Peter.

"Are you sure it's safe to be back here? What if someone catches us," Wendy whispered worriedly.

"No one ever comes back here. We call it Neverland. Here have a smoke- you need it, "Peter said handing her a cigarette. Wendy eyed the cigarette cautiously. She'd never even touched her dad's cigars before and he wanted her to smoke? She looked around. All of the Lost Boys were talking, drinking, smoking, and laughing. She didn't know what made her do it, but before she knew it, she was taking a long drag of the cigarette. She coughed. It was highly unpleasant, but she kept going.

"Why do you call yourselves lost boys?" Wendy asked Peter after she finished her cigarette.

"Because we are. Everyone here is lost in one way or another," he explained, "Abandoned, misunderstood, you name it."

"So what made you invite me?" Wendy asked genuinely curious.

"You're lost too. I can see it. In the way you walk with your head down, the look in your eyes when you think no ones looking." Wendy stayed silent for a long while. She was lost. She'd always felt she wasn't justified to feel this way. She had a decent life, a loving family... So she kept quiet. And someone had noticed that feeling of emptiness, that feeling of being.. Lost.

"So you're gonna what? Try and fix me? Wendy asked suddenly defensive.

"Nope. This is just a place for you to be broken without being judged," Peter told her leaning back.

"Good. Now pass me a drink." Peter grinned and handed her a bottle.

Deep down, Wendy could feel that she was doing something wrong. She was skipping school, she was intoxicated, and she was with the one person her parents forbade. But it was so much easier to drown her sorrows in alcohol and tell stories to the engrossed Lost Boys that it would've been to go through another day convincing herself she was fine.

"Come on Darling, I think that's enough fun for one day, "Peter said when Wendy reached for yet another drink.

"Aw c'mon Pan lighten up," Wendy slurred.

"Classes end in fifteen minutes. That means you have ten minutes to sober up if you don't want to raise your brothers suspicions, "Peter said putting his hands on her shoulders.

"You're right. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have done any of this. Oh God oh God," Wendy said burying her head in her hands.

"Wendy," Peter said. The gentleness with which he spoke her name made her head snap up.

"It'll be fine. Want some water?" he asked.

"Yeah.. Thanks," Wendy said drinking it.

"Feel better?" Wendy nodded and stood up.

"I have to go meet John and Michael. Thanks for taking me to Neverland," Wendy said smiling weakly.

"You're welcome any time," one of the Lost Boys who Wendy learned was named Felix and was Peter's best friend told her.

"Thanks again guys," Wendy said before walking back to the school. Peter followed to make sure she didn't get caught. They stood by the door waiting for the final bell so they could slip in unnoticed.

"You know Peter you may put on a mask for the rest of the world, but I can see right through it," Wendy said as they waited.

"Really? And what exactly do you see, Darling?"

"That you're a good person," Wendy told him meaningfully.

"Yeah. Okay," he scoffed.

"You are. You created a safe haven for all those boys. And I could see how concerned you were about me," Wendy pointed out.

"I did not create a safe haven. They all just ended up there and I let them stay. And I wasn't concerned for you- I couldn't very well have a sobbing drunk girl on my hands now could I?"

Wendy sighed. "Why do you try so hard to be heartless?" she asked.

"I.." Peter, for the first time since she'd met him was speechless. They stood there for, just looking at each other. For a moment, Wendy thought he was going to kiss her and it terrified her how the thought of that made her feel. The bell rang jolting them apart.

"You'd better go find your brothers," Peter said opening the door.

"Yeah. See you tomorrow Peter."

"See you tomorrow Darling," Peter said giving her that ridiculous smirk. Wendy shook her head and set off in search of her brothers.