The Girl Who Would Not Grow Up

The night of the play sprang up on me along with jittery nerves and excitement. I was constantly ranting about how amazing it was going to be and I wasn't sure if Charlie was annoyed or glad that I was so into something. He got someone to cover his shift and we drove to the high school together to watch it. I had half a mind to bring Alice's gift with me but it seemed a little absurd and I didn't dare risk losing or damaging it. The drama room was transformed into a Neverland like I had never seen before. White lights were slung across the entrance hall, coiling around very realistic looking trees and plants. The place glowed with twinkling lights and there was a general happiness in the air. The actors were greeting our guests as they filtered in, handing out paper flowers and programs. I had to run backstage for a moment to see if they needed any more help but they told me to relax and enjoy the show. I couldn't find Alice but Cassidy waved to me from behind the curtain. I smiled and, for the first time in a while, genuinely was glad to see her. I got butterflies just thinking about the other evening with Alice, how perfect it was there with her and how brilliant she was going to be tonight. I was pleased to see the room was packed, several people were standing in the back because all the seats had been filled. I spotted the Cullens and we waved to each other, except Rosalie of course, who pretended not to notice my presence. All the same I was glad she was there for Alice.

Charlie read the program up until the lights dimmed and the moss covered curtains drew open. The narrator, one of the fairies/mermaids began in a loud voice, welcoming everyone to the play. I hadn't realized the orchestra would actually be playing live along with the production, having thought we'd end up using some prerecorded composition. The difference it made was incomparable. All final whispers came to a halt as people turned off their phones and prepared to be swept away.

"All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way Wendy knew was this. .."

After a few minutes of witty dialogue between Mr. and Mrs. Darling, that even made Charlie laugh, the 'children' entered the scene. They began fencing with a branch and a wooden sword, shouting out threats and words only the pirates of their make-believe adventures dared to use. There seemed to be a lull in the dialogue, as if someone had forgotten a line. As it continued I began to feel sure someone else was supposed to be on stage at that moment. The actors improvised as best they could but after a moment, the audience began to whisper. Out of the dark behind me came a hand that grabbed my arm and pulled me from my seat. Someone whispered in my ear that the actress I was understudy to had locked herself in the storage room and wouldn't come out. They simply didn't have the time to coax her out and it was up to me to fill the role. Charlie looked confused but there was no time to explain, or refuse for that matter. I knew if I let myself think about it I would be in just as bad a shape as the other actress. I didn't resist as I was dragged backstage and tossed into the dressing room. I was pinched, pressed, stuck, pushed, powdered, clothed, dusted with makeup and hurled at the curtain so fast that I barely had time to catch my breath.

I looked up and was staring out into the packed audience, bright lights shooting into my eyes. I could see Esme mutter something and Charlie did a double take, looking awed. I'm sure I looked the same way. I smiled as I tried to remember Wendy's first line, luckily being rescued by John and Michael. I was shaky and forgot a line every couple of scenes it felt like. I tried to take deep breathes and forget the audience was there. Needless to say I had never been in a play before, had never thought my meager understudy job would land me the leading female role. After a while I began to calm down and the lines became easier. If I didn't look at the audience and pretended I was simply in rehearsal it went a lot smoother. I tried to remember to speak clearly and loudly, as if I were trying to speak to the people in the very back of the room.

I felt absolutely rescued when Alice floated down on stage.

I knew that now I was completely off the crowd's radar, what with her parading around in such a beautiful costume, sparkling with glitter and, perhaps, her own skin's sparkle.

"What's your name?" Alice asked me.

"Wendy Moira Angela Darling," I replied "What is yours?"

"Peter Pan."

"What? Is that all?"

"Yes," she said, winking at me secretly, as if to say she was glad I was the one performing with her. That made me smile where I was not supposed to.

I asked where she lived.

"Second to the right," said Peter, "and then straight on till morning."

"What a funny address!"

It began to feel like it did when we rehearsed on our own. I was a wreck at the parts without Alice there, but I knew I had done well with her which was a pleasant surprise.

"Wendy," she continued, "One girl is more use than twenty boys."

I sat up on the prop that passed as a bed, finding it very easy to look dazzled by her.

"Do you really think so, Peter?"

"Yes, I do."

"I think it's perfectly sweet of you," I spoke, trying to discreetly blot off the sweat on my palms. "I shall give you a kiss if you like."

"What do you mean?" After a moment Alice held out her hand expectantly.

"Surely you know what a kiss is?" I asked, trying to sound aghast.

"I shall know when you give it to me," she replied stiffly.

I pulled out a thimble that had been placed in the costume's pocket and handed it to her.

"Now," said Peter, "shall I give you a kiss?"

"If you please." I inclined my face toward her, but she merely dropped an acorn button in my hand.

"Well then... I shall wear this kiss on a chain around my neck."

Wendy asked Peter more of where he came from, of the fairies and dangers, and of the lost boys.

"Aren't there any girls there?"

"Oh, no; girls, you know, are much too clever to fall out of their prams."

Again, it wasn't difficult to look flattered. "I think," I said, "it is perfectly lovely the way you talk about girls; John there just despises us." I motioned to the actor who played Wendy's younger brother.

For reply Peter rose and kicked John out of bed, blankets and all. This was one of the places I forgot a line and Alice improvised beautifully. She was so hilarious and talented I found it difficult not to laugh or show the wrong emotions.

I picked up with the next line I knew, receiving a sympathetic look from her. "And I know you meant to be kind," I said, relenting, "so you may give me a kiss."

"I thought you would want it back," Peter said a little bitterly, and offered to return me the thimble.

"Oh dear," I said "I don't mean a kiss, I mean a thimble."

"What's that?"

"It's like this." It took me a moment which I hoped looked intentional for dramatic effect, but in a moment I leaned over and kissed her quickly on the cheek, trying harder than ever not to blush scarlet.

"Funny!" said Peter gravely. "Now shall I give you a thimble?"

"If you wish to," I replied, voice shaky again.

Gently, her lips met mine briefly. They were cool as silk and even softer. To everyone it was merely a fake kiss, a stage kiss, no more real than any of the props or words spoken. But there was no way I was going to get those damn butterflies raging on in my stomach under control.

Whether it was battling villainous pirates or negotiating with Indians, Alice executed her role with as much zeal and expertise as any professional actor. I was in constant awe, feeling infinitely light to watch her captivate the audience.

"To die would be an awfully big adventure!" she declared as the curtains drew together and the room filled with cheers and applause. Behind the closed curtain Alice took my hand as the cast and crew lined up, quickly taking positions for the final curtain call. The sheets of heavy fabric spread open again, the crowd all on their feet with genuine happiness on their faces. I heaved a sign, grinning myself silly. Alice squeezed my hand as everyone bowed, cheers and whistles never dying down even after the curtain dropped for the last time. I was such a mess of emotions I was sure what to say or do. Luckily Alice seemed to have an idea.

After we changed back into our clothes she led me out into the dispersing audience, through the twinkling lights, people congratulating and looking at us in a way I had never been looked at before. It was as if I'd actually managed to move them somehow. But I knew that was impossible with how nervous I had been, not that I'd ever been a good actor. Hands clasped, we pushed through, smiling at everyone and thanking them for coming.

"Lovely work, Wendy!" one of my teachers yelled to me and I waved back, thanking her. Of course everyone had something special to tell Alice. How her costume, or her stage presence, or her wit had charmed them. She led me on until we reached the refreshing night air. I hadn't realized how hot and stuffy it had been in there. We spotted the Cullens and they all hugged or congratulated us. Charlie was with them, completely dumbfounded.

"I thought you were just doing lights and things like that."

"So did I. But I had this understudy and-"

"Bella!" Cassidy called, carrying several bouquets of flowers. Was that my name? I had felt completely transformed into Wendy Darling. "These are for you. I couldn't find you backstage. You two were amazing," she hugged us both, careful not to crush the sweet smelling flowers.

We thanked her and soon the school was nearly empty. We'd have everything up and running again by tomorrow for another performance. People asked if I'd be playing Wendy again and looked actually disappointed when I said no.

Alice offered to drive me home and I told Charlie, I wasn't exactly sure why, that we might be a while. He gave a nod and hugged me without a word. He looked proud.

I was right to tell Charlie not to wait up because Alice did have something in mind. We waited, talking outside as everyone else went home. She gave me her jacket, part of one of her costumes when she noticed me shiver from the night air. Everything seemed so fresh and alive then, like I had just done something truly amazing and life altering. All I'd really done was act in a play, but with Alice with me it seemed like so much more than that.

She led me around to the back entrance which apparently someone had forgotten to lock. I suspected she had something to do with it and it was not merely her Sight, but said nothing. Through the dark of the stashed props and costumes she led me by the hand, moving me around obstacles and down onto the stage on which we'd just performed. We set our flowers down and sat on the edge, lighting one of the candles used as a prop. For a long silence we did not speak, just listened to the calm silence after such an amazing uproar. We kept our hands clasped tight.

She spoke as if still speaking to the audience. "I didn't see this one coming."

I smiled through the dark. "I know. When they pushed me out on here I thought I might be sick or faint or something. You were so good. You helped me a lot."

Lit up by the faint candle she laughed softly. "That wasn't really what I was referring to." She turned to me, smiling still. "But I think it's perfectly sweet of you. I shall give you a kiss if you like." She quoted.

I laughed, sarcastically holding out my hand. She grinned and produced the thimble we'd exchanged earlier. I accepted it, putting it in my pocket.

"Now me?" she asked.

"What about you?" I pretended to have no idea what she meant though I couldn't have missed her body shifting closer to mine if I'd tried.

"I should very much like a thimble, Wendy."

I wondered if she could see my blush through the dark. I knew she could. For once I didn't mind. I turned away, trying to gather myself, stomach and tongue tied. But smiling.

"I shall give you a thimble, Peter." Then, more to myself, "...the girl who would not grow up."

For the second time that night I felt Alice Cullen's sweet lips against mine. Only this time there was no one to watch, no time limit. Our lips moved flawlessly as if they had always done it, hands only unclasping to take the other's face, to feel each others hair, skin. We sunk to the stage floor in a tight embrace, breathing each other in, pulling at the air, savoring the moment, tasting that idea of Neverland.

All children, except one, grow up. They soon know that they will grow up, and the way I knew was this: I fell in love with Alice Cullen.

A/N: I haven't really read through or edited this chapter so I hope it's okay. I've been looking forward to it though and I hope it ties together a loose end or two. I don't think I quite captured that Neverland magic like I wanted, but oh well. There you have it ladies and gents: Peter and Wendy, Alice and Bella. An 'item' at last. If you review on no other chapter please, please review on this one. Many thanks and happy reading to you.