The next morning, Wendy readied herself for school. She made sure each of her brothers was ready before she said goodbye to her mother and father. The boys all ran ahead of her on the way to school and she didn't bother to call them back. Only John and Michael remained by her side, walking quietly. The others had come with them from Neverland and had been adopted by the Darlings. Wendy and Mrs. Darling had done a good job of teaching them manners but they still longed to run around and yell once in awhile, as they had done every day with Peter. Watching Tootles kick a pile of leaves and hearing the twins shouting brought a pang to Wendy's heart. Why couldn't she get that boy out of her head?
"Good morning Miss Wendy," a voice came out of nowhere and startled her out of her thoughts.
"Oh!" Wendy looked up into the handsome face of James Redgrove, one of the lads who John attended school with. He was a few years older than she was and she thought him extraordinarily handsome. His blonde hair was tousled and he was tall and slender. He reminded her so much of… Wendy shook her head, not allowing herself to think it.
"Good morning Mr. Redgrove. How are you this morning?
"Very well, thank you. I spotted you walking with your brothers and thought I might join you on your stroll."
"Of course you are welcome to do so," she said with a smile. James blushed slightly and offered her his arm, which she took. Her heart skipped a beat at the contact, as she imagined his arms going to her waist and then raising her into the sky. She sighed, muttering to herself "stop it Wendy."
"Beg your pardon?"
"Oh, nothing. How is your family, James?"
"They're very well, thanks. Mother is—" Wendy tried to listen but she swore she saw a bright light hovering in front of her and knew exactly who that sassy face belonged to.
"Did you see that?" She stopped in her tracks, her arms flying to John and Michael's.
"See what?" James asked, frowning slightly.
"See what, Wendy?" Michael repeated.
"I thought I saw…"
"Yes?" She watched the boys play in front of her and frowned. Of course she couldn't be here. She was with him. In Neverland. She was only imagining it because she was thinking of him.
"Never mind. I'm afraid my imagination is running away with me again."
"Wendy does have a wonderful imagination but it does get troublesome at times," John said, hitching up his glasses.
"An imagination is a lovely thing to have, Miss Darling. It makes life exciting rather than dull and it is what gives us adventures. It's what helps us ride the wind's back and fly away." Wendy stopped in her tracks again and stared at James.
"What did you say?"
"I was speaking figuratively, of course. I'd love to see you try to ride the wind's back, Miss Wendy. You'd have a terrible time up in the sky, I wager."
"I think I would have a lovely time," Wendy said quietly, resuming her quick pace.
"Wendy! Look at the leaves fly…come on, let's go fly with them!"
"Nibs, would you calm down a bit. You're making a scene." Nibs and Tootles were pretending to fly around the rest of the group, their arms stretched out at their sides.
"How are you flying boys?" James asked with a smile. "You don't have any wings."
"You don't need wings! You just need fairy dust!"
"And happy thoughts," Curly chimed in. Wendy looked quickly at James and forced a laugh.
"Children, what stories they come up with, eh?"
"Come on Wendy, you used to fly with us. You haven't forgotten Peter, have you?"
"Who is Peter?"
"That's enough boys," Wendy ignored James's question, now becoming frustrated with the boys. Michael sensed Wendy's growing anger and locked arms with the boys, hurrying them forward and whispering secrets as the boys loved to do. Wendy shook her head.
"I do apologize. They get carried away in their stories and make believe quite often."
"No need to apologize. My younger brother is six and he is always making up stories. Apparently last night I was a dinosaur disguised as a soldier. I have no idea how he comes up with these things." This time Wendy's laugher was genuine as she moved closer to him and took his arm again. The minute she touched him, however, he let out a yell and they broke loose.
"What's wrong?" He rubbed at his head.
"I dunno, something…something just pulled my hair. Blimey that hurt." She did not take his arm again but her gaze shifted around suspiciously as she looked around them. They had come to the school and the boys yelled bye to Wendy as they ran in. James gave her a little bow before he made his way into the building, then stopped halfway there.
"Miss Wendy?" he called.
"Yes, James?"
"May I…may I call on you sometime?"
Wendy smiled and nodded. "I would like that very much." James hurried back, kissed her hand quickly, then ran inside, the back of his neck very red. Wendy stared at her hand as she walked in the direction of her classroom.