Chapter Eleven – All These Secrets

The weekend had been uneventful, and Wendy didn't know if she ought to be relieved or disappointed. She couldn't put Peter's face out of her head, and though she knew delving any deeper into this whole, strange situation would be nothing but trouble, she wished she could see him again.

"Hey, you ok?" Violet asked as she met her on the way to school.

"Hm? Fine. Just…" Wendy bit her bottom lip, her eyes scanning the trees and bushes, striving to see past all the greenery. "…worried, I suppose."

"About him?" Violet smiled. "I'm sure they're fine…though, I'm worried about them, too."

Returning the smile, Wendy walked with her friend down the chipped sidewalk until they made it to their class. The minutes seemed to tick on dully, and Wendy thought she would pull her hair out if the time wouldn't go by any faster. Tapping her finger on her desk, she heaved a sigh of relief as the bell rang for lunch. Together, she and Violet trudged through the masses, grimacing as Fred and Mandy joined them at their table.

"Where's Asher?" Wendy asked, surprised to see one of the crew missing.

"With his like totally geeky friends!" Mandy scoffed, applying more lipstick as she rolled her eyes. "Said he like wanted to see his old buddies from like his classes. How like, uber rude is that?!"

"About time," Violet muttered, biting into her ham and cheese sandwich.

"You girls ok?" Fred asked, his eyes on Wendy. "I-er, that is, we never heard anything from you over the weekend."

"Fine," Violet shrugged. Wendy nodded absentmindedly, sipping her water as she stared off at a chair.

"Well, that's good," Fred said at last, his eyes drifting to Wendy's neck. "Where'd you get that?" he asked, pointing at her acorn button necklace.

"Ugh! Like, uber ugly, Wendy! Couldn't you like find something with like a little more style?!" Mandy squealed, causing Violet to glare daggers as she tried not to wince at how high her voice had gone.

Gripping the necklace, Wendy frowned. "It's a present. I'm sorry it doesn't agree with your taste in jewelry."

"Don't mind her," Violet sighed, stretching her arms.

As Mandy began to gripe about school and the horrible visit they'd made that past weekend, Fred leaned over to Wendy, clearing his throat. "Um, Wendy…?"

"Huh?" Looking over at him, she raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"That necklace…" His eyes darkened as he whispered, "He gave it to you, didn't he?"

"He?" she repeated innocently, knowing full-well who he was talking about.

"That 'Peter Pan' guy," he scoffed, using air quotations as he said the name. When Wendy nodded, nonchalant about the whole ordeal, he placed his hand upon hers. "Listen Wendy, I've got a bad feeling about him. Don't ever go back to that island, ok?"

"What?" she said, stunned by his command.

"Look, I just don't think that park or that guy is safe," he said, his fingers beginning to curl around hers when she slipped her hand out of his.

"I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself," she said firmly, looking back to her food. "Besides, who ever said I would go back? I certainly don't have time to go back now or anytime soon."

Fred frowned but kept silent, watching the girl resume picking at her salad. Heaving a frustrated sigh, he sat back in his seat and glared at his lunch.

As bell rang minutes later to signal the end of their lunch break, the girls split for their next class. Rushing through the halls, Wendy grimaced as she felt a pounding in her bladder. "Gotta pee, gotta pee, gotta peeee!" Turning the corner, she collided with another form, the both of them reeling back from contact.

"Sorry! Sorry!" she gasped, regaining her balance and awareness.

"It's all right, Wendy," a deep voice chuckled.

Raising her head, she felt her eyes widen. "Mr. Fuller! Sorry, I just…I need to use the ladies room."

"Then I believe I'm in your way," he smiled, stepping aside and motioning for her to move.

She felt her cheeks flare at this. Why did it have to be a male teacher she ran into?! "Thanks…" Shuffling along, she froze upon hearing his words.

"Be careful, Wendy…try staying away from dangerous places like Never-Neverland." Her brows furrowing, she looked over her shoulder to see him walking away. Turning away, she began walking once more. "I wonder who told him we went there?" she murmured.

~NEVER-NEVERLAND~

"That's just creepy," Violet shook her head. "I'll bet Mandy was blabbing her mouth off in his class and he overheard her."

"Probably," Wendy shrugged. Looking over to her friend, she asked, "Do all the teachers think Never-Neverland is bad?"

"Most, if not all," Violet nodded. "It's been there about a year now. It's got such a bad rep amongst the adults that when they even hear students mention the place in school, they try talking you out of it."

"And all the teachers have been there?" the British girl asked, incredulous at what she was hearing.

"I don't know about all the teachers, but I hear that Fuller tried going there once. Said a pack of crazy people attacked him," she frowned. "Must've been the pirates. That's why he discourages it."

Nodding, Wendy thoughts began to wander when she noticed a faded red coat sticking out from amongst the trees. Raising her head, she gasped when she saw who it was. "Peter?" she whispered.

Up until now, she began to wonder if it was all just some crazy dream…but here he was in broad daylight, sitting in a tree, grinning down at the girls.

"Heyup! What's new?" he asked, hopping down from his perch to land beside them.

Laughing, Violet replied, "Nice to see you, too! I thought you said it wasn't safe out here for you?"

"I thought I said that's what made it fun," Peter quipped cheerily.

Wendy couldn't help but smile. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a stained cloth on his hand. "Your hand! Has it healed?" she asked, her attention now on his exposed bandage.

"Huh? Oh, this!" Peter tugged at the cloth, falling from his hand to show a red mark, specks of scabs still on his skin. "Great scar, huh? It's always a great conversation starter, and a good story, too!" He laughed, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

Wendy felt guilt churn in her stomach, the memory of the blade crashing down as Peter's hand instantly went up to save her. "Peter, I-"

His hand came down on her shoulder, a gentle smile on his lips. "Don't worry about me, Wendy lady," he said, tucking a strand of her hair away from her eyes. "So long as you're safe and happy, I'm ok."

Behind them, Wendy could hear Violet cough "Cheesy!" but she ignored her. Smiling, she leaned forth and brushed her lips against his jaw line. Pulling back, she blushed when she saw his frozen expression, his green eyes wide in bewilderment, his body stuck still. She could see his skin flaring up, just like hers, as the corners of his mouth slowly turned up into a grin.

"Ok, lovebirds," Violet cut in, smirking at Peter and poking Wendy's arm. "Are we gonna stand around all day?"

"Peter, Violet's coming with me to study. Won't you come in with us?" Wendy asked, motioning towards her home.

"Sure," Peter said, his face still covered with that bewildered, pleased look, now floating a few inches off the floor.

"Ok," she said, struggling to look away and maintain her cool. "Let's go in and once I've greeted Dad-"

"On second thought, maybe you better let me in through your window," Peter interrupted her, snapping out of his trance.

Looking at him, the girls raised their brows. "Why?" Violet asked.

"It's better if he doesn't see me…not now," he shook his head, adamant.

Frowning, Wendy opened her mouth to protest when she recalled a memory…Peter Pan and adults didn't mix well…either her father or Peter would end up starting something that could possibly turn out ugly. "Ok, then. I'll see you upstairs," she nodded. He winked at her before taking off into the air, making her look around in panic. The last thing she needed was for the neighbors to see a flying boy at her house.

"What's with that?" Violet asked as she followed Wendy to the door.

"Peter's got a point…he's not exactly 'bring home and meet parents' material," Wendy whispered as she twisted the knob and pulled the door open. "At least, not with how he's dressed."

"Maybe…but I like his style," Violet grinned. "I can't imagine him wearing a pristine button-down shirt with a sweater vest and shiny shoes to go with dark slacks and a set of Clark Kent glasses on him…huh, maybe I can…just not with his hair…besides, it feels weird."

"Why on earth are you mentally fitting him in a nerdy outfit?" Wendy hissed, near to burst in a fit of giggles as she passed by her father pacing in the living room, arguing on the phone with a coworker. She waved at him as so not to disturb his call but he didn't notice, insisting that they urge an associate to comply with their terms.

A sad smile passed briefly on her lips before she continued upstairs with her friend, her heart heavy. "Dad used to call out and pick us up and spin us around when we got home…he never missed out on what was going on…Oh, Mom. I wish you were here…"

Trudging up the steps, she could hear her brothers whispering and laughing, struggling to keep their voices down. Sharing a smile with Violet, they entered the boys' room, seeing Mikey and Jon sitting on their beds as Peter floated midair, petting Nana as she quietly licked his free hand.

"Thanks for letting him in," Wendy said, locking the door once Violet came in and went to sit next to Mikey.

"Well, we couldn't exactly leave him outside for the neighbors to stare at," Jon smirked, adjusting his glasses.

"Whacha doing here, Peter?" Mikey asked excitedly, hopping off the bed. Peter immediately caught him, chuckling as he placed the boy on his shoulders.

"Just wanted to make sure you're all ok," he said, sitting Indian-style on Mikey's bed. "That, and I was hoping to get you guys to come back sometime."

"Really?" Violet asked, her eyes lighting up. "That'd be awesome!"

"It would have to be a weekend, either with Dad out for the night, or once he's fallen asleep," Wendy interrupted. Locking her gaze with Peter's, she asked, "What about that Shade character…?"

"You leave him to me," Peter grinned, taking the child off of his shoulders and setting him on his lap, ruffling his hair. Mikey laughed, squirming to get away from the boy's hand.

"Oh, please, Wendy! Can we go back Friday night?!" he begged. "Jon heard that Daddy's going to be out of town for the weekend."

"Already?" Wendy asked, her eyes huge with surprise.

"He's awfully obsessed about this deal," Jon scoffed, frowning as he stroked Nana's head.

"I can ask Aunt Kelly if I can sleepover, and if not, you guys will have to come and get me," Violet said.

"Sounds good," Peter laughed. "Ruff won't stop asking about you, by the way." This made her pale cheeks go bright pink, her eyes glued to the floor, a small smile on her lips. "Oh, and Lily says she hopes to see you, too, Jon," the Eternal Youth added, chuckling as he watched the boy's face go tomato red.

"Where's Tink, Peter?" Mikey asked.

As if on cue, a ball of furious lime green light zoomed into the room through the cracked window, ringing and chiming angrily at Peter.

"Here she is," Peter sighed. He gave the fairy a bored look, interrupting her; "That's precisely why I lost you back on the island, because you were whining about me coming back to visit." More chimes filled the air as the children watched with complete interest. "I know Shade's close, but I'm not going to let him rule my life…" His face darkened as he growled, "Not now, not ever again." Softer chimes came this time from the ball of light, causing him to raise his eyes to her. "Don't be silly, of course I'll be careful. Besides, shouldn't you be more worried about Rose Drop making a move on Blue Falls?" He clutched his sides and bit his lip as so not to laugh too loudly as Tinker Bell became a furious ball of red light, spitting out chimes and tinkles at him that Wendy was sure was full of unpleasant things. "Oh, it's SO obvious, Tink. Just admit that you like him already," Peter snickered. At last he waved her away as she began to tug at his hair. "Ok, I'll be back for you Friday night, but don't be surprised if you see me around," he winked at the group. With a smile, he waved goodbye and took off, dropping out of the window and into the greenery surrounding their home, Tinker Bell stuck to his hair.

Shaking her head, Wendy allowed herself a smile before getting up and kissing her brothers. "Ok boys, reunion's over. Get started on your homework."