"A test?" I asked dubiously. There was no way that this would be any normal sort of trivia test.
"Nothing outrageous, believe me," he smiled. His eyes had regained that mischievous gleam to them; one that I was sure was second nature to him.
"Alright then, so what's the test?" I questioned. Might as well get it over with before he changes his mind.
"Oh, Kim, don't you see? It's not fair if I tell you the test."
I would have dropped my jaw if I'd been surprised by this, but it was becoming more and more apparent that he liked games far more than people. Instead I sighed and wondered what I had done to deserve this. First I find out Peter Pan is real. Next, I find out that Neverland exists. What next? Every Disney story comes to life?
"Whatever," I said dismissively. I was too tired to care at this point. "So what, is this the room I get to have or something?"
"Did I forget to tell you?" he asked like something completely slipped his mind. "This is my room."
I couldn't figure out how I was supposed to feel about that comment, I was so exhausted. "Lovely. If we're done talking now, can I go to sleep now? I'll just rest in that chair," I said pointing to the chair in the corner. Upon looking at it more closely, it looked like it might be the most uncomfortable makeshift bed in existence, so I had a feeling I would regret that decision in the morning.
"Neverland is your home now, Kim. I wouldn't make you sleep in that chair; it would make a terrible bed," Peter acknowledged. His facial expression now looked like he was a kid on Christmas about to get the best present. Uh oh… "And before you offer, no, you won't be sleeping on the ground either."
I wasn't stupid. I could put two and two together. Are you kidding me? Sharing a bed? What has my life become? That's when I saw it. He looked like he was secretly waiting for me to protest him, like he knew that I would refuse that even if the result would be me getting back home. This was the test: go willingly or insist on doing something else. I know most people wouldn't give a second thought about caring about losing an iPod, but this was the last thing I had of home. It was the only thing I had to help me keep my sanity.
"Okay," I said like it was not a big decision even though I was trying not to panic.
"Really?" Peter asked, genuine surprise coming across his face. "I mean…good." He did his best to recover, but it wasn't enough to tell me that I had made the right observation about this being my test.
"If you don't mind though, I'll get in second," I said not wanting to admit to him that I was afraid if I had to take the side closest to the wall that I would feel too trapped and possibly have a panic attack. After seeing his eyes flick to the door for a second, I quickly added, "I also promise to not make a run for it. I wouldn't be able to escape anyway and honestly I'm so tired I would like to pass out now."
He searched my face looking for anything that would give him a doubt. Apparently finding none, he smirked as he sauntered past me.
Lose the battle, win the war, I reminded myself as I took a deep breath inward before following after him. I kicked off my shoes and stuck my iPod in them, placing them a little further away from the bed area just in case he or I were to step on it accidentally. When I looked back up at the bed, Peter was looking at me with victory shining through his eyes.
Before I subjected myself to an event I knew I'd later regret, I figured I had one last thing I should inform him about. "Look, there's something else I should tell you," I began. This immediately caused his eyes to narrow in suspicion making speed up my little speech. "It's nothing really bad. It's just…really try not to cross over the middle of the bed. I'll take half, you take half. It's even and fair. It's nothing personal and this is the same thing I ask of friends I have known for years if we have sleepovers. I just have some personal space issues." In my head I prayed that he could understand the sincerity of my words. Please don't make me explain all of my weird anxieties to you.
Peter looked at me like I was a mystery again. Almost as if he was taking this information and cataloguing it in an encyclopedia all about me. He nodded his head as he took in the information.
I braced myself as I climbed on to the bed. It was bigger than mine; this was like a queen or king sized bed. King based off his ego. As soon as I climbed in, I scooted to the edge of the bed and getting as far away from Pan as I could.
"Do you always sleep with the lights on?" I asked. I'd fall asleep eventually, but they were a distraction keeping me focused on my current sleeping situation. His short laugh reverberated through the mattress forcing me to be aware of how close we were.
"No, I don't." And then all the lights immediately went out. I wasn't even able to ask my question before he answered it. "It's called magic, sweet heart," he drawled in a low voice.
Resisting retaliating to the "sweet heart" comment was taking all my strength, but I figured it was better to pick that battle after I found out if I passed Pan's stupid test. Rather than respond I just let out a loud sigh and closed my eyes waiting for sleep to come to me.