The truth was, his thoughts were anything but happy. He was troubled.
Hook had bested him in battle. How? Why? How? It ripped at the very fabric of what he knew to be true. It just wasn’t the way things worked. Not in his world.
But this isn’t my world, Peter thought. A cloud loomed closer up ahead. He brought his arms down to his sides and ploughed right into it.
“Peter!” he faintly heard Tootles hollering after him from behind. But he wasn’t around long enough to see that Tinkerbell shimmered, hesitantly, at the edge of the cloud and then shot into the white unknown after Peter. Tootles followed them both as quickly as he could.
And I fell, Peter thought. I never fall.
But the worst thoughts that had taken up residence in his troubled mind of late were all about Wendy.
Wendy.
She had certainly grown, hadn’t she. He would have had to be an utter idiot not to notice. She’d become tall and strong and her hair had highlights in it that he’d never noticed before. Her eyes were darker. They seemed full of mysteries now. . . and something else.
She was. . . . Well, she’s beautiful, he thought, his fists tightening at his sides. Duh. She’s beautiful. You knew she would be, didn’t you, Peter?
He had seen something special in her five years ago, as he’d perched on her windowsill and watched her play with her brothers. He’d noticed something singular and exceptional and an unknown part of him had recognized it and latched on tooth and nail. She was the first and only girl he had ever taken to Neverland.
Wendy. A girl who was most certainly a girl – but one who loved life the way a boy did. There could be nothing more unique and special than that.
And she hates me, Peter thought. Wendy hates me.
With a frustrated growl, Peter ran his hand through his hair, grabbed a fist full of it, and then let it go. His head was beginning to ache. And the clouds had left a film of water over his face that was getting into his eyes.
He’d been doing okay for a while. Once he’d had enough of Tinkerbell’s tea to chase the lingering pain from his body. But then those damn thoughts had settled in.
He was grateful to Tink, of course, for healing him and taking such great care of him. She’d been so concerned that he might fall again that she had sprinkled enough pixie dust over his head and body for twenty men, and grouchy ones at that.
She was a good friend. He knew that.
And that troubled him, too. Because he knew he was treating her like dirt. And he couldn’t help himself. He was well and truly angry. And more than a touch scared.
What had he ever done to make Wendy hate him? Again, his thoughts turned back. He showed her his world! He made her a Lost Boy! He saved her from Hook!
Hook. She was with Hook at this very moment. And yet, Peter was able to return home. He’d promised he would not return home until all of Neverland’s children were okay.
If the star hadn’t winked out this time – did that mean that Wendy was okay?
“How?” he asked out loud. He shot through the other end of the cloud, water vapor clinging to his jacket and the ends of his blonde hair. He hastily rubbed his leather sleeve across his eyes to clear them. He could feel the scowl on his face. “How can she be all right with….” He gritted his teeth and picked up his pace, feeling the same need for speed in the air that he’d often felt on the ground. “How can she possibly be okay with him!”
“What, Peter?” Tinkerbell hovered frenetically by his ear, her wings flapping so fast that they were invisible. She’d caught up with him somehow and had to raise her tiny voice in order to be heard over the wind they raised as they sped through the night sky.
Peter was vaguely impressed with her flying ability. But then, she was a pixie. Fairies were amazing creatures, in general.
He shook his head, waving her inquiry away. Tinkerbell frowned. “I don’t think he’s going to hurt her!” she yelled back at him.
Peter turned toward her and blinked. “What?”
“Hook!” Tink replied. “He isn’t going to hurt Wendy!”
Peter’s scowl was back. “How the hell do you know?”
Tinkerbell flinched at the tone of his voice. She backed up a few inches, turned away from him, and took several deep breaths.
Peter was instantly sorry for swearing at her. He’d never done that before. Not even when he’d had too much wine.
Then Tinkerbell raised her chin and squared her shoulders. She turned to face him once more. “He’s not that kind of captain, Peter!”
Peter came to a dead stop, then, all thought of apology gone from his mind.
Tootles, who had been progressively picking up speed in order to catch up with the two of them, proceeded to plough directly into Peter’s back.