“Ready?” Kelvin jumps up. How can he be so energetic after only a few hours of sleep?

        My smile morphs into a yawn. “Okay.”

        Hazy sunlight is just pushing past gray clouds as I link my hand with Kelvin’s. I can’t fly in this world, but he can.

        The stars are faint, but they are still there. “Second star to the right…” Kelvin starts.

        “And straight on till morning.” We exchange a smile before plunging past the second star to the right. Light blocks out London.

        When I open my eyes, I see green below and blue around. The sun, golden and bright, slips into the sky. I laugh and spin around, letting go of Kelvin’s hand. My fatigue evaporates as I twist and turn in the air. Nothing like a morning flight to wake you up.

        Kelvin and I fly down to the lost boys’ camp. My laughter dies as we land in the abandoned clearing. Last night’s fire is cold and dead.

        “Hello?” I run my hand through my hair. “What do we do now?”

        “They must have slept in. Remember last time, Felix had to wake them. Or call them.” Kelvin strides over to the large tree and bangs on the camouflaged door. The loud noise echoes through the clearing.

        I wince and step back.

        “Kelvin?” A voice comes from behind us.

        A boy with dark brown hair holds a knife and block of wood in his hands. Green eyes skim over us. What was his name?

        “Daine!” Kelvin grins.

        Daine nods. “What are you doing here?”

        A sick feeling tugs on my stomach. “What do you mean?”

        “The sun just rose. It is too early.”

        “Oh. Do you mean that the lost boys are still sleeping?”

        Daine smirks, “Sleeping…” He draws out the word as if he is unfamiliar with it. “Yes, they are probably still down in their hammocks.”

        “Well, we were sleeping until someone banged on our door.” Bert’s head pops out of the hole. He tumbles out. His eyes are heavy and tired, but he is grinning-as always. “Good to see you, Kelvin. Wendy.”

        “Good morning, Bert. I’m sorry we woke you. We didn’t know where everyone was.”

        Bert shrugs. “Welcome back.” For a second his face changes, but then his grin reappears and I wonder if I am just imagining things.

        The other lost boys climb out of the tunnel one by one. Some are still half asleep, but the rest are already jumping around and filling the air with their yells and laughter.

        Someone restarts the fire and begins to cook breakfast. I help pick apples from one of the trees, but keep my eyes open for Peter. Shouldn’t he be here by now? Is he still asleep?

        No leaves rustle in his tree.

        We eat breakfast. Yesterday we had arrived a few hours after breakfast. I don’t understand that since it was night in London when we had left with Felix. But time works differently here. If it works at all.

        “Aren’t you coming?” Kelvin asks as he stands up. Most of the other lost boys have already left. But Peter still hasn’t showed.

        “Um…I think I’ll clean up the mess. You know, since we helped make it and all.” I grab his empty bowl.

        Kelvin squints at me. “Okay. Uh, did you need help?”

        “No, I am fine.”

        “All right then. See you around, Wendy.” With those words he springs into the sky. A part of me wants to join him, but I also want to see Peter again. I want to find out why he keeps so many secrets.

        Daine helps me drag the bowls to a nearby stream and rinse them all out. “Usually we’ll just wipe them out.” He shakes water droplets out of one of the bowls.

        I roll my eyes. “They won’t get clean unless you use water.”

        “I know, but cleanliness has never been a top priority.”

        “Well, thank you for helping me anyway.”

        Daine and I spread the bowls out to dry. He walks me back to the clearing, already pulling his dagger out of his pocket. He chops off another hunk of wood from a nearby tree. Then he glances up at Peter’s tree. I can’t see it from here, but I know the tree house is up there.

        Daine pulls his knife against the rough wood, but his eyes stay on me. “I know why you aren’t already up in the sky. I know why you have wasted the last hour or so washing dishes and hanging around this clearing.”

        “Maybe I just like to help.” My lips twitch and I duck my head to hide my smile.

        “Or maybe you are waiting for a certain boy to wake up and come down.”

        Warmth rushes to my cheeks and I bite my lip. “I sound so pitiful when you put it like that. It’s just…we had a lot of fun yesterday. We were together pretty much all day while he showed me the island. I guess I thought today would be the same, or even better.”

        Daine starts to walk away. “Just so you know, he’s probably awake. So what are you waiting for?”

        Permission.

        I watch him leave. A sigh rattles from me as I sit down on a fallen log. Maybe Peter was only being polite yesterday. But I thought we were becoming friends. In my world, friends are few.

        I actually had fun yesterday. I haven’t laughed so much since…since I realized how dark the world can be. And that I am alone in it.

        Something heavy pushes around me, settling deep into my bones. For some reason I don’t stand and walk away. I don’t fly into a sky of blue freedom. I don’t look for the fairy circle on my own.

        Instead I wait.

        But nothing happens.

        I try to calculate how long I have been in Neverland. Two, maybe three hours? It feels longer, but since time doesn’t belong here, it is hard to be certain. A tall boy strides into the clearing.

        Peter?

        My head jerks up, but I see blond hair instead of brown. A scar instead of a smile.

        “Hello.” I can’t remember if I saw him at breakfast or not. Where has he been, and where are the other lost boys? What do they do all day long? Create their own adventures? These woods seem wild, so I am sure there are many beasts to hunt.

        “Wendy.” He draws my name out.

        Fear traces its path down my spine. I don’t know why, but I never liked Felix. And now I am alone with him.

        “You disappoint me. I expected more from you.”

        “Huh?” I frown. That was the last thing I expected him to say.

        Felix rolls his eyes. He shakes his head and makes a sweeping gesture towards the tree. “Why not just go up?”

        I turn red. “He might be asleep.”

         “Pan doesn’t sleep at all anymore. He doesn’t need to.” Felix glares at me. “You’re a pathetic little girl.”

         “What do you mean?” I shake my head and narrow my eyes. “No matter what you say, I am not some pathetic little girl.” He pointedly glances at my ratty dress and my cheeks burn-not with embarrassment, but with anger. “You don’t know anything! I have lived on the streets of London. I know hunger and fear. I am strong because life gave me no choice.”

        “Strong?” Felix takes a step toward me. He looks down at me. His lips curl, “You are weak. And always will be. Do you think you are the only one who has seen the ugly side of life? I know why you heard my music and came with Kelvin. I know why you forced Pan to let you return. I know why you have sat here and waited for a boy who never bothered to show up. You, Wendy Darling, are weak and lonely. You belong to Neverland too, because you are a lost girl.” He smirks. “The difference between us is that you will always be looking for someone to save you, whereas I’ve learned that if you want saving, you have to do it yourself.” Felix flicks his gaze up at the tree above us. “He can’t save you. He doesn’t even want to.”