Part IV - 17: Wendy

Wendy sat back on her couch and considered what she had just seen on the news. She was at home alone because her mother had decided to go salsa dancing, which was just one of the many spontaneous things she had done since her adventure in Neverland. Wendy had made herself some dinner and then turned on the television to combat the silence. She hadn't really been paying attention until a short news report made her sit up and listen.

It was about a competition they were doing in London, a type of pageant for young men, and amidst all the clips they played she had seen Slightly. He had been singing, and doing a marvelous job of it. The news reporter had announced that he was one of the finalists, and the last portion of the competition would take place tomorrow afternoon.

But all this puzzled Wendy. What on earth would Slightly be doing in London? Perhaps he had entered the competition because they needed the prize money, but according to her mother's account, the treasure they found in Neverland would be sufficient to provide for them for decades.

She supposed that it wasn't her business, but it bothered her enough that she resolved to go ask Peter about it the next morning, even though the prospect of seeing him still made her a little nauseated.

*****

It was an exceptionally cold morning, but Wendy didn't notice. She attempted to calm her nerves as she neared the bakery, but she was unsuccessful. She slowly approached the building, stopped in front of the door, closed her eyes, took two deep breaths, and finally, walked in.

Her mother and that other girl were nowhere in sight, but Peter stood behind the counter, looking directly at her with those brilliant green eyes.

"Wendy, you... you came in."

What was that supposed to mean? After a second of reflection, she realized that he must have noticed all those times she passed by, and perhaps he was hoping that she would just come in, which meant that...

Oh, stop it! She scolded herself. This is not why you're here, and it won't do you any good to analyze every little thing he says or does.

"Wendy? Are you alright?"

She collected herself and stepped forward.

"Yes, I'm fine," she replied, attempting to sound nonplussed. "I just wanted to ask you something."

"Anything."

She was surprised by his sincerity, and she found her eyes wandering along the strong features of his face, down to his broad shoulders...

"I saw Slightly," she blurted before she got too caught up in distractions.

"Slightly?" For a second Peter looked disappointed, but then a slow smile spread across his face.

"Really? Where?"

"On the news. He was singing."

"Singing on the news?"

"Well, no, it wasn't like that." Wendy blew out a breath and shook her head to expel her anxiety. Peter was watching her with an amused expression.

"He's in a competition," she said evenly. "They were broadcasting it on the news, and I saw him on there."

Peter laughed. "So that's where he's been!" Wendy raised her eyebrows questioningly, so he continued. "Slightly disappeared last week, and nobody knew what happened to him. I was really beginning to worry." Peter frowned. "Although, it is strange that he didn't tell anyone. Tink is not going to like this."

"Tink? Why would she care?"

Peter's expression clouded over. "She's gotten a little crazy lately. She won't let us go back and forth between Neverland and the Grey World. She told me I had to choose."

Wendy's breath caught in her throat. She should have been glad that there was a possibility she'd never she Peter again, that he wouldn't torment her with his presence in London. But instead, the thought of him staying forever in Neverland filled her with despair. Until that moment she hadn't realized how much he still meant to her.

"So, what are you going to do?" She asked, trying not to show how much she cared about the answer.

Peter looked out the window. "I don't know," he replied, "Neverland is amazing, it's my home. But I feel like I'm limited there."

Wendy nodded. It seemed that Peter had learned a lot in the last few months.

He shook his head. "I wish I didn't have to decide. Why would Tink do this?"

Wendy quirked an eyebrow. "Well, it's obvious, isn't it?"

Peter looked at her helplessly. "Is it?"

Wendy laughed a bit at his ignorance. "Tink can't leave Neverland. She doesn't want to be left alone there."

Peter's eyes brightened. "Oh. That makes sense." He nodded to himself a few times and then focused again on Wendy.

"How are you? Is everything alright at Mrs. Nancy's?"

Wendy felt a twinge or guilt. She'd spent many hours worrying about the children's home and about Trevor, but she'd spent the last several hours thinking about Peter. Now all the distress came rushing back.

"Everything is okay, except that we still have no idea where Trevor went."

Peter looked away and started fidgeting with a fork on the counter. "Trevor? I wouldn't worry about him. I'm sure he's fine."

"How can you be sure?" Wendy asked, tears forming at the corners of her eyes.

"Did I say sure?" Peter was looking everywhere except at Wendy. "I meant that he's probably fine. He's an intelligent kid."

Wendy wondered about Peter's strange behavior. It was almost as if he was hiding something.

"So this competition that Slightly is in," Peter said finally, putting down the fork. "Do you know where it is?"

Wendy blinked rapidly, thrown off by the sudden change of subject. "I believe they said it would be at the Royal Opera House this afternoon."

"Great, I think I'll go." He looked almost bashful as he looked into Wendy's eyes. "Would you like to go with me?"

Everything in her head screamed "yes," but she hesitated.

"Wendy," Peter said softly, "I've really missed you."

At that moment, the blonde girl emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray of muffins. She set the muffins on the counter, glared at Wendy, then went back into the kitchen. Images of that girl and Peter kissing flooded Wendy's mind, and she felt sick.

"I don't think I should go with you," she muttered, stumbling as she stepped back from the counter.

Peter's face was filled with disappointment and concern. "Wendy, what's wrong?"

Wendy tried to form a coherent response, but her emotions were overtaking her brainpower. She turned and rushed out of the bakery, cursing her stupidity all the way down the street.