"P-Peter?" It's the only thing I can bring out. We both kneel down to pick up my books. "Shhh, it's okay Gwen. I'll explain everything after school. I promise." We get up and he gives me my books. "Just pretend nothing happened." Yeah, sure. That's easier said than done. I've been pretending for a week now. I slowly walk back to my desk. "Are you okay?" Alice looks at me. "You looked shocked when you saw Peter." So he kept his own name? I wonder if he was going to stay here, why he came back. "Hellooo? Gwen, are you okay or nah?" I look up and smile. "Yeah, I'm okay. Just dropped my books." She raises her eyebrow. "Okay then." She smiles. I hate lying to Alice. We've been friends since like forever and we knew everything about each other. Every little secret. But what could I possibly say? 'Yeah, you know, that's Peter Pan. I met him because he kidnapped me and brought me to Neverland, where I was almost drowned by a mermaid. But don't worry, Peter saved me. Oh and then we fell in love, but he commanded his creepy flying shadow to bring me home.' She'd think I'm insane.
After school we walk to our bikes together. Peter is already gone. I don't know where we're going to talk, but I know he'll find me if he want to. I don't want to go home, so I call my parents that I'm late and tell Alice that I'm going to the mall. "Shall I come with you?" She offers. "No thanks, I'll be fine." She raises her eyebrow but doesn't ask anything. "Well, see you tomorrow then." She smiles and gets on her bike. "See you!" I wave as she cycles away. I get on my bike and cycle to a small park near my house. I know Peter knows where to find me. I sit down on a wooden bench and after a few minutes I see Peter walking over me. "Hi." He says, trying to break the silence. "Just explain." My voice is cracked and my eyes start to water. He looks down and starts to tell:
"Well, like I told you, I was an adult once. After I gave up my son I got young again. The shadow took me to Skull Rock. There was a giant hourglass inside it. He explained that the hourglass represented the magic fuelling my youth. Once it runs out, my youth would be taken and I'd die. He told me that there's only one way to stop the hourglass. That's what I needed you for. To stop the hourglass, I had to kill my true love, right after she told me she loves me. That's why I commanded the shadow to take you home. I couldn't do it Gwen. I couldn't." I feel shocked, angry and sad. "So, why did you came back? Was the hourglass running to fast? Did you regret your choice to send me back? Did you came to finish the job?" I immediately feel bad about saying this. I wasn't that angry. Just shocked. "No Gwen, I came here because there's also a way to break my curse. To make me grow up again." I'm confused. "Peter, I don't understand. Why are you here?" He looks at me. "The moment I let you go, I realised that I wasn't going to be happy without you. I realised that never growing up is a curse, if you can't be with the ones you love. I'd rather die today, than live forever without you Gwen. You're my true love. And the only way to break my curse is by a true loves kiss." He takes my cheeks in his hands and wipes away a tear. His beautiful green eyes are intense and full of love. "Peter," I whisper, "you can't give up everything. What if you get back to the age you should have and die?" He smiles. "I'll take that risk." He leans in and kisses me softly.
