Counting Stars

Chapter 12

Pan's P.O.V.

We walk for a while in silence. I don't blame her for not wanting to talk to me or look at me. I fucking slapped her. Why would she want to talk to her abuser? Especially one who is now forcing her to hold hands?

But she deserved it. She tried to run away from me. I have given her a home and I can give her whatever she wants. I don't care if she thinks that this isn't her home. She will understand sooner or later. I would just much rather sooner as opposed to later.

During the walk, I take note that it's becoming dark. I look over at Juliette seeing her eyes wonder around the area. Then an idea popped up in my head. All though Neverland is a very dangerous place, at night time it was beautiful. I wasn't lying that one night when I told her how beautiful the stars in Neverland are. That was the one thing that she seemed to like from the first time that we spoke to one another.

"Juliette, stop for a moment." Looking confused, she did listen to me.

"Why are we stopping, Peter?"

I give her a slight mischievous smirk. "Trust me, you'll enjoy it." I take a hold of her upper arm causing her to gasp. She probably thought I was going to hurt her.

Within the blink of an eye, I magically transport us to the top of a cliff with the most amazing view. I look down and Juliette seeing her eyes shut tight. It was cute how frightened she was. It meant I could comfort her more. "Darling, I'm not going to hurt you."

"Please don't call me darling." She says quietly, most likely not intended for me to hear. I feel like I can call her whatever I want. She's mine. But now is not the time to bring something like that up. Now is a time to 'wow' her. 

"Please, just open your eyes, Juliette." Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked up at the sky. Her face lit up. She smiled. I loved her smile. It was innocent and full of beauty. Her smile made her eyes dance.

"You weren't lying when you said how beautiful these stars were."

"Of course I wasn't lying. I would never lie to you." I sit at the edge of the cliff waiting for her to join me, but she didn't. "Would you like to sit?"

"No, I'm okay standing."

"I'm not going to push you."

"I know, I just don't want to fall."

"Are you afraid of heights?" I ask. She nods her head. "You won't fall. I would never let you fall." She looked like she was thinking about and kept going back and forth with her body as to whether she would sit or not. Finally, she got down and sat a good few inches away from me letting her legs hang off the cliff. 

I slightly sighed and slid myself over next to her placing an arm around her shoulder. She just looks at me and I smile. "Just to make sure you don't fall." Juliette just nods her head and looks back at the stars. I see her mouth barely moving and curve into a small smile. I knew what she was doing. I brushed some hair behind her ears and she didn't flinch. Progress. I think to myself. 

I loved this. I know she doesn't feel the same but she will. It's just a wonderful moment.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end.