Faith, Trust & Pixie dust.

Chapter 2

Pan returned the next night, and the night after that. And every night for the next week. He never directly answered her questions, but they spent quite some time just talking, and strangely she found herself looking forward to his visits. She didn't tell Brook about him, though she wasn't sure why. It felt nice to have a little something that made her happy.

Happiness, however, was short-lived. The following Monday, Nyx received a call from their letting agent.

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that properly. Could you repeat that?" She covered her free ear, hoping to block out the sounds of the kitchen.

"I said," The agent said louder, "That Mr Turner has decided that he will be selling the flat. You have 30 days to vacate."

"You can't do that!" Nyx replied, a little shrill.

"Actually, we can. It's all in the lease you signed. You have 30 days to find other accommodation. We do have several-" Nyx ended the call.

Shit. Shit. Fuck. Shit. What were they gonna do? The only reason they could afford their rent now was that Mr Turner never raised it. Even with that they were barely scraping by. Fuck. They would never be able to afford another place. Someone shouted for their bill. Taking a deep breath, Nyx straightened her ponytail and shoved everything to the back of her mind. She just needed to get through today then they could make a plan tonight.

She worked her ass off all day. Focusing on orders, even helping in the kitchen, anything to just keep moving and prevent her mind from dwelling. By the end of the day, she was exhausted and sweaty. Brook picked up on her mood and asked her about it as they walked up the hill home, but Nyx didn't have the energy to explain. She didn't even protest when Brook suggested getting take-out for dinner. She knew Brook was worried and this was her way of trying to cheer her up. It was sweet of her.

They ate their burgers in near silence. Nyx really didn't have the energy. Brook finally left her around midnight when it was clear that she wasn't going to respond to anything. Kissing her on the top of the head, Brook said goodnight and left for her room. Realistically she knew she would have to tell Brooke, but she just couldn't tonight. It hurt to think about.

"What's wrong?" A gentle hand brushed the hair off her tear-stained cheek.

"Go away," She mumbled, burying herself deeper in her duvet cocoon.

"You know that's not happening. Talk to me." Peter settled himself next to her on the bed and pulled her into his arms.

Instinctively she snuggled into him, "The owner is selling the flat. Brook and I have nowhere to go."

She expected sympathy. Maybe an 'I'm sorry to hear that.' What she was not expecting was Pan offering them somewhere to go.

"Yes, you do." He frowned down at her, as if she was the obvious.

"Huh?" She sat up, staring back at him in confusion.

"I told you the first night I came here. You could come with me, you just have to ask." His green eyes were glittering with something she couldn't quite place. Longing? Mischief? She didn't know.

"I'm not going anywhere with you. I'm still not even convinced you're real." She laughed, rubbing her forehead where a headache was starting to build.

"I'm real Nyx, and I can take you, and Brooke, away from here. To my home, where you'll never have to worry again." His voice was soft, soothing.

"You sound like a serial killer," She joked, though she found herself believing him.

"Tomorrow night, pack a bag. I'll take you home."

*

“I don’t know about this,” Brook said for the tenth time, fiddling with the strap on her backpack.

“I can’t explain it okay? I just know that we’ll be okay,” She had no idea where this certainty was coming from, but it was there, deep in her chest. She pulled her backpack onto her shoulders, “We’ll be okay.” She just had to keep telling herself that.