Yours, now and forever.

Chapter 35

Bella's POV

I packed my things up into a small brown satchel and headed to the edge of the forest during the early hours of dawn. Peter was fast asleep in my tent, as was Noah and Oliver in their own. I didn't exactly know how I was going to get away without saying goodbye, but in my head I had a plan. I'd collect some pixie dust from Peter's tree and use it to make flying that much easier, than surely I could fly off of Neverland. The sun had just revealed her smile above the shimmering reflection of the sea as I reached the beaches. "Thought you could sneak off without a goodbye?" a melancholy voice huffed behind me.

"I just needed a walk." I lied through my teeth. He didn't even buy it for a second.

"Is that why you have your things packed up in a bag?" Oliver's hand rested on my shoulder as he walked around to face me.

"It was meant to be a secret." I sulked, frustrated that I had been caught in my obvious act.

"I know you too well for you to keep secrets from me now Bella." He sighed. "But I didn't think you'd leave without saying goodbye." He looked so sad, not angry or annoyed, just disappointed. I broke my heart more than it had ever been broken before.

"I'm sorry." I sniffed, a single tear rolling down my cheek. "It would have been too painful." I wiped my eyes on my sleeve and scrunched up my face to try and prevent any more tears from flooding out. Oliver pulled me into a protective hug, holding the back of my head with his hand for security. "I was so angry the first time I was leaving, it didn't feel like something I had to think about, but now it- it just hurts." I balled into his clothes.

"You don't wanna go do you." He whispered soothingly. I pulled away to face him again, feeling so small as he towered over me.

"A part of me doesn't, but so much of me knows I have to, I can't be happy here Oliver. Not while I have to act like everything is ok. I'm so confused, I hate him, but I also don't, I want to stay here with him but I also never want to see him. I don't even know if I really do hate him or if it's just my mind telling me that I should!" I tried to calm my hysterics, but for what felt like the first time, someone was really hearing all of my thoughts. It wasn't pretty, but it felt so good. "I don't wanna mess anything up, so it's better if I just leave." Oliver took a moment to process everything. I could see the cogs in his brain turning as he tried to figure out what to say that would actually be helpful. Until he finally spoke.

"Bella you're a smart girl. And I think in that mind somewhere you know exactly what you want." I nodded like a toddler in trouble. "But I think you use this too much." he placed a finger pointing into my head. "It's time to use this too." He moved his and and pointed to where my heart was. "I'll agree with whatever you want to do, but you have to listen to both ok?" I nodded and sniffed, wiping my nose on my sleeve. he smiled and huffed a small laugh, shaking his head at me.

"What?" I smiled defensively.

"You may be beautiful Bella but you're such an ugly cryer." I gasped as if offended and shoved him back, laughing and beaming at him, the tears finally drying up on my face. He slid his arm around my shoulder and walked me back to the camp. Everyone was still sound asleep, except Peter who was pacing anxiously around the tents. He spotted the pair of us and walked over, looking as relieved as ever. "Don't worry Pan, safely returned." Oliver joked with Peter, taking his arm away and patting my shoulder. Peter smiled at him respectfully and looked at me, spotting the satchel at my side.

"You ready?" I paused, before nodding and going back to Oliver, hugging him tight. He leant down and whispered in my ear as I squeezed him tightly.

"I trust you, and I love you. Goodbye Bella."