Counting Stars

Chapter 21

Pan's P.O.V.

Hunting went a little longer than I had anticipated. We had a bit of a run in with some drunk pirates. By run in, I mean we played some games with them. It's much more fun when they're drunk. Maybe they should stay like that more often. Maybe Hook could get drunk enough to tell my why he is back on my island and then finally rip his heart out for threatening my girl.

We enter camp and I see Leo sitting by himself on a log sharpening his spear. One question popped into my mind. Where's Juliette? "Leo!" I call out.

He stands up immediately and makes his way towards me. "Yeah, Pan?"

"Where's Juliette?"

He had to think about it for a moment. I swear to God if he let her escape again, there will be hell to pay. "She's in your tent. I think she just wanted to lye down. Don't worry, I made sure that if she would escape, I would see." A slight bit of relief washed over me. Only slightly. It made me feel good that he had a system for making sure she didn't escape, but that he didn't keep an eye on her at all times was very concerning.

"I promise, you go into that tent and she will be there."

I just decided to take his word for it and walk over to my tent. I was about to take a step when Leo pulls my arm back. I look at him confused. "I just want to let you know that I was messing around carrying some fire wood and I accidentally hit Juliette in the cheek with it. It's nothing serious. Just a little bruise. Just talk to her about it. She'll probably want to tell you the full story."

I wanted to scream at him for hitting her. It didn't matter that it was an accident or if it only left a scratch. No one is allowed to hurt Juliette. No one is allowed to lay a finger on her. However, I restrain myself from yelling and leave it with a simple "Be more careful next time." And walk towards my tent.

I pull back the flap and pleasantly find Juliette sitting on my bed, like she was waiting for me. She looks up at me and before I can get out a 'hello', she does something that was rather odd... she got up, ran to me and hugged me. She hugged me. I know she hugged me before I left, but it was more strange the second time around. Don't get me wrong, I can easily get use to it, but a day ago she wanted nothing to do with me, now Juliette is hugging me. This hug seems very prelude.

She pulls away and looks at me with big and sad eyes. "I'm sorry." She started. "I... just missed you."

She missed me? This day is just getting better and better. "I missed you too, darling." I smiled down at her. I gave her a little kiss on her forehead and she didn't almost didn't shy away from me. She's warming up to me. I can feel it. I know soon enough she will love me.

I look down at the bruise that Leo caused her. He did say that she should be the one to tell me about it. "Where did you get that bruise?"

She tensed up, like she didn't know what to say. But she relaxes and starts to talk to me. "Well, Leo and I were walking around the camp... kind of goofing off... and... I tripped over a rock. He tried to stop my fall by... catching me. But... his hand landed... too hard on my cheek and left a bruise."

That wasn't the story Leo told me. "What?"

Juliette's P.O.V.

Peter looked pissed. I don't know why. I told him exactly what Leo told me to say. I was about to tell him the truth, but then thought about Leo's threat so decided against it. He shouldn't be mad at me. What did I do wrong?

"I told you that Leo grabbed me too hard and-"

"Why is that your story and Leo's story don't match?" He asked. What does he mean by that?

"What do you mean? What did Leo tell you?" I asked, not really sure if I wanted the answer to that question.

"He told me that he accidentally hit you in the face with some fire wood." I stood there shocked. That's not at all what Leo told me to tell Peter. I ran over in my head over a million times what I was suppose to say. I memorized it word for word. Why would Leo tell me to say one thing if he was going to tell Peter a whole new story? What was he planning.

"Juliette, why don't your stories match?" Peter asked firmly.

I started to stutter in such fear of what he would do to me. "I... do-don't know w-why. He told me to say that."

Peter seemed puzzled by this at first, but then something clicked in him and I could tell it wasn't good. "You tried to escape again, didn't you?"

"What? No I didn't! What happened was-"

"Don't lie to me Juliette!" He screamed in my face, grabbing my wrist pulling me to his chest.

"I promise. I'm not lying. I didn't try to escape. Leo told me to say that."

"And why would he tell you to say that?"

"Because this wasn't an accident. He-"

"Where did you get these markings Juliette?" He asked much softer than before looking at my wrist. I was confused as to what the sudden change of topic was. Then I remembered the black markings on my wrist. I guess they must have been a big deal.

"I don't know. Honestly. I found them this morning. I didn't think they were anything. Are they anything serious?"

"Um, no... nothing." He seemed to be in a trance that these black markings put him in. As long as he wasn't going to hurt me for something I didn't do, then I'm fine with him wondering about this.

I blinked and we were in the tree house. I swear I will never get use to magic. I find myself sitting on the bed, tied up.

I look up at him and see his face is just blank. He looks down at me and grasped my chin so I couldn't take my gaze off of his. "I'll deal with you later." And he was gone.

Pan's P.O.V.

Dreamshade. She was pricked by dreamshade. I think back to when this could have happened. Then I remember. When she first tried to run away, I tied her with vines. There had to be dreamshade on it.

If Juliette dies, it's my fault. I can't live with myself if she dies.

But then again, if she does die, I could give her some of Neverland's water. Then she would never be able to leave. I smirk at this idea as I make it back to camp.

I give her Neverland's water when the poison reaches her heart, then she is with me forever.

She will be mine forever.