Courtney's POV
During the next few weeks, things became very tense between everyone since our truce. The girls became very distant with me, but still listened to my orders since I was indeed their leader. Whenever I entered the camp, their hushed whispers ceased and they all looked at me as if I were an intruder. It hurt a lot. I avoided Pan as much as possible, not wanting to make the Girls even angrier or suspicious. He would approach me whenever I was alone, but I would pretend that I had something to do and leave him. I just couldn't deal with his seductive touches and kissing. What were we anyway? I felt more like a toy than anything.
I sat on a large rock near the lagoon, my feet dangling in the water. I had an awful lot on my mind and I wanted to be alone. Everyone was at our newly conjoined camp, dancing around the fire whilst Pan played his flute. I didn't want to stay, or rather, I didn't feel welcome. I sighed and looked up at the stars, wondering if things would be different if I left, if I returned home. I wondered if my family missed me, then laughed. They're the reason I came to Neverland in the first place. I shook my head and stared at the water, swaying my feet.
"Why aren't you with the rest of us?" A familiar voice said behind me. I turned my head to look at the person, seeing Angela. "I'd rather not." I turned back to face the water. I heard her walking toward me, taking a seat on the other rock. "Is it because of us?" She questioned. I didn't reply, because I was unsure of why I felt the way I did. "You know we're all still coping with the sudden decision to join with Pan. What made you agree to it, Courtney?" I shrugged. "Did Pan convince you?" I looked at her, seeing her eyebrows had risen in curiosity. I looked back down at my feet.
"Pan...kissed me. Three times." I paused, hearing her gasp. "He said that we'd be great together, what he meant by that, I'm unsure. I didn't trust him at first, but he was so persuasive, and, I won't lie, I enjoyed his touch. I wanted him to kiss me. I needed him to. I felt as if he truly wanted me, but I knew that I needed to be careful. So I told him that I'd talk to you girls before I agreed to anything. I wanted to hear your opinions. I didn't think you'd all be so angry though. I didn't want you all to know what Pan and I had been doing. To be honest, I'm not even sure what we were doing. I haven't spoken to him in a while."
Angela had stayed quiet during my entire confessional, and I'd begun to wonder if she were actually there, but when I looked over at her, indeed she was. "Why didn't you just tell us?" I shook my head and sighed. "I don't know." "How do you really feel about the truce?" I shrugged. "It feels nice to not have to be on edge for once. The Boys have stopped tampering with our things." "That's because Pan told them if they did, he'd make them carve us new ones with only their hands." I chuckled, and she did too. "How do you feel about Pan? Do you have feelings for him?" Angela asked, her voice lowering when asking the second question. "I...I don't even know. As I said, I enjoyed the affection he offered, but I still don't know if I trust him. Something just seems a bit off." "Well it is Pan we're talking about. When isn't anything ever off about him?" We laughed in agreement and suddenly it felt as if a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. "You should go talk to him and see how he feels. Maybe you guys could discover how you truly look at one another." I snorted in disbelief. "I've always thought Pan only loved himself." Angela laughed. "We all did, but maybe you've changed him. Go talk to him." I looked at her for a moment. "What?" She asked. "What would I do without you?" She smiled. "Oh you'd surely be lonely and dumbstruck, now go!" I laughed and stood up, walking toward Pan's camp.
I noticed the Boys still gathered around the fire, no longer dancing. A few of the Girls were with them, talking and laughing but I assumed the others were off to bed. Pan was no where in sight, so I walked onward to his hut.
I reached the door of Pan's hut, prepared to knock when I heard voices inside. Two, to be exact, and it sounded like Pan and Felix. I didn't want to eavesdrop, but curiosity struck me, so I stayed there and listened. "What will you do about the leader girl?" Felix asked. I could hear shuffling across the floor and assumed Pan was pacing. It was a habit of his. "Courtney? What do you mean?" "There have been rumours of a romance between the two of you. Is that why we've joined forces with those Girls?" Pan scoffed. "For heaven's sake, no! There is neither nothing nor will there ever be anything occurring between her and I. I don't know what would give anyone that ridiculous idea." That hurt me, and I haven't a clue why. "Then what's going on, Pan? Why are they on our side of Neverland?" "Because I have something planned for them. I don't actually want them on our side, Felix. It's more of a way to get them to trust us enough so that they won't see their demise coming." I gasped, a wave of anger washing over me. He used me... "So this whole truce was just your way into ridding us of Courtney and her Girls?" "Indeed, Felix. Soon, Neverland will be ours in its entirety and we can once again live in peace. But we musn't let off any signs that this is all a game." "I knew you wouldn't let some girl turn you soft, Pan." I heard a dry chuckle come from that smug imp.
"Courtney is nothing more to me than a piece in my game. If I get rid of her, then her Girls will be too easy to dispose of." I inhaled deeply and started to move away from the door, but Pan heard. "What was that?" I backed away and went to hide in a bushel, watching as Pan opened the door, looking around for intruders. When he found none, he went back inside and shut the door. I stood up straight and brushed the dirt off of my clothes, walking back to my hut angrily as a plan formulated in my head. Pan messed with the wrong girl. If he wanted Neverland, he'd have to fight me for it.
