Second Date

Chapter 26: Kiss Da Girl

Chapter 26: Kiss Da Girl

"Peter! Peter! Peter Pan! HEY – "

Jim seized a green, red-feathered hat.

A woman shrieked. "That's my son!"

"—sorry!" Jim released a seven year old in costume. Dodging the boy's mother, he tore across Fantasy Land for Peter Pan's Flight. "Have a freaking magical day!"

Peter Pan's Flight was packed. Even though it was one of the oldest attractions it was still a Disney World favorite.

Jim wasted three seconds trying to push through the waiting line before abandoning it as a bad idea. If Peter was inside, he'd never find him. There were too many sugar-high kids in the queue.

"God damn it." Helplessly Jim scanned the park. The sun was setting. Disney characters would be drifting home soon. And if he couldn't find Peter before Peter found Wendy...

"He's going to scare the living daylights right out of her." 

Jim continued at a jog, just for the sake of moving. All the while, he tried to think. "But what the Hell? Why can't Wendy remember? Pan does. They shared true love's kiss. I saw it. Pan remembers it. So why...?"

Jim stopped. He had a terrible thought.

"What if it wasn't true love? Like me and – " 

Jim swallowed. "—Ariel. True love for me. Not for her. Er – Eric is Ariel's true love. And if true love is the most magical thing...it helped me remember. But not...Ariel."

The sun set across Cinderella's Castle. Jim blinked. Peter had been looking for Mickey Mouse. Mickey was usually in the castle.

Jim ran. Panting, he continued to reason aloud.

"Peter and Wendy kissed – Peter remembers – Wendy forgets – So – it's true love for Peter— But not – "

Hands on his knees, Jim paused for breath at Cinderella's Castle. After a second rest, he charged up the steps.

"—but not Wendy – for her – it wasn't – true love's kiss – Damn it!"

Jim pound the castle doors.

"Peter's gonna flip! Hey! Open up in there! Open up! I'm looking for Peter Pan! Open –"

"Jim?"

The door opened. Merida hopped through.

"Jim!" Ecstatically Merida pointed to her hair. It was neon orange (more than usual) and smelled like pumpkin spice. "Jim! Guess what! I don't remember how – but someone turned me into a pumpkin! Merlin and Mickey jus' changed me back! It was great!"

Jim scoffed. "You would break curfew!"

"Curfew? Huh?"

"Never mind. You busy?"

"No."

"Good." Jim pulled her down the steps. "Then help me find Peter Pan. Long story short – Peter and Wendy kissed, Wendy doesn't remember, and now Peter's going to try and kiss her again."

"Okay!" said Merida, kicking up the pace. "Let's try the Mermaid Lagoon! Ariel's Grotto! Peter liked those mermaids in the movie, yeah? So come on! Keep up ye sod!"