Summer Love | TLOS

Ch. 31

15/1/17

Oh, my God. I have the details. It's horrifying, and I can't even bring myself to write it out. Micah was on his way home from school the other day. The person in back of him was a drunk driver and rear-ended him so badly that his neck snapped in half. By the time the police and ambulances showed up, Micah and his dad had already died. This is terrible. I feel terrible. This must be karma. All the awful things I said earlier, this is payback from life. This is all my fault. I never thought I'd bring myself to say this, but I still love him.

"Before we go in, we should leave someone behind to keep watch in case Lloyd comes back," Alex explained to the group.

The FAT nodded in approval. Violetta stepped up. "I volunteer."

"Okay, good."

Bulbo climbed onto Alex's shoulder. She opened the book. A beam of golden light expelled up to the sky.

"Woah," Conner breathed. "Awesome."

Alex looked back at the group. She nodded to them in affirmative that it was time to go into Peter Pan. Everyone, except for Violetta, stepped one by one into the beam of glowing light. Bulbo clung to Alex's shoulder, and buried his face into her neck. Golden letters formed into words and surrounded them like a whirlwind of literature. It was astonishing to Alex, and it took her breath away as she stared off into the golden obscurity. Finally, Alex's feet touched the cobblestone streets of London in the early 1900s. A few buggies drove by.

Alex stared at the old city. She'd always wanted to go to London, and it was even better since it was Peter Pan they got to meet. The group landed shortly after.

The voices of Mr. and Mrs. Darling came out of the Darling residence. Alex smiled. Perfect. She beckoned them to follow her behind a bush nearby the household. Alex peeked up from the hedge, then came down quickly.

"What do we do, Alex?" Arthur asked.

"Now, we wait," Alex replied with a smile.

"Wait for what?"

"Peter Pan and Tinkerbell, of course!" Alex exclaimed.

Arthur and the rest of the gang agreed. And so the waiting game began, but it seemed endless as they sat near the Darling's dwelling expecting two magic characters to come swooping in. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell never seemed to come.

Just before all hope was lost, a figure of a boy soared through the night sky. Alex stood up and the rest followed her action. Peter Pan had finally come, but it wasn't the way they wanted.

"Tink? Tink? Tinkerbell? Where are you, Tink?" Peter whispered.

He touched the window of the nursery in the Darling's. Peter bit his lip. "Oh, no. Where are you?"

"Excuse me?" Alex intervened. "Are you looking for someone?"

Peter jerked his head in Alex's direction. He swooped down to be eye level with her. He was not older than fourteen and was very sunburnt. He had messy orange hair that covered his eyebrows. His eyes were dark brown and he was only a little taller than Alex but shorter than Conner.

Peter put his hands on his hips. "And who do you think you are trynna talk to me like that?"

"I'm sorry, I was just wondering," Alex sputtered, slightly offended.

Conner stepped in. "Okay, listen, buddy. We know who you are. You're Peter Pan, and you're looking for a fairy named Tinkerbell. What happened to her?"

"What happened to her?" Peter mocked. "You think I know? Well, think again, buddy, I kinda sorta lost her."

Conner looked at Peter for a moment, until he burst out laughing. "You mean to tell me that you don't know where Tinkerbell, your magical companion, is?!"

"Well, uh, yeah."

"Conner, give it a break," Bree said, putting her hand on his shoulder. Conner blushed and looked at the ground.

Alex persuaded Peter to take them to Neverland. He agreed, but only if they promised to get Tinkerbell back. Peter reached into his pouch of pixie dust.

"WACHOW! KABLAM! KACHOW!" Peter shouted, throwing the sparkly dust on the group.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass," Xanthous said.

Peter shrugged, and turned to the rest of them. "Now, think lovely thoughts, and you will fly like me!"

Arthur shot up into the air, along with Bree, Emeralda, Rosette, Tangerina, Skylene, and Coral. Bulbo thought of seeing his mother and father again. He floated into the air as well. Conner thought about his hotel. That made him happy, but it didn't help. He thought of his mother, but he didn't ever really see her. Conner tried the thought of his sister and him becoming close again. He smiled as he rose into the air. Alex was the last to fly. She couldn't think of anything happy.

"Alex, come on!" Conner laughed.

"I'm trying!" Alex replied frustrated.

"You're making it worse, Conner," Arthur said.

Arthur dived down to Alex. "You can do it. Think of the happiest thing that has ever happened to you."

Alex licked her lips as she thought. The last time she was truly happy was when she and Conner were in the Land of Stories for the first time. Instantly, she blasted up into the air. Arthur laughed and followed her. They headed straight for the second start to the right and straight on until morning.

****

Alex's feet touched the hot, white sand of Cannibal Cove. She gazed into the greenery in back of her. Yet another childhood dream came true. She smiled from ear to ear. She was finally in Neverland! But all the peacefulness came to one earsplitting cessation. A cannon was fired.

"DUCK!" Conner yelled as he covered his head and crouched down to the sand.

A cannonball came hurling at Alex and her friends. She did as her brother directed. Another cannonball barreled at them. Conner looked at his sister. "We need to get the heck out of here!"

Alex agreed determinedly, and the group shot for a retreat into the verdurous brush. It never occurred to Alex, Conner, or Bree that Neverland would be so hot and humid. Bree tore off her purple beanie and wiped the sweat off of her forehead. Conner fanned himself with his already wet-from-sweat shirt. Alex twisted her hair up into a ponytail as they ventured through the vegetation. Alex stopped. Arthur bumped into her.

"What'd you stop for?" he asked.

"Shhh. Do you hear that?" Alex hushed.

"No," Conner replied folding his arms. "Now can we go find Tinkerbell, so we can ditch Pan?"

"Shhhhh! It's the Indians!"

A/N: Hey, everyone! Happy Friday! It's late, but I got the update up! Hope you guys enjoyed it! ~Flora