The Dark Days

Eighteen.

I spend the next week with the Lost Boys, Peter and Felix not around very much due to their "important business".

Whatever, guys.

On my first day, we spent half of it just sitting around and not really doing anything. I read a book, and the boys boredly watched more Disney movies. Peter and Felix would stop by around mealtime with tons of food for all of us. Peter and I would eat on the patio outside, not really talking since I had nothing to say to him. Same for the second and the third days. On the fourth day, it was raining, so the Boys dragged me outside and we played in the rain for hours. Peter and Felix weren't very happy when they got home because they knew we were going to track mud into the house, so they made the Boys wash themselves off with the hose connected to the side of the house. Peter picked me up with blurring speed (which made me squeak) and brought me upstairs to the bathroom, where he set me down and got me some more clothes (which weren't Felix's). He kissed me deeply for a moment before leaving to let me alone so I could bathe. The fifth and sixth day we were allowed to go back outside. The Boys played tag while I sat in a chair and read. The seventh day, the last day of my stay, Felix stayed with us all day. The Boys played card games and I taught Felix how to play Chess. It wasn't easy, but it was fun. That night, while Peter and I were snuggled up on the floor, I found myself unable to sleep. As carefully as I could, I untangled myself from Peter and crept downstairs, exiting the back door and sitting on the patio. I slumped heavily into the chair I had pulled outside the day before and sighed, leaning my head back against it. I closed my eyes, trying to get comfortable in the tiny, lumpy chair.

"Can't sleep?" a voice said suddenly, making me jump and whirl around to see Felix.

"Felix," I breathed, relieved. "You scared me."

"Sorry," he said, closing the door quietly behind him and coming over to sit beside me on the floor. "I didn't mean to."

It was quiet for a moment. "To answer your question, no, I can't sleep," I told him, closing my eyes again.

"Me, neither," he said, shaking his head. "Mostly because of all the snoring."

I chuckled at this. "Yeah, that probably sucks."

He chuckled as well. "It does."

It was quiet for a moment before Felix spoke again. "Can we play Chess again?" he asked, looking up at me with a sparkle in his eyes. "I like that game."

I couldn't help grinning as I nodded. "Sure. I like it, too."

He stood and quietly went inside the house, coming back only about five seconds later with the box. He turned the patio light on and we both sat on the ground face-to-face. He lifted the lid off the box and set it aside, getting the game board out and unfolding it and setting it down between us.

"Do you want to be white or black?" he asked, looking up at me.

I shrugged. "I don't mind. I prefer black, though."

Felix took out all the black pieces and set them up for me. When he was finished I smiled at him. "Perfect. All the pieces are in the correct place."

He grinned like a kid on Christmas, and then set his side up. The game lasted for about an hour, and I began to yawn towards the end.

"Tired?" Felix asked when I yawned once again as he studied the board.

"Yeah," I said, nodding.

"That's good." He yawned. "So am I. Maybe we can both get some sleep tonight."

I nodded again, and Felix moved his bishop, taking my queen - my favorite piece.

"Crap!" I said, a little loud, but I didn't care. "You're going to regret that, Felix, mark my words."

I moved my own bishop to the last line on the board, putting his king in check. "Check," I said, smirking.

Felix studied the board once again, stroking his chin as if he had a beard. I couldn't help laughing at how ridiculous me looked. He moved his king forward and I couldn't help smirking as I moved my last pawn to the last row of the board.

Felix groaned, putting his face in his hands. I laughed again, replacing the pawn with my queen. "Sorry, Felix," I told him. "But I did warn you."

The game lasted another five minutes, and I won - again. I always won.

"That's not fair!" Felix pouted, crossing his arms over his chest. "You never let me win!"

"That's how you learn, Felix," I told him. "Play with the same person long enough, you pick up some of their tricks." I leaned forward and ruffled his dirty-blond hair. "Better luck next time."

We put the game away and Felix helped me stand, my knees popping from sitting in the same position for so long.

"Well I'm off to bed," I told him, smiling tiredly. "See you tomorrow, Felix."

"See you tomorrow, Kasey." He went back to the living room and I scaled the staircase, tripping every now and then. I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open.

When I got to Felix's room, Peter was still asleep. I couldn't help smiling a little as I quietly closed the door behind me, crossing over to him and climbing under the comforter. I was hoping it wouldn't wake him up, but it did.

Peter's eyelids slid open, and he only stared at me for a second before smiling tiredly. "Hey," he said huskily, his voice rough. "What were you doing?"

"I was just using the bathroom," I lied, shrugging. "Go back to sleep."

Peter closed his eyes again and wrapped his arms around me, pulling my body into his and resting his forehead on mine. He kissed me softly once before pulling away and falling asleep. Once I knew for sure that he was asleep, I closed my eyes and drifted off as well.