The Real Peter Pan

• Chapter 3 •

"We all wear masks and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing our own skin."

-André Berthiaume

I had to walk home from school.

Sadly catching a taxi isn't my specialty and my parents are obviously out questions considering we don't own a car yet.

"Dammit!" I yell for the third time in a row as the wind flicks up my skirt once more. My hands quickly drop my books as I try to save my dignity. This flipping sucks. This damn uniform and this freaking new country with their crazy wind that is just dying to show all of London my-

"Brennan?" A perky voice calls from the road. I stop scrambling my stuff together and lift my head.

"Claire?" I reply more to myself.

"Are you walking home? Do you need a lift?" She asks. The wind picks up once more and the book I balance in my arm's drops as I hold down my skirt.

"Uh yeah." I laugh annoyed hopping into the passenger seat . "That'd be great."

"I didn't know you lived over this way. What street?"

"Bishops Avenue-"

"Are you serious! I live on it too! What is your flat number." She squeals.

"41..."

For a minute the sudden silence makes me want to call for a hospital.

"WE ARE NEIGHBORS!" And..... The silence is gone. "Holy crap, this is remarkable! Okay so I'll just start taking you to school and bringing you home? How does that sound?"

"This is exciting!" I giggle. "And that would be awesome, thank you so much."

We pull up into my driveway and I hop out grabbing my things. Claire has a permanent smile spread across her lips.

"Wow this is great, my life just got so much better!"

"Ha ha, well thank you for everything..... truly." I say shutting the door. From inside the car; Claire laughs and gives me a thumbs up. I turn and head up the steps.

"Brennan! Your home!" Declan cheers as he rushes to hug my legs.

"What's going on?" I ask suspiciously. "You're never this excited to see me."

"I had a bad day." He frowns. "Why are you dressed funny?"

I laugh. "It's a uniform- for school."

He scrunches his nose in disgust. "Oh."

"Yeah. So why did you have a rough day?" I question sitting on the stairs.

"Everyone kept staring at me and I had to eat by myself." He pouts. "Plus they all talk funny so I couldn't understand what Ms. Whatzerface was saying!"

Giggling I pull him into a hug. "It's going to get better Declan."

I take a deep breath. "It's got too."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The hardwood floor of my room is cold on my bare feet. Quickly I walk in jump in bed, burying my body under the sheets. Turning off my lamp I drift to sleep.

"Brennan.... Do you know why I thought this would be the perfect date?" He whispers in my ear.

I let out a small laugh and wipe the remains of the chocolate strawberry from my lips. "Why?" I whisper back.

He smirks and plants a light kiss on my mouth. "So all I can do is sit back, relax, and admire how beautiful you are."

A rose blush invades my cheeks.

"I love you Tom." I smile. He smiles back.

"I love-"

A sudden starting thump sends me flying awake. I listen for awhile and then it happens again making me flinch. Swiftly I flick on the light and am frozen by the black figure in front of me. A blood-curdling scream leaps off my lips as I run towards my door. Slamming it shut I turn to the intruder.

"You aren't going anywhere!" I scream running towards him. "I'm not scared!"

He blocks my first punch and his hard clammy hands grasp around my forearm. But I let out a cry of pain as a sharp object tears through the skin on my right arm. I try to pull away as fast as I can but the kick to my shin has me tumbling to the ground.

The last thing I see is the shadowed man turning and leaping from the middle window; climbing his way upward towards our roof.

Then it's black.