The Real Peter Pan

• Chapter 8 •

"Confusion now hath made his masterpiece."

-William Shakespeare

"Have a safe flight Declan."

I ruffle his hair.

"Brennan!" He yells clearly irritated.

My parents hustle out the front door and make their way over to me. "Okay, the keys to the flat are on the counter, I've written down some phone numbers for emergencies, and everything you would need is already inside." My mom begins to lean towards me as if she's about to kiss my cheek; but I turn away from her.

"Brennan just kiss us goodbye-" Dad says frustrated.

"Love you Declan! See you in a few weeks, and call me when you get there." I snatch one last hug from him before I scurry into the house and lock the door shut behind me.

About an hour after they depart, Claire picks me up for school. The first five periods went by in a breeze but yet there was one not-so friendly face I have not seen yet...

In the transition to sixth period; a hand taps on my shoulder as I shove books in my locker.

"Brennan?" A guy asks, but not a random one. "Sorry you may not know us-"

"Oh I know you, your part of Peter's little gang." I snap.

The blonde one rolls his eyes. "Listen, we came here to talk to you about something important."

"What is it about?" I ask curious.

"Peter." They say in union.

"Then why isn't the bastard here to talk to me himself?"

The light brown haired one tenses. "Will you just focus? We know what he did was stupid but we didn't come to apologize for him."

He takes a deep inhale. "Look, you're different. Peter acts differently around you- even a blind man could tell."

I scoff. "Differently? Is that good or bad; because according to everyone else in this damn school, him shouting out someones secret sure seems like something he would do-"

"Brennan, Peter is gone today not just because he felt like it. There is some stuff he's going through and-" But before he can continue, the blonde guy elbows him and looks at me.

"We just want to know if we can trust you."

My eyes widen as I begin to feel shamefaced for my attitude. "Uhmm yeah, of course."

"Promise?"

I nod.

He smiles. "Good, thank you."

They begin to walk away.

"Wait!" I call after them. "I was never told your names?"

The blonde one gives a light smile. "I'm Stephan; and this pathetic loser is Nicolas."

"I am not pathetic, loser at some points, but never pathetic." Nicolas laughs.

"Nice formally meeting you two." I say.

Stephan bows his head. "As for you, see you Monday."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"We should stay the night at your place!" Claire says excitedly as we leave the school.

I smile. "Yeah that sounds great, why don't you just get your stuff once you get home and head on over!"

"Alright!" She says as we pull out if the school parking lot.

I clear my throat as I fumble with my fingers. "So I talked to Stephan and Nicolas today..."

The car comes to an extremely painful stop as my head flies forward and hits the dashboard.

"Holy crap!" Claire screams. "Brennan! You cannot tell me news like that just as I'm about to almost hit a rabbit!"

I groan. "My head-"

"Here." She quickly pulls the car over. "Let me see."

I lift my head to and her jaw drops.

"Oh my God! I am so sorry! Shit Brennan- crap, let me find you a tissue!" Claire panics.

I drop down the mirror, and stare at the hideous abrasion on my forehead. Then I begin to laugh.

"Oh my... I need to get you to a hospital." She slowly says.

"No, I'm fine really." I laugh.

She frowns. "Then why are you laughing hysterically?"

"Because you could of just hit the rabbit."

She throws her hands in the air dramatically. "No! If anything you should be wearing a seatbelt... and what if it was the freaking Easter Bunny?" She pauses and laughs to herself. "Plus I'm a vegetarian."

Holding the tissue to my head, I laugh again.

"But seriously, do you need stitches?"

"Claire it's a inch small cut, I'll be okay."

"Okay- if you say so." She comments as she pulls back onto the road.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I set my bag at it's normal place and enter the kitchen to the home phone. No new messages.

I sigh and head to the bathroom to examen my head. The abrasion isn't that bad, bloody and sore but not stitch worthy.

My examination is interrupted by a knock on the front door.

"Brennan?" Claire's voice calls.

"I'm coming!" I shout to her before popping an Ibuprofen into my mouth.

"I feel like shit because that happened to you. You're already sick and I probably gave you a concussion! But then again you are the idiot who didn't wear the required safety gear." She exclaims as I enter the living room.

Laughing I lay some blankets down on the couch. "Alright, I'll take that insult."

"So why on earth did Stephan and Nicolas talk to you?"

"They uhm... wanted to meet me formally." I shrug my shoulders.

Claire narrows her eyes for a second and then laughs. "They are so weird."

I nod. "Do you want to watch a movie?"

"Sure! Hit me up with a good American Classic!" She giggles.

So after we watched The Breakfast Club twice and halfway through Titanic it's about eight thirty and completely dark outside.

"This movie is so romantic!" Claire squeals as she hugs her knees.

"Ha ha yeah it's-" But there is a loud pound on the door. "Uh I'll go get it."

"Tell whatever salesman it is, that it's freaking late so they should go home and not interrupt anyone else's movie time!" She shouts with her eyes never leaving the screen.

I roll my eyes and turn the knob of the front door.

"Oh my God!" I gasp.

Stephan and Nicolas stand covered in sweat and soaked with the blood of an unconscious Peter draped from their arms. Purple bruised cover his body and his shoulder is slashed half a foot long.

Stephan's eyes are dark and serious. "We need your help."