“Snickers?” I ask. I’m talking more than I’d like, but at least it is working to distract me from how tired I am.
“My cat.”
“Oh, well then it can never work out,” I say with a snort
“What can’t work out?”
“Us. I have goldfish, your cat would just eat them.”
“Us?” Vera breathes, her breath washing over my cheek. I stumble slightly as I realize my blunder. I spoke without thinking. I blame the exhaustion, but suddenly I don’t feel tired. I feel strangely abuzz as I realize just how close our faces are. I turn my head slightly to see that we’re almost nose to nose.
The two stars shine down brightly, casting Vera’s features into a silvery glow.
I mean to laugh off the whole ordeal, but instead I find myself blurting out, “Yeah. Us.” If my hand were free, I’d slap it over my mouth. See, this is what I mean, I see a pretty girl and suddenly my ability to speak coherent sentences goes out the window.
I just wonder why it took me so long to realize how beautiful Vera is.
The corner of Vera’s mouth turns up slightly. “James, if we get out of here without both dying, I think we can figure out a way to make it so our pets don’t eat each other.”
I laugh and start walking again. “Don’t make it sound like there is a mutual danger. I hardly think my goldfish will try to eat your cat.”
We fall silent, but it isn’t a bad silence. And I no longer feel so tired that I need a distraction. Somehow, I have found an inner strength that keeps me putting one foot in front of the other as we head straight for the heart of Neverland so that we can make our wish. Preferably before that siren’s song makes me do something I’ll regret,orI get eaten.
Vera places her hand on the side of my face. For a second I think she is just trying to give her arm a rest, but then she whispers so quietly that I’m sure I misheard it. Just like I mishear that ticking sound behind me.
“I kind of like the sound ofus.”
