She blinked. “What about them?”
“You have a list of things you love about them, don’t you?” He shrugged as he popped food in his mouth, his eyes twinkling. “You know, for someone who wants to get back to them so badly.”
Maggie couldn’t even be annoyed by him. The words caught her as if she was in the middle of a lie, as if she was suddenly made of glass and her truths were exposed to everyone who dared look her way. It wasn’t hard at all to mention the things she loved about Neverland. In fact, there weretoomany things. There wouldn’t ever be enough time to list them all. But when it came to the human lands, the only place she had ever known for her entire life, Maggie couldn’t name a single thing.
“Sunny,” she finally said.
Peter blinked. “Huh?”
“My cat, Peter.” Maggie lifted her head, as if there was something to be proud about. “Sunny.He is something I love from the human lands.”
He considered it. “I-I don’t think that counts, though.”
“Says who?”
“Sunny came to Neverland with you, Magpie. I’d understand if you left him behind but,” he trailed off with a shrug.
Maggie breathed a heavy sigh and let her chin fall into her hands. What was there to be proud of? Maggie was finding out she was practically a fraud.
“Answer me this,” Peter began, “why do you want to go back if the one thing you loved came with you?”
Her mouth opened and closed like a fish before the truth came out. “I don’t know.”
“Really?”
“Don’t you ever feel like you have to do something just because youhaveto do it?”
Peter leaned back in his seat and thought it over before he firmly shook his head. “We only have one life, Maggie. Why waste it on expectations you only gave yourself? Isn’t the point of living being happy?” He shrugged and looked out over the fields, his brow furrowed. “We only have one life. It might as well be a happy one.”
Happiness.
It sounded odd even in her head. She couldn’t live a life made out of happy choices. Things needed to be sacrificed for responsibility, even if it was something as precious as a smile. There wasn’t anyone for her to turn to. Sunny looked to her for protection, for food, for love. That required a stable job. A roof over her head came through persistent work. Having food on the table came through work. If she wanted to accomplish anydreams, she needed money. And money only came from…well, Maggie got the point a while ago.
Maggie never lived her life for happiness before. What was stopping her now?
“So,” Peter suddenly said, turning his chair so that their knees could touch, “How am I doing?”
“What?”
“For the date, Magpie. Am I doing everything right for our date? Like you wanted?”
Maggie gaped. “W-Was this a date?” For a split second, she remembered how underdressed she was.
“Of course!” Peter beamed as he pushed a strand of hair out of her face, tucking it soundly behind her ear, his fingers lingering against her skin. “I plan on doing things the way you need, Maggie. I realized I’m a little late in the game, so a date was needed right away.”
Maggie felt like she was hyperventilating but it was hardly a bad thing. She was entirely elated. Hehadlistened, just as she had thought. He took in every word she said and put it into action the first moment he could. The very same night. Maggie did not recognize a kindness as strong as that, as diligent. There was no doubt in her mind that Peter truly cared for her, that he really wanted her to stay in Neverland. Maggie, entirely swayed by him, ate the rest of her food without even realizing she was eating.
The night carried on seamlessly, until their plates were cleared and glasses emptied. Peter gingerly took her into his arms once it was finished, curling her against his chest before lifting into the quiet air. Stars sparkled above their heads, flashing in and out as they flew back to the treehouse. Peter went all the way to her balcony, not bothering with the front door or all the steps to her bedroom. When he landed on solid ground, Maggie was hardly ready to be put back down. As if he sensedher thoughts, Peter pushed the doors open with his elbow, not loosening his grip as they stepped into her warm room.
“You didn’t quite get it before,” Peter suddenly said, his cheeks a fiery red as he spoke, “but what I meant to say was…you’re my dream, Maggie. The dream I sought in Neverland. The island has finally answered me. After all these years.”
Maggie was out of breath when she caught Peter’s lips in a kiss. The embrace was gentle and quiet, their hearts far more entangled than they ever were before. Maggie melted into his arms and couldn’t imagine walking on her own two feet again, to even exist without him so close to her. Their heartbeats thumped in time with each other as they kissed, not even daring to part for a gulp of air. It wasn’t until they were both breathless and gasping that they drifted apart, Peter unsteadily lowering her to her feet.
Maggie’s hands lingered over his chest. “You…”
“I ought to go,” he whispered.
The whispers caught her off guard, but he wasn’t saying anything else. He only stared, waiting as if it was her turn to speak. Maggie knew what he was waiting for, and she almost felt as though she was waiting for it herself.
