Chapter 21; A Sleepover? Cool, I Call Dibs On The Bed

"We fall in love with people we can't have."

~ Unknown

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Alice's P.O.V

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    I run through the rainforest, heading for the campsite. I dodge low hanging branches and jump over shrubs as I go. I make a mental note to thank Will for helping me with my stamina. This is the fifth time I've attempted to beat Peter at "Hide and Seek" today. The first few times were major epic fails.

    I had almost made it past fifteen minutes on my last try, but I tripped on a fallen log, alerting Peter of my location. I swear, the universe must be against me, cursing me with clumsiness. I could've been born agile but nooooooo... I just had to be born clumsy. Why was I given the burden of being clumsy? Why couldn't I have been like Will, who thrived in school and art.

    Or like Lewis, who had been born a musical prodigy? Lewis. His name brings tears to my eyes. Lewis, the boy who was always there when I needed him. The boy who had comforted me when I found out that my mother had died. The one who always found a way to make me laugh or smile.

    I wipe the tears from my eyes. No. No, I must focus on the task at hand. The time for grieving will come later, when I win this game, when I'm back home with Will. I spot the tall tree which marks the camp's borders. I'm almost there. Just a few more meters. I just might be able to beat Peter this time. Just think of the look on his face when I—

    I'm jarred from my thoughts when I collide into someone. The boy falls onto the ground, and I fall on top of him.    I cran my neck up to see who I ran into.    "Oh," I say. "Hi, Ray."    "Is this one of your weird ways of saying hello?" he asks.

    "No," I say, shaking my head. "I was just running from Peter."    "Playing "Hide And Seek"?" Rays asks.    "Yup." I reply.    "Did Pan tell you that no one has ever won that game before?"    "Yes he did," I say.

    "What did you say to that?"

    "I told him that I intended to be the first one to beat him," I say.

    "No doubt you will."    I feel something hard brush against my pelvis. Ray's hand perhaps? I can feel his heart beating rapidly in his chest. I can only assume that he is not accustomed to being so close to females.    "Um, w-would you mind getting off me?" he asks nervously.    I feel my cheeks heat up.    "Oh— Of course," I say, getting up.

    "Sorry about that," I say shyly, avoiding his eyes.    "N-No, it's fine," Ray assures me, his voice an octave higher than usual.

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Ray's P.O.V

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    I clear my throat. "Don't worry about it."    Alice opens her mouth to say something but she's cut off by Peter wrapping his arms around her waist.    "You lose," Peter says.    "Hmpt. That's not fair, I was talking to Ray," Alice protests, crossing her arms.    Pan narrows his eyes at me.

    "What are you doing here, Ray?" Pan asks, pulling Alice closer to his body.    I notice that she doesn't squirm in his hold. And at that very moment I am reminded of the proposition Pan had offered to Alice. I was distraught to hear about it. I can't believe that she was desperate enough as to accept his offer.

    Doesn't she know that she's fighting a losing battle? Doesn't she know that Pan will never let her leave the island? She won't win the game, Pan won't allow it. She belongs to him, whether she likes it or not.    And there's nothing you can do about it, the voice at the back of my head says. She'll never love someone like you.

    I take a deep breath. "I was on my way to my tent when Alice knocked into me."    "It's true," Alice says, turning her body so that she's facing Pan.    "I'd love to spend more time with you, but I have to speak to Felix," Pan says to her.    "Don't wait up for me," Pan says. "And don't go into the library either."

    Alice rolls her eyes. "Fine."    Pan then leans down and kisses her forehead. "See you later."    "See ya'," Alice says.    Pan winks at her the teleports himself away to who-knows-where.    Alice uncrosses her arms. "Wanna play with Cassie and the twins?"    "Yes," I say.

****

    "Where could the boys be?" Alice asks outloud.    The boys giggle, hiding behind the tent. I put my finger to my lips, gesturing for them to keep quiet.    Stay here, I mouth to them.    I slowly make my way to Alice as quietly as possible. Alice continues walking down the rocky path, headed away from the boys' hiding place.

    Alice stops at her tent, and looks inside, probably looking for us. She's completely oblivious to me standing behind her.    I turn around and sure enough, I see Cassie and the twins peering from behind the tent.    Watch this, I mouth to them.    I grab Alice by the waist and lift her up from the ground.

    She shrieks. "Put me down, Ray!"    The boys' laughter fills the air as they run towards us.    "I'm supposed to be looking for you guys, not the other way around!" she says laughing. "That's the rule!"    "Rules are overrated," I say.    "Pan would have your head if you said that in front of him," Alice says jokingly.

    I gulp, recalling what Pan had said to me a few days ago...

    "You asked to see me Pan?"    "Yes," he begins, slowly walking towards me. "I wanted to tell you that I've offered Alice a deal. Well, it's more like a game."

    Oh no. His games are awful. They're made to be unsolvable, impossible to win.

    "The rules of the game are for Alice and I to act like we care for each other, like we fancy each other. And who ever falls in love first loses," he explains.

    I open my mouth to interrupt, but Pan waves his hand, ordering me not to speak.

    "If I lose I'll have to let Alice go home," Pan continues. "But if Alice loses, she'll have to stay here in Neverland with me forever."

    "Alice would never agree to this," I say.    "Well she did," Pan says.    I clench my hands. "Is that why you requested an audience with me? To gloat?"    "No," Peter says. "No, I requested an audience with you to tell you that I'll be allowing you to see Alice again."    What?

    "That was one of the conditions of the game," he explains, stopping in front of me.    Now here comes the threat. Wait for it...    Pan grabs me by the collar, lifting me off the ground.    "If you even think about trying anything, anything at all, I'll kill your brother," he growls.

    "Do I make myself clear?" he snarls, pulling me higher off the ground.    I clench my teeth so hard that I'm surprised that they don't shatter. "Crystal," I reply as calmly as possible.    Satisfied with my answer, he lets go of me. "You are dismissed."

    "Ray!" Alice shouts, bringing me back to the harsh reality.    I blink. "W-What?"    "Are you alright?" she asks, concern written all over her face. "You turned as white as a sheet and blanked out for a second."    "I'm fine," I assure her. "Don't worry about it."

    She stands on her tip toes and places her palm on my forehead. "Your head feels a bit warmer than usual. Is the heat making you feel faint? Do you want to lie down?"    "Yeah. Yeah, that's probably it," I say, not wanting her to continue asking me questions.    "Maybe we should turn head back to our tents," she suggests. "It's getting dark."

    "Yeah, I'll take the boys back to the tent," I say.    "I'll help you back to your tent," she say.    "No, it's alright, I don't want to be a bother," I say.    She makes a dismissive gesture with her hand. "Nonsense. You're in no condition to bring the boys back to the tent."

    I nod my head, knowing that I won't be able to win this argument.    "Where's your tent by the way?" Alice asks as an afterthought.    "On the other side of the campsite," I say, pointing my index finger in its direction.

****

    "Okay," Alice says, tucking Cassie into bed. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."    "Wait!" the twins exclaim.    "Can you sing us a song before you go?" Asa asks.    "Please?" Isaac pleads.    Cassie looks up at Alice with his big, colourful eyes as if he were begging her to stay.

    My eyes land on Alice, who is sitting next to Cassie on his cot. The twins —whom are lying on the cots on opposite side of the tent— sit up.    She smiles and ruffles up Cassie's hair affectionately. "Sure, boys."    She clears her throat and starts singing.

"I remember tears streamingdown your face when Isaid, "I'll never let you go."When all those shadowsalmost killed your light.I remember you said,"Don't leave me alone."But all that's dead and goneand passed tonight...

Just close your eyesThe sun is going downYou'll be alrightNo one can hurt you nowCome morning nightYou and I'll be safe and sound."

    My eyes are focused on Alice as she sings the lullaby to Cassie and the twins. Her melodious voice lulls the boys to sleep. She's so beautiful. Everything about her is perfect. Her sassy and fierce personality. Her soft and wavy brown hair. Her intelligent-looking caramel brown eyes. Her flawless skin. Her voice that makes me weak in the knees.

    Forget butterflies, I feel the whole zoo when she's around.

    I'm so captivated by her beauty that I don't realize that she's finished singing.    "Why are you staring at me, Ray?" Alice asks.    "Ni hen piao liang," I say, smiling.    "There's something on my face?" she asks, furrowing her eyebrows as she touches her cheek.    "No, I said "your hair has come out of it braid"," I lie.

    "Was that Chinese?" she asks.    I nod.    Please tell me you can't speak Chinese, I silently beg.    "I didn't know you could speak Chinese," she says impressed.    "I was teaching myself how to speak Chinese before I was taken by shadow," I say. "My Chinese is a bit rusty, but I can still remember some simple words and phrases."

    "You must've had a lot of free time," she says laughing.    I chuckle. "Yeah."    Her smile fades. "It's late, I should be getting back to the tree house," she says, getting up.    I gently grab her wrist. "How bout' you stay here for the night? It's too late for you to be out alone."    She nods her head.

    "Great, you can sleep with me," I say. My eyes widen when I realize what I had just said. "That came out wrong."    She chuckles. "It's fine, let's just go to your room."    We both stand up and make our way to my side of the tent. I push aside the curtain that separatees the boys' cots from mine. There's just one small detail I had fogotten.

    There's only one bed.

    "You take the bed, I'll sleep in the floor," I say.    "No, it's your bed, I'll sleep on the floor," she offers.    "I insist," I say.    "How bout' we both sleep on the bed?" Alice suggests.    My breath hitches in my throat. "Sure."

    We both get onto bed, facing each other.    Alice yawns. "Good night, Ray."    "Good night, Alice."

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Ni hen piao liang means "You're beautiful"

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What do you guys think of Ray?

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What did you guys think of this chapter. Did you like it? As always, feedback is appreciated.

Btw, thank you all so much for the spam of notifications. Your comments inspire me to post chapters faster and make them longer.

~ Alice xx

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Vote, comment, rate, do whatever you want <3

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Edited: 23.11.2017