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Chapter FourTinker Bell, Tiger Lilly, the Darlings, the Lost Boys and Peter Pan found safety back at the Boys’ house, where even Hook didn’t know where to find them. And since it was night, they all put out the lights and went to sleep - save for Peter Pan, who was still awake from the excitement, and Tinker Bell. Tinker Bell didn’t like to go to bed until she was sure Peter was safe.
Peter and Tinker Bell both started to doze not far from the unlit fireplace in the hut when Peter suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder. The tap stirred Tinker Bell, who suddenly flew in the air out of fright, thinking perhaps it was Captain Hook or one of his men. Instead, it was Tiger Lily. Older than the rest of them, she was tall and had a face with a maturity that not even Wendy did. But in the presence of Peter, Tiger Lily sometimes didn’t act her age. “Peter,” she said. “Peter, wake up!” “Go to sleep!” Tinker Bell said, waking up Peter. “But I am asleep,” he replied. “What?” Tiger Lily asked. “Tink told me to go to sleep.” “Oh - Tinker Bell! Buzz off, will you?” “I don’t buzz,” Tinker Bell said, but Tiger Lily could barely hear her. When Tiger Lily didn’t react, Tinker Bell flew over to the side of Lily’s face and gave her a good slap. “Ow!” she cried. “She stung me!” Peter laughed. “She doesn’t sting. She just hits. Now why did you wake me up?” The sting suddenly flushed from Tiger Lily’s face and her voice quieted. “I wanted to thank you for saving me tonight.” “Ah,” Peter said, letting his head fall back on the chair. “Don’t mention it.” “No, Peter,” she persisted. “Give me a chance to thank you...with a kiss.” Peter smiled, poked his head back up, and held out his hand. “Well, I can never turn down a kiss.” Tiger Lily laughed. “Not that kind of kiss, Peter. That kind of kiss is for kids.” “I am a kid.” “No,” she said. “Let me show you.” As Tinker Bell watched, Tiger Lily pursed her lips and closed her eyes. Peter just looked at her, unsure of what to do, until he suddenly sprang up. “Oh! You want an adult kiss! The kind Wendy gave me back in London.” Tinker Bell’s mouth and eyes opened up wide in shock - for a moment, she wanted to slap Peter too. Or sting him, as Tiger Lily would say. But she just flew in between Peter and Tiger Lily, huffing as loudly as she could. “Peter! Adult kisses aren’t for people who never grow up! You shouldn’t do things like that,” she said. Peter shrugged. “I didn’t know what it was when she gave me the kiss.” “Are you talking to me or Tinker Bell?” Tiger asked. “Shh! I can’t hear myself think,” he replied. Then he pressed his folded index finger to his chin again, deep in thought. “I think Tink’s right. You shouldn’t just be giving away kisses. What if you run out?” Tiger just laughed again. “You don’t run out of these kinds of kisses, silly.” Just then, a voice came from the floor, where the blankets were wrapped over the Darlings. “Peter? Is that you?” It was Wendy. Tinker Bell flew over to her, quickly admonishing her for giving Peter an adult kiss, and then flew back to Peter’s shoulder to stand guard against the other girls. “All this talk of kisses is confusing me,” Peter said. “Why can’t you just go to sleep, Tiger?” She huffed and crossed her arms, sitting on the chair opposite Peter. “I’ll bet if my name was ‘Wendy,’ you would let me give you a kiss.” Wendy stood up, confused but suddenly interested in defending herself. “Back where I come from,” she started, “people can kiss whoever they want. Or not kiss whoever they don’t want.” Tiger Lily’s face went so blood-red that Tinker Bell could see the change even in the middle of the night. She just scoffed, stood up, and walked out. “What was all that business?” Wendy asked. “She wanted to give me an adult kiss for saving her.” Wendy looked at the door. “Really?” “Yep! I just told her I already had one from you.” Wendy walked over and sat where Tiger had sat, Tinker Bell’s jealous eye on her every move. “Peter, I don’t think adult kisses quite work the way you think they work.” “Why not? You gave me a kiss, so I don’t need any more.” “But an adult kiss isn’t an object. It’s something you do!” “Oh,” Peter said, coming to a sudden epiphany. “No wonder she was so mad! “Yes,” Wendy said. “I think she likes you.” “Then to be nice I should let her give me a thousand kisses!” Tinker Bell scoffed, and shouted “What? No!” Wendy looked at Tink and felt her own jealousy well up in her stomach. “It doesn’t work like that, either, Peter,” she said. “If you get your kisses from two different girls, those girls become jealous.” “Wait - so you can give out as many kisses as you want, but you don’t want to receive too many?” “Exactly.” Peter shrunk back into his chair again, wrapping himself back in the blanket. “Adult kisses are too confusing for me. I’m going to bed.” Wendy just smiled. “Good night, Peter.” “Good night, Wendy.” Wendy tapped Tinker Bell as she walked past. “Night, Tink.” “Hrmph,” Tinker Bell said, and Wendy laughed. Next Chapter |
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