“I see you!”
She gave a careful push off her feet and then was soaring upward, up toward the burrowed, curved nest of branches overhead. Unable to control her excitement, she let out a squeal, grabbing hold of an outstretched branch to watch the others. Boys were everywhere around her, dirty feet in her face, hands reaching for something to hold, bumping into her. While some soared excellently, others threw up over the barrier of the Nest. From below she heard a disgusted “OY!” With envy, she watched as John flipped easily from corner to corner, using his force to propel other Lost Boys into a drifting circle. He twisted and turned in the air, learning quickly how to manipulate his body in flight. He tossed his new sword into the air, flipped over his feet, and then pushed off the ground, meeting the sword in the air, catching it expertly. Then he flipped again and flew backward toward the ground. He spun Michael around and left his brother circling in the air as he flew circles around him. Michael giggled.
“John! Stop it!” Wendy narrowed her eyes and let out a sigh as her hand continued to clutch the branch. Some things just came so naturally to him—mathematics, astronomy, and now flying. Of course. Of course John was good at flying. While she wasn’t as bad as the boys who were stuck in the branches of the Nest, squawking for Peter to help them, she wasn’t great either. She had a hard time turning her body in the direction she wanted it to go and often ended up whirling right when she meant to go left. Her feet were drifting upward, pulling the rest of her body up with them, when she felt familiar hands slide across her shoulders.
“You can fly by me,” Peter said, laughing, his proud voice instantly making her smitten, even here while she drifted in a room of flying boys. As she twisted around to meet him, she felt a sharp pang of guilt in her heart. She couldn’t imagine why as she gazed deep into his green eyes, lighting up at the sight of her. For a moment, it felt as if it were just them, drifting above the world, their eyes locked, boys floating silently by like stars in the sky. But then Michael flew up and grabbed Wendy’s leg, giggling uncontrollably.
“Wendy! Watch this!” He pushed himself off her leg and managed to fly awkwardly across the Nest, his elated laughter filling the room as he unsuccessfully chased his toes.
Peter’s eyes met hers. “Are you nervous to come?”
Wendy looked down and blushed. “Of course not. I’ll be fine.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you,” he whispered. “Between you and me, I don’t actually think that there will be any fighting. We will take the liquor and get out. See, that’s not very exciting, now is it? No reason to be nervous. I’ve always wanted to see the Vault, and I’m so excited to see it with you.”
He let a finger brush carelessly across her cheek, and then he was off, soaring quickly to the front of the room, occasionally batting floating Lost Boys out of his way. Kitoko floated silently nearby, watching the boys and Wendy with observant eyes. Wendy floated up next to him.
“What should I do now?”
Kitoko looked over at her. “Whatever Peter tells us.” He kindly pointed to the right. “In the meantime, I would take a weapon and then assemble over there. Then we fly.”
His eyes then turned up at the corners. He was smiling. It was the first time Wendy had seen it. “Then we drink. I prefer reds.” He gave Wendy a friendly pat on the shoulder.