Lies, Mistrust and Fairy Dust

by Xavier Neal

  Peter leans back against the couch beside his girlfriend's legs. “She is rather bitchy.”

  Belle drops her book on his head. “Oops.”

  “See.” He hands the weapon back to her and she immediately pops him upside the head with it.

  “I meant, they're all blonde, beautiful, busty, and ugh...perfect.” Why am I an outcast everywhere I go? Why's it just so hard to fit in?

  Belle smiles at the compliment. “Peyton, I get it. I do. Maybe I would've been better suited with Bimbos 'R Us, but I have to do all the shopping for your boyfriend.”

  “You're complaining because you had to pick out his wardrobe?” The words feel funny and I turn to Justin. “I thought no body picked out your clothes but you?”

  “They don't,” he quickly retorts.

  “No, not that shopping.” Belle cuts him off. “He needed specific items to make a forgery and some items are well....with connections I'm not sure you could handle.”

  Immediately I take the hint. A wave of exhaustion hits me and I sigh, “Do you guys mind if I change?”

  “Go ahead. There's a small pouch of fairy dust in your room. Mix it with a little shampoo and your body soap to easily remove all the added changes.” I smile thankful until she reminds me, “You know we have to do this all over again in the morning right?”

  “Ugh!” I let out a loud grunt as they laugh at me.

  After a quick shower removing all remains of “P.J.” from my body, I reach for my towel that was on the hook beside the bath when I got in, but has now vanished. Paranoid I wrap the shower curtain around my body and peak around the other side to see Justin dangling it from his fingertips, mischief painted on his face.

  On a huff I say, “That's mine...”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Give it back, Justin.”

  “How was lunch with Landon?”

  I don't answer.

  “I saw the video footage. Well until you cut the feed.”

  Unsure how to explain the mix of not wanting to be Aiden's reality T.V. and the fact I'm still battling jealousy, I stay silent.

  In a saddened tone, Justin snaps, “Do you know how embarrassing it was to feel like my heart was being attacked inside my chest-”

  “Wait. That happened to you too?”

  Taken off guard Justin's shoulders drop. “What do you mean you too?”

  “After I saw you with those girls inside the bank, I felt a little bit of jealousy, but then it was like something was trying to rip through my chest and get out. It hurt so bad.”

  “Jealousy isn't meant to be a factor any more when you've signed the Soul Wall. There's meant to be a level of peace and understanding that prevents it, so the aches are a reminder that there's no need for it. You've got your named tattooed on their soul. Call it a friendly reminder.”

  “Painful reminder,” I correct him. Suddenly I realize something. “Why did it happen to you?”

  For the first time I can remember a little bit of embarrassment comes across his face.

  I let out a phony gasp. “Mr. Ryan were you jealous of my date with Landon?”

  With one hand in his pocket he crosses over to me, my towel still at his mercy. His hand pushes my wet hair behind my ear as his lips lean towards mine. “That's putting it mildly.”

  Heat is transferred from his mouth to mine and I lose my grip of the shower curtain. Wrapping my wet arms around his neck, I get lost in the intense kiss that cleanses my senses of anyone else. Our kiss is cut short as the gust of cool air from the air conditioner kicking on reminds me I'm completely naked.

  Pulling away I snatch my towel to quickly cover myself up. “Behave...”

  He laughs and moves backwards making a path for me to our bedroom. “Why'd you go?”

  I begin rifling through the non con artist section of my wardrobe, “Well, initially because I was upset and didn't wanna piss off our target. Soon after I realized, we have no idea about the coin. I mean, yeah I have a little story, but it has holes the size of canyons and we honestly would benefit from them being filled.”

  “True.”

  “However, instead of getting my answers I got Landon's life story about his work and an invitation to have my questions answered on my second date.”

  “Clever.”

  “Annoying,” I correct him with a stern finger. “First Nick now Landon. What is it with guys and just not telling me what I want to know to begin with?”

  “They need a valid reason to have to see you again.”

  “Starting to see that,” I mumble before my towel drops to pat myself dry.

  To my surprise, Justin merely stands still and watches. At first I was worried he was going to try to pressure me into more, after all he was standing in my bathroom waiting for me to get out, and then kissed me while I was naked. I know he said he wanted to wait, but he could've changed his mind. In a way the staring is uncomfortable since I've never been naked in front of another individual before now yet in a way, it's kind of sexy. Exhilarating.

  Once I'm covered in a pair of shorts and a tank top, he finally speaks, “I think that was the most erotic thing I've ever seen in my life.”

  Giggling, I shake my head moving towards the door. “For some reason, I doubt that.”

  “'Love is friendship with erotic moments' according to Antonio Gala. And you Peyton Darling are my best friend...” Justin stops me from exiting our bedroom, hands gripping my waist. “And that was the most erotic moment of my life.”

  Okay so being the innocent thing that I am―er―was, I haven't had many experiences in my life. Kissing aside, I'm pretty naive about the whole batch of things, but I'm human. And I know those words coming out of his mouth are turning any inhibitions into putty.

  Justin's lips feather mine before we're interrupted by Eiden's voice, “Justin!”

  With a small groan he plants a quick kiss on my lips and pushes past me. “Yeah?”

  Following him out of the room, I see Eiden with his tablet in his hand. “Need you to check out this thing Ty sent me.”

  Justin leans over his shoulder to help whatever the issue is, which is when I ask, “About Ty...Eiden are you two...?”

  His eyes bulge out of his face and he looks around for something. “The concluded party line answer to that question is no. We're just friends.” He scans the room once more. Following his action, I notice Peter and Belle are missing. Ah. “But underneath the surface...” His smile grows wide. “God she's amazing...”

  “Not exactly?” He sighs while Justin leans over his shoulder typing something.

  “Why can't you...be together?”

  “No dating each other is on the list of Peter's rules,” Aiden whispers out. “If you work together, you can’t be together. Keeps business and pleasure from uniting. He says that's more dangerous than anything.”

  “But him and Belle are-”

  Aiden answers, “An exception.”

  “And Justin and I are...”

  “Rule breakers,” my love calls over to me.

  Leaning against the back of the couch, I reluctantly smile. My attention lowers to Aiden. “Does that mean you and BR-”

  “Are only friends,” he assures me before he whispers, “but I’d love just one night with her, ya know? Take her to a show. They've got this really cool laser show at the marina that flows with the water...”

  The helpless romantic tone in his voice breaks my heart. It's like everyone has someone and Peter thrives on their inability to be together. How can anyone be so pleased with the rest of the world's misery? That's not healthy. Then again, what is healthy about Peter?

  Suddenly, the doorbell rings and Belle rushes out of her bedroom with an angry faced Peter not far behind.

  She opens the front door, her jean shorts questionably short, and her crop top exposing her beautiful flat stomach. The pizza guy looks as pleased to see her as we are to see him.

  His eyes violate her body in enough ways to make me gag and Peter to crunch the cup in his hands.
“Total's $32.48.”

  “Sure,” Belle coos removing a wad of bills from her back pocket. Slowly, much slower than necessary, she counts out 38 dollars and hands it to him. She moves her body into his as she takes the boxes from his grip. “Thanks...”

  “Any time, baby,” the words cease Justin and Aiden’s conversation, as they watch this train wreck in progress. “If you need anything...call me.”

  Her mouth flies open to say something when Peter yells, “She'll make sure she uses the one on the menu. Have a great night!”

  Politely she thanks him with a smile, shuts the door, and storms into the living room where Peter is sitting in a chair, steam damn near leaking from every orifice. I've seen him mad. I've seen him pissed. I've seen him livid. But I've never seen this.

  Belle drops the boxes on the coffee table and folds her arms across her chest as her wings shoot out from being hidden. “What! You're the only one who can flirt in this house?!”

  “At least I have the decency to aim higher than the pizza boy.”

  The comment causes my hand to fly over my mouth. We shouldn't be watching this. We shouldn't be witnessing it. In fact they should head to their bedroom for this lover’s spat, but I doubt that's happening.

  Belle snips, “Today.”

  “You want me jealous, Belle? Is that it? You want me hunched over and groaning in pain like he was?” His hand flies to Justin who shoots me a glance. “Is that what you want?”

  “Maybe I do!”

  “Then I'm jealous.” He rolls his eyes and stands up. “Happy now?”

  “You're such a dick.” The cold words come out of her mouth as he stops just inches from her face.

  His eyes lower to a very harsh glare. “And yet you forced me to sign your soul wall anyway.”

  Whoa! Did he say force?

  Her face that's usually perfectly painted is now being stained with tears. My heart breaks at the sight. She doesn't deserve that. She deserves so much more. She deserves someone like Justin. Someone who truly cares. Maybe he once did. Maybe all the alcohol he drinks is what drives him to treat her this way.

  Peter strolls back to the kitchen and within a matter of seconds I hear the sound of a liquor bottle lid being twisted off.

  Knowing I shouldn't say anything, but not being able to stop myself, I sigh, “Ever think that maybe you've had enough?”

  “Well how else am I supposed to dull the pain that's aching in my heart,” his sarcastic jab is harsh.

  Belle who has to be the strongest no nonsensefemale I've ever met, wipes away the tears that she let escape, clears her throat, and kneels down to open the pizza boxes. “Eat up. I didn't order it so we would look at the boxes.”

  Her efforts to try to make us laugh remind me of something I never understood until just now. She's like having a mom around. She puts us first. Tries to grasp our feelings and understand our points of view. She often tries to shield us from Peter's tyranny even though her hell is much worse than any of us could probably conceive. You know, I often wonder why not just leave him, but I think part of her is afraid. Afraid to be without him. Afraid to be lost without him.

  I flop on the couch and reach for a slice of pepperoni, gently brushing her hand. Her sparkling eyes look up at me and I know whether or not she ever admits it out loud, that she's depressed on the inside because the one person she truly loves and is devoted to, doesn't love her back.

  Chapter 10

  “Again Tim?” my mother's voice croaks loudly.

  “Faith please-”

  “Please what?” she groans as I continue to hide behind the couch in the fort I created. “You and I both know it's wrong! We can't just keep shipping our angel from place to place like this! She's going to grow an unhealthy coping mechanism of some kind if she hasn't already!”

  My unicorn notebook that I draw in every day snuggles beside me along with my teddy bear. What's a coping mechanism?

  He sighs, “We have to.”

  “I didn't sign up for this-”

  “You did,” he reassures her, but this time in a softer voice.

  There's silence between them before she finally surrenders. “You can explain it to her.”

  “Where is she anyway?”

  “In her castle.”

  At those words I move my notebook into my lap and clutch my teddy to my chest.

  Suddenly my dad's happy face appears in the doorway of my fort with a smile. “How ya doin' princess?” I shrug and he lifts my chin up. “You don't like when Mommy and Daddy argue, do you?” I quickly shake my head. “Can Daddy come in the castle and talk to you?”

  “Okay...”

  He ducks his body in and tries to twist until he is sitting. “Peyton, do you like your princess stories?”

  “I do! I do Daddy! I do!”

  “Do you like when the good guys or the bad guys win?”

  “Good guys Daddy! Good guys always win!”

  “They should always win.” He touches the tip of my nose. “Let's pretend you, Peyton, are a beautiful princess and this is your very own story. Mommy is the Queen and Daddy is the King. And we're in charge of protecting something very, very special.”

  “What is it?”

  “Someday Daddy can tell you, but for now...let's just pretend it’s your teddy bear-”

  “Teddy!”

  “Pretending princess...” he sighs. “We're all in charge of keeping teddy safe from the bad man who wants to take teddy away and keep him all to himself. So to keep us all safe we have to move castles.”

  “Again?”

  “Again princess.” Dad gives my back a pat. “And I'm sorry. But we can't let the bad guys win, right?”

  “Right,” I pout and crawl into his lap. Taking a deep breath again, I curl up and bury my face in his shirt to cry. We're moving again. At least this time I didn't get the chance to make new friends, so there's no one to say goodbye to.

  The nightmare wakes me up with heavy sobs. Rolling over, I fold my arms and bury my face in them, hoping to contain the sound. I can't keep living like this.

  My phone alarm rings encouraging my crying to stop. As I reach for it on the nightstand, I see Justin with his black dress pants hanging on his hips, the very edge of his boxer briefs tempting me to undress him, if not with my hands then at least with my eyes.

  He clears his throat forcing my attention back up to his face. “Sleep well?”

  I prop my head against the headboard. “Peachy...”

  “Still having nightmares?”

  Wiping away the tears off my cheeks, I nod.

  Justin's fingers return to buttoning his white dress shirt. “Wanna talk about them?”

  “Not really.”

  He lets out a disappointed sigh. “Can I ask you something then?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Are they nightmares like monster under the bed or nightmares like memories you're reliving?”

  My eyes lower to glare and I feel panic take over. How could he know that? Is he somehow making this happen to me. “How could you―”

  “Whoa, whoa.” His hand flies up as he grabs his navy tie from the dresser beside him. “Before you blame me, just listen.”

  I press my lips firmly together.

  “To my understanding, The Precious Society protects different things-”

  Not being able to resist I ask, “Why do they hate Peter?”

  “Each Lost Boy-”

  “Yeah. Yeah. Nevermind. Please continue.”

  “Some protect several priceless artifacts, some pieces to bigger puzzles―”

  “Like all the pieces to get to The Crystal Entity.”

  “Right. But everything they protect has some sort of magical essence. Now I don't know about all the things they possess, but when going through your cards―” my eyes lower to an unpleased look and the words rush out of his mouth, “― the last time! I haven't been digging in your things recently! I swear! When going through your cards, there was one about dreams, so I looked it up the best
I could. The Precious Society is amazing at keeping the exact story hidden, but from what I've researched there's this thing called a Dream Catcher-”

  “That's what the Native Americans used to catch nightmares. Not release them.”

  “This Dream Catcher infiltrates dreams. The holder of the Dream Catcher can implant a memory it wants you to have. But in order to do that, you have to share genetic make-up of some sort. It requires a blood sacrifice in order to work. Think...blood line email.”