Never, Never by Brianna Shrum Read Free Book Online Page A

“I’ve been wondering who dreamt them up.”
    James let out a breath. Life re-entered the wood and the boys got back to their revelry.
    â€œWhat do you mean, exactly?” said James, practically flitting with nervous energy as he followed Peter, who was pacing around in a circle.
    Peter rolled his eyes and sighed, and Bibble stepped quickly between them. He grabbed James’s arm and James frowned, but allowed himself to be led away, as Bibble’s fingers seemed rather insistent on it.
    â€œI say—” said James, but Bibble just shook his head, and Bobble appeared beside him in a wink.
    â€œIt’s best not to ask Peter too many questions,” said Bibble.
    â€œHe’s awfully busy, after all,” Bobble chimed in.
    â€œWell I just wanted to know—”
    â€œWhy he picked you,” said Bibble, flicking his sandy brown hair out of his eyes. “You’re a Dreamer , James.”
    â€œWe all are,” said Bobble, flicking the same sandy brown hair out of the same bright green eyes.
    â€œWhat do you mean? Everyone here? On the island?”
    â€œWell, not everyone.” Bibble’s mouth turned in a smug little grin. “Peter dreamt up the Indians, and you did the pirates. At least, the ones on the Spanish Main .”
    â€œThe Never Wastes are mine,” Bibble’s slouchier twin said brightly.
    â€œWell, I came up with the nasty Graps who live there.”
    James raised an eyebrow. “Graps? What exactly are—”
    Bobble laughed, ignoring James’s question altogether. “Fat lot of good that did for poor Flobbins.”
    Bibble cast his eyes downward, and Slightly stopped whatever he was doing so that he and the twins could make a gesture James could only assume was a mimicry of crossing themselves, and spit.
    â€œFlobbins,” said Slightly, “may he rest in pieces.”
    Then Slightly went on about his doing-nothing, and James shook his head quickly, then returned his attention to the boys.
    â€œSo that’s it, then? I’m a Dreamer?” He felt ridiculous even saying it, having no idea at all what it even meant.
    â€œYes,” said Bobble, knocking on James’s head. James shut his eyes and shrank back, a little more than irritated. “Pay attention. Peter liked what he saw and he took it to Neverland and kept it, and now you’re here too. That’s it.”
    Bibble spoke very slowly, over-enunciating, shadows from the fairies playing on his angular face. “You were selected. So you could come and go from Neverland as you pleased, and so did your dreams. Like little ghosts. But the ones Peter likes, they stay here forever. He likes your pirates, and apparently, he likes you. So here we all are. Got it?”
    â€œBut—”
    But James was unable to finish his question, because at that moment, Simpkins made his way over to Peter and tugged on his shirt, and said, “Peter, I’m hungry.”
    Peter thought about this for a second and shouted, “Food!”
    All the boys stopped mid-dance, mid-conversation, mid-everything, and sprinted over to Peter, huddling around him. At that, Peter’s grin nearly overtook his face, it was so large. It was difficult to hate Peter when he smiled like that. Then, he motioned his hand in the air like he was grabbing some morsel and bit down on it, “it” being nothing. James was perplexed. (Not that that was new.) He noted minute looks of malcontent on all the boys’ faces, but they disappeared as quickly as they came, and the entire party took up biting and tearing and scooping at the air.
    James felt his countenance fall, for just then had he realized that he was starving, having not eaten a bite since he’d left London what seemed like ages ago. His hand was trembling when he raised it slowly in the air, and his stomach growled angrily when he curled his fingers like he’d curl them around a hunk of bread. He grabbed