Finding Neverland

Chapter One

I spent that summer in his eyes. Pools of blue green adventure that captivated my heart, mind, and soul.

Jonny and I basically met at birth. Both of us were born on the same day to single mothers. Both of us were deemed "miracle babies" due to birthing complications. Our mothers met in the NICU, both scared to death, and the rest is history. Well, sort of.

I had never thought of him as anything more than my annoying other half. We joked like best friends, fought like siblings, and that summer we loved like soul mates. I remember the drive out to his Grandfather's farm just like it was yesterday. It's been five years since that day. The day that began the best adventure of my life.

We drove for six hours on a lazy Saturday afternoon. The top was down on Jonny's black 1976 Mustang Convertible. We were seventeen and free in the early June sunshine. My mother kissed me goodbye as my step-dad helped throw my bags in the backseat that morning. Before letting me go of her safe embrace she whispered something in my ear. I can still hear it to this day.

"Find yourself." She'd said. I just smiled back at her saying a quiet goodbye trying my best to conceal my excitement.

"Take care of our girl, son." My stepfather, Vance, said to Jonny.

"Yes sir, I sure will." He smiled with a wave. Somehow even though school had just ended last week inviting sweet summertime, his skin was tan. His blond hair glistened in the sunlight and his eyes were so pure behind his sunglasses. We backed out of my driveway at a speed that seemed to have earned the title "eternity" just as I was about to speak Jonny said to me,

"Let's get a milkshake." I just looked at him and laughed.

"How did you know that's what I was about to say?" He raised his sunglasses just so his eyes barely peeked out at me and smiled.

"Because we're basically the same person." He laughed, and that summer we would find that statement to be truer than any other.

After six long hours of singing in the car and watching the day turn to night we finally reached the long stretch of driveway leading up to Grandpa Will's farm house. It was a beautiful two story old plantation home. Periwinkle colored shutters added more vibrancy to the yellow tulips that grew in the window planters. His garden was always kept, his tribute to his late wife Juliet, and the fields were always plowed. We've come here every year since we were eight, but this was the first time we've come alone, without adult supervision that is.

"Promise me that no matter what happens this summer will be life changing." I looked at him softly while grabbing my bags. He smiled and shoved my left shoulder.

"I, Jonathan Harrison Kane, promise thou, Georgia Jolene Moore, that this summer shall be existence altering." He sang as he bowed before me. I rolled my eyes before heading to the lit up wrap around porch.

"Are you coming, your majesty?" I paused before reaching the stairs and turned around to face him. He was staring at me as he slowly walked towards me. Bags in hand, keys jingling against the phone in his right pocket, I couldn't read his emotion. I decided to play it safe and assume he was just tired from the drive; and spending six hours in a car with me. I smiled at this minor victory.

As soon as I walked into the living room, I was greeted by Grandpa Will's 11 year old St. Bernard named Jack. He was always excited to see us. We were just as excited to see him. I stopped to generously give out belly rubs and scratches behind the ear before making my way up to my designated bedroom amongst the other seven that would occupy the second story of the large house. I swung open the door expecting to throw my bags down on the hardwood floor, but what happened was entirely different. I opened the door to find Jonny's half naked cousin lying on my bed playing an x box game.