Peter hesitated for what felt like an eternity before finally hitting “submit.” While many dating apps focused on meeting new people, the So Close app was designed to help users find missed romantic opportunities with someone they briefly met or saw in passing. Users could share details of their encounter in the hope that the other person would see the post and respond. Success was not guaranteed, but there was something magical and serendipitous about the process.
Despite his initial skepticism, Peter was intrigued by the app. He would occasionally scroll through it just to see if anyone had mentioned him. Although he found it entertaining, he never imagined he would be more than a mere spectator. That all changed when she walked into Neverland Cafe.
He was nearing the end of his shift at the cafe when he “met” her. The only indication of her arrival was the tinkling sound of the bell when she opened the door. Without lifting his gaze from his laptop, he gave her a well-practiced greeting, and continued tapping away at the keyboard.
Recently, and for the last time, Peter had let himself be distracted by his roommates Chas and Rob. He knew he should’ve worked on his assignments, but it was hard to resist hanging out with them. His roomies, affectionately called The Lost Boys, could usually be found partying. They were absent from class so often that whenever they did show up, professors would ask if they were lost. And thus, the nickname was born.
At any rate, they hung out all night, leaving him just a few hours to finish his literary analysis. His paper was nearly complete when a melodious voice chimed from across the counter, asking for the cafe’s WiFi password.
Her voice was unlike anything he’d heard before. His usual response was to blindly point to where the password was displayed; yet, there was something about her voice that compelled him to look up.
When he did, he was met with eyes so blue that they captured the vibrancy of both the sky and sea. Her blonde locks formed a messy halo around her head, accentuating her etherealness.
Peter realized he had been staring and hadn’t yet replied. He cleared his throat to say something, but before he could speak, a shrill ringtone interrupted them. As she focused on her phone, he glanced away, feeling embarrassed. However, his eyes were drawn back to her almost immediately. He watched as her expression shifted from composed to surprised. Then, she turned her gaze towards him and spoke.
“Nevermind, I gotta run,” she exclaimed before rushing off. Peter watched her disappear and felt oddly disappointed.
He spent the rest of the night fixated on the beautiful stranger. Their run-in left him with a nagging sensation that he was missing something important; something destined. He couldn’t shake the feeling and knew he had to find her. No longer able to focus on his paper, he decided to give the app a try.
As time passed, Peter got back to his daily routine. Since his classes were now well under control, he used his free time to work extra hours at the cafe. He would enthusiastically greet every customer that walked in, hoping she would tinker the bell again. He made the mistake of telling the Lost Boys that very thought and they began calling the mysterious girl Tinkerbell.
He’d never admit it, but he secretly liked the name.
As the days ticked by without a peep from the app, Peter’s anxiety grew, gnawing at him with increasing intensity. Unable to stand the uncertainty any longer, he gave in and messaged the app’s helpdesk, desperate to know if his post had even been published. To his surprise, an email arrived almost instantly from wendar@socloseyetsofar.com.
“Wendar,” which Peter assumed was short for Wendell, reminded him that there was no guarantee his post would be seen. He assured Peter that the post had been published, but also pointed out that success stories take time. As Peter began to type a reply to thank him, a chime alerted him to an instant message.
AdminWen: Hey CafePan, it’s @wendar. I understand that my previous email may not have given you much hope, but I have an idea that might help!
CafePan: Really? What do you have in mind?
AdminWen: The team is hosting a mixer next weekend. I think you should come.
CafePan: Hmm, I don’t know.
AdminWen: Come on, it’ll be fun. Plus, you might just find who you’re looking for.
CafePan: What if she doesn’t show up?
AdminWen: You won’t know unless you come. And who knows? You might meet someone else who catches your eye.
CafePan: Alright, you’ve convinced me.
AdminWen: Great! I’ll send you the details via email. If you have any questions, let us know.
Before Peter could properly thank him, he lost cell service. However, he wasn’t concerned. He had the information he needed and was excited by the prospect of seeing Tinkerbell again.
As the event drew closer and his workload lightened, Peter found himself with more free time to wander the campus, hoping to run into Tinkerbell. Yet, as he searched, he felt a sense of uncertainty creeping in, leading him to send an instant message to AdminWen.
“Wen, I know this might be weird, but I was wondering if we could talk?” Peter typed, only continuing when Wen replied.
Peter explained his situation, concluding with, “I’m sorry for contacting you like this. I hope you weren’t busy. “
“No, not at all. There isn’t a lot of activity this time of year,” Wen messaged.
Peter felt relieved and explained what had been on his mind. “Does this all seem weird to you? I mean, I know it’s supposed to be romantic and all, but I can’t help feeling like a bit of a stalker.”
Wen sent a laughing emoji followed by a LOL. “I can see why you might feel that way, but trust me, we have safety protocols in place. And it’s voluntary for all parties; if someone doesn’t want to be found, they won’t be.”
Peter nodded to himself, feeling reassured. “That makes sense.” With that settled, the conversation shifted to small talk before ending.
With no work, study, or search to occupy him, Peter found himself messaging Wen quite often. Gradually, he asked fewer questions about So Close and became more invested in discussing their shared interests. Although their connection was purely platonic, there was no denying the chemistry between them. Their conversations flowed effortlessly and Peter couldn’t help but admire Wen’s wit. He found himself anticipating every notification.
On the night before the event, they spent hours talking. “I’m pretty excited to meet you,” he let slip.
“Same here, Peter. Same here,” Wen replied.
Instead of saying their usual “goodnight,” Peter sent a “see ya tomorrow” and closed the chat.
The next evening, Peter arrived at the mixer, heart pounding with nervous excitement. He chatted with other guests, all the while keeping a watchful eye on the entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of… Well, he wasn’t entirely sure who he was hoping to see anymore.
Once he realized only thirty minutes had passed, he headed over to the refreshments area and grabbed a drink.
“This is nerve-wracking, isn’t it?”
Peter turned and his breath caught. He saw a stunning woman with thick, curly hair, flawless sepia-toned skin, and sparkling brown eyes. She had a warm, inviting smile and a natural glow that seemed to radiate from within.
He agreed that it was quite stressful, and in no time, they were engrossed in conversation. Speaking with her felt so calming and familiar. An hour passed, and he realized that he was no longer keeping an eye on the entrance. He took a moment to appreciate the woman who had so effortlessly alleviated his anxiety and said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
She shyly smiled back, and straightened her jacket to show her employee name badge. “My name is Wendy Darling.”
“Wendy Darling. WenDar? As in AdminWen!” Peter said, his confusion turning to excitement. “Wen, it’s me. CafePan!”
Wendy’s eyes widened in surprise when she realized who she had been talking to. She laughed in disbelief and shook her head. “I had no idea it was you, CafePan!”
“It’s actually Peter,” he chuckled. “I thought Wen was short for Wendell,” he admitted sheepishly. “I’m pleasantly surprised.”
The look in Wendy’s eyes, combined with her laughter, made Peter’s heart skip a beat. He tentatively stretched out his arms, and she responded by embracing him tightly. Their reunion was sweet but brief, as Wendy’s colleague Lily interrupted them.
“Hey guys, I want you to meet Tracy,” Lily said as she approached. “Tracy, this is my coworker, Wendy, and this is…” Lily trailed off, looking at Peter expectantly.
“Peter,” Wendy supplied, after noticing his hesitation. Wendy welcomed Tracy with open arms, but Peter’s gaze lingered on Tracy as he uttered one word.
“Tinkerbell?”
Inspiration: Peter Pan, by J. M. Barrie.
L. Woods, a lifelong writer, has always found solace and joy in putting pen to paper. Despite pursuing a non-writing career, she never lost her passion for crafting stories. Now, with the opportunity to share her words with the world, she’s excited to take her writing to new heights.
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