[ONGOING] NOT JUST PENELOPE

17: Beast Friends

ZACH

"Hey," it's Penelope's beast friends.

It's been 30 minutes, but I don't think Penelope is done trying out her outfits in the dressing room, and now I'm left here with her friends.

"Hey."

"Hi, I'm Trixie." a Chinese looking girl said and offered her hand to me. I was about to reached for her hand when she pulled hers away immediately.

Why offer your hand for a shake, when you don't want to shake it right? Penelope's friends are so much like her.

"Oh we don't have to shake hands, I left my hand sanitizer." She faked a smiled. 

Birds of the same feather really hang out together.

"I'm Vanessa, we're cousins." This time, it's the other girl who has a darker skin tone and rounder eyes.

"Hi." I simply said. Bro, the atmosphere here is too awkward, I swear.

"We're just thinking if you could also feature us in, you know, Penelope's article?"

BRO, HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL PEOPLE THAT THIS IS MY ARTICLE AND NOT HERS?

"Yes, just so you know. We're also her friends." Vanessa added.

I thought about it and why not? It's also one way of knowing more about Penelope.

"That's a great idea. So, what do think about what Penelope said earlier? That your popularity came from her?" I asked.

Trixie rolled her arms and crossed her arms. So penelope, I thought.

"Excuse her but we don't need her to be popular."

"Yeah, that girl is so full of herself, thinking that she's perfect and all like eww." Vanessa added. 

WAIT, AM I HEARING THEM RIGHT?

Are these words really coming from her "friends"?

"Also, you know what?" It's Trixie. "It's so obvious that her boyfriend does not even like her. Look, she's been ditched a lot of times already but she's still with him hoping to have her fairytale happy ending."

WHOAH! This is too much information. 

Are these really Penelope's friends?

"I agree with Trixie. It's really clear that the only reason Jared is still with Penelope is that she's spoiling him a lot. Also, he's like the most famous jock in the campus so it's only natural that he dates a famous girl, right?"

"Hey girls," 

Shit, it's Penelope. Did she just hear what her friends said? But we're like too far away from the fitting room so it would be impossible.

"What do you think about this cute fluffy dress?" Penelope went outside the fitting room and walked around like she's in a model or something. 

Vanessa and Trixie walked towards her.

"OMG, you should take that dress. It looks good on you!" Trixie commented

THIS IS SO WEIRD.

They're clearly faking their friendship with Penelope and I don't get why someone as smart as Penelope can't see through them.

Just seconds ago, her friends sounded like they're not even friends with Penelope and now, it seems like they're back from being the best of friends?

I really don't understand girls. One second they're like angels, and then the next, they're like demons.

This whole "popularity" thing is stressing me out. 

These people are making a big deal on their popularity while I am here, allowing them to interfere with my life to save my scholarship.

☆☆☆

ZACH

"That's it?!" Clark complained. "Come on, bro. Tell me more!" he insisted.

I AM SO FUCKING TIRED THAT I CAN'T EVEN TALK RIGHT NOW.

After 4 hours of shopping, Penelope and her beast friends FINALLY realized that they have shopped TOO MUCH.

How can they stand walking around the mall and dressing up again and again and again and not feeling tired at all?

I did nothing except followed her around and asked her questions but in less than an hour, I can already feel by legs giving up.

"Bro, I'm so tired. Spare me just this once." I pleaded.

"But you're not this tired when we work at Starbucks!" he argued.
I sat up.

The moment I got inside our dorm, I immediately threw myself to my bed. That is how tired I am.

"Bro, I'll rather work at Starbucks for the whole day than to deal with 3 beasts for 4 hours." Then I laid down again.

I heard him argue and murmur but I feel so sleepy that I can't hear anything.

This thing with Penelope is just too much of a challenge, but I ain't giving up.

What I learned tonight about her so-called "friends" simply makes knowing Penelope more interesting.

I guess I'm starting to get a closer look into what her life really is.