Dying to Breathe

4.1: royally and truly screwed

A/N: I just looked out my window and it is SNOWING. Like, yes, I live in Canada but this is illegal in APRIL. Ok. Thank you. Enjoy this early release :)  

Chapter 4, Part 1: Royally and Truly Screwed

Penelope had friends. She always had a plethora of people that supported her and encouraged her. It was just that Millie was her best friend. Millie was the one that knew everything about Penelope. She was the one that introduced her to the first boy she kissed, the first alcoholic beverage she tasted, and every other first she had. Millie was the one that Penelope went to for everything—from her insecurities to her petty worries, to her doubts and even to her suspicions. Millie always knew what to say and how to make Penelope smile again. Every milestone Millie was there—normally as the conductor that created the situation.

Penelope had never been alone to sort things out by herself. Millie was the puzzle solver, and puzzle maker, and everything in between. Penelope merely cleaned up messes.

As much as she wanted to think this latest plot of Millie's was going to be as simple as cleaning up her mess, she realized it was so much more than that. There was a story, a plan, a reason, a cause, and a conclusion... and Penelope was blind to it all.

Penelope always knew Millie would leave one day, but why would Millie want to leave this way? She had a better understand about what she was chasing all those years after being in the club but why would she want to disappear this way; possibly even take it to the extreme by faking her own death? Was she that desperate for attention? So desperate that she would hurt her entire town and break her own parents' hearts? Was she capable of that for mere attention, or was there something more—something Millie hid from everyone, even Penelope?

Just how desperate was Millie to get out? And why?

Penelope wished—for not the first or last time—that her feelings for her sister were reciprocated and that Millie had confided in her as much as she confided in Millie.

Instead, she was completely in the dark—not knowing which way was up as she found herself wading in the rocky waters that had been below her. The suffocating water threatened to surround her, pull her under—pull her deeper and deeper until there was no way out of it. Until it snuffed her out like a light—like it did to Millie.

"finish our story, L" Penelope could hear Millie giggle, whispering somewhere indistinguishable from within the abyss. "We're not dead yet, L. But if you don't come save me, I might as well be."

She awoke in a puddle of her own sweat, hearing the haunting echo of Millie's laughter as she gulped in the air. Her head hurt and her stomach was worse as she stumbled out of bed, through her door, and to the girl's bathroom—throwing up all the salt water she had inhaled.

Just kidding, it was just the 'keep 'em coming' whiskey-sours.

Groaning, she turned around, trying with no avail to flush last nights memories down the toilet with the sick. What did they all even mean? It all swirled indistinguishably. The puzzle was so unclear to her. Where was she even supposed to start?

"Pen, are you in here?" A familiar voice called outside the stall.

She made some type of sound that resembled a mammal of sorts (a dying one, at least). Having had no time to lock the stall, she kicked the door, making it swing out.

"Well, hey there, party animal." Nina stood with her hands on her hips and a grin blessing her amused, pretty face.

Rolling her eyes, she gave her a scowl. There was nothing justifiable about how Nina could look unwarrantedly hot in red and gold plaid pants and a tight black tube-top while Penelope sat like slimy mold on the tiled bathroom floor.