Dying to Breathe

5.2: a wild goose chase

Chapter 5, Part 2: A Wild Goose Chase

The cold water came out of nowhere, soaking Penelope in a single second as the icy droplets hit her head and rolled down her back—her piercing squeal disturbing the busy hum of student life.

"Oh shit! I am so sorry!" Someone in a masquerade mask shouted down from the window above her, their hand over their gaping mouth as they held a now-empty bucket in their grasp.

Cursing under her breath as chills enwrapped her body, Penelope shook her head at them with a forced thin smile. Who even threw water out of windows like that—? Theatre club, apparently. She looked down, feeling a slow blush tint her face—of course the day she wore a thin, black bralette, her white shirt would get wet. Her entire silhouette was visible.

"Hot." A group of guys walked past her whistling and catcalling loudly, drawing attention to her.

Crossing her arms, she shot them an antagonistic look before quickly walking away from the courtyard. It was as if everyone was staring—their lips curled upwards as they whispered to each other. She could hear the laughter around her. Even their phones were out to memorialize the embarrassing moment.

"Penny?" The familiar feminine voice gasped from inside the school as Penelope aggressively shoved the doors open. Poppy quickly descended the last few steps, her eyes looking over her worriedly, "What happened?" Shaking off the grey, long sweater, she handed it to Penelope, "Are you okay? I have a spare outfit if you want it."

Penelope could barely look into Poppy's concerned blue eyes, feeling the guilt eat away at her. A reasonable response considering she and her ex were just lip-locked only a few short hours ago. Would she care that Gabriel and her were... well, whatever it was that they were? She hesitated as she went to grab the sweater. Was she allowed to get help from someone she was sort of betraying?

"I-I'll get it w-wet." She lamely refused through violent shivers that fell down her entire body.

Poppy shook her head, instantly draping the warm material around her thin shoulders, "Don't be silly. You'll catch a cold if you don't cover up." Rubbing her arms to warm her up, she shook her head, "This school is great, but you have to watch out. The students here are high class and used to doing what they want—when people get in their way, it doesn't normally turn out well for them. Unfortunately, especially for people like you who don't fit their standards." Poppy's voice murmured out with a small, tight frown on her face as she fell into thoughts Penelope couldn't see.

Penelope nodded slowly, managing to give her a grim smile. Did she just insinuate she wasn't... up to their standards? It wasn't like Penelope didn't know that already; it was just that Poppy had one hell of a way to give advice.

Poppy pressed her bubble-gum pink lips together concernedly, her bright blue eyes watching her for a moment longer, "I have to go, but you be careful, okay? You're an easy target." With one last pouting look, she sighed and nodded—walking away from a blinking, slightly insulted Penelope.

Laughing humourlessly, she pushed her damp hair back; she wasn't feeling as guilty anymore.

Feeling her phone vibrate somewhere within the dripping mess of her uniform, she pulled it out of the secure place on her waist band. Shaking the water off, she was grateful she spent her last paycheck on a waterproof case during their shopping trip over the weekend.

Ignoring the gazillion group chat notifications (the subject line all about her mishap), she pulled up Nina's text messages:

(1) Answer the group chat for once, jeezuz