Dying to Breathe

6.2: heat and desire

A/N (LONG i'm sorry... and possibly hypomanic rn): so, you're probably confused about the numbering, huh? I actually have a 6.1 chapter thing, I'm just not happy with it. But, because its a flashback to Penelope's and Millie's past, I can get away with not posting it yet (the joys of uploading parts instead of full chapters... I know myself too well). So don't fret, you're not missing anything crucial to the immediate plot :) I'll get it up as soon as I rewrite it (Millie is a fcking hard character to capture if you're not in her head... speaking of, I have a chapter written in her POV and boooooyyyyyss is it fckin interesting to write through her eyes. But yeah, seeing her through Penelope's eyes is like so damn blurry and nearly impossible so gimme a min on that.) 

Finally, a song that actually makes sense with the chapter ^ ALSO YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER IS IN THIS PART, YAY LMAOOOO...

*Forewarning: a very small smidgen of sexual content involved in this chapter... don't get excited, it's like a line that's it lol*

Chapter 6, Part 2: Heat & Desire

Penelope felt her phone burn a hole through her pocket as she walked towards the cafeteria. He was probably busy, she reiterated inside of her head with each step. Was this what she had made Gabriel feel like when she was ignoring him? It sucked. She had texted him the night before and he still hadn't responded.

She had already walked into doors and people, all seemingly coming out of nowhere as she narrowly avoided accidents like on Monday. Her head was swimming and the world seemed hell-bent on making her embarrass herself. It was as if everyone around her were holding their breath waiting for the inevitable slip-up; phones tilted her way hoping to catch it on video.

Rich people really needed to find better hobbies.

"Hey," a skinny hand on her arm stopped her.

She blinked up to find eyes the colour of melted honey glancing at her worriedly, "You good?" Nina tilted her head, examining her head to toe.

Penelope smiled, shaking her head clear of certain dark blue eyes, "Just lost in my thoughts." She reassured the tiny redhead before noticing she was headed in the wrong direction, "Where to?"

Nina exhaled dramatically, rolling her eyes seemingly painfully as the whites of her eyes flickered, "Student committee." She grumbled. "I didn't realize being a part of it, meant I'd have to actually do things." With a shrug and a wave at Penelope's amused face, she flittered away like the tiny fairy she must have been.

Penelope didn't know how Nina made time to do everything while on the student committee. Between Penelope's academic life and social life, she barely ever had time to do what she came here to do. Maybe starting something up with Gabriel was a bad idea—

"I'm so sorry, Penelope."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

Penelope glanced up, meeting blue goldstone eyes as he pulled her into a secluded room. His thick eyebrows were furrowed as he watched her with an unreadable expression. She found her lips tipping upwards, something like the feeling of okay-ness spreading through her tensed body. She wasn't sure exactly what it was, but she was happy they were somewhere alone; just the two of them in a locked room. She decided it didn't matter why he didn't text her back—he was here now.

Penelope shook her head as he grabbed her small hand in his large one, bringing it up to his soft, pink lips, "You're not mad?" he asked cautiously, as if expecting her to blow up in his face.