Dying to Breathe

7.3: co-dependency bullshit

A/N: Hello! Welcome back, sorry this took a little longer to upload! Shuffle-play says to play this song (and I kinda agree, it should be Elliot's theme song... "I'm a man who's got veery specific taste: you're just my type! Oh you got a pulse and you are breathing!" lmaooo. im dying.) ->

Chapter 7, Part 3: Co-Dependency Bullshit

"Here you go." Alec smiled concernedly, sitting down in the seat opposite of Penelope as he placed the mug down on the table. "Why the change of order?"

Penelope exhaled loudly, looking down at the steaming black coffee. "My sister liked coffee like this." She mumbled—realizing with a tightened throat that this was the first time she spoke of Millie out loud to anyone other than her parents.

Alec nodded slowly, his green eyes watching her carefully, "And you? Do you like it?"

Penelope grabbed the hot beverage, wrinkling her nose as she brought it up to her lips, "Not yet." She admitted, sipping the bitter, horrible tasting liquid, "But I'll learn."

The barista nodded slowly, quirking his head curiously, "Why bother?"

She pursed her lips, placing the mug down as she warmed her hands on its sides. She didn't know the answer.

"Maybe I miss her." Penelope smiled sadly, thinking of her bright sister. Her bright missing sister.

No matter what happened in the future, she knew Millie would always be her favourite person. Was it so bad to want to feel close to her? To understand what she was thinking? To feel those things for herself?

"Yah," She breathed out, taking another sip without wincing this time, "I miss her."

Alec gave her arm a squeeze before getting up, "Just don't forget what you want while chasing her. You're pretty cool as you are." He gave her a warm smile before going back to the counter.

She looked down, frowning at his words—she didn't know that either. How could she forget what she wanted when she never knew what it was to begin with? Hell, she didn't even know who she was anymore—without Millie, it was like she lost everything that made her who she was. Her identity was shrouded in mystery and the only thing she knew was that Millie had the answers for everything... so maybe the answer was in trying to find those answers through Millie's head and not her own.

"Hey," A familiar soft voice excitedly spoke up, interrupting her thoughts. The flushed southern blonde sat in Alec's abandoned spot as she smiled sweetly at Penelope—her hazel blue eyes flickering over her quickly. "It sucked without you in English today; are you okay after everything?"

Haley came into view as she grabbed the seat next to Coraline, puling her vibrant red and orange hair up into a bun, "That video today was insane—you should sue the school and whoever pushed the thing." She reminded Penelope of the accident in the foyer—or maybe it was one of the other accidents she had that day. Regardless, it wasn't like it was on purpose. The world was just out to get her.

Groaning, she rested her cheek on her arms, watching silently as Nina flirted with Alec—they made a cute couple she thought. Her excitable puppy-like energy, versus his calm, laid back personality. They were both sweet, as well. Genuinely nice and happy people that deserved genuinely nice and happy partners.

"I didn't know you liked black coffee." Haley hummed.

She didn't.

"You're okay though, right? I mean, that scared the crap out of me, and I only watched it." She continued despite Penelope's clear indifference in the topic. "Things are starting to get out of hand."