Lucky Penny [h.s.]

21.

Penelope.

I fumbled with my key as I attempted to stay out of the rain on Friday evening. It had been drizzling this whole time, and I did the awkward jog from my car to the front door in an attempt to hurry and stay dry, but the droplets were making my hair frizzy and my clothes wet as I cursed under my breath and jammed the key in the lock.

I let out a sigh as I finally made it inside of the house, kicking my wet heels off and hanging up my coat as I gathered my hair in a ponytail and tied a scrunchie around it. I'd deal with that later.

I was so over the rain already, and I found myself craving the hot temperatures of last week over whatever weather it was right now.

"Hey guys." I smiled at Katie and Dave who were in the kitchen, heating up leftovers from the night before.

Katie shot me a smile, "Hey. How was your day?"

I stretched my arms out over my head as I yawned, my top riding up a little and exposing a strip of skin, "Fine. It was a busy week."

Dave glanced at the clock, seeing that it was nearly eight, "You're home early for a Friday."

I hummed out an answer as I opened the fridge and took out a beer, "Mhm, Andreas left for New York again so the week was kind of wrapped up. Just had to prepare some stuff for next week. When's everyone arriving?"

"In like an hour." Katie responded, and I saw that she was already fully dressed for the party tonight. Her hair was in a half updo, and she wore flared jeans, combat boots and a cropped sweater.

Overall, she looked stunning once more. The choker around her neck was subtle and fashionable, even though I usually despised the piece of jewellery. She of course looked incredible in it.

While Dave was stirring the sauce, Katie and I were on the couch and I lowered my voice, "Is Liam going to be here?"

She widely smiled, "Yep. Thinking of staying the night at his place."

My eyes widened, "Really? You should!"

She grinned and shrugged, "Don't really want to invite myself over, but I am so ready to sleep with him. Every time I see him, he just gets hotter to me."

I giggled at her words and she bit down on her lip to stifle her smile, "What about Harry?"

My eyes dropped a little, "I suppose he'll be here. We haven't spoken since yesterday."

"No jog this morning?" She asked and I shook my head, "Nope. Went by myself to Hyde Park again, as I used to do."

Katie was home when I arrived back from Steve's yesterday. Most of my panic attack had passed in the car, when I forced myself to stop at the side of the road since I couldn't see anything anymore through my teary eyes and my hands were too shaky to steer the wheel decently.

I had no idea why I had such a dramatic reaction to what he said. It wasn't even that bad, he hadn't been rude or hadn't insulted me. I just felt so... small when I walked in the bar and saw him talking and smiling to that other girl. He looked happy. Playful. And I wanted that for him, but I wanted to be the cause for it.

When Harry and I said that we liked one another, it clearly meant something else for me. I had been going around this whole time thinking that it was on a romantic level. And for him we were just friends. Friends with a physical attraction. Friends who kissed. A shudder ran down my spine when I realized how badly I had mistaken his words.

Katie had seen the mascara that had ran down my cheeks and she comforted me as I sobbed on the couch for some reason I couldn't really explain. I didn't know why I kept repeating Patrick's words in my head about me never finding someone better than him, never finding someone who could put up with me and my annoying traits. Him saying I was weak and pathetic, which was exactly how I felt right now.