Penny Lane 💙

Chapter 2

Chris stepped out of his room in the morning, sighing as he ran into Penelope coming out of her bathroom in only a towel.

She blushed as he glared at her, "sorry. I wasn't expecting to live with anyone. I'll buy a robe."

Chris went back into his room, closing the door without saying anything.

Penelope scoffed, going into her own room. She heard a knock on the door just as she was about to drop the towel. She opened the door to find Chris standing with his hand out, holding a white robe.

"I have an extra one. Hasn't been used. You can have this one." Chris made sure not to look at Penelope, but past her as he held the robe out for her to take.

She accepted it, taken aback by the gesture, "oh. Thank yo....." And the door was shut. She scoffed, "thank you," mumbling to herself. "Such a dick." Once she was dressed, she went downstairs to find Chris at the piano in the corner. As soon as he sees her, he begins to play and sing.

🎵 Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Wet beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit and meanwhile back in
Penny Lane, there is a fireman with an hourglass
And in his pocket is a portrait of the Queen
He likes to keep his fire engine clean
It's a clean machine🎵

Penelope groaned, walking over to him, slamming the fallboard, barely missing his fingers as she did.

"Rude! Most women like being serenaded." He laughed at her glare, knowing she hated that song. He shrugged, "I thought you'd like it."

Penelope scoffed, "no you didn't. I don't know why you hate me so much."

Chris rolled his eyes as he poured himself a cup of coffee, "don't be so dramatic. I never said I hated you. I just don't like you."

"Why? What did I ever do to you?"

He reached across her at the kitchen counter for a spoon as he locked eyes with her, "not what you've done, what you've said."

"What the fuck did I say?" She placed a lid over her coffee as she leaned against back against the counter.

Chris scoffed as he eyed her up and down, "as if you don't know. Come on, we have to get to set."

Penelope shrugged as she followed him out of the house, not having any idea what he was going on about.

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Chris entered the wardrobe trailer as he heard one of the costume designers talking to Penelope.

"Are you sure you haven't gained weight since the previous fitting? This is a little tighter than it was before. You may have to lose weight."

Chris looked at Penelope in a red nightie that he thought she filled out perfectly. He scoffed, making his presence known for the first time. "I think it looks great. If you don't like it then buy something else. Don't comment on her weight. I'm sorry, I was told you were ready for me. I'll wait outside." He locked eyes with Penelope, seeing them red with tears.

Penelope blushed as Chris gave her a small smile before leaving the trailer. She looked back at the costume designer to see her blushing from embarrassment. Once she changed back to her normal clothes, she found Chris outside the trailer. She placed her hand on his arm to get his attention from his phone, "thanks Chris."

He shrugged, "you're beautiful Penelope. No one should be telling you that you should be losing weight."

She nodded, "well thanks."

"Sure. I have to go."

She watched him pull away abruptly before going into the trailer.

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Penelope sighed, "I'm sorry Isaac. It isn't my fault. I have to do what I'm told." She looked at the disappointment and irritation on her boyfriend's face as they FaceTimed while she was on a break in the afternoon.

'Yeah, but do you have to live with the guy? I don't like the idea of you living with another guy Pen.'

She groaned, "well neither do I. But I have to. He's not so bad. It'll be fine." She looked up to see Chris approaching her, annoyed.

Chris found Penelope outside her trailer on the stairs, talking on her phone, "we have been summoned again." He watched her nod, looking back at her phone.

"I'm sorry Isaac. I have to go I love you."

Isaac sighed, 'okay. I love you too. Call me before bed?'

She smiled, "you bet." She turned off her phone, placing it in her pocket.

"You have a boyfriend?"

She shrugged, "what does it matter to you? Don't think anyone could possibly want me?"

Chris shook his head, "that is not what I meant. Never mind. Let's just not talk." He sighed as he watched her walk ahead of him towards the producer's office. He looked at the ground wondering how he could still be holding onto these feelings after all this time. There was a time she was all he could think about. But now whenever he looked at her, he only felt sad. He cleared his throat as he opened the door for her to enter ahead of him as they both sat in the chairs in front of the desk. This time their shared publicist, Megan was there. He groaned, "what's going on now?"

Megan smiled, "well, we were talking," she motioned to Eddie before looking back at Chris and Penelope. "We think it would be great press for the movie for you two to appear to be in a relationship."

Chris scoffed, "no way. I have a girlfriend and I know she won't appreciate that at all."

Penelope nodded, "same. I'm already with someone."

Megan shrugged, "so what? You don't have to actually be in a relationship, just appear like you are. Maybe have lunch together. Hold hands. Little things. I think it will be good, for both of you." She looked at Chris, "especially you."

Penelope snickered, "because I'm legal?"

Chris stood up, looking at Penelope, "fuck you! Because you're old, that's why. Appeases my lonely old housewife fan base."

Penelope stood up, seeing Chris storm out before she could say anything. "Fucking dick!"