Penny Lane 💙

Chapter 5

Chris noticed Penelope's door open in the morning. He peeked inside to see it was empty. He went downstairs to see Penelope was gone already. He noticed there was coffee made in the kitchen. He sighed, grabbing a cup before leaving the house. He found Penelope coming out of her trailer as he arrived on set. "Hey. You disappeared this morning. Can we talk?"

Penelope shrugged, "I went for a run before coming to work. And there's nothing to talk about. Let's just get to set." She avoided his gaze as she heard him following her to set.

Chris sat off set as he watched Penelope do her scene when he heard Megan come up to him. He groaned, "what?"

She chuckled, "so rude. You need to take Penelope out. Go for a walk with Dodger, take her to lunch. Something. Even if it's just friendly."

He nodded, "I know. We will, okay? We barely get along."

"And why is that Chris? What did you do to her?"

He scoffed, looking at her, "why do you assume it's my fault?"

She shrugged, "because you have a reputation Chris."

"Ugh." Chris stood up from his chair, storming off the set to his trailer. He slammed his trailer door as he entered. He plopped onto his bed, looking at the ceiling, thinking about that night almost ten years ago now.

***************Flashback***************

I watched a guy walk away from Penelope as I approached her, "Penny Lane. How are you?" I smiled as I offered her a drink.

Penelope chuckled, "Chris. How are you?"

I smiled at her small laugh as she accepted the drink with a smile. I nodded, "I'm good." I hesitated, trying to decide how best to frame the question, "I was wondering if you wanted to, if I could take you out sometime?"

"Oh." Penelope was obviously taken aback. "I'm sorry Chris. I think you're sweet, but I just don't think that's a great idea. I don't like to date other actors. I'm sorry."

"Sure." I tried to smile as I looked at the floor as I felt her grab my hand, making me look back up at her. I shrugged, "it's totally fine. Don't worry about it Penny." I looked past her to see my brother motioning for me, "I should go." I started to walk away as I heard her groan behind me. I ignored her telling me to wait as I approached my brother.

Scott smiled, "you look crushed. She said no?"

I shrugged, nodding as I took a drink from his glass. "I'm fine. Plenty of other girls." I finished his drink as I held it up, "I'm going to go get another one." As I approached the bar to get another drink I heard Penelope laughing with her friends, overhearing some of the conversation.

'Did that guy ask you out?'

Penelope groaned, "yeah. That guy is a total creep. He's so creepy, the sleaze oozes off of him. He think he can bat a smile at me and I'll do whatever he wants. He just wants to sleep with me and then I'd never hear from him again."

I scoffed as I felt my heart sink to my stomach, hearing her talking about me. I shook my head, setting the empty glass on a table before leaving the club alone.

***************Normal POV***************

Chris is jolted awake by a loud knock on the trailer door. He sighed, sitting up to see Penelope standing in front of him. "What?"

"Are you okay? I was knocking and calling for you. Megan wants us to be seen out together." She held her hand out to him, "come on, I'll buy you lunch."

Chris nodded, "sorry. I fell asleep." He ignored her hand as he heard her scoff as he stood up from the bed to follow her out of the trailer.

Penelope endured the long silence as they walked to a local diner to get lunch off of set together. She smiled at the waitress as she took their orders. She looked at Chris as he stared out the window, "Chris? What's the matter?"

Chris looked back at Penelope, seeing the light entering the window as it reflected into her eyes, displaying small golden fractals. He half smiled, "what's the matter with you? The crying. The yelling. Leaving early in the morning."

Penelope leaned back in the booth, "I don't want to talk about it."

It was now her turn to stare out the window as he sighed, watching her as she rested her chin on her hand. "So what does your boyfriend do?"

She groaned, not looking away from the window. "He's an attorney. And he isn't my boyfriend anymore. Apparently."

"What?! Why?" He leaned forward, grabbing her other hand as she turned to look at him, "I'm sorry for teasing you about it before. I was just trying to make you mad."

She nodded, "I know." She shrugged, "apparently on top of being gone all the time, the fact that I have to live with you and then be seen as if I'm in a relationship with you was too much for him. He said dating an actor was just too difficult for him. So." She sighed, looking back out the window as she felt Chris release her hand as their food arrived.

"Well then he's an idiot."

She chuckled, looking back at him, "what do you mean?"

He shrugged, "letting you go for stupid reasons? He's an idiot. That's all."

"Well, thanks." She laughed as he smirked, eating a french fry as he watched her.

**********************************************************

After they left the diner, Penelope felt Chris grab her hand, making her stop, "what are you doing?"

He shrugged as he turned to face her. He brought his hand up to her cheek, "we're supposed to appear as if we're together right?"

Penelope nodded as she felt Chris lean down to kiss her softly. She placed her hand in his hair, keeping his lips on hers as she felt him smile as he kissed her.

He smirked as he pulled away, not letting go of her hand, "come on."