The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

Chapter 9

Kindness was hard to come by in this world. Penelope felt like she finally had come across it.

Her friendship with Ash wasn't perfect. There was no doubt in her mind that he had been angry for keeping things from him. In her mind, she thought she couldn't let him see the ugly parts of her life.

However, for the first time in her life, someone accepted her in whatever shape she came in.

Ash had convinced her that living in a car was no way to live, and he had already been adamant about his guestroom being open to her.

Penelope declined the offer. She was in love with Ash, and she knew that Ash gave her so much already. Pen didn't feel like taking more from him. That was selfish since she felt like there was nothing she could give him.

Instead, she had decided to hunt her mother down and make her get them a motel, at least. Her mother, still high and doing God knows what, agreed and let her stay at a motel she had already gotten. It was run down and smelled mothy, but it had a bed, something she hadn't had in a long time.

It still didn't stop her from spending all of her time with Ash at his house.

She laid her head on Ash's lap, sitting in his living room as he watched a game. His fingers ran through her loose ginger curls, watching her hum in pleasure at the contact.

"You know, ion think I ever told you but your hair is really pretty." Ash admitted. She looked up from the book she had, blushing and smiling at him.

"I used to not like my hair. I used to get made fun of at school for it...well...sometimes it still happens." Pen responded, her nose crinkled in distaste.

Ash frowned, watching her with his honey brown eyes.

"What do you mean it still happens? Is that bitch Lucy still giving you trouble?" Ash remembers making the mistake of a lifetime taking that bully out.

She shrugged, still looking at him.

"Sometimes. Really, she's just jealous...I mean...I don't blame her." She smiled. He smirked, his fingers splaying over her hairline, tracing the shape of her face.

"Why she jealous for? I haven't talked to her in months." He groaned.

"She's jealous that I spend so much time with you. She thought she could have you." She sighed as she felt his fingers beginning to trace her chin and upwards to the bottom lip.

"She can't have me, you know." Ash almost whispered.

"Why's that?" She asked, stuck in a trance while she felt his touch on her lips and his eyes on her. She swore he leaned closer to her face.

"Because...I'm yours." He leaned closer, feeling her eyes flutter close before hearing a slam of the door open with their alarm system.

"Hey guys!! We're coming in!" Lexi called out with grocery bags in her arms.

Fez walked right behind her, helping her with the bags.

"Yeah y'all, so quit it with the funny business." Fez followed.

Penelope lifted her head from his lap, smoothing her hair and trying to calm the redness of her cheeks. She stood up before she sent a mischievous look at Ash, smiling.

"Let me help you guys put stuff away." Penelope followed Lexi into the kitchen, leaving a flustered Ash on the couch.

"Aye, you down bad, bruh." Fez snickered. Ash grumbled a "fuck you," throwing a couch cushion at him.

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It was as if Ash had spiritually summoned Lucy because the next day at school, the girl Ash had rejected months ago was ready to make Pen's life hell.