The Loneliest Girl in the Universe

Chapter 11

Penelope thought bliss was unreachable.

Ever since she met Ash, her day dreams morphed from falling in love with the character she read in her book, to the boy with face tattoos and boxing gloves.

Except now, it felt like she didn't need to daydream about touching him, feeling him close, and kissing him. She stayed in his house since that night at the motel, allowing him to keep her safe from the fucked up shit her family had put her through.

At first, she wasn't sure if they were boyfriend and girlfriend. But after she built up the courage to ask, the answer came with a make out session and mussed hair from the bed they'd been sharing.

She had a boyfriend, and he was perfect.

Penelope also got to know him more. Ever since he revealed things about his life that he had never shared before, she understood him on a level so deep.

She realized that he liked to look at his surroundings before entering a room. Before bed, he subconsciously looks out the window, doing a checklist of all the exit options he has, just in case. When he turns off the lights, his hand reaches under the bed, reaching for something cold and hard strapped against the mattress. He says they don't need guns anymore, but he says it makes him feel safer to be with one. He's cautious about the way he speaks on the phone, as if someone's always listening. She is at least.

Being his girlfriend also isn't much different than whatever they were before. The only change is that he likes to kiss her, a lot. She likes the feeling of his lips on hers, the contact making her feel alive. She also gets to witness him being grumpy and almost detached to other people except her. Never to her.

Penelope feels joy when she gets to witness every side to him there is. There's the brother side to him, watching his brother's back, no matter what. Fez was his brother. He loved him like a brother. He'd go to war like a brother.

Whenever he interacted with Lexi, her heart warmed and grew three sizes. He doesn't have to say it, but she sees his craving for a mother figure in his life. Fortunately, Lexi was there like a sister, loved him like a mother, and she'd gone to war like one too.

Penelope also found out he smoked weed. It didn't really bother her. But he'd never smoked in front of her before. Penelope was startled by the realization one morning, opening her eyes, seeing Ash lounging by the window, his legs wide open, leaning back on the chair with one hand with a joint near the window.

The mousy girl sat up quietly, observing how handsome he was. She never thought someone could look this hot while smoking. Penelope hoped she wasn't drooling, watching him take a drag, the joint in between his lips.

"Good morning," she said breathily. His attention went towards her, smirking before taking another drag.

"Good mornin', baby." He greeted her. He motioned his head towards him, causing her to immediately stand, her hair messy and curly and her tiny sleeping shorts on her thighs, scooting over to him.

Penelope sat on his lap, draping herself on him, as he continued to smoke. This felt intimate. Probably the most intimate thing they've ever done aside from sleeping together in the same bed.

Her right arm draped around his shoulders, and her ass sat on his right side, tucking herself in him while he continued to smoke. Her left arm did that thing he loved when she was close, her fingers swirling through his face tattoos.

"Do you mind that I smoke?" He asked her, his hand with the joint leaning on the chair arm lazily. She shook her head, smiling softly at him, her fingers now feeling the prickles of his short haircut.