My Year ~ E.Munson

\8/

EDDIE-

Penny and I start walking towards skull rock the next day. Her ankle is better, she says it's just a little bit sore, but I think she's just saying that. I honestly feel like she sprained it and just won't tell me.

She's tough like that. I think it's because she doesn't want anyone to know how she feels. And I fully believe her opening up to me the way she did about Billy, is the most she's ever done with her feelings.

Thinking about Billy doing what he did to her hurts to think about. Penny's a great person and actually cares about the people around her, so the fact that someone didn't care for her, the way she did for them, is extremely fucked up.

She cared about him and his feelings, all while putting hers aside and blaming herself for it. I know a lot about her now, and I know she's sensitive. Very emotional as well. She seemed so closed off when we went to school together, but I guess that's mainly because we were only friends in class.

Penny can't be alone. I think she fears abandonment. I do too, which is why I've been so drawn to her since she and her friends found me in the boat shed. And now I'm attached to her, which isn't good.

I know after this is all said and done, if it ever is, she'll go back to living her life, and not even think about me again. I'm sure maybe she'll try to shoot her shot with the guy she's so hopelessly in love with. Maybe then she'll feel better, and less alone.

I can tell also she likes to be left alone. Not lonely, just alone. She's calm and caring when she is. But when her brother is around it's like she changes instantly.

She puts a guard up. I think Steve has fucked her up too. He tries to pry too hard into her life as if he's some desperate mom trying to be a part of her rogue teen daughter's life.

"Hey, look" Penny is walking across me and to the edge of the woods. I follow her and we peak through the trees. It's a construction site.

"Look they have walkies, we need to get one," I furrow my eyebrows and look at her "What are we gonna do? Walk out there and ask for one? I don't know if you know this Penny, but you're wanted for murder too now that you saw Patrick die," I say.

Penny rolls her eyes "Look dingus, I'm saying we try to sneak one, and yes I know I'm an accessory to a crime, not like it fucking matters,"

Penny looks back out at the site and watches someone walk close to us. He takes his belt off and sets it on the table before walking into the port-a-potty. She slaps my arm.

"Hurry, go get it," I look at her sideways before running out of the woods. I duck behind a trash can and inspect my surroundings before grabbing the walkie and running back to Penny.

I had it to her and she takes off limp running. I follow behind her until she slows down. She's fidgeting with the walkie as we walk.

"Can I ask you something?" She nods her head, not looking up at me. "Why do you act so different when your brother is around?" Penny looks up at me and her pace slows down.

"Like, with me, you've opened up willingly, but with him, you're hostile and angry," Penny looks back down and shrugs. "He's mean,"

I raise my eyebrow confused.

"He's always put girls before me and our family. He didn't calm down until he and Nancy dated, but even then, he was never around," she bangs the walkie on her hand still trying to find the right station.

"Then they broke up, Billy and I started dating and it was me who was never around anymore, and he used to hound my ass for it. Tell me I'm leaving him behind, forgetting about him, when in actually he left me behind and I just found my way in life," Penny looks up at me and sighs