An Exchange

Chapter Fifty-Eight - After Party

Penny

Ryan and I were among the first to arrive at the after party. Ryan guided me into the house and found a place in the backyard where the party's host had set up some music, and around the perimeter were torches that gave off a dim light.

We sat on a chair swing together and Ryan put his arm around me, smiling. "You look so beautiful."

I giggled. "You can stop telling me that. I got it the first hundred times."

He squeezed me, pulling me in closer. "I can't help it. It's all I can think about."

I glanced away, but he caught my chin and turned my face toward him. "Penny, tonight has been amazing."

My heart fluttered. "I know! I've had so much fun, and I'm glad I could share it with you."

He smiled tenderly and softly kissed me. Then he sat back and glanced toward the house where the crowd was rapidly growing. "Let's go mingle a little."

We made our way over to the crowd. Ryan was met by a group of his football team mates who handed him a beer. I didn't say anything about it, but as he sipped, he looked at me and slowly lowered it.

He laughed and joked with his friends for a while, when I was spun around and hugged tightly by Maria. She pulled back, beaming at me. "This is a perfect end to a perfect year and it's all because of you!"

She paused as Marty grasped her by the waist. She radiated joy at the sight of him but she looked me in the eyes. "You saved me. I will always, always love you for everything you did."

I clasped her hands tightly. "But I didn't do anything!"

"You were my friend when no one else wanted to be, you helped me let go of what my dad did to me, and you saw me as someone worthwhile. That's everything to me." She leaned forward and whispered in my ear, "And you made Marty finally notice me. One day I'll repay you for everything."

"Don't be silly, you don't need to-"

"But I do." She stepped back and wrapped her arm around Marty's waist.

Marty then spoke to me. "You and me Penny, we should make a pact."

I grinned. "What's that then?"

"When one or both of us are famous, we make a whole album together, for old time's sake."

I laughed. "That sounds like a sweet deal for me because you're the one who'll be famous!"

He shrugged, grinning. "Maybe, but all those Aussie celebrities have you on their radar now. Just you wait; they'll get hold of you soon enough."

I laughed and patted his shoulder.

Maria looked up at him with adoring eyes before she looked to me. "Well, we just wanted to make a quick appearance. We need to make plans for our future, you know, like college and how we will work things out."

Marty squeezed her waist. "Yeah, we better go."

Maria kissed my cheek and they waved as they left. I smiled. I was so happy for them, especially Maria. She had turned her life around, putting it back on track, and found herself exactly where she wanted to be.

Ryan's arm wrapped around my waist and he pulled me against him. "I heard all of that. You've changed more than just one person this year."

I felt my face flushing with heat. "That wasn't me. Maria just needed someone to notice her, that's all. She did the rest herself."

"But not just anyone could have noticed her." He gently kissed the top of my neck. "Not like that anyway."

I smiled and ran my hand over his arm. He caught my hand and tugged me into the living room where we sat on the couch. We chatted to each other and people as they passed by who wished us luck for the future. After a short while, Ryan asked me if I wanted a drink. I looked at my almost empty can of soda and nodded. He left, and almost instantly three of his football team mates sat around me.