Baby Blue

As It Was

As It Was - Harry Styles

Her alarm had woken Penelope up at 3am Sunday morning. The flight wasn't until 9 however Anthony and his wife Kate had insisted everyone be at the airport no later than 6, they had quite the controlling nature however it meant the others had little to organise. Penelope had stayed with Eloise and Phillip the night before as Phillip had the closest flat to the airport. Colin and Benedict were picking the three up in half an hour, so Penelope didn't have long to make herself look presentable. She had just finished putting the last things into her suitcase when she saw the green lingerie staring back at her. Penelope didn't know why she had packed it. Did she really want to go through with this. This was Colin Bridgerton, would he really have any interest in her. She knew deep down that she would most likely chicken out with the whole thing. However, she wasn't getting any younger and she had been besotted with this man for as long as she could remember. She needed to at least try for own sanity.

Eloise came straight into Penelope's room without knocking, Penelope quickly hid the set of lingerie. She knew Eloise thought it was a gift for herself, however she wasn't sure how she would've reacted knowing she bought it on holiday while sharing a room with her brother.

"The boys are here, you ready?" Eloise asked, slightly suspicious of how much Penelope had jumped when she had entered the room.

"Yep, just closing the case" Penelope reassured her.

As the three left the flat, they were met with Colin at the boot of the car waiting for their suitcases. Benedict was driving, with his wife Sophie in the passenger seat. Eloise and Phillip had sat in the middle row, leaving her and Colin to squeeze in the extremely snug two-seater in the back.

As the pair climbed over Colin laughed, "Well this is cosy isn't it".

Penelope was trying so hard to fight her blush, "just a bit" Penelope giggled. Colin snaked his arm around her shoulder instead of laying it next to her. His arms were so big she felt so safe with them around her shoulders like this, could she just have one moment in his company were she didn't feel like melting.

"Sorry, there isn't room for my arm down there" Colin whispered.

"It's alright don't worry; we better get used to each other's company anyway" Penelope laughed.

"Yes, I was overjoyed to hear I was getting a roommate this year" Colin expressed.

"Really, I thought you liked your own space" Penelope asked.

Colin got closer to Penelope's ear. "That is true, however I can always make room for my favourite girl"  Colin smirked. This was Penelope's problem. He was such a natural flirt. As Penelope was usually the only girl around that wasn't his relative, she was subject to most of his flirty behaviour. She knew he meant nothing by it, but it was getting increasingly difficult to brush off. She wanted it to mean something.

"Well, I wouldn't say you're my favourite, Eloise would have my head on a stick" Penelope laughed.

"Don't worry I know your true feelings" Colin expressed. The pairs giggles got the attention of the rest of the car.

"You love birds okay back there" Benedict smirked, looking at the pair through his mirror.

"Oh, I would hardly say love birds, Penelope wouldn't go near Colin if she was paid" Eloise affirmed.

"I am wounded" Colin expressed, pretending to be hurt by the notion.

"They are friends, leave the poor people alone" Sophie stated as she smirked at Penelope in the side mirror. Penelope was not comfortable having these kinds of conversations. She had spent her entire life hiding her feelings from everyone, she really didn't want to get outed in the backseat of this van.