Twin Souls: The Story Behind The Broken Roses

Chapter Twenty One: October 31, 2014

Penny Elmwood

Halloween had never been something that Penny had really celebrated, but she found herself all but jumping at the chance to celebrate with her friends... Maybe that was what having friends did after all, they pushed her to try new things...

She didn't have a real costume, just some stupid stuff laying around... She was going for a black cat, it was a basic one that people would recognize... It worked.

"There will be parents at this party, right?" Her mother asked, and Penny chuckled, shaking her head - it wasn't a party at all. Sure, initially Esme had asked if they wanted to try to get into a party that they'd been invited to, but they'd all talked her out of it in favor of just hanging out.

It was easier to make sure that she wasn't drunk or high when she could keep her eyes on her, and that was what Penny wanted. She wanted Esme to feel as normal as possible tonight.

"It's not a party, mom." That seemed to put her at ease a bit. "We're just going to Esme's house, that's all." That put her back on the edge, and she seemed to bristle at it... Penny could understand why, Esme still wouldn't disclose who was hurting her, and even though Penny knew, she didn't want Esme to get hurt further by her telling someone.

"Right, and will Gianna be home?" She nodded. She wouldn't be going over there if Gianna wasn't home... Well, she actually totally would, but she just would've offered to have everyone over at her house if Gianna wasn't home.

"Last I heard, yes." Her mom let out a breath of relief. "She will be home." She said, feeling her mom's hand tighten on her arm again, giving her a stern, yet gentle look... She wasn't sure how she'd mastered that, but she did it perfectly.

"And you will call me if that changes?" She asked, and Penny nodded. She wasn't sure if that was true, if Gianna wasn't home she might just stay. Luis probably wouldn't try anything if there was someone else home, right?

"Yes, and I'll have you pick me up." The lie felt bitter in her mouth, but it put her mom at ease and that was all that she wanted. She didn't want her mother worried about her, she had enough on her plate.

"Good. I worry about you, msichana wa tamu, I don't want you getting hurt." She said, and Penny sighed, shaking her head. She was worried about nothing.

"I'll be okay, I promise." She felt a kiss on the top of her head and moved away, startled before she realized it was just her dad. "Ah! Dad, you scared me." She said, and he beamed down at her, squeezing her shoulder.

"You look adorable, kiddo." He jingled the keys in his hand. "C'mon, I'll give you a ride." Thank God.

"Ed." He looked back at her mother, stopping in his tracks to give her his full attention.

"Hm?"

"Make sure Luis isn't home." She said, and Penny sighed, covering her face with her hands... She understood that her mom wanted to keep her safe, but keeping her away from being there would be stopping her from keeping Esme safe.

And she wanted to make sure that Esme was safe before anything else.

"Mom..." There was no swaying her.

It was rare when there was.

"I am not allowing that man around you... Even if Esme won't tell us who hurt her, I do not trust him." That was the right call.

But... She hated how it made it so much harder to keep him away from Esme.

"... Okay." She watched as her father wrapped an arm around her mother's waist, seeming to put her at ease instantly if the way that her shoulders relaxed was anything to go off of.