Penelope's Home Life

Chapter 1

 Penelope's world shattered with a scream as her stepmom Karen ripped her from peaceful slumber. The shout of pain escaped her lips as Karen's cruel kick hit her side, causing her to double over. "Shut the fuck up," Karen growled, a twisted smile playing on her lips. 

Brooklyn burst into the room, his voice filled with fierce protectiveness. "Don't you dare touch my daughter." Karen's laughter filled the room as she taunted Brooklyn, a chilling warning lingering in the air. "Don't forget what happens if you divorce me, Boynee."

With a heavy sigh, Brooklyn turned to Penelope. "Get ready for school, sweetheart." Defiance flaring in her eyes, Penelope stood her ground. "Get out," she screamed as Karen struck her and left, leaving her with a throbbing eye. 

 Braiding her hair, Penelope dressed herself in her school attire, trying to hide the pain beneath her glasses. With her pink backpack slung over her shoulder, she boarded the bus and sat next to her friend Junior. Concern evident in his voice, Junior noticed her injured eye. 

 "Hey, what happened to your eye, Penelope?" he inquired, concern evident in his voice.

 Penelope hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "I... I fell and hit it on a doorknob," she muttered, avoiding eye contact. 

 Junior shook his head, "You're such a dumbass." 

 Cody interjected, "Hey, Junior, be nice." 

 Joseph, the quiet one in the group, spoke up softly, "You can tell us anything, Penelope. We're your friends." 

Penelope's frustration boiled over as she snapped at Joseph, "I said I'm fine, dammit! Now, mind your own business and drop it!" 

 Joseph's eyes welled up with hurt, and Penelope immediately regretted her outburst. 

"I'm sorry, Joseph. Just... leave me alone until we get to school," she murmured, her voice filled with remorse.

Reluctantly, the trio backed off, the silence on the bus broken only by the hum of the engine.