Crescent Camp - H.S.

~Thirteen~

"Penn. Penn! Penny!"

She could faintly hear Harry calling after her as she ran out of the room, out of the building and out into the cold air of the camp.

Her feet wouldn't stop. She wished they'd carry her far away. Away from the camp, away from every single lie that she had been told her whole life.

It was all consuming.

"Penny stop! Please stop!" Harry continued to yell, his long legs managing to keep up behind her, and eventually catching up.

His hand reached out to grab her arm to pull her body towards his. It was like jolts of electricity surging through her body at the point of contact.

"For gods sake Penn will you just stop and breathe for a minute!" He huffed, his chest heaving.

"How can I? How can I just stop?! When everything about my life is a goddamn lie?!"

Harry focused his attention on her. Only her. Knowing she needed this.

"Penn..." He whispered.

"Did everyone know before me?"

"Did you? Did you know Harry? Have you lied to me this whole fucking time?!" Penn seethed, the tears rushing down her face, her breaths became erratic. She felt her heart beating in her ears and her vision started to become foggy.

"I honestly had no idea Penn. You have to believe me. I swear on everything. And I'm sure no one else did too! Hey. Hey. Penn you're okay. You're okay just breathe with me." Harry tried to coax her into taking a second to stop.

"I don't... know. What is happening Harry?! What... what... who am I?!" She cried, stumbling over her own feet and using his shirt to try to steady herself. He could feel her grip growing tighter, knowing she needed something solid to focus on.

"You're having a panic attack Penn. Just listen to my voice okay?" Harry soothed, placing his hands on either side of her face.

"Can you tell me something you see right now?"

Penn could hear his words but struggled to focus on anything but the inability to breathe. Causing her to panic more.

"Harry... I..."

"What can you see Penn? Come on, you've got this."

She blinked roughly, trying to will away the fuzziness.

"Grass." Her words were soft and breathless.

"Good. Now tell me something you hear?"

She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the sounds. Soon enough she could hear the lake. The water rippling as the wind rushed through. She used the pattern to match her breathing. The rhythm helping calm her.

"The water."

"You're doing so good Penn. Now tell me something you love?"

Penn suddenly became hyper aware of him. The closeness of his body to hers. The feeling of his hands on her skin. Goosebumps began forming on her arms.
The way he was always there for her. Despite what had happened, he told her the truth about his life. He stepped up and opened his world to her. He'd been vulnerable and that is how she knew she could trust him.
Love isn't all rainbows and lollipops. It's hard and it's heart wrenching but it's also... this. Getting each other through whatever demons plague you. It's about holding each other's hands and wading through the murky waters together. No matter what it takes.

"Y... you."

Penn could feel his hands tense as they lay against her cheeks.

"I... I love you Harry." She whispered so softly that he wasn't sure if she's actually said those words out loud or in his head.
He didn't reply, instead, he brushed down one side of her face with his hand, titled her chin up towards him.
He paused to take a shaky breath, before leaning in to kiss her.