Summer of 76

Chapter 5

The minute her nose was through the door Penelope was bombarded with questions. Her mother threw questions at her like bullets from a machine gun.

"How was the roller rink? I see you met up with Jack? Are yall dating? Did yall kiss? Was he a gentleman? Did you have fun? Did yall have sex?" Judy fired each question off as Penelope struggle to get through the door and away from the harrassment.

At the last question, Penelope stopped and her mouth fell open as she stared gawkingly at her mother. "Did you seriously just ask that?" Judy only shrugged sheepishly.

Penelope rolled her eyes and shook her head as she gave a dramatic sigh. "We just saw each other at the roller rink and we skated then got ice cream. That was it, mother. Now leave it alone!"

She dragged her bag with her to her room and closed the door, flopping down on her bed and groaning at her nosy mother. Then, the guilt set in as it always did as she knew that her mother never sees her with friends and especially not boys. Penelope knew she was just excited that she had gone out at all and then to have a boy, a very cute one at that, drop her home was probably too much for her mother to handle. Penelope felt Ginger hop up onto her bed.

"Do you think I overreacted?" she asked, softly scratching behind Ginger's ear. The cat only sat and stared at her silent, but to Penelope she might as well be listening to a lecture on how she needed to treat her mom better because she does a lot for her. Rolling over and kicking Ginger off the bed, Penelope got to change into pajamas.

She thought about Jack and how genuine he was. He was nothing like she'd always thought he'd be. He was kind and funny and he cared about people unlike his not so secret admirers. Did she like Jack? In more than a friend way? Did he like her? He did seem to enjoy himself. Or was she just making stuff up in her head? She was still thinking about him when she fell asleep that night.

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She was laughing. She looked so happy in his arms as they hugged under the beautiful lights of sunset. He was smiling down at her with his dimple popping up.

Then his smile turned into a sneer as his grip on her got tighter. Everything was black and empty. She screamed for his to stop and that he was hurting her but he only laughed at her. Not his usual sweet laugh, but a deep and malicious laugh. Then she heard others laughing and she looked around to see the mean girls from her class pointing and laugh at her.

"I can't believe you thought I'd actually like someone like you," Jack jeered as he glared at her with a hatred she'd never seen before, "who in their right mind would even want to be near you," he continued, each word tearing up Penelope's heart as she started to cry.

"Oh are you gonna cry?" Jack asked sarcastically. Then, releasing his painful grip, he threw her to the ground and stood over her, "You are a waste of space. The only reason I hung out with you was because I thought it'd be hilarious to see your pathetic face as I lead you on."

The girls and Jack surrounded her sneering and smirking at the sad heep of what used to be a girl curled up on the ground. Then, Jack raised his foot right above her face and looked straight into her eyes, "You. Are. Nothing." and Penelope braced for impact on her-

RIIIIING RIIIING RIIIING RIIIING

Penelope's eyes flew open as her alarm went off on her bedside table. She was curled up in a ball her hair was matted with sweat and her eyes red from tears.She looked around frantically and sighed realizing, "A dream," she huffed out of breath, "Just a dream...more like a nightmare."

Penelope walked into her bathroom and turned on the shower, hoping the hot water would clear her head and ease the tension from her neck. She flipped on the radio and dialed it to her favorite station as an Elton John song filled the bathroom with loud music.

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Jack rested his head in his hands as he stood at the counter. It was an ungodly hour to be awake let alone working, but for Mr. Rick he didn't mind that much. After he dropped Penelope off, he went home and stayed awake until almost 3 thinking about what she had said.

Did people really think I was that great? What defines popular anyway? And why do they hate Penny so much? She's really great.

As if on queue, she bounced through the door sending the little bell into a dinging fit. She was beaming as she came in then her smile faltered as her eyes landed on Jack and was replaced with a polite smile. He wondered what was wrong? Did He do something wrong last night?

"Hey Penny! How's it going this fine day?" he asked trying to lighten her mood.

She gave a small smile, "Uh is Mr. Rick here?"

"Oh. Um no he went pick up a delivery of some new soda," he said sounding a bit disappointed.

Penelope looked around awkwardly then saw he looked...hurt? Confused? She felt bad a bit for punishing him because of a dream, but she couldn't risk it being true.

"Ok...well see you around," she said turning to leave.

"Wait! Penelope...," Jack said scratching the back of his neck nervously, "um did I. Did I do something to offend you? Or something?" He looked up hopefully at her.

At the look on his face, Penelope's heart broke,"No. You've been surprisingly pleasant. It's just..." She trailed off awkwardly not knowing what to say.

Jack's eyebrows went up in anticipation and he leaned forward waiting anxiously for her answer.

Penelope sighed and plopped down on the ground groaning loudly, "I'm so weird!"

Jack bursted out laughing and walked around the counter. He sat down next to Penelope and shook his head.

"Yes. Yes you are!" He looked at her his eyes were shining and his dimple popped on his cheek. Penelope couldn't help but smile at him. "That's why I like hanging out with you. You're one groovy chick."

Penelope tried to push down the blush creeping onto her cheeks. "Well. You gonna help me up or what, Schex?" She said smirking and holding her arms in the air expectantly. Jack just chuckled and got up pulling her with him. Was it just her or did he hold on a little longer than normal?

Jack looked at Penelope nervously from under the graceful swoops of his bangs as he bit his lip,"So we're alright?"

Penelope looked at him seriously for a minute, then bursted out laughing,"Of course!"

Jack sighed heavily and gave a small smile,"Great. Ice cream for the lovely Penny? It's on me." He offered grinning.

Penelope looked at him quizzically,"At 9 in the morning?"

Jack feigned shock,"Are you refusing free ice cream?!"

"Hold on I never said that!" She retorted as she walked to the ice cream dispenser.

He chuckled,"The usual, my lady?" He faked a posh British accent and bowing

"Why of course, siiir," Penelope answered back in the same accent.

Well that's it for this chapter. Sorry it's short and not eventful but we did see that Penny has committed to the friendship! So BABY STEPS! Anyway I love all of you who have been reading and I apologize for the wait. I didn't quite think anyone read this. Thanks to @niallsmuchies for letting me know SOMEONE reads my stuff. Love you girl! That's about it until next time. Bye my loves!

-Lindsey