Summer of 76

Chapter 8

Jack and Penelope sat in the truck both their faces a little red from being outside all afternoon in the unforgiving heat of Louisiana. Jack drove with a huge grin on his face and Penelope tried not to look like she noticed.

"Come on. Say it," he said looking over at Penelope then back at the road.

"Say what?" Penelope feigned innocence.

"I'm so sure! You totally had a good time!" Jack retorted, a Cheshire like grin almost cutting his face in half.

Penelope couldn't suppress the smile coming to her face and she rolled her eyes. "It was...fun, yeah." She admitted indifferently, looking out the window to hide her smile.

"Woo!" Jack yelled drumming his steering wheel and laughing. "I told you they'd like you!"

"Except Whitney," Penelope mumbled to herself, not expecting Jack to hear her over the music.

"Don't mind her. She's just had a crush on me since forever, but she's not that bad once you get to know her." Jack answered and Penelope blushed at the fact that he's heard her.

Jack pulled up to Penelope's house right as the street lights turned on. She got out the truck and closed the door, leaning on the still open window.

"You wanna stay for dinner? Mom's making steak and rice and gravy."

Jack smiled that dazzling smile and showed off one of his dimples, "Of course! Sounds delicious!"

He turned the truck off and they walked into the house taking their shoes off by the door. The house was filled with a wonderful aroma of food. Penelope lead Jack to the kitchen where Judy was check the rolls that were in the oven. Music played from a small portable radio on the window sill and her mother swayed to the beat as she flitted from pot to pot stirring and tasting and turning knobs.

"Hey, mom. Jack's staying for dinner if that's alright," Penelope said taking a seat at the counter as Jack plopped down next to her.

Judy turned around beaming and said, "Of course! You're always welcome here, Jack, but do phone your mother so she doesn't worry."

Jack answered with a yes ma'am and walked into the living room to do as he was told. "So how was the park?" Her mother asked as she put the food into platters and bowls.

"It was great. I met some of Jack's friends," Penny stated twirling around on the stool.

"Oh! How wonderful! Did they like you?" She asked spinning around and beaming at her daughter.

"Yeah. They were all really nice and funny. Well, except Whitney, but I don't particularly like her either," she answered with a shrug.

Her mother has finished setting the table and Penelope walked over to her, "Well, kill her with kindness. Don't give her any logical reason to hate you," Judy advised her taking Penelope's face into her hands and giving her an Eskimo kiss.

"Aw. So cute!" Jack exclaimed as he walked back into dining room and kitchen area. He came over and wrapped both Penelope and Judy int a group hug. He laughed and let them go rubbing his hands together while licking his lips, "Looks and smells great!"

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So anyway! Turns out we didn't even have practice!" Jack said exasperated and shaking his head as he scooped the rest of his second helping into his mouth. Judy laughed and Penelope just smiled looking between the two. 

"Oh my! Jack you sure do get into quite the pickles!" Judy said after she caught her breath. Jack had been telling stories almost all night. All of them quite amusing. It was quite nice to Penelope to be laughing and seeing her mom and best friend enjoying themselves. Jack leaned back and sighed contently. 

"Mrs. Hawkins this dinner was splendid!" he said rubbing his stomach and grinning.

"Well thank you Jack, but for the last time call me Judy," she said as she picked up everyone's plates and brought them to the kitchen.

Penelope got up to go wash the dishes and Jack followed her. "You don't need to do the dishes. I got it," she stated as she reached below the sink to pull out her yellow rubber gloves she used to wash the dishes.

"Those are cute," Jack mocked, "and I am helping."

"Well you're in luck because....I've got an extra pair!" Penelope exclaimed as she pulled another pair out and gave them to Jack and he snickered. Judy had gone into the living room to watch the news. Jack turned the radio on as Silly Love Songs by Paul McCartney floated through out the kitchen. Penelope and Jack washed the dishes humming and singing along. Jack bumped Penny's hip as he sang to her incredibly off pitch. She laughed at his silliness. He grabbed her hand and twirled her out to the middle of the kitchen. Jack took both of her hands pulling her to him as they danced around the kitchen, him still singing to her loudly and badly. Penelope laughed at him and settled her head on his chest. They swayed around like that until the song ended. Jack kissed the top of her head right at her hairline. Then, they went back to washing dishes. Penelope was silent except for a few quiet hums coming from her lips. Jack kept stealing side glances at her from where he was drying dishes. 

"You know you're my best friend right?" she said when they were done. Penny turned around and jumped up so she was sitting on the counter, swinging her legs back and forth. She kept her focus on her feet as if they were the most important thing in the world. Jack leaned his side against the counter next to her and smiled up at her showing off his dimple as his eyes gleamed in the fluorescent lights of the kitchen. 

"Well I feel extremely honored, Ms. Hawkins," he teased poking her side as she squirmed away. He took her chin in his hand and gently turned her face to look at him. "And did you know you were mine?"

Sooooooo THATS CHAPTER EIGHT!!!!!! FINALLY!! haha I'm so sorry guys I've been totally blah lately! Anyway I hope this chapter is alright for yall! feed back is always great! comment, vote, and tell your friends!! I was like fangirlling so hard when i was writing this because its SO CUTE!!!! ok anyway! love yall!!!!!!

Lindsey