The State of Confusion

Penelope... No, Pen.

Pen's POV
"Penelope Danger- field?"
I looked up, "Dang-er-field," I said raising my hand, "here." Great, I thought, the first thing I hear the new year is "danger- field".
AP History seemed to go by fast enough. I grabbed my stuff and headed out the door.
"Hey, Danger?" I heard a low voice yell. Great, even better.
I turned around, "It's dang-er and please call me Danger one more time, asshole."
He was smiling now. His eyes were a deep blue. His hair was a dark chocolate which complimented his caramel skin. He was slightly buff, just enough to make him look intimidating. "Jeez, little girl is slightly fierce isn't she?"
"Don't call me little girl, little girl." And with that I turned back around and started walking to Spanish 3.
I found the next empty seat. Next thing I knew my best friend walked in and I squealed.
"KATIE!!!"
"PEN!!!" She screamed hugging me so tight till I couldn't breathe which I had to tell her until she let go. She plopped her stuff in the seat next to mine and I couldn't have been happier. Katie had kind eyes for sure. They were a beautiful hazel-ish grey. Her short blonde hair reached her jawline and her pink lips always were smiling. She was a small frame but bigger than me. The bell rang, and the teacher walked in.
The next two periods were easy, nothing big. Science third and Algebra 2 fourth. I grabbed my lunch and went to go find a table. I sat down next to Ernest, the best gay friend I could ever have.
"Hey, Danger." I heard that same dumb voice say only this time when I looked he was sitting right next to me.
"What the hell do you want?" I asked irritated.
"Oh you know.." He winked.
"No I don't, now get the hell out."
"I'm staying, sugar."
"Don't call me sugar, don't call me anything."
"Oh... I'm just gonna go." Ernest said jumping up.
"No no Ernest stay."
"No no I'll let you two have your fun."
"Thanks, man." The annoyance next to me winked. Ernest walked away smirking at me the whole way around the table.
"Who the hell are you, and what the hell do you want?"
"I'm Asher. You, missy, can call me Ash." He winked.
"More like Ass." I said to myself taking a bite of my pasta. He just stared at me, "what? You gonna eat?"
"No."
"Ok." I didn't really care I just thought I should ask.
"Penelope right?"
"Call me Pen. Penelope is way too formal."
"I like it. It's uh cute actually." He said rubbing the back of his neck.
Was this annoyance flirting with me? I stared at him for a while until I said, "Yeah I guess."
He looked up and stared back in to my eyes. "You're beautiful."
I was taken aback for a second and then I locked it down, "Don't ever call me that again, ok?"
"Beautiful?"
"Stop saying!" I screamed.
"What? Why?"
"Just don't say it!" I said and grabbed my stuff and walked away. He watched me leave, utterly confused. I walked into the bathroom and dropped my bag into a stall. I sat on the toilet seat and let it out. Tears and tears and tears. They were hot and salty soon taking up my entire face.
Only he called me beautiful. He was the best. My light in the dark. My protector. My father. And now, he was gone. Dead. Never to call me Beautiful again. Never to call me Penelope again. My mother tried to make up for it but that was before the addiction sank it's teeth into her veins. Leaving me to myself and my older brother. But he isn't much better. He's usually working, but when he's not he's partying and when he does come home, it's usually with some chic he met that night. I only had me. I was my own family.
I cried till the bell. I grabbed my stuff, splashed some water on my face, patted down my wet skin, and left the bathroom for fifth period orchestra. Finally, something that would keep me sane: music.