Fallen in Love

Chapter 7

"Jack!" Penny rushed into the store, weaving through clothing racks and customers. "Jack! Jack! Jack! You'll never guess what happend!"

"What? What? What happend?" Jack asked 

Penny gulped for air, "Hang on, I just ran five blocks." 

Jack took her by her shoulders, "Breathe, and then tell me."

"Paloma Picasso, will be at the New York Fashion week show!" Jack gasped.

"Are you serious? You're not playing with me are you?"

Penny shook her head, "No! She really will be there! This is so huge, I have to get working right now!" Penny rushed to her office, "Tell, Mika, Albert, and Freddie to get three designs on my desk by Thursday afternoon!"

Jack chased after her, "Hang on, what about the other designs? You need at least fifteen designs in the runway!"

Penny leaned out her office, "I'm doing those, they are going to be great! Trust me!" She shut her door, "Hold my calls!"

Jack threw his hands up into the air, and went to tell the other designers the news.

---- 

Nick pulled open the shop doors. He walked up to the man at the counter.

"Hi, I'm here to see Penny Weaver."

"Mm, sorry, she is working on a VERY big project, like HUGE and I don't know why she would take it on all by herself-" He sighed, "Sorry, but she's not available right now. Can I take a message to her?" 

Nick smiled tightly, clearing his throat, "Ah, well it's kinda personal."

Jack dropped his pen, his eyebrows raised, "So you're Captain Nick Lincoln. I'm Jack, Penny's best friend."

Nick, smiled nodding, "I'm actually a Sargent. It's nice to meet you, she talks a lot about you." They shook hands, "What project?"

"Oh! That? Nah, I'm sure she'll take a break for you. I'll go get her-"

"Wait! Wait. Didn't you say it was a huge project? I'll just come back later."

Jack shook his head, "You'll do no such thing! If you came back at midnight, she'd still be working. She'll come off long enough for you two to talk." He walked briskly into the back.

Jack knocked on the door, "Penny!" Penny ignored all the knocking, returning to her sketches. "Mister army man is here to see you!" Penny paused in her sketching, "Hey! I can sense your wheels turning! Are you gonna talk to him?" Penny gnawed on the end of her pencil. She slammed down her pencil, marched over to the door.

"Fine!" She through her finger in Jack's face, "Five minuets!" 

Jack pushed her towards the front counter, "Go!" 

Penny jogged towards Nick, "Hi!" She kissed him on the cheek, "I have about four and a half minuets. Big project!" 

Nick nodded, "I heard, so do you have time to go to a movie with me tomorrow?"

Penny bit her lip, "If the movie is a DVD, and we watch it at my place." Nick chuckled, and nodded.

"Alright, deal. Do I get to choose the movie?" Nick asked nudging Penny's chin with his finger.

Penny laughed, "Well, I'm willing to make that sacrifice." Penny glanced at the clock, then at her watch, "Ok, I have to go," she gave Nick one last kiss, and as she was running back to her office she called back to him, "I like action movies by the way!" 

"I'll take that into consideration!" Nick called after her. 

"Her favorite movie is any one of the Pirates of The Caribbean movies." Jack said, pretending to be absorbed in one of the store's catalog. 

"Uh, thanks? Do you always eavesdrop?" Nick asked, eyebrows raised.

"Always." Jack nodded, "If it concerns my best friend, then always."

"Alright, well nice meeting you, and thanks for the movie tip." Nick shook Jack's hand, and left.