An Exchange

Chapter Twenty-Six - NYE Party Pt 1

Penny

New Year’s Eve. Jonas and I worked at preparing the house for our big party that night. While we set up the family room, Giles arrived with his game console to hook up to the TV.

"Since your choir friends are coming, Penny, I thought you'd all enjoy singing." When he finished setting it up, he pulled out the disc and started the game.

I couldn't help smiling as the game came up on the screen. "That's going to be heaps of fun."

Jonas darted out to the yard to help Alma, leaving Giles and me alone.

"I hope you use this several times tonight." Giles said as he came over to me.

"I plan on it." I pulled a chair over and climbed up to hang balloons.

He grasped my waist. "Don't want you to fall."

I quickly hung the balloons and stepped back down, an odd sensation sweeping over me. He stared down at me and I turned away, feeling something I hadn't expected, and feeling guilty for it. "So, did you invite that girl you like to come tonight?"

"No, but she and her boyfriend will be here."

"Did I invite her or did Jonas?" I winked at him.

He laughed. "Oh, Penny. I think I'll just leave that up to you to figure out."

"So..." I shifted uncomfortably as a pang of jealousy hit me. I wanted to know who this girl was… maybe.

"I'd like to get the midnight kiss from her tonight," he said quickly.

"But what about her boyfriend?"

"I'll just have to get her away from him for that moment."

"You're truly very sappy, Giles." I laughed... or tried to anyway. "But please, don't make me pull you out of a fight."

"I'll avoid it at all costs, just for you." He shifted closer to me and grabbed my hand.

I looked up into his eyes, feeling strange as my hand tightened around his. A coy smile curled the corner of his mouth as he leaned closer. My heart pounded.

Jonas burst back into the room.

Giles stepped back and picked up some balloons. "Here." He handed them to me.

I took them and turned to continue hanging them, wondering what had just happened.

*

Giles

What Zoe had said about Penny's confession to me constantly plagued my mind. Was it evidence that Penny had feelings for me but didn't know yet? I wanted to believe it. I wanted to test it. Maybe if I could get her away from Ryan during the party and keep her away from him, we could get lost in the crowd together and I could steal the midnight kiss from her. Then she would see how much I cared about her. Then, maybe, she would realize she had feelings for me.

But I’d never kissed anyone before. Could I pull it off?

I entered the Taylor's house and went straight to the family room to set up the game console for the party. Penny and Jonas worked on hanging decorations as I came in. I knelt down and watched Penny out of the corner of my eye as I hooked up the console to the TV.

Jonas gave me a soft kick as he walked passed me. He twitched his eyebrows at me. “Dad wants me outside. I'll be back in a minute.” He rushed out the door with a quick glance back at me.

I took a deep breath and walked over to her. "I hope you use this several times tonight."

"I plan on it." She pulled a chair over and climbed up to hang balloons.