Love Out of the Middle - Discontinued

Chapter 13: Give Thanks

November 14:

Penelope:

"What?" My brothers look over to me warily my father looks just as concerned as they do.

"You heard me Penelope Grace." My mother says icily. I say nothing else before fleeing the house.

"Penny!" I don't stop but keep running, I don't even know which brother that was. I don't know where I'm going I just run. Until I don't.

"Watch where your going you dork." That familiar voice reprimands as I look up from the ground. "Why are you crying?"

"I'm not crying." I retort standing up. "Okay, maybe I am. But why do you care?"

"I don't." He answers, "Is this about Thanksgiving?"

"No, not really." I answer before continuing my walk to nowhere in particular. He doesn't say anything to stop me and I have no reason to stay.

I ring the doorbell of a familiar house before turning the knob. "Hello!"

"He's up stair." Mr. Jennings says not looking up from his paper.

"Tell him to come down for dinner in fifteen minutes, and you're welcome to stay as well Penelope."

"Thank you ma'am." I tell his mother before heading up to his floor. I knock on the door and it opens on its own. Sterling is sprawled out on the floor asleep. I can't help smiling and taking a photo. Totally and completely blackmail worthy. It'll help me forget home for a while at least.

"Delete it." He says not moving from his position on the floor. "Nellie." His voice holds a warning tone. His eyes open as he turns his head to look at me. "Delete it."

"No thanks." I reply. I lock my phone and he groans running his hand over his face before sitting up.

"Nellie."

"Jen." I sit down next to him, "You look adorable in the picture please?" I give him my best puppy dog eyes.

He looks like he's debating it in his head. "No." He says with a stern look.

I sigh sending the picture to my email that's not on my phone and deleting the photo and email I hand him my phone and he hands it back after sufficiently looking through it.

"Kids, dinner!" His mother calls up to us.

"We'll talk about why you're here after dinner." He says. "For now," he stands up and pulls me to my feet, "My mother's pork roast is calling my name and I'm ready to answer."

I laugh and walk down the stairs with him. Mrs. Jennings has the table set and Mr.  Jennings is already sitting but stands when I walk in with Sterling. I forget how old fashioned his parents are. Sterling pulls my chair out for me and I sit down Mrs. Jennings sits as well when all the food is placed and then both gentlemen sit. Mr. Jennings carves the roast and the food is passed around the table.

"What brings you out?" Mrs. Jennings asks.

"Things at home are a bit stressful right now." I tell her, "I just needed to get out of my house for a while."

"You're always welcome here Penelope." Mr. Jennings says.

"Thank you Mr. Jennings, I don't want to turn this into a habit though." I tell him, "Mrs. Jennings dinner is delicious."

"It's Carl and Caroline." Mr. Jennings says.

"Yes sir." I tell him.

"Are you as ready for break as Sterling is?" Mrs. Jennings asks.