***Penni***
I stare at Westly.
No, I stare at Luke.
In my mind the faces of the boy I once knew and the man sitting in front of me over lap, and I feel like a fool. His voice is gentle, like it had always been in the past. "Ah- um-" I try to say something, but I don't quite know what, so I just close my mouth and stare at my clasped hands.
"Why?" Marcus says in his gruff voice. Westly sighs and, out of the corner of my eye, I see him clench his hand. "When I went up to New York, it wasn't all roses and Broadway shows. I soon became homeless and destitute. Then a lovely elderly couple picked me up, helped me get back on my feet, and all they wanted in return was for me to join their family." Ryan scoffs, and James has a sad look in his eyes. Marcus just stared down at his plate, like it had insulted his mother or something...
Luke never had a real family. Marcus and James were out of the house when Luke was old enough to need them, and Ryan is Ryan. To totally devote himself to this family, enough to change his appearance, he must love them very much. "Is that why you're in the mob?" James asks quietly. Luke shifts his gaze from Ryan, "That is my father's chosen profession. I wish to succeed him." James smiles softly, looking a little hurt. "I missed you, J. But the trueth is I have never been happier."
This is Luke.
The thought re-enters my mind. This man sitting beside me is the boy who was my first love. This man is someone who I thought was a ghost until a few minutes ago.....
"Oh, god."
My stomach turns, and I feel like I'm going to be sick.
Luke has come home!
Luke left me alone!
We can start again!
I cried on his shoulder, and he could have ended my suffering!
"Pen?" Tulip says, and gets up to come over to me. I have my hand over my mouth to stop me from vomiting. "I don't feel good." Westly- no Luke tried to rub my back, but I jerk away. It makes me fall out of the chair, leaving me to look up into those deep blue pools that are too familiar. "I need some air." I say hurridly, and then bolt from the too hot room.
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Westly
I stare, shocked as Penni sprints from the room. I stand up, "Pen-" Someone is grabbing my arm, and I see that it's Tulup. I give her a questioning look, but she just shakes her head. I shook her hand off, and headed for the door. "Luke, give her some space," said Marcus. I turn back to my brothers, and notice that two of them are not meeting my eyes. "You planed this." I stated to Marcus. "You deliberately invited us here, and told her that way....on purpose?" I stare Marcus down. His expression is unbreakable, but I know the truth. "Don't act all innocent, you were lying to her!" Shouted Ryan. I shoot a glare his way, "I only found out yesterday that she is Rodger." Ryan seems a little taken aback. "I mean I thought she would have gotten out of town by now. I was working up the nerve to tell her." Marcus' expression gave away no answers. "May I speek to you?"Tulips says grabbing my arm, when the others tried to follow she raise her chin and said, "Alone."
She pulls me into the kitchen, and closes the door. We stand in silence for a moment, before Tulip raises her hand and slaps me.
Hard.
"How dare you leave like that! We were so worried! Do you know what that did to your brothers? What it did to Penni?!" I stare at her, with a hand to my throbbing cheek. We stand in silence for a few minutes, as tears begin to roll down her cheeks. Then she hugs me. "We missed you." Stiff for a moment, but I hug her back. "I missed you guys as well." She breaks the hug, and whipes her face. "So, what are you going to do now?" I really didn't know. Now that I've found Rodger- I mean Penni- I'm not letting her go. I also have a job to do. "Give her some space," Tulip says. I smile. How did things get this messed up?
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SORRY!!!! *bows head*
I didnt mean to make you wait so long for this charter!!!! Westly was being a but head :p
I promise I'm already working on the next one, and it should be up soon!
Thank you so~~~~ much for your vote!!!
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Guns & Tulips
RomanceAll Penni wanted to do was have a simple life as a florist. She didn't get into trouble, not that her small town had any, and she always paid her bills on time. So why did a hot half-dead man show up on her front porch? ++I have re-read all of it an...
