The Boomerang Effect

Six | One Year Before The Jump, Boston |

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                     |ALICIA|

one year before the jump, boston

Finally, I think as my phone beeps in my jean's back pocket, alerting me that it is now 12:55 and time to leave the mall and head home.

"Time to go." I snap my laptop shut and hike my messenger bag higher on my shoulder and turn to Penelope. We're on one of those sofas you always find in the most unlikely places in malls and that it's impossible to sit on without looking like a creep because they're always facing a store. Luckily, we both had something to do (i.e. Facebooking Vivian from my laptop for me and doing whatever on her phone for Penelope) so the creeper factor went down a few notches. As we get up to leave, Penelope tugs on the sleeve of my cardigan.

"Oh my God," she says, a smile that can only be described as vicious tugging at her carmine-red lips. "Isn't that Colleen?"

"Who?" I follow her line of vision and it leads me to a boutique by the name of  AdditionELLE. There's a big sign in the front announcing an end-of-season sale. Inside, people are milling about, their arms full of clothes and eyes full of urgency to get the best deals.

"Colleen? From school? She's a senior." Seeing my blank stare, she shakes her head. "God, you're hopeless." She reports her attention back to the store. Up close, her eyes seem to be moving everywhere, as cold and as calculating as a tactitian's, but also as mad as a someone in psychosis. "I didn't know she worked there. Let's go say hi."

Red flags raise up in my head at that and quickly, I say, "We don't have time, we'll be late--"

But my words fall on deaf ears as she links her arm with mine--rather forcefully,  might I add--and drags me along. As soon as we're inside, a sense of unease washes over me. Especially when I see the Sizes 14 and up! peeking out from every corner.

Penelope examines a towering display of folded crop tops ranging from sunshine yellow to carmine red with words like 'Bite Me' printed on the front in big bold lettering.

As if that simple statement weren't bold enough.

"Penelope, Vivian and Ethan are probably at my house right now. Waiting for us, remember? Penelope!" I hiss, adding in her name twice for extra effect.

She ignores me and picks up a top. Holding it at arm's length, she tilts her head to the left, as if she were wondering what it would look like on her. As if there was any chance it would fit her. Just then, a salesgirl--Colleen, from the looks of her name tag--shuffles toward us and with a pleasant smile, asks, "Do you need any help finding a size?"

I can tell from her sunny demeanor that she didn't recognize us--well, Penelope, I doubt she knows me--when we walked in. My doubts are confirmed when her smile falters as Penelope slowly turns to her. A hint of a smirk appears on her face as she trails her dark eyes up and down Colleen's body. The salesgirl is a good two inches taller than Penelope and probably just as older, but all that is rendered irrelevant by the look Penelope gives her. "Does it look like anything here would fit me?" Her voice is calm and leveled but there's an underlying edge to it, a warning to not cross her.

Colleen blinks then scoffs as if the simple notion of anything in here fitting Penelope is ridiculous. "O-Of course not."

"Then why did you ask?"

"I simply meant--"

"You simply meant what?"

"It's a standard question I ask all customers."

"Well, do I look like your average customer?"

Colleen's brown eyes are shifting uncontrollably as she leans in and whispers. "Look, I don't want any trouble, okay? I really need this job to help me pay for college next year and starting a scene--"

"Where's your manager?"

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Your man-uh-ger. I'd like to speak to him."

"Please don't do this," Colleen implores.

"Now!" Penelope slams her hand on the display table, causing the haphazard pile of tops to wobble uneasily.

Hearing the commotion, another salesgirl cranes her neck to see what is going on before leaving the cash and hurrying to her friend's rescue.

"How may we help you?" She has henna-dyed hair, her name tag reads Raja and her narrowed eyes are slightly suspicious and anything from friendly.

Penelope turns to her, suddenly all smiles. "Oh, no. Everything's fine. I simply couldn't find my size."

Raja's voice has a sickening saccharine sweet lilt to it as she says, "Well, this is a plus-sized store. I'd be surprised if you did."

Penelope beams at her before giving Colleen a pointed look. "Why, thank you. At least someone here is competent."

Raja's smile drops flat at that. "Well, it's not everyday we have to deal with the visually impaired."

"Excuse me?" Penelope's eyes turn into two slits of coal as a scowl begins to form on her lips.

"You heard me. This store is literally covered with signs advertising the fact that it only sells plus sizes. So, for you to come in here and actually expect something to fit you, you eitheir have to be blind or stupid. Which one are you?"

"Raja," Colleen starts nervously. "It's fine, they're from my school."

"No, it's anything but fine. I don't know who you think you are or what kind of treatment you're used to, but this isn't highschool. This is the real world and in the real world you'll need more than fear or superficial charm to get what you want."

Woah, we definetly need someone like Raja at school, I think as I watch Penelope's facade slowly crumble under the salesgirl's intense glare. She rolls and unrolls her fingers into the palm of her hand, as if there were an invisible stress ball there. There's a spout of red starting from her nose and quickly spreading to her cheeks and her mouth, which before always bore a smirk, is now slightly open, forming a berry-colored 'o' of pure shock.

I'm probably the first and last person to see Penelope Garrow speechless. For as long as I've known her, she's always had a witty comeback or a snarky remark to make, but now she's just standing there, trying to hold Raja's gaze, trying to appear confident and unfazed when it's so clear that she is anything but. Seeing her this uncomfortable almost makes me feel bad for her.

Almost. But not quite.

A/N

Long time no see, right? I apologize if this chapter seemed uneventful and overly-dramatic, but I promise that it all ties in with the plot and Penelope's character later on in the book.

Initially,  this chapter was supposed to be two parts--over two thousand words--but I decided to just put the second part in chapter eight because I haven't updated in so long and with school and everything, I wouldn't have been able to write the second part fast enough for you guys!

Anyhoo, did you guys enjoy this chapter? No? Yes? What did you like/dislike? What do you think of Penelope and Alicia?

Also, am I the only one who loves watching Youtubers instead of doing my homework? My personal faves ares Connor Franta and Superwoman :) What are yours?

Amanda xo