the book shop > j.l < MID EDIT

nineteen

penelope

maureen was everything she'd ever dream her best friend would fall for. she was beautiful, smart, funny and considerate. maureen had told charlotte and penelope the story of how her and richard had met when she had been having car troubles and he happened to know just how to help her. eventually leading in her taking him out for dinner to say thanks. penelope and charlotte swooned at the story. both penelope and charlotte explained their situations with john and paul, although penelope didn't really know what her situation with john was.

maureen then went on to tell the girls of when richard met her parents and her father lectured him on the importance of staying a virgin until marriage. both richard and maureen going on to ignore those lectures anyway, these details making penelope and charlotte cringe and giggle in response.

the gift that richard and maureen had given penelope made her heart swell with love for the best friend she rarely saw.

after they left, penelope made sure to note to see him more often and perhaps meet up with maureen without richard.

herself and john cleared out the empty bottles from the living room as paul and charlotte continued their flirting on the sofa. resulting in a smashed bottle on the floor and a fit of giggles escaping johns mouth. a sound penelope could get use to hearing. whilst he cleared up his mess she took more drinks into the living room and went back into john.

•

she fiddled with the gold chain in her hand, swiping her thumb over the photograph with admiration.

"do you want some help putting that on?" john asked as he put away her dustpan and brush.

"yes that'd be great thank you...again" she chuckled, suddenly nervous at the thought of him being so close to her.

he took the locket out of her hand and directed her to turn around so her back was facing him. she lifted up her hair with one hand as he lifted the chain above her head and around her neck. she could feel his breath on her neck making goosebumps rise over her arms. after he hooked the necklace together, he softly pulled her hair out of her hand and placed it back into its natural position. his hand hovered a trail down her back as he turned her around gently. her breathing speeding up as she noticed how close their faces were.

"there. gorgeous." he whispered down to her.

neither one of them attempting to move but neither trying to take it further.

after all, it had only been a few days.

no matter how much either one of them wanted to fill the space between them right now, they wouldn't want to risk ruining things.

instead he placed a small kiss on her forehead, both closing their eyes to savour the feeling.

a few seconds later he pulled off of her and stepped backwards, "we should probably go back into the living room before charlotte and paul start shagging on your sofa," he forced a laugh. penelope cringed at his vulgar language before slowly nodding her head.

she had a thousand thoughts swirling around her mind. how he'd stayed so close to her after putting the necklace on, and kissing her for longer than anyone should be kissed on the forehead. but the way he pulled away so suddenly as if he'd realised what he was doing and thought it was wrong. she thought about the statement she'd previously made, what's the point in life if you're not taking risks.

before he could leave the room she spoke out softly, "john," he turned around and looked at the girl that stood in front of him. quite obviously affected by what had just happened.

"yeah?"

"i'm not going to hurt you, you know?"

those were the last words he would've expected her to say. he smiled at her.

"i know, it just takes some getting used to." he said waving a finger between the two of them indicating whatever was happening between them hadn't happened to him before. she nodded. "come on penelope," he held a hand out for her to grab, and they both walked into the living room.