the book shop > j.l < MID EDIT

seventy two

7th August 1959

john

abrupt banging on the front door awoke the couple from their cuddles on the sofa. penelope shot up shoving a sweatshirt on and started to jog to the door whilst john pulled his trousers on in case it was her father, she didn't make it to the door before it swung open revealing an angry and tear stained charlotte.

"charlotte what's wrong?" penelope asked pulling charlotte into the hallway and shut the door behind her.

"what's wrong," charlotte laughed coldly, "how dare you penelope. how dare you. we're supposed to be best friends."

"we are! charlotte what are you talking about?" penelope asked desperately.

charlotte stopped pacing and looked at penelope in the eye, a tear escaping her own, "do you know how humiliating it is to listen to paul and george talk about how nice penelopes father is even though he's supposed to be dead?"

penelopes face paled and charlotte continued, "oh don't look like that it gets worse. i said to them both that penelopes father is dead, and their reply was no he's not, we met him. they fucking met him. you not only lied to me for years and years, but you introduced boys that you've barely known a month to him before me."

"charlotte-" penelope started.

"no penelope. i don't want to hear anything. i just thought you should know how humiliated and hurt i am that you told them and no doubt him," she pointed to john who stood shocked in the doorframe, "before me." she cried properly now, "i've been by your side since we were twelve years old penelope, i never stopped loving or caring for you, but obviously that means nothing to you."

"no charlotte it means everything to me!" penelope pleaded.

"oh yeah? so much that you lie and shut me out of such a large part of your life!"

"i never told paul or george. john was the only person that knew! i was going to tell you but i didn't want to hurt you."

"yeah well you failed. and you know what? even if you didn't tell paul or george, you told him before me." she shook her head sadly, "i never thought that our friendship would end over a boy, but clearly i just don't know you at all do i?"

penelope called out to charlotte but she ignored her as she left the apartment slamming the door behind her.

penelope turned round to john narrowing her eyes pushing back all of her tears.

"you told them, didn't you?" she accused prodding a finger into his chest.

john looked flustered as he answered after a minute pause, "i didn't mean to pen it just slipped out."

"you didn't mean to? john you knew how important this was to me - that i told charlotte before anyone else, and now she hates me."

"penny i didn't mean to! you know i wouldn't do that!"

"i trusted you john!" she let a tear roll down her cheek.

he tried stepping forward and wiping the tear but she slapped his hand away. he took a step back.

"get out," she whispered almost inaudibly.

"penelope please-"

"get out john. get out right now i don't want you here!" she shouted.

john knew she needed time and so he pulled his boots and jacket on and left the apartment quickly.

AN/ extremely short i know, but i'm gonna i hate dramalama so i'm gonna do a few time skips in the next few chapters x