Bitter Lies Taste So Sweet

Chapter One

Charlotte Ville, Parrima, September, 2002.
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Today marks exactly five months left of her junior year and Penélope is ecstatic. She has never been a fan of school and she doesn't have many friends, but she is very family-oriented. She loves looking into her past and takes pride in her ancestors. Penélope may not be very friendly toward other human beings, but she is certainly friendly toward animals. She prefers to spend time with anything fluffy or feather-full instead of fleshy.

Isaac, the new kid, is the same way, but he is much more reserved than the average high school boy. Being an athletic bookworm has left him at a sort of impasse, and being the "new kid" doesn't help his situation. He only has two classes to attend during the day, but he does not have enough time to leave between the classes. He ends up sitting in a hallway playing on his phone to pass the time.

His fourth period ends and Isaac is left leaning against the wall playing on his phone, his bag hanging off of his left shoulder. The door at the end of the hallway opens. Isaac makes a glance to the right at the door due to reflexes, but he finds himself making a double-take. Penélope fixes her short blonde hair as she walks from the door down the hall toward him. His heart starts racing and his face turns a blush-pink. He quickly forces his attention to his phone before she notices him staring. Once Penelope is past him, unaware of his struggling emotions, Issac looks back up at her. God, he thinks, she's hot.

This very quickly turned into "the norm" for them. Penelope would notice Issac leaning against the wall as she walked past, but he would notice her before she even had the chance. His senses were so heightened when she was around it was hard for him not to.

One day, Penelope was a bit late coming up the stairs. Isaac was leaning against the same wall, playing the same game, and thinking the same thing: I seriously need some food. After a while of no one showing up, he figured she was not coming. He slid down and sat on the floor, still leaning against the wall.

Moments later the door opens. Isaac glances over, watching Penelope walk through the door. He quickly stumbles to stand up before she could notice, but failure was on his side. Penelope stops in front of Isaac. Her feet are pointing down the hall, but her face is facing him. Their eyes meet. Isaac stumbles to say something, but Penelope beats him to it.

"Are you okay? You almost fell."

Isaac stares at her in amazement. Her voice is even beautiful. Suddenly, he realizes he's staring for a bit too long.
"Uhh, oh, oh, yeah, yeah, I'm fine." Isaac straightens his back and flashes her a subtle smile. Penelope smiles, leaving Isaac struck.

"Well, that's good." Penelope quickly turns her body so her feet are also facing Isaac. She holds out her hand, "Penelope."

Isaac quickly slips his phone into his pocket and shakes her hand, "Isaac."

"It's nice to meet you, Isaac," Penelope said softly as she walked away toward her class. Once Penelope disappears into the classroom, Isaac slides back down onto the floor, smiling as he takes out his phone and drifts in thought.