Touch (Posie)

Chapter 10

" Wow I'm truly shocked, shocked but proud" Hope's giving Penelope a look of approval mixed with slight astonishment that's the complete opposite to the look of defeat on Penelope's face. " The fact that you thought I had no self restraint is kinda sad".

Hope's hands go up in surrender.

" Hey you two have been at it for the last month and a half, forgive me if I thought she'd end up in your bed again". Penelope let's her head drop back down to the table with a small groan. " MG asked me about her earlier".
" Psh I'm not surprised" Hope snickers and Penelope lifts her hand up to flip the girl off. " We're not that obvious"

" I beg to differ".

The comment is enough for Penelope to lift her head back up as Hope casually rest her chin in the palm of her hands, eyeing her friend with subtle amusement.
" You guys spend the day arguing but mostly when Lizzie's in range, strip each other down with your eyes when you think no ones looking , sneak around to end up in the others bed, and then go back to hating each other". At the last part Hope rolls her eyes with air quotations while Penelope sits there stunned.

Were they that obvious?

" Probably why Lizzie's grumpier than usual" Hope continues on. " Josie's supposed to be happy with the "perfect" guy of Lizzie's choosing and yet Josie's constantly starring at you. She feels like she's loosing and you and me both know Lizzie hates loosing".

" This isn't some game and I could care less how she feels. Not like she cares about Josie's feelings". Penelope can feel the annoyance creeping in with old memories severing as constant reminders as to why things are somewhat the way they are now, but despite hating the girl, Penelope knew it wasn't all Lizzie's fault. Josie had some responsibility in it too.

"Hey" There's a soft voice that Penelope instantly recognizes as Josie's. She's standing beside the table in her cheer uniform, hair up in two small space buns accented with the two ribbons and Penelope's starring. She can tell by the way Josie bites down on her lip rolling her eyes like she's annoyed by it but Penelope knows better.

" Imma head out" Hope mutters already standing up from the table as she looks between Penelope and Josie. " I'll be over there" Hope points to the table where Landon and Raf were sitting though she pauses halfway, turning on her heels to look back at the two. " For smart people, you guys act pretty damn stupid.".

Hope's gone, MG's busy shooting food across the table at Landon while Kaleb encourages and Penelope realizes that it's the first time the two have been together alone in public. There's this unbridled tension at first, the way Josie fiddles with the end of her skirt before sliding into the seat across from her and Penelope takes the opportunity to sooth the tension.

" I assume you decided to look cute on purpose".

" What- no it's just my uniform P" Josie huffs with pink cheeks.

" It's my weakness you know that, and that pout your doing" Penelope smiles at the way Josie scowls because she's failing miserably at pretending to be mad.

" I'm waiting"
" What?" Josie raises a brow and Penelope leans back somewhat biting back a smile. " My compliment, its only fair Jo Jo". It's amusing, the way Josie gets flustered by the smallest thing like this. How she opens her mouth and closes it and then shoots out a " Fuck you" instead.
" Now I don't think that's a compliment" Penelope leans forward into Josie's personal space, thankful at the fact that she doesn't move away.

" You know I'll keep this up until I get one". Josie's eyes widen slightly before letting out a sigh knowing Penelope was true to her word. She watched as Josie looked around like it was some secret, like they weren't the only two sitting at the lunch table. " Ugh Fine...you look good today Penelope".
" Only today?" Penelope feigns surprise and Josie rolls her eyes. " Your insufferable".
" You like it though". Penelope feels bold but it's only because Josie's allowing it. She doesn't pull away to regain any space but simply eyes Penelope with a dangerous look. Teasing, and if they weren't in the cafeteria-

" Josie what the hell!?" Lizzie's standing a few feet away with a surprised look and Penelope only smiles when her angry eyes shoot daggers her way.
" Care to tell me why you're sitting with my sister satan?"
" Nope"
" Josie?"
" We're just talking" Josie sighs and Penelope takes notice to the slight distance Josie puts between them.

" Really cause from where I'm standing it looks like you were about to do more than just talk".

" So you aren't totally clueless" Penelope mutters and Lizzie's face is practically red with rage. " Lizzie" Josie's standing up but Penelope grabs her hand keeping her beside the table.
" Don't". She knows this routine all too well. Lizzie throws a fit, Josie's plays into her tantrum and leaves Penelope to take care of something she shouldn't have to.

There's slight panic that crosses Josie's features looking between the two of them and Lizzie shakes her head as she storms off.
" Jesus Josie, seriously!?". Penelope can feel the tug at her hand, Josie was talking a step in the direction Lizzie ran off too. When their eyes meet Penelope sighs." What do want to do?"
Josie's quiet for what seems like forever before speaking.
" Stay here". And as much as those words carried relief, it was the tone of how those words were said that made Penelope's chest tighten.

There was a but involved.

" I want to stay Penelope-"
" Then stay, it's just that easy"
" I just- I promise after this-" Penelope feels Josie's hand slip out her hold but this time Penelope just shakes her head with a defeated look. " Go".
Her words come out sharp, head already towards the ground as her jaw clenches and then she feels Josie's hands on her face.

The motion picks her head up to see soft brown eyes filled with saddens and Penelope doesn't make any movements but allows her face to be cupped. The cafeteria had grown reasonably quiet and Penelope honestly had forgotten where they were until she heard MG's small hoot and Penelope's eyes found Gavin seated in back table yet he didn't look pissed in the slightest.

" Penelope-"
" You're choosing her first again"
" P there's no sides I just need to-"
" No, you're putting you second, again". There was beat of silence after Penelope's comment, her fingers moving up to take Josie's fingers from her cheeks but then soft lips are pressed to her own. The motion lasts for a second and then Josie's stepping back.

" No I'm not. I know it seems like it but just- I have to talk to her Penelope. Let me walk away this one last time and I promise it won't happen again".

Penelope didn't have a chance to respond before Josie's jogging out the cafeteria after Lizzie. Hope comes up soon after draping an arm around her shoulder. " If she doesn't come back, let her go Penelope...for good this time". She can feel her head nodding but her eyes are stuck glued to the wooden double doors until Hope's pulling her off to the side.
" You know what you need? To relax and clear your head, so come with me".
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We are nearing the end guys! Josie's POV next chapter ❤️