Be Mine - Completed

Chapter 2

"Guess who's back!?" Penny sang, walking into her new apartment. Three pairs of eyes snap to her from their spots on the living room floor. They were furniture shopping later in the week, which means that they currently don't have a couch, coffee table, or anything.

"OH MY GOD! Penny!!" Jules screamed, jumping up and sprinting to her, grabbing her in a hug.

"Jules... Being smothered by your hair here," Penny mumbled, hidden beneath Jules's red hair.

"Oh no, I'm sorry. I just can't contain it sometimes." She blushed hard, turning bright red before sitting back down and trying to get her hair up in a ponytail.

"Thank god you're finally here, and you brought the booze." Vivian hugged Penny, but her attention was focused more on the bourbon in her hand.

"Penelope Mitchell, it took you damn well long enough to get here," Alice scolded, getting off the floor and slowing making her way over, being a drama queen, and acting like it was a burden for her.

"Oh please," Penny flicked her hair over her shoulder, setting her bag down on the ground, "you know you'd wait all day to see me."

"Damn right. I would wait all night to be graced with your presence," both girls stared at each other for a few seconds before breaking out in laughter.

The man reveled in the sound of Penny's boisterous laugh. He'd heard it many times over the years, and it truly was one of his favorite sounds. When the noise from inside the apartment suddenly stopped, he inched towards the door in fear that something had upset her. Seeing Penny upset was one of the worst things in the world to him, and he would do whatever it takes to make sure nothing ever upsets her. As he pressed his ear up to the door, he could hear the unmistakable snorts that come when Penny starts laughing really hard. She becomes silent, and the only thing you can hear is her snorting.

Hearing Penny laugh like that stirred something inside him. He wanted so badly to barge in that apartment and take her away, make her his no matter what it takes. But he knew he needed to be patient; he needed to take his time. He wouldn't let his desire ruin this for him. He'd worked too hard, come too far, made too many sacrifices, done too many things he could never take back. He wouldn't let his eagerness get the best of him, not this time.

"Alright, alright," Penny collected herself, heading towards the counter and pulling out the pack of red solo cups she bought. "Are y'all ready to do this?!"

"Hell yeah!" Alice yelled, pumping her fist in the air, "let's get crunk!!"

"To being able to drink alcohol in our own apartment!" Vivian raised her glass, clinking it with the others, and they all took a shot.

"To living out and being independent!" Jules cried, clinking glasses again before taking their second shots.

"To being seniors!" Penny cheered, downing their third shots, the taste of the alcohol having less of an effect the more they drank.

"To being badass babes and getting knackered tonight!" With Alice's cheer, they took the final shot together. This was their tradition, whenever the school year started or ended, or something good happened. Each girl would come up with a toast, they'd each take four shots, and then they'd have their mixed drinks. It was only done in a time of celebration because it was a guaranteed method to get them drunk.

"Alright, Jules, queen of the mixed drink, you have your ingredients. Do your thing!" Alice kissed her cheek, motioning the other girls to leave her alone and sit on the carpet.

"Okay, now for the biggest question of the night, and the beginning of senior year as a whole." All the girls looked at Penny, including Jules, who just brought over everyone's drinks.

"Penny's Bucket List!" The three others cheered in unison, causing Penny to blush and look down.

"Okay, okay, we go over this every year. I know it's stupid, I literally haven't changed it since the summer before freshman year, but there's only one thing left for me to do. I have to complete it, you guys, it's stupid, but I have to."

"Look, Pen, you know we love you." Vivian took her hand, squeezing it and making sure Penny knew they were done with the jokes. "Sure, we have a good time poking fun at this, but you know we'll be here for you no matter what, right? And we'll do whatever it takes to help you complete your bucket list."

"I mean, come on Penny, we've got one thing to do and a whole year to do it, how hard can it really be?" Jules gave her an encouraging smile, and all the girls mumbled their agreement. Penny's bucket list started out with 20 items, and they'd completed 18 of them, together, since they met on Bid Day. The only one they didn't technically complete together was rushing a sorority.

"Here goes," Penny sighed, shifting in her seat to bring up what she considers the most embarrassing item on her list. "The last item on my bucket list is-"

"DRUMROLL PLEASE!" Alice cut her off, bumping shoulders with her. All the girls started doing a dramatic drumroll, causing themselves to crack up.

"It's to get a boyfriend," Penny mumbled, barely audible. When they just stared at her in confusion, she let out an exasperated sigh before repeating it, louder this time.

"Okay now, ladies!" Vivian sang, "our goal this year is to get our little Penelope Mitchell a boyfriend!"

Sitting outside Penny's apartment, he had been enjoying himself. Listening to them talk, hearing her melodic voice, hearing that laugh, he was so happy to be this close to her. He knew about her bucket list, he had even seen her complete a couple of the items, but he wasn't prepared for this. Penny wanted a boyfriend? Her goal this year was to find a boyfriend?

His fists clenched in anger, and he felt himself losing control. His vision started going black and all he could imagine were someone else's hands on her, someone else's lips on hers, on her neck, all over her. Someone else doing things to her that he should be the one doing, that he should be the ONLY one doing.

He had so much anger he couldn't sit still. She couldn't do this. He couldn't let her do this. Pacing in front of her apartment, he had to try and figure out a plan. He couldn't lose Penny. She was all he had. She was his everything. If she got a boyfriend, he would never have the chance to make her his. He needs her. He can't lose her. Penny. Penny. Penny. He tried to keep his thoughts focused on her, picture her in his mind. All he could see was some creep with his hands all over her, making her feel the pleasure he should be giving her.

He had to come up with something. He was running out of time. He could go in there right now. He could go in there and make her come with him, make her be his. But he can't, he's not ready, and that's not how he wants his relationship with Penny to evolve. They're in such a good place now that he doesn't want to spoil it. With one final look at her apartment door, he ran off, fists clenched, to come up with a plan that would work, a plan that would make her his.