Winter's Faith | Ongoing

35 | Aftershock

"Sky?"

He was back for the weekend. Even though I told him not to, but he won't listen.

For the past twenty minutes, we had been watching Tangled in Sky's room. He was on his bed, on his stomach facing the television, while I sat on the bean bag placed on the foot of the bed.

Usually Sky was a lot invested in this particular movie, mainly because he thought he was much like Flynn Rider. Though Arden and I think he's more like Rapunzel, even he refuses to believe that.

But today he was silent, and that got me thinking of something that had been in the back of my mind, but it kept slipping.

He hummed in response, and I turned and rested my chin on the bed to look at him.

"What happened between you and Penelope?"

Sky froze in place, and pursed his lips together in contemplation. He then sighed and sat up in his place, pausing the movie.

He bit on his inner cheek as he scratched his head. He opened his mouth a couple of times, before he finally began, "It took sixteen tries before she said yes."

My eyebrows shot up, because this was news to me. And a surprise, because Sky had never tried this hard to get a girl. But I didn't point it out.

"Sixteen different approaches, from giving her gift to chocolate to roses, to making her jealous, to annoying her on social media before she said yes."

He let out a humorless chuckle and I couldn't stop myself from asking, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

He shrugged. "Because I wasn't sure how it was going to go."

I blew out a breath as I closed my eyes in hurt. Looking at Sky, I gave him a sad smile as many things started making sense. "And it went better than expected, and that's what you wanted to tell me that day before the Christmas party."

Sky nodded at my conclusion. "But I was busy, and then you saw Roman," I stated and once more, he nodded.

He explained, "Penny - Penelope had mentioned how close she was to her high school best friend, Paris. Paris meant nothing to me the day we her in the mall-"

I interrupted, "But after meeting Roman, you realized that Paris was his sister and Penelope was her best friend-"

"And she'd never gonna be with me after finding out the fucked up version they know," Sky finished.

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" I asked, a bit offended. I got up from my place and sat next to him.

"We don't hide pain Sky, we share it," I said, placing my hand on his. "Just because my heart it breaking doesn't mean your's isn't." After a though, I added, "I'm sorry."

Sky shook his head, as he drew me into his arms. "Don't be. It's not your fault," he stated.

"It's nobody's fault."

♡♡♡♡

I knew what I was doing was a dumb thing, but I still couldn't keep myself from doing it.

I was currently standing in the fashion company, Idealist's headquarters, where Penelope was doing an internship as Roman had mentioned.

The reception area was bustling with people, who had just gotten their lunch break, and I made my way to the help desk.

"Hey. Can you tell me where I can find Penelope Everton? She's an intern," I asked, and the woman regarded me with a bored expression, before typing something on her computer.

"Eighth floor. They're working in the modelling department on the left hand,"she relied, and I thanked her before making my way to the elevators.

The ride up was nerve wreaking, and I finally made it to the eighth floor with clampy hands, and a sinking feeling in my stomach.

I was just nearing the modelling department when a group of people came bustling out of the room and, just my luck, that Penelope was one of them.

"Penelope," I called out, catching her attention and she stopped in her track when she saw me.

"Hi," I said as I walked closer, and the people with her went ahead while she stayed back.

"Hey," she replied, still seemingly shocked to see me there.

I gathered my wit, before finally asking, "Do you have a few minutes? I need to talk to you."

"Look," Penelope started, finally having caught up with the situation. "I don't think there's anything to talk-"

She tried to move past me but I grabbed her by the arm. "That's where your wrong. This whole thing has broken a lot of hearts, but so has my brother in the past."

I swallowed, knowing I may have come off as a bit harsh. Stepping back, I took a breath before looking back at her. "Sky used girls like tissue. He never cared about them," I confessed. "Maybe because he didn't believe in love, or maybe because we never had anyone to tell us what love is, or to guide us."

Pushing through my emotions, I continued. "He never cared about anyone. Only those who are close to him. I've only ever seen him cry twice before in my life. Once when mom passed away, and the second time when I was close to death."

Penelope's face contracted upon hearing this, but she still tried to walk away. This time I didn't stop her.

"You say there's nothing left to talk about. Yet you stop upon hearing about my brother's pain? Why does Sky's face has a smile, but his eyes show the pain he's feeling?" I shouted at her back and this caused her to stop.

Though I couldn't see her face, since she had her back to me, I didn't give up. "You mean something to him. And I know you've know Roman for a while now. And Paris is a great friend, but doesn't Sky deserve one chance to say his part. Because the version Paris has told you is not true," I pleaded.

"Sky wasn't drunk that night. It wasn't-"

"Faith." I stopped as Penelope called my name. As she turned around, she had a solemn look on her face. "I know."

I frowned, not understanding what she said. "I know Sky is innocent," she clarified.

"Wh-what?" I stammered as I gawwed at her.

"So does everyone else," she added and my eyebrows furrowed as I tried to wrap my head around this.

"But Roman's mind doesn't allow him to see thatm That's just the way he wants to remember it," she desperately defended. "And we can't change that. Because if not Sky, then Roman's going to blame himself. And he's not strong enough to take the blame. He'll break."

Penelope voice croaked as she came closer and took my hands in her, tears welling up in her eyes while all I could do was stare at her with an open mouth.

"So please. Just-" her voice broke once more. "Just forget about him, that's what's best for you. And tell your brother to forget about me as well. Because that's the only way we can all move past this."

Move past this, my ass, you crazy lunatic, my mind screamed and I couldn't agree more with my mind for once.

_______________________________

Well that happened.

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Until next time lovelies. :"D