Always Yours

Hey Lovebirds

Penelope POV-
Josie fell asleep with her body curled into me. My right hand is interlocked with her left as it rests on the bed. Her breathing finally settles as she falls asleep. I can't help but watch her sleep. The moon light filtering through her window is lighting up our hands. Her knuckles have something on them. I rotate our hands to see that there are cuts where it looks like her knuckles split. I rub my thumb across them. I'll have to ask her about these when she wakes up.
This time zone is still messing me up a little bit. I grab my phone off the side table and see that it is 3:14 am. Fuck. At least Josie is sleeping. I know I wasn't sleeping great since I left but I at least was sleeping. Josie was only sleeping due to total and utter exhaustion induced by crying. I lean my head back and stare at the ceiling hoping for sleep.
Josie begins to stir a little in my arms as her eyes flutter open. "Pen, why are you awake?" I'm surprised she woke up at all. "Time zone still has me messed up." I rub my thumb over the cuts on her knuckles again as she nuzzles her head against me. "Jo, why do you have these cuts on your hands?" I look down to see her reaction. "I boxed last night." Her voice is quiet. I rub my left hand up and down her back trying to encourage her to speak. "I was wearing wraps but they still split." She lifts her head and places her chin on my chest to look at me. "JoJo, be more careful okay? But please let me watch next time." I wink at Josie who in turn blushes up at me. "Deal." She places her head back down against my chest.

FLASHBACK
Josie POV-
"Don't do that. Don't stand there and act like you care. You broke my heart and all you can say is sorry?" Penelope takes a step closer to me. "Letting you go was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I only want the best for you but you won't stand against Lizzie. All she ever does is use you. I just want you to fight for yourself. For us." I place my hand on my doorframe to steady myself. My head is beginning to spin. "I don't need you to protect me. I just need the pain to stop. Please, just let me go." I reach my hand up and place it against the side of my head. "JoJo," I step back and shut the door. I somehow manage to lock it before pressing my back against it. I slide down to the floor and pull my knees to my chest attempting to mute the whimpers threatening to burst out of my mouth.
Penelope POV-
Josie closes her door on me. I lean forward placing my forehead and hands on the door. I mumble to myself. "Anything for you." It is getting harder and harder to catch my breath. My throat is on fire as I try to push air into my lungs. Why did I break up with her? This is all my fault. I step back and stare at her door like I expected it to open. I eventually will my body to leave as a silent tears falls and hits the ground.
I did exactly what she asked. I kept my distance. I knew her schedule so I avoided her routes. If I saw her, I'd turn the corner and be gone before she noticed. I don't want to make her life more difficult. I do my best but my heart belongs to her and it aches in her absence.
I head out to the dock during dinner to avoid the cafeteria. The lake is frozen over but the view is still breath taking. I sit down and hang my feet over the edge of the wood. I'm only in a light hoodie and jeans that I changed into so I can feel the temperature dropping. I close my eyes and try to focus my heat to the center of my body to warm up but it is a chilly night.
I hear a creak as someone steps on the dock behind me. I feel a jacket being placed over my shoulders as Hope sits down next to me. "Did you eat tonight?" She scoots close to me to share her radiating body heat. I shake my head no. I don't trust my voice to not sound broken. "Come on, Josie and Lizzie already left," she grabs my hand pulling me up towards her. "You have been out here long enough to reach peak numbness."
The cafeteria has cleared out since the kitchen staff stops serving dinner soon. Hope watches me grab a tray of food and sits down across from me at one of the corner tables. "Have you talked to her since?" Hope trails off as she speaks. We both know what event she is referencing. "She asked me to let her go. That's what I am doing. I am fine." I push my food around my plate not feeling extremely hungry. Hope and I sit in silence until I lift my head to look at her. "I'm going to go for a run." She nods her head at me before I stand up and walk away from her. I turn down the hallway towards my room and change into sweat pants before heading out into the woods to run.
I have run in these woods plenty of times. The steady hit of my feet against the ground is soothing. I make it to the boundary line of the Salvatore property when I feel it. I look down to see a hole in my grey shirt turning dark red. I gasp for air as I lift my hand to cover my wound. I collapse to my knees, a yelp escapes my lips. I try to focus on the ground in front of me but black spots are invading my vision. I lift my head at the last second to see a figure rushing towards me before my eyes roll to the back of my head.
I begin to stir as I hear the steady beeping of my heart rate on the monitor. I open my eyes to see Hope sitting in a chair across the room. Her arms are folded across her chest and her head is leaned back against the wall. I believe this is our infirmary at the school but I am not 100% sure. "Hope," I can't get the word out very loudly. "Hope." Her head shoots off the wall. She locks her eyes on me before she relaxes. "Hey P, how is the pain? You've been in and out of consciousness. Do you remember what happened?" She stands up and walks over to me. "I know I was running. I reached the fence and," I try to concentrate, to remember more. "That's it." She nods her head slowly. "Well, I followed you to make sure you were alright and then you were shot." I shoot Hope a look like she has three heads.
Josie walks into the room carrying some food and coffee. "Oh my gosh, Pen, you're awake." She sets the stuff on the table then stands opposite of Hope. She places her hands on my bed but not close enough to touch me. "Jo? Why are you here?" My voice is still raspy but there is a gentleness to it that is always there when I talk to Josie. Hope steps away from my bed and makes her way towards the door. "I'll come check on you in a little bit, P." I nod my head at her as she leaves.
Josie messes with the blanket under her finger tips. "I just wanted to make sure you were all right. Hope told me what happened." I don't know if it is the pain medication in my system or if I hit my head but Josie Saltzman is talking to me for the first time in weeks. I must be hallucinating. "If I knew getting shot would get you to talk to me, I would have tried it weeks ago." I let out a small laugh but instantly regret it. "Ow, fuck." I reach down and place my hand against the bandage. I know my face is radiating a pained expression but anyone who saw us would think she is in more pain than me by the look on her face.
"Jo, I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you." She grabs my hand and interlocks our fingers. Josie nods her head slowly and looks down at our hands. "You were right. I need to stand up for myself but you know, you don't need to avoid me." A small smile plays on her lips. "Yeah well, I was trying to make it easier on you." Neither one of us is saying what we really want to. I take a deep breath of air causing me to gasp in pain. "Jo," I grit my teeth and force those three little words out that have been circling in my head. "I love you." I squeeze her hand until the pain subsides. Josie gives my hand a quick squeeze back when I finally loosen my grip. "I love you, too."
END OF FLASHBACK