"Are you sure you want to stay in, Jo?" Lizzie asked, talking to her sister's reflection in the mirror she was gazing into. "Everyone is going to be at the dance, and even though you don't have a date, you could still have a little fun." "Yeah, didn't you have something to take care of tonight, Josie?", Hope prompted, earning a pointed look from Josie. "No, not that I recall.", she responded, urging Hope with her eyes to keep quiet in Lizzie's presence. "I'll be fine, guys. I'm probably just going to read for a while and go to bed.", she assured them, helping her sister zip up the back of her dress. "Have fun for me, okay?" Hope and Lizzie looked at each other, sharing their mutual disappointment, then at Josie. "I mean if you're sure, Josie.", Hope relented with a sigh. "If you need us, don't hesitate to come to get us." Josie rolled her eyes, laughing under her breath at Hope's concern. "Yes, mom.", she joked, earning a playful smack to her right arm. She ushered Hope and Lizzie out the door hurriedly. "Go- you're going to keep your dates waiting." Hope and Lizzie said their goodbyes to Josie, and then departed. Josie didn't close the door until she could no longer hear the faint sounds of their heels clicking down the hallway.
After being only an hour into her night alone, Josie was already bored. She had tried to read the book she'd borrowed from the library, but she couldn't seem to focus her attention long enough to get past the first paragraph. She attempted to catch up on the latest season of her favorite tv show, but without Lizzie to watch it with her, screaming at the exciting moments and making her laugh, it felt dull. She attempted to write in her journal, but the only topic she could think about was the identity of the person that had sent the note that was still folded up in her pocket. She closed the journal in frustration, dropping onto her bed with an exhausted sigh. Distracting herself seemed futile, and Josie was about to give up and force herself to go to sleep when a persistent knock sounded at her door. Josie got up from the bed, opening the door to be met with the face of Penelope Park. Yet, something was off about the girl.
Penelope stood on the space outside Josie's door, smiling a broad smile that didn't quite meet her eyes the right way. Pile up in her arms was an assortment of snacks, and tucked between her arm and her body was a half-empty bottle of liquor. As soon as Josie saw how much had already been taken from the bottle, Penelope's strange behavior suddenly made a lot more sense. "Hey, Jojo," she slurred giggling. "Heard you were staying in, too. Up for a movie night?" Josie looked the girl up and down, her head tilted in confusion. "Are you...drunk?" she asked, receiving an airy laugh in reply. "Oh, relax, Jo. I won't tell if you won't.", she said with a wink. When Josie didn't respond to her attempt at humor, she sighed dramatically, meeting Josie's eyes.
"Look, I'm offering you the best snacks that the mystic falls corner store has to offer and some companionship. So, am I wasting my time here, or are you going to invite me in?" Josie rolled her eyes, unable to suppress her amusement. "Well, there's the Penelope we all know and tolerate.", she teased, causing a pout to form on Penelope's face. After a moment's consideration, Josie stepped aside, allowing Penelope to enter. She needed a distraction, and if there was one thing that Penelope was good at, it was holding people's attention. She closed the bedroom door, turning back to Penelope, who had already settled herself on Josie's bed, laying her spread of snacks out.
"So", Josie started, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "How do you feel about Harry Potter?"
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"Okay, I kinda see why people develop an obsession with this franchise," Penelope admitted, drawing a laugh out of the girl beside her. "But they got it wrong with the whole magic idea. I mean, leviosa? I learned that spell before I could even talk in full sentences." "They're humans, Penelope.", Josie giggled, taking a sip from the can of soda on her nightstand. "They don't even really believe in this stuff- it's just entertainment for them." "If only they knew, right?" Penelope said, shaking her head as she brought the bottle of liquor back up to her lips, draining the rest of its contents. Josie chuckled, pausing the laptop screen and stretching out her legs in front of her. She glanced over at the alarm clock, frowning when she realized that more time than she thought had passed. "It's getting pretty late.", she stated reluctantly, and Penelope's amused grin morphed to a frown. "Yeah, I guess maybe I should go back to my room now.", Penelope mumbled, beginning to collect the wrappers from off of Josie's bed. Josie also rose from the bed, helping her clean up. When they had cleared up, Penelope grabbed her things and began walking to the door. Josie was going to let her go- she had every intention to- but she found herself stopping Penelope before she even realized that she was doing it.
Penelope turned around to look at her expectantly, but the minute the raven-haired girl's eyes were on her, any confidence she had immediately ditched Josie. "Unless..." she stated, rubbing her arms self consciously. "You would maybe want to stay with me tonight?" Penelope halted, her mouth half-open as if she was fighting to either say or contain the words threatening to spill from her lips. She looked doubtful like maybe she believed- or was trying to convince herself- that she had heard Josie wrong. "You're drunk, and if my dad or another staff member is walking the halls, they'll smell it on you for sure. I don't want you to get in trouble, or worse, get us both in trouble.", Josie explained, avoiding Penelope's hopeful gaze as she spoke. "You can sleep in my bed, and I'll sleep in Lizzie's. She'll probably stay with Hope tonight if she doesn't go to MG's after the dance." Penelope shook her head, ready to object, but Josie grasped her arm lightly, preventing her from leaving. "Please, Penelope?" she pleaded, ignoring the embarrassment of hearing the slight desperation in her voice. "I'd like it if you stayed." Penelope's gaze flickered from Josie's face to the weak grip on her wrist, her doubtful expression slowly turning into a content grin. "Well," she stated, closing the bedroom door once again. "How can I possibly say no to that?"
YOU ARE READING
This Love (Calling My Name)
Fanfiction"My, my, my Josie; Don't you know that it is rude not to acknowledge someone when they are talking to you?", Penelope scolded in a brash tone that succeeded in capturing Josie's full attention. "There- that's much better. Wouldn't want anyone thinki...
