"You dumbass.", Josie exclaimed, walking up to the bed where Penelope sat as a nurse bandaged her busted knuckles. The older woman scolded Josie for her use of profanity, and Josie uttered a rushed apology before turning back to the injured girl. "What gave you a brilliant idea to pick a fight with one of the most powerful witches in school? Please, tell me Penelope; I genuinely want to know." "First of all, mom, she started the fight with me.", Penelope grumbled, wincing as the bandage made another loop around her hand. "Secondly, I didn't know I had to explain my every action to you; I mean, it's not like you care." Josie opened her mouth to say something else, but the door to the infirmary swinging open caught them all off guard. Two of the wolves stormed in, carrying the limp body of another in their arms. The nurse handed the jar of salve in her hands to Josie. "Josette, can you kindly help Miss Park tend to her bruises? I have my work cut out for me with those three." Josie nodded, and the nurse scurried away to help the battered boy. Josie sighed, sitting down on the edge of the cot and dipping her fingers into the tiny jar. She began to anoint Penelope's skin with the concoction, watching as the bruises on her skin slowly started to fade away. Save for Penelope's noises of discomfort, both girls were quiet, giving Josie enough time to calm down before daring to speak again. "Lay back and lift your shirt.", Josie ordered, earning an amused smirk from Penelope. Josie rolled her eyes, realizing the implication she had unknowingly made. "You got thrown across the hallway, Penelope. I know you didn't escape a fall like that without a bruise or two." Penelope didn't answer Josie, instead deciding to obey her order and laying back on the cot, bunching her shirt up so that Josie could reach her torso. Josie worked the salve into Penelope's skin as gently as she could, deciding her next words just as cautiously.
"What makes you think I wouldn't care that you got injured, Penelope?", Josie asked, apologizing directly after when Penelope hissed in pain under her fingertips. Penelope took a deep breath, then another, letting them go as she continued to endure. "Well, it's not like we're friends or anything.", Penelope explained, resting her arm behind her head. "I don't even know why Hope went and go you, honestly. I don't need anyone to babysit me." "I'm not babysitting you.", Josie assured her, rolling her eyes. "I'm here because I care about your wellbeing, Penelope. Plus, you're going to need my cooperation if you plan on getting off easy with my dad." "Fuck, your dad.", Penelope said with a groan, covering her eyes. "This is my second infraction with him- he's going to suspend me." Josie felt the muscles in Penelope's abdomen tense, rigid with fear and anxiety. "He's not going to suspend you.", Josie affirmed, unsure if she could keep her word or not, but wanting to ease Penelope's fear. "At least, he won't if you have a good reason for fighting on school grounds." Penelope averted her eyes from Josies, and the latter girl sighed when she realized that Penelope would not confide in her so easily. She held out her hand, helping Penelope sit up carefully before tending to the final cut just above her cheekbone.
In their new position, just inches away from each other, Josie could practically envision the genuine worry Penelope was feeling. She hated seeing the usually nonchalant girl so worked up, but she knew that there was nothing she could do to support Penelope's case to her father if the girl would not even tell her why she had fought in the first place. "I might not know you very well, Penelope," Josie started, "Actually, I don't know much about you at all; But one thing I know you're not is stupid. So, please, just tell me why you fought Rose, and I can help you make a plea to my dad for leniency." Penelope swallowed hard, letting out a shaky sigh. "You honestly want to know the truth?" Penelope spoke brusquely, earning a curt nod from Josie. Penelope sighed, meeting Josie's eyes for the first time since Josie had arrived. Hazel irises, ordinarily cold and distant, stared back at Josie with kindness and warmth. "She was saying shit about you, and I just snapped. I told her if she ever heard her say another negative thing with your name attached to it, I would kick her ass; She challenged me, Josie, and I just kind of lost it." Penelope turned away, jumping down from the cot. "Tell your dad I accept whatever punishment he wants to give me. I deserve it." Penelope started to walk away, but Josie stopped her by catching her wrist in her hand. "Why did you defend me?" Josie asked in confusion. "You hate me." Penelope smiled sadly at Josie, speaking with no hesitation in her voice.
"Because all those things they said about you, you've already shown me are wrong."
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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...
