This Love (Calling My Name)

//12//

"Josie, I can't make an exception for Penelope without also making one for Rose.", Alaric explained, running his hand through his hair. "Then I'd have to make exceptions for every brawling student in the whole school, and the entire disciplinary system would be a colossal joke." "Dad, please, there has to be something we can do for her.", Josie pleaded, biting her lip between her teeth. "The one reason she even fought Rose is that she was protecting me! You always tell us to stand up for each other, and for doing just that, she gets punished?" Alaric sighed, staring at his daughter in annoyance. "See, I hate it when you kids use my own words against me.", he mumbled, shaking his head. He thought for a moment before being hit by a brilliant idea. "The teachers for the younger kids have been asking for a few older students to be tutors.", Alaric explained with a smile. "Rose and Penelope would have to work together, but I'll count it as a community service. Two times a week until spring break."

Josie jumped up, hugging her father tightly. "Thank you, Dad.", she exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek. Alaric chuckled, holding his daughter for a moment longer before letting her go. "I'm going to go find Penelope and let her know.", Josie said, rushing out of the room. Before she could go, Alaric stopped her, calling Josie back to his desk. "It seems that since you and Penelope are friendly now, you've been a lot happier.", Alaric observed, noticing the light pink flush on his daughter's cheeks. "The incidents with your school supplies seem to have stopped too." "Dad, I-," Josie started to explain, but her father cut her off. "Penelope might be rough around the edges, but she's a good kid.", he stated, smiling at his daughter. "I'm glad she's found a good friend in you." Josie nodded awkwardly, waving goodbye to her father before heading out the door. She thought about her father's words as she walked to Penelope's dorm. She guessed, to an outsider, it kind of looked like she and Penelope had become friends- or, at the very least, friendly. Calling Penelope, her old torment, a friend should have felt foreign on Josie's tongue, but instead, it just made her feel warm inside. Maybe- with a lot of patience and a little luck- she could find a friend in Penelope Park. The idea made her shiver most pleasantly.

Two knocks to Penelope's door later, and Josie was face to face with her. And yet when she first looked at Penelope, she found that the girl was in a disorderly state. Penelope's hair was ruffled and messy, sticking to her face with sweat and the rest hanging down over her face. She was clutching a robe to her chest, only a small portion of her body hanging out the door to greet Josie; her shoulders were bare, telling Josie that Penelope was wearing the robe because she had nothing else underneath. "Is this a bad time?" Josie asked, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Penelope shook her head, smoothing the hair away from her face. "Not if there's something important you needed.", Penelope remarked, smiling gently. "Is there?"

"Oh, I just wanted to tell you that my dad-" "Coming back to bed, Pen?" a voice interrupted, it's tone sending chills down Josie's spine. She knew that voice because she had heard it directed harshly at her many times before. Josie's face hardened, her hands clenching into fists. "Really, Penelope? Rose?" she muttered, her eyes aflame with anger. "Of all people, you choose the person who got you in the trouble I just tried to get you out of?" Josie shook her head, turning and walking away from the door. She heard Penelope desperately calling after her, but she was too angry to care. Her father was wrong.

She and Penelope Park weren't friends, and Josie was determined that they never would be.