Josie awoke in a cold room, the air heavy with the smell of disinfectant spray. Josie opened her eyes groggily, reaching her hands up to try and stretch. She was stopped, however, by the tug of a needle attached to her arm. That's when Josie's consciousness began to return; Josie was in a hospital- or, more likely, the infirmary. She looked up at the IV bag hanging above her- it was full of a clear liquid Josie could not distinguish, but Josie knew better than to rip the IV out to find out. Instead, she called out to the nurse, who came to her side, along with a face Josie did not expect- Penelope. The nurse smiled warmly at Josie, urging Penelope forward. "Well, hello sleepyhead", the nurse beamed cheerfully, reaching over to check the IV in Josie's arm. "You gave us all quite a scare there." "Why am I here?", Josie asked in confusion, realizing that she had not waken up where she had passed out. "What happened." "The elixir had shellfish extract in it.", Penelope explained, reaching up to scratch her neck nervously. "Mrs. Veele swears she didn't know, and she feels terrible. Your dad and Lizzie just went to call your mom." "It's a good thing your friend was there when you passed out.", the nurse stated, patting Penelope's shoulder. "She brought you straight here, and we were able to bring you out of shock. You're quite a lucky girl."
Penelope blushed, hiding behind her hair as the nurse sang her praises. After a moment, sensing she was no longer needed, she left the two girls to phone Josie's father's office. Penelope stayed put on the chair by the foot of the bed, timidly. "How are you feeling?", Penelope asked with distress, her shoulders relieving her tension somewhat when Josie gave a strong shrug in response. "I feel fine", Josie assured her, lying back into the cot. "I still don't understand what happened." "You turned really pale, and you stopped breathing.", Penelope explained with a shudder. "I've seen an allergic reaction before, so I brought you here." Josie sighed, placing the arm that wasn't connected to her IV behind her head. "Well, that explains why I don't remember falling asleep.", Josie stated with a soft chuckle. "Thank you, though, Penelope. If you hadn't had thought so quickly, I might have been in a lot worse of a situation." "I'm glad I was there.", Penelope sighed in relief, thinking over her words carefully before speaking again. "Do you remember anything before, y' know, you passed out?"
Josie's face fell, and she finally met Penelope's eyes. Hope- Penelope's eyes were shining with worry, of course, but there was a flickering of hope there as well. Should she lie? Pretend that she didn't remember a word she'd said to Penelope, continue to let Penelope think she hated her? As tempting as the option was, Josie knew Penelope deserved the truth. "I remember everything", Josie confessed, not oblivious to the tiny gasp Penelope lets out in response. "I know that I kinda threw a lot at you; I'm sorry." "No, Josie, don't apologize.", Penelope pleaded, her features softening somewhat. The fluorescent lighting above them made Penelope look softer- not so intimidating. That, or whatever they were giving Josie was blurring her perception. "I'm glad you told me, and I think we should-"
"Get the hell away from my sister, she-devil!", Lizzie hollered, pushing past Penelope to get to Josie. "You can leave now. Josie needs her family during her hour of need, not satan's incarnate." Penelope glanced over at Josie, mouthing something before turning to leave: 'tomorrow.' It was only a single word that Josie almost didn't catch, but it felt heavy in Josie's mind. As her sister and father fretted over her- forcing her to drink ungodly amounts of water and practically chaining her in bed- Josie's mind was alive with fleeting thoughts. Penelope had saved her. Penelope wanted to talk to her; Penelope didn't hate her. Penelope knew Josie's side of the situation, but did that change anything? Not really. As hard as she tried, Josie couldn't rid Penelope's words from her mind. She had lamented on her weaknesses, laughed about them. Could Josie ever forgive Penelope for so blatantly disrespecting her, not knowing Josie heard her every word? She wasn't sure. While it was true Josie didn't hate Penelope for what she'd done, she'd lost respect for the raven-haired witch. Could Penelope redeem herself? More importantly, would Josie let her try? Exhausted, Josie sunk into the pillows on her bed.
Her questions would have to wait until tomorrow.
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...
