[ONGOING] NOT JUST PENELOPE

40: Nowhere to Go

PENELOPE

I'm inside Zach's car now. It's still raining and he's driving so slow, maybe because the road is really slippery.

Nobody spoke a single word since I entered the car.

IT IS SO AWKWARD!

I don't really know where we're going, but I don't have the confidence to ask or face him after what I just did earlier.

I hugged him. I HUGGED him.

Also, the only reason why I cried and absentmindedly hugged him is because I was just really scared. I have never been in a similar situation before. My own thoughts were making me anxious.

Anyway, should I at least thank him for helping me out? But he's looks so serious driving right know. It's kind of intimidating, to be honest.

Also, today is Saturday which means it's exactly a week since the pool party. He's probably still mad that I called him a dork, and should I also be mad that he called me a brat?

So technically, we're not supposed to be  on speaking terms.

Argh! Whatever! 

I have to win him back, so I'll forgive him for calling me a brat.

"So," Zach broke the ice.

Thank God! The silence was making me too uncomfortable.

"What brought you here?" he asked.

Should I tell him now? But what if he says No? How will I be able to return home when my car is not working?

I should probably come up with something for now and wait for the perfect timing.

"Should I be the one asking you that?" I asked back, not looking at him.

"What do you mean?" He asked. I can sense the confusion in his voice.

What do I mean? 

Come on! Make something up, Penelope. You're good at this, remember?

"Duh! I'm here for a vacation. How about you?"

"Really? Vacation? Here?" I felt him glance at me. 

He doesn't seem to believe me so I need be more convincing. 

"Yes." I turned to face him, "Are you underestimating me? I am a strong independent woman who wants to escape the city sometimes and breathe fresh air."

That was lame. 

I wanna slap my face, but my pretty face does not deserve that.

His face doesn't look so serious anymore but instead, he looked like he's trying so hard not to laugh. 

"Did I say something funny?" I asked, then he burst out laughing. 

☆☆☆   

ZACH

I don't know what got into me, but I let Penelope come inside the car. 

While opening the passenger seat earlier, I noticed that she was shivering. Maybe because it's getting really cold here so I handed her a jacket and decided to turn the car's aircon off. 

The whole time, no one spoke a single word.

I'm driving really slow right now because the road is quite dangerous. We're actually just a kilometer away from the house of my Auntie's friend. I just have to drop something and go back home.

I don't know how will I explain all these to my Aunt.

Anyway, I should probably ask Penelope why she's here and where she's staying so I can drop her off to her destination.

I should man up or we won't be getting somewhere.

"So, what brought you here?"

"Should I be the one asking you that?"

Why should she be asking me this when I live here?

Wait, does she even know I live here?

"What do you mean?"  I asked. 

"Duh! I'm here for a vacation. How about you?"

 Why do I feel like she's not telling me the truth?

Also, why would she want a vacation here? I mean, she has money. She can go out of the country for her break so why choose to stay in here?

There must be something going on right now.

"Really? Vacation? Here?"  I glanced at her to see her reaction, but I couldn't read her well.  

"Yes." I felt her turn her body to face me. "Are you underestimating me? I am a strong independent woman who wants to escape the city sometimes and breathe fresh air."  

She's claiming to be a strong independent woman? Ha! She must be joking! 

She should have seen the look of her face earlier.

"Did I say something funny?"  She asked and I can't help but to laugh hard.

I was trying so hard not to laugh earlier because she may think I'm weird, but I can't stop myself now.

I just realized, she's actually a bad liar.

"What's wrong with you? You're creeping me out." 

I tried to stop myself from laughing because I don't want to summon the brat inside her.

"Sorry." 

I should maybe just change the topic or else, she might ask me more questions and she might not like my answers. 

Better be safe. 

"So, where are you staying anyway?"  I glanced at her again but I can't see her face because she's facing the window.

Oh wait, we're at the house of my Auntie's friend already so I stopped the car. 

"Wait right here. I just have to drop something off. Be right back."

"Where else am I supposed to go?" I heard her whisper before I closed the door.