Penelope had no idea for how long she and Josie were making out in the hallway. They heard Alaric's voice and that was the moment they parted and Josie pushed Penelope into the genitor's closet. They hid inside for a few moments. They waited for her dad and…mom? to pass.
''I have to go… I have to go to my room.''
''I know…''
''This means nothing… I still hate you…''
''I know…''
Josie was about to leave when Penelope took her hand.
''If you need something…Don't hesitate to ask. I am here for you…''
Josie just nodded and left the closet. Penelope stayed in few more moments just to put herself together. She was in shock this happened…this entire night happen. Josie was buried alive… She fought zombies…and they kissed…She kissed Josie and Josie kissed back… She kissed back and they would still be kissing if her dad was not walking down the hall. She went to her room and took a shower. She loved having single room because it came with bathroom. She didn't have to share. When she came at school two years ago, it was only available room so she was put there. After that, she asked Dr. Saltzman if she could stay there because she got used to it. He didn't have anything against it. She was never good with sharing and it came in handy when she and Josie started ''hanging out''. For now, there were only ten students with their own room, and she and Hope were one of them. After her long bath she got out of the bathroom and got ready to sleep. She tossed and turned but she couldn't sleep. All she could think was Josie. She turned on the light and took her diary. She didn't write for long time. She had a lot to say to her little friend. Real Penelope was hidden in those pages. What people saw was facade she made, persona she built. Real Penelope was her biggest secret. Real Penelope was gentle, vulnerable, and she was really insecure. But the persona she built and made herself become was much different. She was queen of mean, Satan, She Devil and all what Lizzie called her. She heard someone pacing in front of her door. She got up and tiptoed to the door and opened them to find Hope standing there.
''Hope? What is going on?''
''It's Josie…''
''What about her?''
''She is having panic attack and Lizzie wants their dad to take her to the hospital wing. She is not calming down.''
Penelope closed her door and run after Hope. She knew how much Josie hated hospitals. When they got to the room, it was clear that Josie was not ok and that Lizzie was trying to make this about her too.
''Dad, I am not sure I could take seeing her like that. Take her to see Dr. Jones. He will help.''
Rick was close to doing it when Hope came back to the room with Penelope.
''Oh, great… SHE is here…''
Penelope gave Lizzie a killing look and run to the bed to Josie's other side. She made herself comfortable and took her in her arms.
''Shhhhh…. It's ok…. You are ok… You are safe… Nothing can happen to you now… Calm down… ''
Josie held on to Penelope like she was her lifeline.
''I can't breathe… I can't….''
''Shhhh….. Breath JoJo…Breath…''
She moved away from her a bit and took Josie's hand. She put it on her chest.
''Breath with me… Follow my breathing…. Listen to my voice…Can you do that?''
Josie nodded and did what Penelope told her.
''You are ok… You are safe…You are in your room… Nothing can happen to you… You are safe…''
When she calmed down a bit. Penelope lowered her to her pillow and placed herself behind her. She held Josie and Josie held her hand. Alaric was amazed how Penelope managed to calm her down. Hope was glad they avoided hospital. She hated that place and she knew that Josie hates it too. On the other hand, Lizzie was beyond pissed because it was PENELOPE who calmed Josie… It took some time for Josie to calm down completely. She fell asleep and Penelope fell asleep right after her. Josie woke up to Lizzie's snoring and empty bed. She turned to the other side to try to sleep some more and just opened her eyes. Her bed smelled of Penelope. All of the memories of last night and early morning came flashing in front of her eyes. Her being buried alive, being saved by Hope, MG and Penelope, kissing Penelope, siphoning magic from Joe, panic attack, her dad trying to calm her, Lizzie…being Lizzie, Hope trying to convince them not to take her to the hospital and give her meds and finally…Penelope…and the way she handled her panic attack.
She got ready and went downstairs to eat. It was lunch time. She got her food and searched for the place to sit. She saw MG sitting alone and just as she was walking up to him, she saw Penelope and Hope take a seat and laugh about something. She was about to walk away when he called for her.
''Hey, Josie! Come sit with us!''
Now she had to… She took a seat beside him and tried to ignore Penelope. She couldn't look at her now.
''So, how are you? I heard you were not ok last night…and that a lot of things happened.''
Now she looked at Penelope…
''You had to tell him?! Did you tell everyone? How far will you got to humiliate me some more Penelope? We kissed! You got what you wanted! Now everyone knows you won… I miss you… I love you…Are you happy now? After the night I had you had to tell…''
She just got up and left Hope, Josie and MG behind. MG was confused what happened?
''You kissed Penelope? When?''
''What?''
''You just said you kissed? When did that happen?''
''Don't pretend you didn't know. You said she told you what happened…''
''No, HOPE told me you were not feeling ok. Peez haven't said a word. She did say something… We talked, but not about you or anything related to you… We talked about superheroes comics. Next week is a big comics sale. I was trying to get her and Hope to go with me.''
Now Josie really felt like crap. Hope and MG were curious now when Josie mentioned kissing and loving their resident She Devil.
''BUT now we want to know about that kiss. When did that happen?''
''After you left. We argued and then we kissed…''
''You argued?''
''It was more me arguing with her…and she kissed me.''
MG was real girl when it came to this. He really wanted to know what happened but Hope was faster to ask.
''And how was it?''
Josie rolled her eyes at Hope and MG.
''Tell us Joe… We really want to know.''
Josie rolled her eyes again and gave them an answer.
''What do you think?''
''He doesn't have to think. He made out with her.''
''Hope…''
''Sorry… ''
''I was really jerk to her. She didn't deserve that…''
''Yes… You were.''
''Maybe I should.''
Josie just wanted to go back to her room, but Hope interpreted it differently.
''You should find her.''
''And do what?''
''Make out some more?''
Josie rolled her eyes again at Hope.
''Why do you ask me? I am bad at those things… And especially when it comes to apologizing and fixing it with someone.''
Josie got up and went to get some chocolate chip cookies. She waved at two of her friends and went out. She looked for Penelope in her room, but she wasn't there. Only other place she could think of was the lake. Penelope would often go there to think or just get away from people. She was right. She found Penelope sitting under her favorite tree and she was reading a book. Josie took a seat beside her. Penelope didn't move or acknowledge her presence.
''I am sorry… I owe you a huge apology… It was a dick move and I really feel bad about it.''
Penelope was surprised to hear Josie use a word ''dick''. She never used curse words and that was new.
''About what you said…''
Josie just looked at her...
''Me too…''
''What?''
''Miss you and love you…''
''Oh…''
''Can you forgive me JoJo?''
''Yes, but it will take some time for us to…''
''I know…''
There was a pleasant, but also weird silence.
''Are you going to eat those cookies by yourself Saltzman?''
''I guess I am not Park…''
''Good guess…''
Penelope took half of one and smiled at Josie… They finished cookies and it was time to go back to school. They didn't have classes, but it was getting cold. They found MG and Hope in the living room. They were playing Monopole.
''Can we join?''
''Sure Josie…''
They took a seat and started playing. Two hours later game ended with Penelope taking their money and winning the game. She took the last penny away from them, sent them to jail, and landed them money with huge interest… She kicked their butt and she loved it. MG was not happy about it.
''Park, that was low…''
Hope agreed.
''I can't believe you did all that.''
Josie had to agree…
''You stripped us of everything.''
''What can I say Jojo. I am expert in stripping other people of everything…''
Josie blushed, MG chocked on his drink and Hope just rolled her eyes at them.
''Get a room… Spare us of this flirting and tension.''
Penelope got up from the sofa and picked up her jacket.
''I'm going to my room. I have some homework left to finish. See you…''
She started walking away when she heard Josie call her. She stopped and turned to wait for Josie to come.
''I was wondering….''
''Yes Josie?''
''Can you come again tonight. I am not sure if I can sleep.''
''Why don't you come to my room?''
''I can do that.''
Penelope smiled.
''I'll see you tonight then.''
''See you Penelope.''