Penelope POV
I walked out of my Psych 101 class at Oxford University on a rainy Friday afternoon. Students were around, excited for the weekend. Classes were off for two days and it was the time we let loose.
I pulled my hood up and quickly got into my old beat up cream colored Volkswagen Beetle and unceremoniously dumped my textbooks in the passenger seat. The ten minute drive to my off campus apartment seemed to forever. I climbed the four sets of stairs to my room i shared with my best friend, Annie.
Music was blasting inside our small apartment, the new One Direction album no doubt. Annie was obsessed with those boys, even though she was a bit old. I myself didn't mind the music. We'd watched them when they were on the X-Factor and I knew that they weren't just another mindless boy band.
"Penelope! We should hit the clubs tonight, we've spent so much time studying for those darn exams that I forgot what it was like to not be in this room on Friday nights," Annie exclaimed, wiggling her short, black bandage dress in my face.
"Oh how I could use some drinks right now! Exam week was so stressful. Is this what you're wearing?" I pinched the fabric of the black dress.
"Of course. I just bought it! But I'm not sure what heels I should wear." She put her hands on her hips and stared at our closet.
"Wear my hot pink platform stilettos. It'll look great with your red hair," I picked up the pair and handed them to her. "I'm going to take a quick shower. I love the dress though. I don't know what I'm going to wear."
Annie ran her hand through her straight red hair. "I'll find something quite special for you, don't you worry!"
Annie's POV
When Penelope stepped into the shower and I heard the water click on, I rushed to our closet and tore it apart looking for the dress I knew would look killer on her. I found it hidden behind an Oxford U. sweatshirt and smiled hugely. I quickly grabbed my electric blue crushed velvet platform stilettos and put them next to the dress on my bed.
She was going to look amazing with her silky blonde hair and blue eyes. Being a fashion major, I knew what looked good on her and this was it.
"All clean!" Penelope exclaimed. She was wrapped in the fluffy towels we had bought when we first got our place. "What did you pick out for me?"
"You're going to love it!" I handed her the dress and the shoes I had paired with it. "Try it on. I bought it awhile ago but never wore it."
Penelope's POV
I stepped into our bathroom and took the dress off the hanger. I slipped on the soft garment and looked at myself in the mirror. The dress went to about the middle of my thighs, it was black velvet and the long sleeves made me look willowy and graceful. The neckline was simple, just a wide crewneck and the shoes Annie matched with it were killer.
"Wow, I love this dress!" I said excitedly.
"I have that touch, that One Thing!" She sang the title of one of her favorite songs.
"How should I do my hair? Should I blow it out?" I wondered.
"Yes. I bought more silky serum. It's under the counter in the loo."
In the bathroom I set up the hair drier and found the serum she was talking about. I slowly dried my hair, brushing it out so it was straight. I put in the serum, which gave me excellent shine and held the style. I decided to go for a daring smoky eye and candy pink lipstick. I had to admit, I was looking quite fabulous.
I walked back into our bedroom and found Annie wearing her dress, little bits of skin showing where the bandage part didn't cross, her hot pink stilettos making her almost as tall as I am. Her smoky eye makeup was gray and it made her green eyes pop!
"Shall we?" I asked, holding out my elbow. She linked her arm through mine, we grabbed our purses and my car keys, and walked out the door.
"We shall," she replied softly.
Louis Tomlinson POV
"Lads! Hurry up! The club's not going to stay open forever!" I called.
Harry walked out, wearing his signature blazer and corduroy set. He pulled on the sleeves, adjusting them.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
"You look beautiful," I quipped. "Now what's taking everyone else so long?"
"I'm here, I'm here, calm down Lou," Liam walked into the den where I waited. "The usual stripes and suspenders deal?"
"As always. The ladies love it!" I pulled out my suspenders and winked.
Niall and Zayn finally came out. Zayn had gelled his hair and pulled on a gray sweater and khakis. Niall wore a royal blue polo and cream pants like he preferred.
"You all look lovely! Now let's go, I need a drink."
Penelope's POV
Annie and I had been at the club for just over an hour, when a bunch of girls started screaming and rushing to the door. Naturally Annie and I had to know what the deal was and why our pre-dancing-drink was being interrupted. But then again, these girls were drunk so it was probably just some hot guy or more booze coming in.
"I have to go to the loo and check my face," Annie said. "Stay here and make sure no one drugs our drinks!" She giggled. We both had a happy buzz going on.
I sat waiting, swirling the tiny straw in my drink. "May I say, I quite love that dress on you!"
A man had come up and sat on the stool next to me. He had swoopy brown hair and was wearing a striped shirt, red pants and suspenders.
"Oh, why thank you!" I smiled at him. "What's your name?" He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place the face.
"I'm Louis." He put out his hand for me to shake. I took it. "What's yours?"
"Penelope."
"Well it's my pleasure." He winked. "Would you like to dance?"
I smiled as a good dancing song came on. "I would love to, Louis!" I said and he held his hand out for me and he helped me up and led me to the dance floor. It seemed like we danced forever, and we had a few more drinks. Louis was acting flirtatious and I matched it. It was around midnight and Louis took my hand and pulled me to the bar and we sat down.
"You're a good dancer," he complimented me.
"Thank you. You're pretty good yourself," I added.
"Me? Of course! I've got the moves!" I laughed at him. I wasn't drunk, far from it actually. He was just genuinely funny and I was beginning to like him.
"So what do you do?" He asked a little more seriously.
"I do a little waitressing at Sal's Fish and Chips and study at Oxford for my Psych degree," I told him.
"Oxford? So you're smart?" he wondered.
"I guess. I hope to eventually get my Doctorate, but I'm a sophomore now."
"That's very cool," he said with a smile. Someone called Louis' name and he looked away for a moment. I couldn't see who it was. He grabbed a small napkin from the bar and a pen and wrote down his number. He looked up and handed it to me. "I've got to go, I hope you'll phone me," he said with a smile. "It was nice meeting you Penelope."
"It was nice meeting you too, Louis," I called as he walked away. I tucked his number into my small purse and went in search for Annie.
Louis' POV
It was weird to find a girl who didn't know who I was and liked me for me, and I wasn't ready to let her go. But the lads were ready and starting to get a little reckless. As they drank, they got loose and it was my turn to make sure no one did anything stupid.
Penelope was beautiful and stunning. She was funny and cute and nice. But most of all, down to Earth. It was refreshing to meet someone who was interested in me, not my fame or talent. I felt different with her. I could be a little insecure, but she was quite easy to get along with. God, how I hope she calls me.
Then again, she did say where she worked. If she didn't call me, I could always just "bump into her".
Penelope's POV
When I found Annie, she was ready to go home and get some rest, so we got in my car and drove home. Not once did my thoughts leave Louis. My thoughts were interrupted when Annie spoke.
"So, Penelope, spill," she said with a wink.
"What?" I asked, confused. She's got that look on her face, the look that says "gimme the gossip and nobody gets hurt!"
"You and Louis Tomlinson?" she exclaimed, and wiggled her fingers in my face. I swatted them away with a smile.
"I'm driving Annie, never distract a driver!" I say, evading her skeptical eyes.
"You spent two hours with THE Louis Tomlinson from One Direction! How are you not excited?" she exclaimed.
"Wait, WHAT?" I screeched. "THAT'S who that was?"
"You forgot! How could you forget! His fucking poster is in my room!"
"I am an idiot! I knew he looked familiar!" I couldn't believe I hadn't remembered who I was talking to.
"Yes you are! I am so disappointed in you! Your best friend is a Directioner and you can't even give me the courtesy of remembering what they look like!" She crossed her arms over her chest, faking anger.
"I'm sorry! Jeez I feel so stupid!" I said again, and I parked and got out. We walked up the four flights of stairs to our room in relative silence and Annie mock glaring at me.
"Crazy woman," she mumbled as we got inside. "Spends the whole night with freaking Louis Tomlinson and doesn't notice," she kept going until she shut the bathroom door behind her. I quickly changed into my pyjamas and laid in my bed, and laid there thinking about Louis. As I fell asleep I shot a quick text to his number saying "Tonight was great, I hope I can see you again. -P"