It feels like one of those nights
We ditch the whole scene
It feels like one of those nights
We won't be sleeping
It feels like one of those nights
You look like bad news I gotta have you, I gotta have you


Penelope secured her soft auburn curls into a loose ponytail, making sure her hair won't get in the way tonight. Examining herself in the mirror, she quickly touched up her make-up. There were rumors going around that a record label executive would visit tonight, so it was obvious that Penny wanted to look her best.

"Are you ready, Pen?" her best friend Katie asked. Both of the girls where performers at their local bar. Dustin's Inn wasn't big, in fact it was notably small. Probably only a few dozen people could fit and that included the staff.

Penny let her eyes fall on Katie. Her best friend was wearing a tight black dress, leopard legging and high heels. Her dark brown hair was pulled up into a messy bun and her make-up was flawless. Even though some people might consider leopard print tacky, Katie pulled it off effortlessly.

Penny herself was wearing something more comfortable, her favorite jeans, a navy blue fancy top with an open back and her regular Converse shoes. For some reason she had never really felt comfortable in a dress, however jeans suited her just fine.

"Just give me two seconds!" Penny said as she turned back to the mirror to examine herself one last time. If the record label executive was really coming, this night could change her life…

"Pen, come on!" Katie urged after the two seconds passed. She was already waiting behind the coulisse to go on, clenching her fists every now and again nervously. Penny had to admit she was feeling kind of nervous herself.

She had never felt too comfortable in large crowds, always feeling intimidated by the people around her. The only place where she really felt comfortable was up on a stage. Even though there were people looking at her, when she was lost in the music she didn't notice even notice them anymore.

As quick as she could Penny hurried over to Katie. They waited for the barman to announce them before moving up the stage.

The bright spotlights blinded Penny for a moment, but she was grateful for them. They hid the audience for her, making it seem she was only performing for the people who were seated in the front row.

"It's packed!" Katie whispered under her smile as they walked over to their stools on the stage. When Penny's eyes adjusted to the light, her sight confirmed what Katie said, it was absolutely packed with people. Upon the sight of the huge crowd, a gush of insecurity and nerves went through Penny. She rapidly pushed the feeling away. I can do this, it's just like any other night, she told herself repeatedly.

Every night they performed had a special theme, tonight the theme was the 80s, much to Penny's despair. She rather enjoyed rock, alternative, just anything they could sing acoustic. Their voices sounded so good together when they sung with only a guitar to accompany them.

Luckily Penny calmed down just before the song was about to start. Softly she placed her stool just a few inches backwards, so the bright spotlight shone directly into her eyes. She liked it that way, it also gave some mysteriousness to who exactly she was singing to.

They started off with singing 'Billie Jean'. Penny knew this was one of Katie's favorite songs, so she decided to let her take the lead on this one. She would show that executive what she could do later on.

In total they had sung almost eight songs, switching between who did the lead and who did the background vocals. After they were done with the second song (Jessie's Girl), Penny really got comfortable and she felt really content with how she had sung tonight. It was the best she had ever sung.

"Awesome, Pen!" Katie high-fived her when they came backstage. Katie couldn't stop dancing to the music being played backstage, she also realized it went really well this night.

"Let's hope the executive liked it…" Penny replied, picking up a bottle of water and taking a gulp from it, slowly letting the water run through her system.

After she got hydrated again she sat down in front of her mirror. "Of course he liked us!" Katie said enthusiastically, making a couple spins behind Penny.

They had been best friends ever since high school. Penny had first laid eyes on her during their calculus class and soon became friends after. The fact that they both loved singing helped establishing their relationship even more. Katie was one of the few people who knew Penny's whole history, she was the only one who Penny really trusted.

Katie's enthusiasm rubbed off on Penny. The two of them were dancing like two teenagers who had gotten hold of alcohol for the first time. "We were so great!" Katie smiled.

Penny couldn't help but agree, they really were in their element tonight.

"Great job, ladies"

Penny stopped dancing to reply to her boss. Luke Dustin was the co-owner of the inn together with Adam Dustin. She wasn't sure exactly how they were related, but she did know she liked Luke a lot better than she liked Adam.

Luke was watching them in the doorway which let back to the bar. Penny couldn't help but wonder how long he had been watching them. He was wearing regular jeans topped off with a blue button-up blouse and sneakers. Like Adam, Luke's hair was also a shaggy blonde, which always styled like he just rolled out of bed.

"Thanks, Luke!" Penny said gratefully. She still couldn't get around the fact that she was actually good at something, still being surprised each time someone complimented her.

"What did the executive think?!" Katie stopped dancing and her eyes widened, eagerly waiting for an answer.

"Executive?" Luke replied, scrunching his eyebrows together. He folded his arms and rested against the doorpost.

"The record label executive?" Penny added, trying to make it a little bit more clear for him. He must know what they were talking about…

"I can't recall that there was an executive" he said, still deeply in thought trying to remember someone.

Penny's eyes met Katie, she could feel they were both thinking the same. This night could have changed their lives, they could've been signed to a label. They could've finally earned some real money and maybe even go to college. But apparently there was no executive.

"There had to be someone?" Penny could hear the disappointment in Katie's voice. She couldn't remember how long they had been waiting for a moment like this.

"There was no one" Luke shrugged, before returning to customers in the bar.


Penny returned to her apartment late that evening. Even though they were really disappointed about the revelation of the executive, they both still had to go on for a second set. The pay for singing in a bar was bad, but at least she was enjoyed herself while she was working.

Carefully Penny got a shoebox from under her bed. With her thumb she traced the letters which she had written on top: College fund. There was nothing she wanted to do more and go to college, get educated. Sadly the box's value was a little more than 500 dollars. It was hard saving money while you still had to make ends meet.

Penny placed the box back under her bed and walked over to the back of her small apartment. A few years ago she had finally saved enough money to rent her first home in the Narrows. It only had one bed and one bath but she didn't really need anything more. The kitchen was small and Penny didn't dare to use the tap in the bathroom, afraid it might break as it looked very wonky.

The one thing she had spent a lot of money on, was her laptop, her precious laptop. Still it wasn't something fancy like a Macbook Air, but it had cost her a lot of money. The computer contained everything she had worked for, information about herself, but most importantly her parents.

Penny never knew her parents, the only thing she had ever known was a foster home, well five foster homes to be exact. For some reason Penny could never connect to her foster parents, even though she was practically raised by them. They always wanted to get rid of her after a few years, after it turned out she wasn't going to connect and listen to them.

The one thing she did know that she was going to find her parents, she was going to find her real family. Find out why they had left her, and maybe even find some closure.

While waiting patiently for her laptop to start, she made herself some coffee. The research she was about to do tonight could take a while... Hacking into systems was not the most easy thing to be done.


Author's Note: So I decided to delete my first 'Penny and Bane' story and start over. I felt it was moving in the same direction as my other Bane fanfic. This story will take a different directing!

I really liked the name Penelope so I decided to name this OC also Penny, if you don't mind , lol. Next chapter will feature Bane, just consider this chapter more as a prologue!

Enjoy reading and hopefully I will see you next time!

Song: 22 – Taylor Swift