Disclaimer: I don't own Across The Universe, Jude, Lucy, Max or any other characters or anything related to the movie. I can say I own Penny though, I think she's pretty cool to own. Yes, Penny. Keeping with the name theme. I felt it was appropriate. :D

A/N: So, I just got inspired to write this on a whim. I was watching Across The Universe for the... I don't know, 500th time today and felt sorry for Max because he seemed to need someone to love. End result? This. Reviews would be nice, please and thank you.

"JUDE!!" Penny rushed out of the airport and threw herself into the arms of her old friend. They'd been friends practically their whole lives. In fact, Penny couldn't recall a memory that didn't somehow involve Jude. They'd grown up together, as close as brother and sister. A true example of what best friends meant. Since she'd received his last letter, practically begging for her to visit him in New York, Penny had been struggling to contain her excitement. The excitement that quickly bubbled over as she gave Jude the longest, tightest hug she could. Penny pulled back slowly and reluctantly, smiling brightly.

"It's great to see you again, Pen."

Penny nodded in agreement. It certainly was. She couldn't even think of a word to express how much she'd missed Jude. Being away from him for more than a year was just something totally new. When they were kids, they'd been joined at the hip. Of course, as they got older, they drifted slightly, but the bond they shared remained strong. She was just happy to have him back in her life.

"You too Jude. Ah, I've missed you so much!"

Jude simply laughed in response and pulled Penny back into a hug.

"I've missed you too! Come on, we better get going, you've got a lot to see."

He grinned as he put his arm around her neck and led her out to the cab he had waiting.

"Isn't that a bit expensive? Keeping a taxi waiting?" Penny was curious. She'd never encountered a taxi and knew very little about them.

"Expensive? Nah. Not when you've got the best driver in New York."

Penny was still a tad puzzled but shrugged it off as she and Jude loaded her suitcase's in the trunk. She climbed into the back seat and stared at the window, not paying the slightest bit of attention to the "best driver in New York"

He, on the other hand, was paying close attention to her. Although he'd much rather be at home, sleeping, Jude was somehow able to convince Max to get his lazy bum off the couch and drive him to the airport. Max being well.. Max, grumbled, whined, and complained the whole way there. But the minute he saw Penny exit the airport, he was actually a bit glad he'd tagged along. Jude had told him that Penny was pretty but as Max watched she and Jude talk, he realized pretty wasn't a strong enough word. She was actually, beautiful. And Max rarely ever used that term. Her long wavy red hair, green eyes, killer body... everything about her seemed so amazing. And he hadn't even met her yet. Even her teeth were perfect! According to something Jude had rambled about once, that was rare for people in England. Max shifted uncomfortably in his seat when Penny entered the cab, trying to appear as though he hadn't just been staring at her.

As Jude got in, he made brief introductions.

"Max, that's Penny. Penny that's Max. And I'm warning you now, don't listen to a word he says, he doesn't function properly from the neck up."

Max glared over at his best friend and smacked his arm. Penny could only look on in amusement as the boys proceeded to hit and smack each other multiple times. Ugh, so immature. Finally she leaned over her seat and broke them apart, smiling at Max.

"Boys, behave. It's certainly a pleasure to meet you Max."

Max nodded and smirked slightly to himself. That accent, oh wow. He'd spent so much time around Jude that he hardly noticed his anymore, not that it did anything for Max in the first place. But Penny's was so.. lovely.

"You too Penny, you too."

"And uh. I'm used to those that don't function from the neck up. Since I've been stuck hanging around with him all my life."

She pointed over at Jude and smiled innocently. He responded by smacking her on the back of the head.

"Hey! Ouch! Don't you know you're not supposed to hit girls?"

"Oh, really? Huh, that's funny, I didn't see a girl around here anywhere."

Penny narrowed her eyes and slouched back in her seat. The three of them continued on like that for the majority of the ride home. The more she talked to Max, the more comfortable she felt around him. He was.. quite different, but seemed to be a pretty good guy all around. Penny had always had a little trouble making friends so it startled her that she already felt like she'd known Max for years. It actually saddened her when she realized that in four short months, she'd have to leave. She'd already grown so attached to the city and the people in it that she had no desire to go home. She hadn't even met the rest of Jude's friends or his girlfriend but based on the descriptions he'd provided her with, Penny felt quite certain that she'd have no trouble fitting in at all. As they drew closer to the apartment building, Penny started to grow excited again. She felt like she was right at home.