Sometimes new friendships and alliances can teach us things about ourselves that other things can't. One of those moments came during psychology assignment. They were supposed to do interviews in groups of four. That was the only class these four had together…and the teacher picked Lizzie, Josie, Penelope and Raphael. They were supposed to do short films about the other persons. They had to ask ten questions each and out of the answers to tape small comment video about the partners. Knowing that they had to work together was already a torture, but knowing they had to make up questions for each person looked even worse. They were supposed to work in pairs. All four of them took a seat together and no one could look at each other. Josie was looking at her hands on the table and Lizzie hated every moment of this. Josie broke the silence with a simple question that had no right answer.
''So, how do we do it?''
Raphael spoke next.
''Ok, Penelope and I could be first pair and two of you second?''
All three girls were surprised, Penelope most of them. Lizzie was leaning toward angry… She expected he would pick her after they had sex and all…
''You want to work with Satan?''
Penelope hated when Lizzie called her like that, but she loved how worked up Lizzie got. She also threw few glances at Josie who didn't dare to lift her gaze from the desk.
''Yes, you told me few weeks ago that you always pick Josie to be your pair when there is a chance, so I picked Penelope so you could work with Josie.''
Lizzie did say that and now there was no turning back. He turned to Penelope.
''Are you free after this class?''
''Yes?''
''Ok, do you want to go somewhere and work on this?''
''Sure…''
As class ended, two of them left to their lockers to leave the books in.
''Raphael, can we meet in twenty?''
''Oh, ok?''
''I just want to change… I am in a skirt and I have an idea where we could go and work on this… You should also get something comfortable…''
''Ok… In twenty by the main door?''
''Ok.''
Lizzie was hysterical. She was throwing things around the room.
''Satan is going to try something with him…''
Josei had no idea what to say to that. She didn't want him with Penelope, but she had no right to expect anything from her. They were not together and HE picked Penelope, so actually this time she had nothing to do with it. She even looked surprised or shocked.
''Lizzie….''
''I know she will...''
''I have no idea why are you upset?''
''I can't believe he picked her…''
Josie mumbled…
''Neither do I…''
But her sister didn't hear that. Lizzie all of the sudden got up and had brilliant idea. They will follow them and listen in. Josie was afraid of that idea. She didn't want to see if there is something happening with two of them. Knowing he slept with Lizzie hurt her…But him and Penelope would kill her…Penelope took him to the lake. It was not hers and Josie's place, but it was place where she started going after they ended it. Josie was glad she didn't break any ''code'' and took him to their places. They got comfortable and listened in on Penelope and Raphael. They took a seat at the small wooden deck and Penelope took off her shoes. She loved to dip the feet into the water. It was still warm and nice. He followed her lead and really found something southing in having his feet in.
''Soooo…. How do we do this Penelope?''
''Honestly, no idea…''
It was awkward for both of them, but less awkward than picking Lizzie…or even Josie.
''Maybe we should ask each other questions and find out something about each other before we tape the interview.''
''Do you want to start?''
''Sure…''
''Why Penelope? How did you get the name?''
'' It was my grandmother's name. My mother's biological mom died when she was eight and in her memory I was named Penelope. She was from Spain. So I have some hot Europian blood in me.''
He smiled.
''That explains a lot!''
''Hey!''
'' I got the middle name Elizabeth after my mom's step mother. She raised my mom and she is amazing.''
''I had no idea your middle name is Elizabeth…''
''Well, you don't know many things about me.''
''I am under impression no one does.''
Penelope got serious.
''Someone did… Or I believed that person did.''
Raphael was under impression that she spoke of Josie. He liked Josie and now he had to know how over two of them were. This assignment was perfect opportunity for that.
''How did you end up in the foster system?''
''My mom and dad got shot.''
''I'm sorry.''
''They were dealing and they were shot during the drug bust. I lived with my grandmother for couple of years and then she died too. That is how I ended up in the foster care and with Landon in the family Hope and Dr. Saltzman saved me from.''
''You will be ok here. This school is pretty cool place…But don't tell anyone I said that.''
He smiled.
''If I did, no one would believe me.''
''That is also true. But be careful… I have a reputation….''
''So I heard.''
Lizzie was pissed. He liked Penelope… He was flirting…He actually liked her. She told Josie how much she hates her and how much she wishes Penelope would disappear. Josie also noticed he liked Penelope but not like ''that''. I think he liked her as a person. She was charming and funny when she wanted to be.
''She doesn't like him Lizzie…And he likes her as a person.''
''You are stupid Josie…''
Josie didn't say anything.
''I have one!''
''I am listening wolf boy….''
''When did you learn about your powers?''
''At the age of five. Someone got me very angry and I blasted them to the other side of the room.''
He lifted his hand for high five.
''Badass Park!''
She winked at him.
''I know.''
''What is your favorite book Penelope?''
''I don't really have one… I have moments when some specific author is intriguing me or genre. Josie and I spent entire spring break locked in my room reading Carlos Luis Safon… Shadow of the wind and books coming after that… We could not let go of the books.''
''Sounds fun.''
''It was… Entire secret library and picking of the books and stuff like that… And then we got hooked on the Eco and Name of the rose…''
''Heavy…''
''I know…''
''You did a lot of thing together…. Where was Lizzie at that point?''
''With their mom somewhere.''
''Two of them alone?''
''Yes. Caroline believed she was under stress and took her to Mexico I think…''
''And Jose stayed?''
Penelope smirked…
''Yes she did… And that was the best two weeks of our lives.''
In the bushes, Josie smiled too. Those two weeks were everything… one of the best times they had.
''Why?''
''As usual, her dad was busy with Hope and giving her all the attention, Lizzie, or the Leech as I call her, was with mommy and Josie could finally be free…''
''And with you.''
''We haven't been apart longer than few hours during that time. We did pretty much everything together.''
He smirked at her.
''You dog!''
''It was not just sex.''
''But it was?''
''We did have sex…It's what couples do, but it was not all that we did.''
''But it was huge part of the time together?''
''Actually, no… We spent most of the time on my floor doing come crazy magic and pretended we were in the forest, in the lavender field, beach… We talked…Actually , Josie talked….She talks a lot…''
''Josie?''
''I know it comes as surprise, but that girl can really talk a lot.''
''What did you talk about?''
''Living on a beach… Having a home together somewhere nice, sunny and in Europe possibly. My wish was Barcelona. And Josie said she would go anywhere with me. We made a pact to leave after we were done with school. Spent time traveling and visiting my family in Europe.''
Josie never imagined Penelope telling anyone about it. Especially Raphael. Lizzie made angry and disgusted face. Josie wanted to live with Penelope and leave her?
''Why Lizzie?''
''I was angry and I felt like Josie and Hope failed me. They pretended to be my friends and took my brother away from me. I wanted both of them to hurt and best way to hurt Josie is something with Lizzie.''
''I get that you got hurt but that was not cool.''
''Lizzie was pissed too.''
''That was my doing.''
Josie looked at Lizzie who was getting angry again.
''Why?''
''I told her I would tear her world down for Josie….Because Josie would never do that to her, I would have done it for Josie at any time. And watch her little world burn with a smile on my face.''
''When did you know that you loved Josie?''
''Wow! Didn't see that coming…''
Penelope had to think…
'' It was something stupid and Josie would kill me if I told anyone…''
''You must now!''
Josie was scared of what would she tell. But also she wanted to know the answer. She had to know too. Lizzie was rolling her eyes and making vomit noises.
''Fine…We were in my room. She sneaked out. Lizzie was asleep and she came to my room. She sneaked into my bed and just cuddled up to me, holding me so tight that I believed she would crack my rib.''
''Wow! I didn't see that. Who knew she had it in her? She looks very fragile…''
'' Neither did I. But you are right… She does LOOK…but she is far from it. ''
''Go back to the story… What happened? Or is it R rated?''
''Must disappoint and say it was not anything of THAT sort…. So, I was so scared of what happened and what got her into that mood? Was it her mom? Dad? Lizzie… It turned out that she was reading Happy Potter and got sad because Snape still loved Harry's mom. She cried in my arms for hours after that….Over Harry Potter… And that's when I knew I loved her.''
''Really? Harry Potter?''
Penelope laughed and Raphael really liked the person sitting across from him. Josie had no idea THAT was the moment Penelope knew that she loved her. She always believed it was something different… And then she realized that it was close to the start of their relationship.
''Yes, Josei is such a dork…But cute dork…And she got me little bit dorky too.''
''How?''
''This is not getting out! If you tell someone ESPECIALY Josie or twisted sister… I will kill you. You might be strong, but I know some wicked spells.''
''You don't have to intimidate me. You are much shorter than me, but I am still scared of you.''
''And you should be!''
''Continue.''
''On our anniversary we wanted to sneak out to the town and do a tattoo.''
Josie was getting sick… Lizzie gave her very surprised look. Lizzie hated tattoos. She believed it was very slut like for a woman or a girl to have them. But on guys it could look cool. She would never have one and that meant that Josie wouldn't either.
''Josie Saltzman? Tattoo?''
''There is a completely different side of her that no one sees. She is very dorky, funny, cute, sexy… Much different than that silent shadow people see. And let me tell you. She is far from the good girl everyone believe she is. That one is a cute little devil.''
''Josie?''
''Yes, Josie…''
''Why is she not like that all the time?''
Penelope's face was now sad and angry.
''Long or short answer?''
''Shortest!''
''Lizzie.''
''What about her?''
''That is the answer.''
Raphael had to thing…
''Because of Lizzie Josie is different?''
Lizzie rolled her eyes at that answer and Josie was all ears.
''She sucks up the air from the room they are in… She is killing the essence of Josie…''
Penelope was wiping her tears and so was Josie…
''She has the most beautiful laughter… But you never see her laugh, or happy, or anything because of Lizzie.''
''Why?''
''Because drama queen believes it's all about her…and Josie lets her.''
''So, what is the dorky moment?''
Penelope lifted her shirt. On her side, just under the edge of the bra was a tattoo. It had stars and words After all this time? Always…
''So you did the tattoo?''
''I did… We were already broken up by then.''
''Why did you?''
''I made her a promise. I didn't want to be one more person to break it to her.''
''Who did?''
''Every single person in her life… I didn't want to be one of them.''
''But you left her?''
''I had to.''
''Why?''
''I loved her… I still do…But the problem was and still is she doesn't love herself enough.''
''What do you mean?''
''She always does everything for other people and never for herself. If you go to her now and ask her for something insane…like some crazy shit like organic chocolate covered strawberries….or something insane and hard to find…you get it? She would do everything for you to have them…But she will never ask for them if she wanted them…''
''I get it.''
''Good….Because she doesn't.''
''Cassie was like that.''
Penelope was confused who was Cassie.
''Cassie was my girlfriend… She was like that… Always taking care of me and making me feel good. She was doing impossible things just to make me happy and you know… how it is. There was so much life in her.''
''She died?''
''I killed her in a car accident.''
''That triggered the curse?''
''Yes.''
''I'm sorry.''
''I'll trade you a secret for your tattoo.''
''I'm game…''
''There is no day that passes that I do not wish I died with her.''
''I'll give you even better…''
''Ok?''
''I would die if anything happens to her…''
Josie couldn't believe she was hearing these things. HOW can she tell him something like that and act like that? How can she talk about dying with her and treating her like shit?
''That's why I torture her… I need her to protect herself, love herself and take care of herself… She is the most important person in my life…And I can't let her waste that person.''
''For someone they labeled as selfish and a bitch, you are very selfless.''
''Oh, I am a bitch… But for her, I would do anything…''
Lizzie was pissed and Josie was really crying. Hearing Penelope say all these things made many things clear.
''Is that why you got people to vote for her?''
''Yes, I know she wanted it. But she never said anything to Lizzie.''
''Why?''
''She would never back off… That's why she hides from Lizzie that she likes you. But Lizzie knows. She knows Josie likes you and even knowing that, she slept with you and TOLD Josie about it. She watched her sister and told her that she slept with her crush… That is how much Lizzie ''loves'' Josie and how much Josie will forgive her.''
Josie couldn't breathe… Lizzie was pissed she had no idea Penelope realized she knew about Josie's crush and going with it even knowing… Raphael was surprised by what Penelope said.
''At least it wasn't you.''
Penelope made disgusted face.
''I would rather die than have sex with Lizzie…''
They both laughed hard.
''Why, it's not that bad…''
''Oh, my God! NO!''
'' I like it how you never asked about it.''
''I want that image out of my head.''
''Why Miss Park?''
''Because I saw it.''
Lizzie felt sick to her stomach… Josie did too. Penelope saw it and she never told her.
''If you saw us, why didn't you tell Josie?''
''I didn't wat to hurt her with that. You owe her nothing…But I couldn't tell her that her sister did that knowing she likes you.''
''What?''
''She likes you…''
''You keep saying that..''
''Because she does.''
''How am I alive?''
''Why?''
''You know she likes me and you didn't hurt me…''
Penelope smiled…
''Oh, don't worry wolf boy. I did wish you slow and painful death many, many times….In so many creative ways.''
''Why didn't you do it out of your head?''
''Because I want her to be happy. If I am not the one making her happy and I couldn't get her to see how amazing she was, she deserves someone who will get her to see the amazing person she is.''
''You are a special girl Penelope Park…''
''And you better give her the world.''
''I wish I could…''
''What?''
''I can't…''
''Why?''
''She likes me… But that's not enough…''
''It's a start…''
''It's not a competition… Grand prize is already given to someone.''
''What?''
He took Penelope's hand and kissed it.
''You are an amazing person Penelope ELIZABETH Park… And just like Josie you also hide how awesome you are… And I am honored to be the one to discover that about you. I really like you and you are really someone I would love to have as a friend here at school. But that's not the point. Go to that bush… She has been crying there since the first moment you said there are some feelings…''
Penelope turned pail. She whispered to him.
''Who is there?''
He whispered back.
''Josie… And Lizzie.''
''You knew all this time?''
She narrowed her eyes and hit him on the shoulder.
''I am a wolf… Hearing and sense of smell go with the territory…Now move that ass and go and get your girl. She is about to faint from crying.''
Penelope got up and put on her shoes. She climbed to the bush and found Lizzie and Josie sitting there. Lizzie was pissed with her arms crossed and Josie was crying… Silent tears but crying... Penelope glared at Lizzie who just rolled her eyes and left. She lowered herself to sit in front of Josie and just looked at her.
''JoJo….''
Josie got on her knees and just kissed her. It was not gentle kiss; it was passionate and like Josie was trying to prove to Penelope that she is hers. Just like when they started everything… Penelope smiled… Josie broke the kiss and looked at Penelope with a very sexy mixture of love and hate…as usual.
''What is it JoJo?''
''No! You don't get to say all those beautiful things to someone else and make me feel bad about my entire existence all the other times.''
''Jo…''
''You were enough Penelope… You were always more than enough and I did love you… I still love you…''
''I love you too Jose… I always have and always will…''
She hugged Penelope and pulled her into next kiss.
''You better Penelope Park!''
Raphael sat on the deck and listened to them talking and kissing. He was happy two girls made up and sad that he would never have that chance. After some time they got down to him and took a seat across from him. They were holding hands and they were glowing and smiling and looking at one another like they could cure cancer.
''I see all is well with you two…''
Josie smiled at Penelope who smiled back.
''I think there are many things we need to work on, but we are on a way to fix things and work on things that got our relationship to end in the first place.''
''I see Lizzie is gone so it sort of is working.''
They all laughed at Raphael's comment.
''Lizzie is…complicated.''
Penelope didn't even look at Josie because she knew it would start a mess.
''You see, Park is not even looking at you or giving any comments. You see you are already working on it…''
''Her not making a comment is going to be a death of me at one point.''
''I know, but now you can have hate sex instead of burning her hair off.''
Josie blushed and Penelope laughed.
''Oh, don't worry… no amount of hate sex will prevent her from burning my hair if she chooses.''
''Penelope!''
''What?! I'm right and you know it.''
''Maybe.''
''Thank you babe…''
Raphael got up and left them alone.
''I think it's time for me to go and leave you to…resolve your issues. Anyway, Hope is waiting for me to take a run with her. Finally she has someone whose ass is good and not slow.''
''Good job on the good ass… Some have problem maintaining that…''
''I don't want to know…''
''Leave before I kill your new best friend.''
''Love you too JoJo…''
''See you girls…''
Raphael started walking and turned one more time to the girls and he saw Josie tickling Penelope and the other girl laughing so hard. Then she lowered Penelope to the deck and kissed her silly. They were happy and he was happy for them. He was glad he helped someone get their happiness back. Maybe his was just around the corner. Hope stood in her running shoes and running gear. She watched the girls too and smiled.
''Ready for the run Cupid?''
He smiled at her.
''You bet Hope…''