Penelope and Josie spent the rest of the day avoiding one another. In classes they had together they would look the other way and every time after the bell one of them would run for her life out of the classroom. As much as the two girls wanted to avoid the talk, Lizzie didn't have those planes. She was very determined to speak to Josie about what they just saw and to get Josie to explain to her how could she have feelings for Satan after all she did and after perfect boyfriends he picked for her. Lizzie was not having it. She was not going to allow that wedding to happen. They had lunch break and Josie was trying to figure out where to escape from Lizzie and Michael who wanted to talk. Of course the story got to him. Everyone knew that Penelope Park and Josei Saltzman eloped and were expecting their twins. Hope was sitting with Josie in one of the classes and she was a bit worried about the other girl. She was really absent and somehow too quiet.
''Are you ok Josie?''
''Are you? It's not like you didn't get huge news too.''
Hope gave her tight lip smile…
''It's surprise. I can tell you that I never imagined I might be married to him… But when I think about it, it sort of makes sense.''
Josie was surprised by this comment.
''You like Raphael?''
''Well, he is soft on the eyes… You can't say that he is not… And we understand one another much better than Landon and I. So I think that we could be good together… But let's talk about you Jo… What do you say Mrs. Park?''
She rolled her eyes at Hope.
''You really love to poke…''
''I do…''
''Penelope is right when she calls you dog with a bone.''
''Penelope? You mean, your wife?''
''Stop it!''
''Honey, you married her…not me…''
''She was your maid of honor who called you with a squeaky toy…''
''I hate when she does it.''
''DOES? AS IN NOW?''
''Yes, she does it often… She even gave me for Christmas full basket of dog toys…''
Josie had to smile at that. Give it to Penelope to make very original gift.
''That sounds like her.''
''I had no idea you were that close…''
''Yes, we got close after…''
''After what?''
''Your birthday…''
''Oh… Did she tell you?''
''What?''
''About what happened?''
''I was there Josie… She had no reason to tell me… I told her… Your dad sent me to find you.''
''I was not talking about that.''
''What were you talking about?''
Now Hope was curious.
''We kissed…''
''Ok?''
''And ended up in the genitor's closet…''
''Ok…?''
''We had sex there…''
''That is what shew as talking about in the memory. I told her I hated her… I kissed her back and we had sex in the closet.''
''So, you had sex in the adequate place since you still didn't come out to your dad… Now you have to… Everyone is talking about the memory… It will reach him soon.''
Josie covered her face.
''Why did I have to see my memories?!''
''Well, now at least you know that two of you fixed things and got married.''
Hope smirked…
''Three kids… You really were busy…''
''You know I can't get her pregnant?''
''I know, but I don't have any doubts that you sex life is amazing… It always was.''
''She told you that?''
''No, she never spoke about you in that way… But it was clear… You two seamed very happy and part of that is good sex life.''
''She never said a word?''
''Never… I tried to get things out of her, but she never spoke of you in that way… She always kept your things very much under the wrappers… BUT I did hear some of you banters in the kitchen after you broke up where some juicy details of you sex life got out.''
Josie looked at her hands… She was blushing…
''But my favorite moment was around the elections… That was one of the best comments she ever made…''
''She made few of them…''
''You know what I am talking about… Well, two of them are on the top of my head.''
''About the crush? And… the thing before that?''
''Me not being an option? No, I was not talking about that.''
Josie narrowed her eyes at Hope… She will make her say it.
''Is it about my preferences …''
''Preferences?''
''You really want me to say it Hope?''
''When I think about it…NO… Better not…''
''I thought so.''
''She is right… You are a bad girl Saltzman.''
''Is she really that good that she is so smug about it…or it's just her ego?''
Josie just looked at Hope.
''How bad do you want to know?''
''I am just asking…''
''Well… It pains me to admit… but she is smug for a reason.''
Hope made disgusted face and Josie just gave her an evil look.
''Stop imagining us in bed.''
''How did you know?''
''I am not stupid and I know you… You are a very visual type…''
''I am…''
''I know.''
After the bell Josei knew she had to escape Lizzie and Michael who had same lunch as she did. She went to the roof. It was the place Lizzie didn't go to because she was afraid of the heights so she was safe for a moment. She took a seat on the brick wall and just looked at the distance. How was that possible? How did they fix it and got married? Was that her brain playing tricks on her? Was it something she wanted so it was presented as a memory from the future? She was woken from her thinking by a very familiar voice.
''Are you ok?''
MG took a seat beside her and offered his hand.
''P sent me here to see if you are ok.''
''Of course she did… She couldn't come to ask herself.''
''She wanted to, but she was not sure if you wanted her to come. And I think she needs some space to process this too. Both of you were shocked by what appeared on that wall… More than any of us.''
She just looked at him.
''Come on Jo! Only you can't see how much you love one another?! She believes you don't love her anymore…You think she doesn't care… And the rest of us is surprised how much you actually love each other. And there is Lizzie….''
''I can't even think of what is going on in her head.''
''Or your boyfriend's head.''
''For a moment I forgot about it.''
''I bet you did… After seeing that… My mind is racing too… I love Lizzie, but at least I know that in my future is going to be someone who loves me back… You don't have to wait to be happy… Girl you love is three doors down from you and loves you back. What more can you ask for?''
''It's not simple…''
''Two of you were never simple, but you made it work when you wanted Josie.''
''What does that mean?''
''I know you will get mad at me… But you gave up on that relationship long before Penelope ended it officially…You left long before her saying the actual words.''
''I….''
''You put Lizzie before someone who you love… You can't expect Penelope to wait forever… And I am sure you knew Lizzie took advantage of you and the way you cater to every need she has. That has to change or you will lose Penelope for real…''
''It looks like we found some balance?''
''If you want to believe it was real…''
He knew that part of her believed it was some projection of her imagination.
''What do you think? Is it real?''
He got out his phone and showed Josie picture of Becca. He sent her friend request and now they were chatting.
''Maybe this class was push in a direction we needed to take.''
''So, you think I should elope with her and have three kids?''
''I think you had more than three…''
She hit him on the hand and laughed.
''What is with you and Hope with us having kids…''
''Come on! Penelope Park pregnant! I never imagined seeing that! She would do that only for you…''
She smiled at him. She knew how much Penelope was scared of concept of pregnancy and there they were having their twins and having a four year old daughter.
''You think we could do it?''
''I think you would be amazing moms… And from what I saw today, you really love being a mom and married to her… ''
He had huge grin on his face.
''Nine years of marriage and you look in love like at the very beginning. Like that night when I saw you kissing in the kitchen after party at the mill.''
That got Josie's attention… Nine years of marriage… memory that is ten years from their first kiss…
''Oh, my God!''
''What is it Josie?''
''I have to go…''
She got back into the school and run to Penelope's room. She didn't even knock she just entered. Penelope jumped from the bed
''Jojo…''
She just looked at Penelope.
''Nine years of marriage…''
''What?''
''In the memory… You said it's our ninth anniversary… We have the date and a year… We celebrated that day NINE YEARS OF MARRIAGE PENELOPE…''
Penelope looked at the floor trying to figure out what Josie was saying. And then it hit her. Penelope lifted her gaze from the floor.
''Ten years of the first kiss…''
Josie took a seat on the bed beside Penelope…
''That is in two weeks.''
They just looked at one another not knowing what to say.