Author's Note: This is a long one, and all from Sawyer's POV – no particular reason, he's just fun to write for. Anyway, in this excerpt we find out something quite important – involving James Ford and a young lady (from Lost) who you should find familiar. Enjoy, folks – and remember to review!

Author's Note 2: For those who wanted some Shayid in this fic – I will try to get Sayid in somehow, but please forgive me if I don't. And for those who are rooting for Skate – read the end of this chapter, you'll like it.

Part Four

James

So, we're all sitting around in the foodcourt, everyone's finished their food and we're all just sat talking about what to do for the weekend, bitching about school, teachers, homework. Shannon's sitting with Libby, who's comforting her after what happened with Boone, and reassuring her that everything will be okay. Personally, I think Boone has serious problems. Of, y'know, the mental variety. No-one else I know is stalking his own goddamn sister, and I know some pretty weird people.

Anyway, I'm sitting there with Ana next to me on one side, Freckles and Jack on the other. Freckles ain't paying any attention to me, though, seein'as how Jacko's tryin' to tutor her about that math problem we did in class today. Y'know, from the way she's nodding and writin' stuff down, I'd say she's got it.

Well, well, looks like ol' Jack's good for something after all. At least someone could get through to her. But anyway, Ana's talking to Des, about how he's finding the school, what it's like being at school so far from home, stuff like that. I'm kinda half-listening to Ana an' Des, half to Jack and Freckles. But unfortunately for yours truly, I get jolted out of my not-too-bad situation by Ana trying to get Des' attention. He'd just stopped talking, and instead he was staring over mine and Ana's shoulders. Ana twisted around in her chair to see what or who he'd seen, frowned, and tapped me on the shoulder.

"James? Look who's here."

"What is it, Chica?" I turned around to look where Ana was pointing. "Well, now, what have we here? Looks like Miss High-an-Mighty Daddy's Girl has decided to grace this lowly mall with her presence. And, of course we have all her little friends as well, ain't that sweet."

Then, Des surprised us both by managing to stop staring long enough to talk. "That girl.. who is she?"

"That, mate, is Miss Penelope Widmore, the richest and probably most spoilt in senior year. Her family moved out here from England a few years back, and she's been flaunting her cash ever since…" I was going to carry on, but Des had gone back to staring at her. He murmured "Penelope…"

I shook my head at that – another guy entranced by Penny Widmore. Well, better nip this little obsession in the bud. I waved a hand in front of Des' face. "Des! Des, over here."

He turned back to me, and immediately asked The Question. "James… please, tell me she doesn't have a boyfriend? Does she?"

"Des, seriously, I know she's hot, but there is no way she will go out with you. And even if you asked her out and she said yes, you'd still have to get past her dad, and rumour has it he's pretty tough to please. So seriously, mate, forget her."

"Oh… but she's so…"

"I know, mate, I know. You'll get over her. D'you want another drink?"

"Oh, yeah… sure, brotha. Thanks."

So, I get up and grab a few more Cokes out of the vending machine, and as I head back to my seat, I see one of the most unusual sights I've ever seen and stopped dead in my tracks. And I know what y'all are thinking, and no, it wasn't aliens or a ghost materialising in the middle of the food court, or a dinosaur charging through.

Nah, what I saw was definitely real, and involved two people who were definitely alive and very very human. What I saw was Penelope Widmore walking very purposely over to our table. When she got there, Des stood up – probably just being the gentleman – and she went over to him.

"Hello. I've seen you at school, haven't I?" She said in her soft, English-accented voice.

"Uh, yes, I'm an exchange student… I haven't… um… been here very long."

"An exchange student? Wow, that's so great. And you're scottish, right?"

Des seemed to have lost his voice, so he just nodded weakly.

"Ah, you don't have to be nervous." she laughed. "I'm not scary, am I?"

"Um.. no, no you're not scary."

By this time, the others at the table had seen what was happening, and had all stopped what they were doing to watch. Charlie even stopped playing his guitar, which believe you me does not happen often outside of class.

"Well, I recognised you as the new guy, so I thought I'd come over and introduce myself." She held out a hand. "Penelope Widmore. But seeing as I like you, you can call me Penny."

Des shook her hand carefully. "Penny. Nice to meet you. I'm Desmond."

"Nice to meet you too. And I see you've made friends already, that's nice, we don't want you to get lonely, do we?" She looked around, and saw me standing there with three cans of Coke. "Ah, you're friends with James, are you? I'm assuming he told you my name."

"He did.."

"Did he tell you we dated?" Des shook his head, and she sighed. "Oh, I thought he wouldn't. Anyway, James here was my first boyfriend after we moved to America. I think it's the accent he likes, myself. Am I right, James?"

"As always, Penny."

"I told you so. But my daddy's very protective of me, and he really doesn't like James, and hated me dating him, so we broke up."

"Oh."

"Oops, I didn't tell you the point of my story. Anyway, since then, James tells any guy who shows interest in me that I'm completely unattainable and a spoilt bitch. It's probably just jealousy that he can't have me back."

"Penny…" Oh, God, I shouldn't have done that. I'm in for it now.

"What, James?"

"Why do you do this every time? Don't you get tired of it?"

"No." she said oh-so-sweetly. "It's fun. Now if you don't mind, I have to talk to Desmond here about something."

"Fine. Bye, Penny."

"Bye James!"

I went back to the table, dumped the cans and slouched back in my chair. Ana hugged me and asked what was wrong.

"Just Penny, Chica. Nothin' for you to worry 'bout."

"You should just forget about her, aren't I enough for you?"

" 'Course you are." I kissed her quickly. "She just always knows how to get to me, is all."

"Don't worry about her. I'll help you get over her."

We sat together like that for a while, as I watched Penny talking to Des. I saw them swap phone numbers. Most importantly, I saw her kiss him on the cheek before going back to her friends. He came back to our table then, but before she went back to hers, she made a detour and pulled me away from Ana and off to one side.

"Look, James, I think you might actually be mature about this for once, which is the only reason I'm telling you this."

"Fine, I'll be mature. What d'you want?"

"I wanted to tell you that my daddy is a lot less strict about boyfriends now. I also want you to know that he would prefer it if I married someone from back home in the UK, so I doubt he'll have a problem with me dating your friend Desmond. Anyway, I like Desmond and I'll date who I like."

"Is that it, princess?"

"Yep, that's about it. Goodbye, James. Oh, and I see you're with Ana-Lucia Cortez now, well done you."

"What do you know, Penny?"

"What, me? Not much, not much at all."

"Penny."

"Oh, fine. But you didn't hear this from me, okay?"

"Okay. What is it?"

"Well, word is someone you know quite well likes you as a lot more than a friend, and it definitely isn't Ana-Lucia. That's the gossip going around these days."

"Who?"

"I don't know…"

"Don't bullshit me, Penny. You know who it is, tell me. Now."

"Fine. But I am not responsible for anything that happens afterwards."

"No, you're not responsible. Who, Penny?"

"I'm surprised you don't know already, you've known her for a long, long time. Longer than you've known me, certainly. You grew up in the same neighbourhood, you come from similar backgrounds…"

"… it's Katie, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's Kate."

"Uh, thanks for telling me that, Penny. I'll see you around, ok?"

"Sure. See you, James."

I went back to the table, trying to process the information Penny had given me. I sat down and kissed Ana again. I popped open a can of Coke, took a swig, and leantback in my chair. I took one careful glance at Kate, who was busy talking to Shannon and Libby and Hurley and Charlie about what had happened between Des and Penny.

Oh, Freckles. Why didn't you say anything?