DON'T LEAVE ME

"Ewww get away, you're all sweaty!" I shrieked as I tried to run away from Derek, who had just got back in from his morning run. Derek has a habit of coming in from his run, and all of a sudden gets an urge to hug and rub his sweat all over me, which I find disgusting. But there is a positive side, afterwards, he would apologize and we would have magnificent sex in the shower to get cleaned up. Which is what happened today.

"Whew. I'm hungry whose cooking" Derek said as we finally made it out of the shower, threw on some lounging clothes and headed downstairs.

"Baby you're always hungry" I laughed as we headed into the kitchen.

"We'll I did just run two miles, not to mention the big workout we just had in the shower. So of course I'm hungry as hell"

"Oh you cannot forget about last night. Last night was a major workout too"

"Yea well last night wasn't a workout. I was "punishing" you, you were a bad girl at your party yesterday."

"How bout we just order in, I'm in the mood for Chinese food, or or Mexican food." I told him as I went to his counter draw and pulled out a Chinese and Mexican menu.

"Yea Chinese sounds good, what are we getting." He said as he took the menu out of my hand. "Oh how about sweet and sour chicken, and shrimp fried rice. That sounds good, doesn't it"

"Uh yea butttt I wanted Mexican too, and it's so hard to choose." I pouted.

"Baby you don't have to choose. I will get the Chinese place to deliver and I will go pick up the Mexican food. See problem solved"

"Well at least let me pay for the Mexican food, since you didn't want it."

"Baby when have I ever let you pay for anything, and who knows I might just eat some too, what would you like."

"Just some tacos and enchiladas"

"Ok here" he said reaching into his back pocket and pulling out his wallet. He handed me a twenty dollar bill. "Ok beer or tea"

"Um -"

"Never mind I'll get both." He said before picking up the phone and calling the Chinese and Mexican place to place our orders. "Ok the delivery man should be here in about ten minutes. And I will be back shortly" he said giving me a kiss before heading out the door.

Shortly after Derek leaving, the phone began to ring, I walked over and picked it up. "Uh hello"

"Penny pop" came Kevin's voice "your parents just called, they said their having a very important business dinner tonight and that their having a very important business breakfast in the morning."

"Ok and"

"They want us there. Tonight and in the morning. We have to be there by six o'clock tonight."

"Ughhh. Ok ok, I guess Derek will drop me off at you place around four, that way I can get dressed and all of that." I groaned out

"What's wrong penny pop"

"I don't know I feel horrible, I'm not in the mood to go to dinner with my parents, I have a terrible headache, I feel like throwing up I don't know. I was perfectly fine a few hours ago but now I just feel icky."

"Well have you eaten yet"

"No not yet, Derek has just left to get the Mexican food and I'm waiting on the Chinese delivery guy"

"Wow Mexican and Chinese, you guys couldn't decide on which one to eat."

"No I wanted both and Derek said we could get both, so. I don't know I just wanted some tacos and sweet and sour chicken."

"Oh well if you guys have any left overs, will you bring your bestest friend in the whole wide world a plate"

I laughed "Yes I will. So what are you doing"

"Um talking to this really cute guy online, omg he just said he would like to meet up with me what do I say."

"Um how bout yes, but make sure it's in a very public place."

"Oh Penny Pop this guy is gorgeous, I mean not as gorgeous and the deep voiced chocolate Adonis you have, but he's a very close second."

"Oooh dreamy" I told him just as the door buzzed. Five minutes passed quickly with Kevin telling me about this guy who name I have learned to know was "Rob", Kevin told me about their conversations, and the pictures they traded between each other. We were in the middle of talking about his shyness, When there was a knock on the door. "Hey hold on someone's at the door" I walked over, looked through the peephole, it was the Chinese delivery man, I opened the door, "Kevin it's the delivery man, hold on" I said into the phone as I opened the door.

"um delivery for a Derek Morgan" he said.

"He had to step out, but I'll take it." I told him.

"16.58" he said as he handed me the bags, and I handed him the twenty.

"Keep the change" I told him

"Thank you, have a nice day" he said as he turned and left. I closed the door and put the bags of food onto the table.

"Ok I'm back Kevin, so what happened."

"Well I told him I would meet him at the restaurant he chose, and we would go from there, I mean what can it hurt for me to meet him, I mean who knows maybe one day we will be double dating."

"Yea maybe we will" I said as I took the cartons out of the bags and sat them on the counter. I opened one of the cartons before, when I gagged a little. I took a moment to breath, and I began to get some plates down.

"Penny Pop what's wrong did you just gag"

"Yea, yea this sweet and sour chicken, got to me a little bit. It had a very strong smell today that's all. But yes maybe we will double date one day, if you meet him and he turns out to be who and what you're looking for, I wouldn't mind double dating." I told him just as the door knob begin twisting, and Derek walked through. "Hey listen boobie, I've got to go, Derek's back and I'll see you in a few hours."

"Yea ok. I'll see you then." He said as I ended the call and put it back onto the counter. "Hey that was quick" I told Derek as he set the bags onto the counter.

"Yea it wasn't that crowded today. I see the Chinese man already delivered." He said as we began fixing our plates, and then headed towards the couch. "So did you enjoy your birthday" he asked as we began eating.

"To be honest, yea, I did. The party wasn't that bad, I did get a car out of it, and plus my wish came true."

"Oh yea, care to share what that wish was"

I laughed "my only birthday wish, was to spend my night wrapped up in your arms. And I did"

"Baby you didn't have to waste your birthday wish on that, that was going to happen anyway." He said with an raised eyebrow.

"Yea you're right, but still, it's what I wished for" I said as we started laughing.

"Hey there's something that's been bothering me since, yesterday, can I ask you about it"

"Yea sure you can ask me anything. Is something wrong"

"Oh god no. It's just that yesterday at the party when your dad came over, I couldn't help but notice how there is no similarities between you two"

I chuckled "well duh baby, he's not my real dad. Hence the last name Garcia. I don't even any Spanish roots or anything, French yes Spanish no. My real dad and my mom were hippies, believe it or not, my mom ended up pregnant with me, um I guess my mom wanted better for me, she wanted to get settled, and get married, and he didn't. He stayed until I was two and then he left. My mom met Andrè, we moved in with him and his four sons, they got married and my mom had my last name officially change from Penelope Dubois to Penelope Garcia."

"Wow you never told me you had brothers where are they, you never talk about them"

"Um well, how can I put this, they hated me and my mom." I laughed. "They were so disrespectful towards us, to the point where my mom would cry here self to sleep, she was even tempted to leave. But of course Andrè called the boys out on it, and they said there was no way they were staying in a house with some woman who was mooching off of their dad's money so they all packed up and left. Derek when they told my mom that, it hurt her so bad, she made a promise to herself that she wasn't going to sit around and let my dad do all the working, and that's when she became all about her work, everything she did was work related she stopped paying attention to the things I did, and she and my dad found any and everything they could, that would get their names out there. It's kind of funny how my mom went from a hippie to a high class socialite."

"Wow baby, I don't know what to say, your childhood was rough."

"No I don't like to see my childhood as being rough, plenty of worser things have happened to kids my age. I really like to think of my childhood as a blessing, because I could've been born to hippies who smoked every night, I could've been passed from house to house. But I ended up where I'm at, and I wouldn't change that. Derek your childhood was way worse, so I don't want you to feel sorry for me." I told him as a tear slipped down my face.

"Hey hey stop that now, why the tears. I didn't mean to start anything up, I was just curious -"

I wiped my eyes "Derek I'm not crying because of me. I get this way whenever I think about what that bastard did to you. You put all of your trust into him after your dad died, and he did what he did to you. How could anyone do that"

"Baby listen, I haven't shed a tear over that man in years. There's no reason for you too. I mean it hurt me then when I realized I couldn't trust him, but at the end of the day he's the one dead, not me. I could've ended up on the wrong track, and wouldn't even be here telling you this now. But I am, so I'm the one who came out on top, not him. So from this day forward, I do not want to see a single tear fall from them beautiful eyes of yours because of that bastard. Ok"

"Yea ok" I nodded

"Good. Now finish eating"

"Oh yea speaking of parents, I'm afraid I will have to cut our time short, my parents are having a business dinner tonight and a business breakfast tomorrow, so I need to be at Kevin's by four."

"Ok I will drop you off at Kevin's, after I get my daily love session and cuddling time in." He begin wiggling his eyebrows in a dancing fashion.

I laughed "Derek didn't you get that in the shower already." I said taking a bite from the taco.

"Uh no I got my daily shower sex, next I need my daily love session and cuddling time since I'm not going to be able to get it tonight."

"Yea you're right. I'm going to miss being wrapped up in your arms while you talk me to sleep."

"Tell you what you call me me before you go to bed and I can still talk you to sleep, and take one of my shirts it'll be just like I'm there."

"Ugh baby, I have plenty of your shirts anyway, I don't need to take any."

"Ooh so that's where all my shirts magically disappeared too, I thought the washing machine was eating them." He said sarcastically

"Oh shut up" I laughed as I gave him a playful punch in his arm. Then he leaned over to kiss me.

After we were done eating, we headed to the kitchen, to clean. I stood by the counter and started running water so that I could wash the dishes. "Oh shoot I almost forgot, Kevin wants a plate. And I told him I would bring him one if we had anything left."

I felt Derek come up behind me, and wrap his arm around my waist, and he started to nibble on my neck "wash dishes later" he said as his tongue moved across my skin.

"Derek, we just -"

"We just ate all of that food, and now we need to work it off. And besides who knows when you will be back here." He smiled as he grabbed my hand and headed towards the stairs. Knowing that I would never turn down sex with him. That would be one of my main weaknesses, something I really need to work on. But that's nothing I have to work on right this instant.

KEVIN'S HOUSE

"So Penny Pop what will you be wearing to mother dearest, dinner" Kevin asked as we laid sprawled out across his bed, looking through some of his latest magazines.

I groaned "it doesn't even matter, I don't even feel like going. Let alone trying to figure out something to wear. Me and Derek didn't even get enough time with each other. I mean if it's a business dinner why do I have to be there. Why won't they just leave me alone."

"Penny Pop what do you expect, that you would just stay with Derek the whole summer -"

"Boobie of course not, it's just I didn't expect my summer to be all business and no play."

"Come on now I'm pretty sure you're playing enough"

"Oh shut up, that's not what I mean. I just wish things were different, I wish my parents knew the truth about Derek, that way he could actually spend time at my house, and we could stop sneaking around."

"Penny you can just tell them."

"Ugh no, you know my parents, if I told them about Derek they would give me two options. Those options would be to either send Derek to jail or send me to boarding school, and neither of that can happen. So if I have to wait till the day I move out of that house to tell them, so be it."

"Penny you need to let them know because -"

"Boobie. Please just drop it. Now we need to get ready, we're going to be late anyway." I told him as I dropped the magazine onto his bed, walked over to my bag and headed towards the bathroom.

After taking my shower, putting on my make up, doing my hair, and slipping into my little red dress. I headed back towards Kevin's room.

He was sitting on the bed already dressed looking through a magazine. "Penny Pop, I'm sorry. I totally overstepped my boundaries, you guys know what y'all are doing. And as long as you guys are happy, I have no reason to try to talk you into telling them, especially since I'm in the same predicament as you guys."

I let out a breath "Boobie, you have no reason to apologize, you're only telling me the truth, something that best friends are supposed to do. But you and me both will tell our parents when the time is right" I said putting my previous clothes into my overnight bag. I sat on the bed and began putting on my shoes. "I should be the one whose sorry, I've been in a bad mood lately, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that. I'm sorry Boobie."

"Ok. You look beautiful girl" Kevin said as he stood up from the bed and grabbed my bag. "Ready to go"

"Ready to go and get it over with" I said as we headed down the stairs.

"Oh Kevin, will we be expecting you home tonight." Kevin's mom called out from the kitchen as she heard the door open. She emerged from the kitchen and she came over to us and wrapped us in a hug. "Penelope dear, I just want to say happy late birthday, I'm sorry Me and Tom couldn't make it."

"Oh, thanks, and it's fine that you guys didn't make, I hope Kevin at least brought you guys your cake and didn't eat it all." I said as started laughing.

"Oh no he brought it and it's delicious thank you"

"Mom, I'll be back tonight, Penelope parents are having a dinner and they want us there. So I'll be back, but I probably won't be here when guys get up." Kevin told her.

"Ok baby have fun." She said we gave her a kiss on her cheek and headed out the door and out to Kevin's car.

MY HOUSE

"Penny Dear is that you" I heard my mom call out, as me and Kevin walked through the door.

"Yea mom, it's us!" I called out as I hung my purse, and coat onto the coat hanger, as my mom emerged from the living. "Hello mother we are so sorry we're late."

"At least you guys made it. Come on we have company." She said as we all headed into the living room. "James, Theresa, Lilian, Jacob, I would like you guys to meet my daughter Penelope, and her boyfriend Kevin." My mom said as she picked up her tea cup and took her seat by my dad. I gave my mom friends a wave, as they all said hello.

Me and Kevin took our seat, as they continued with their conversation. Conversations about business meetings, business plans, this and that about businesses. I tried to keep up with the conversation in case one of them tried to talk to me but, my mind wasn't here, my mind was back with Derek. There's no reason for me to be here, there's way more better fun things I could be doing.

"Ok you guys I hope you guys are hungry, I've prepared us a great meal, for tonight." My mom said as we all stood and followed her in the dinning room. "Penelope dear will you help me bring the food out."

"Sure mother" I told her as I followed her into the kitchen. Where she began taking things out of the oven, and handing them to me.

"Oh Penny dear, when you're done sitting that out will you be a sweetheart and come fix our drinks please. I'm probably missing some very important talk out there, and I don't want to miss anymore."

I turned and rolled my eyes and called out "yes mom, I will, let me just ask what everyone wants. You can go ahead and sit down." I headed back into the dining room and put the food dishes onto the table. As my mother came back into the dining room and took her seat. I asked everyone what they wanted to drink, went into the kitchen and fixed their drinks and brought it to them.

"So Penelope you're mother speaks highly of you" Lilian said as I took my seat next to Kevin.

"Oh does she, what does she say" I asked her.

"Oh she tells me you're a bright student, she says that you have major colleges lined up for you. Oh she's always talking about how beautiful you are, and I must say I agree."

"Oh thanks, but she shouldn't have. She really shouldn't have." I said as I smiled in her direction.

"Oh Lilian don't forget, how highly she speaks of Kevin, I hear there's some wedding bells very soon. It's great to find love with someone at this young of an age." Theresa
Said.

I laughed, leave it up to my mom to talk so highly of me just to impress her "friends", I could no longer sit here and listen to all these lies, my parents were telling their friends. "Um mother, if you don't mind, may I be excused, I think I'm going to head up to my room, I don't feel to well. "

"Penelope dear you haven't even eaten yet-"

"Mom I ate earlier at Kevin's house, I'm going to head up, it was nice meeting you all." I said as I got up from my chair, and headed upstairs.

I closed my door behind me, grab the phone off my dresser, and flopped down onto the bed. I dialed a number that I knew oh so well. The phone rung three times before that smooth silky voice sounded through the phone.

"Hello"

"Hey baby what are you doing."

"Oh nothing, just doing a little cleaning up, shouldn't you be downstairs with the company"

"No"

"Babyyyy"

"I'm not down there because my mom is feeding them a whole bunch of lies about me, and besides I'm not feeling well."

"What's wrong"

"I don't know, I have a major headache and I'm feeling, just sick I don't know, I may just need to lay down."

"Yea, you might be getting the flu, or getting a cold. Have you took anything for the headache."

"No not yet, I'm going to though, as soon as the guest leave and I can get out of the dress, into pajamas, and into my bed." I groaned out.

"My poor baby, I wish I was there to make it better for you."

"Hearing you voice is making me feel better, just keep talking"

I heard him chuckle "baby I don't think me talking is really making you feel better, but I will keep talking anyway because I love talking to you. But we do need to have a serious talk" He said suddenly turning serious.

"Yea ok what about" I quickly answered him, because now I was on full alert

"No not on the phone do you think-"

"Hey hold on" I told him as I heard the steps outsides began to creak, and then there was a knock on the door. "Come in!" I called out.

The door opened as Kevin came through the door. "Oh Penny Pop, your parents and the company has moved to the garden, so I came to keep you company." He said coming over and flopping down besides me on the bed.

"Oh ok" I said putting the phone back up to my ear. "I'm back" I said as Kevin mouthed "Derek" and pointed to the phone and I nodded my head.

"Baby if you're busy, I'll call back later."

"No, it's fine. What were you saying."

"We need to have a serious talk, and not a talk over the phone, do you think there's a way you can come by my place tonight, just for a little bit."

"Uh yea of course, I'll come by about nine, is that ok"

"Yea that's fine, I'll see you then. "

"Ok" I said as I ended the call and put it back on the table. I let out a breath. This didn't sound to go, I just hope everything is ok between us. I gave Kevin a smile as my mind began to wonder.

Soon 8:30 arrived, and me and Kevin was getting ready to leave. "Mom, dad. I'm going to follow Kevin home, I left something at his place, I'll be back sometime tonight, don't wait up" I told them as me and Kevin headed out the door.

"Thanks for having me over, Mr. And Mrs. Garcia see you in the morning" he called out as the door closed behind us.

DEREK'S PLACE

"Hey baby come in. How did you like driving it, Did you drive safely" he said as he opened the door and stepped aside to let me in.

"Yes I drove safely. I actually like driving it, even though I wanted a truck it's ok. I'm going to have to let you drive it soon though."

"Yea, that will be nice." He said as we sat on the couch.

"So what's going on, is anything wrong" I asked. "theres no need to stall." I said to him

"Nothing's wrong. And I'm not stalling, I'm going to get right to the point. You know how I've been looking, into schools, and different places for jobs, I've made up my mind, I'm going to join the police force."

"Wow baby that's great, I mean you've never talked about the police field before"

"Yea I know, but you know my dad was a cop, and I know more about cop stuff than anything, so why not. Butttt I've called the police station that my dad worked at, they've set my police academy classes up, so -"

"That's in Chicago" I said, as realization hit me, he's trying to tell me he's leaving, that's what this is all about, he's not breaking up with me, he's leaving me. "and you're moving. You're leaving me, to go pursue your dreams, dreams that I wasn't obviously in. And I guess that's ok right, you have to do what you have to do. When do you leave" I said as a tear escaped my eye.

He shook his head "Baby, I'm not leaving you, don't think of it that way. I'm just going to move to Chicago, I can come back down here anytime, and we will talk on the phone everyday. But you need to know, I'm only leaving to go to Chicago because I can not sit around here and do nothing. You do realize that, your parents have such high standards set for the man of your life, and me being a college drop out, car mechanic, is not what they have set. And before you think I'm only doing this to impress your parents, your wrong. I'm doing this for myself too, and what I think you deserve. You can not say I don't have you in my dreams, when all I dream about is making you happy, but baby how can I have you in my dreams, knowing that I can't support you." He said as he reached up and touched me cheek.

I wiped at the tears that were falling again"Derek, it's not a matter of you supporting me, I have really fallen in love with you Derek, and now you're leaving." I finally broke down as Derek wrapped his arms around me. "I would've rather had you tell me over the phone-"

"Baby I love you too. But I gots to do this for us, ok. Think about it, you go ahead and finish your last year of high school, and who knows maybe I'll come back here or come to wherever you're at for college. As long as we stay in contact with each other we'll be fine."

"No we won't, things are going to change. When do you leave" I asked him as I began to sniffle.

"Monday"

"Monday! As in this Monday. And you you're just now telling me."

"Baby I didn't know how to tell you, because I didn't want you to react this way"

"You know Derek, we might as well just end this, because it's hard enough being in this relationship while you're here, if you go to Chicago, and by chance you decide to come visit me where are you going to stay, you cant keep driving or flying here, I cant come there, soooo why even try, we can't do this. Lets just end this, and hopefully we can stay friends I would really love that." I said as I pushed out of his embrace.

"Baby, I don't just want to be friends, I love you, we can make this work, don't you believe that, don't you believe me"

"Derek. It's friends or nothing." I said standing up from the couch. "Thanks for at least telling me that your leaving, if you want me to Derek, I will try to make it over here tomorrow. I will help you pack, and I will get my stuff. And we will say our goodbyes." I smiled at him and headed towards the door as he got up and followed me.

I turned towards him and gave him one last tongue twisting kiss. I finally pull away and I cupped his cheek "I'm very proud of you Derek, I'm going to miss you" I gave him a kiss on his cheek and turned and left out the door.

I made it to my car before I officially broke down. How could he leave me, do I not mean anything to him. I laid my head on the steering wheel, before saying to myself "I don't want you to leave" I took a deep breath before heading back home.