Sending Up

PEN

I awoke to the sun shining through the window, promises of a better and brighter day for everyone... Everyone but me, that is. I turned and faced away from the window as the reminder of yesterday flooded back to me, and once again the tears started to fall.

I can't believe my parents are gone, and it's my fault. My parents lives were taking in a quick instance, by a drunk driver. and because of that same drunk driver, I will never feel their warm embrace around me ever again, I will never hear that special laugh of my dad's again, I will never walk into the kitchen and see my mom cooking over a hot stove again. I will never have anybody who would love me as much as they did. Life as I know it, is over for me. All the people I love has left me, and now I'm alone. I have no family, how am I going to make it through this. I cried harder as I slid further down into the bed.

A couple of minutes later, I heard talking from downstairs, I passed it off as being Kevin and his parents. I soon heard the stairs creak, and voices getting closer. Not wanting to be bothered I threw the covers over my head, just as the door opened. From under the covers I could tell that they turned the lights on.

"Hey Penny Pop, I got someone who wants to see you" came Kevin's voice as I felt two dips on the bed as they sat down. Even knowing that Kevin and his parents were here, I didn't want to talk to anyone else parents, but mine. I felt Kevin pull the covers away from me, and I closed my eyes tighter hoping that they would go away.

"Hey Baby, you gonna open your eyes for me." Came a deep soft whisper. I knew that voice from anywhere, It wasn't Kevin and his parents that were talking downstairs, it was Kevin and Derek. "Kevin will you give us a minute" Derek said.

"Yea sure I'll be downstairs, I have to make a call" I felt Kevin get up and I heard the door close as he left out.

"Hey you going to look at me" I heard Derek say, as I felt his hand cuff my cheek.

"No because if I open my eyes there's a chance you're not here" I said.

"Baby I'm right here, if you just open your eyes you will see that. I'm right here baby just open them" I heard him plead.

I slowly allowed my eyes to open, and as I looked at him, the tears quickly fell. He was really here, he came all the way from Chicago, because I needed him. "Derek... My my my"

He quickly wrapped his arms around me "I know baby you don't have to say it, I know baby"

I cried onto his shoulder, as I began to shake. "Their gone, their gone, and it's all my fault."

"Hey it is not your fault, ok, it's that stupid asshole of a driver fault."

"But Derek, if I wasn't so god damn stupid I could've went on that trip with them, and they wouldn't have wanted to leave early to get back home to me, they've would've never been on that road, they would've still been here!" I cried out as I punched at his chest. "I have lost the only people who really loved me."

"You know that's not true, Kevin loves you, I love you -"

"No you don't. And to think that I've lied to my parents for four years, just to be with you and then you up and leave me, that's not love. No one but my mom and my dad loves me, and I. Don't love anybody but them" I said as I pushed away from Derek got out of bed, slipped on my shoes and headed out of the bedroom door.

As he called out "baby wait!" But I kept walking down the stairs, past Kevin who was sitting on the couch, grabbed my keys off the table by the door, and with a slam of the door and Kevin and Derek calling behind me, I got into my car, locked the door, as they ran over towards it. Threw it into reverse, and drove away.

DEREK

"Dammit Kevin, where could she be." I asked Kevin as I paced Kevin's living room. "It's been over three hours since she stormed out" we decided it would be best for Penelope to have time for herself, but we didn't think she would be gone this long.

"I don't know Derek. I know she hasn't went back to the house, so I have no idea where she could be."

"Are there any family places or spots her and her family use to go to when she was little."

"Oh shit yea, her dad owned a little pond, and pond house over on 8th street, thats the only place she could've gone."

"8th street I know exactly where that's at, I'm going to go see if I could find here, you stay here in case she comes back. I'm taking a cab." I told him as I hurried out the door, and waited till I saw a cab and I hailed it. It came to a stop, I hopped in gave him the address, and as he drove, and I sent a silent wish that my baby was ok, wherever she's at.

It didn't take long for the cab driver to reach the destination, I paid him and got out the car, and sure enough Pens car was sitting, parked on the side of the road. I began walking towards the pond house, the lights in the pond house were off. I turned left and then right until I heard the flow of water. I began walking towards the sound, I walked around back and there was the pond, along with Penelope, sitting on a wooden bench.

I walked over towards her, put my hands on her shoulder, and as I reaction I got nothing, no jump, no stiffness. "Baby -"

"Why the hell are you here. Why did Kevin tell you how to find me" she said with so much anger and hatred. "I left so I could get away from you."

I took a seat next to her "Pen look, I understand, how you're feeling right now-"

She furiously shook her head "Don't give me that speech you don't have any idea how I'm feeling." She barked out.

As she said that it stung me, like a bee sting. I. Of everyone know what she's going through I've went through it. "Pen how could you say that, I've lost my dad, I of everyone understands what you're going through."

"Yea. But did you lose both parents. Did you lose you're mom and your dad. Don't you still have at least one of your parents. Don't you still have at least one parent who you can to and get advice from. Don't you still have one parent who can shower with love." She said as I realized she right I do have those things. "I thought so. So until you have lost both of your parents, you can't say you understand where I'm coming from." She said as tears fell.

"Baby you're right, I never thought of it like that, I'm sorry. But you have to know that you don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, Kevin's here, and we both love you, I wouldn't have gotten on that plane, and rushed here, if I didn't. I don't want you to shut down and shut me out. I need you to talk to me, I need to know what's going on in your mind, so that I can help you. I know it's hard for you, but believe me it will get easier, all you have to do is think about the good times. Just talk to me Pen."

For some time we just sat in silence, until I noticed her arms drop and heard he let out a sigh.

"Derek my parents are gone, and my last time talking to them, I was lying to them." She scoffed "I can't believe their gone, I had sooo much I was getting ready to tell them, I've put telling them things off for later days, and I know later days aren't promised, but I've never thought that would apply to my parents. I wasn't ready for them to leave"

"I know baby, no one is ever ready for people they love to leave, but that's life and all we can do is try remember the good times. But Baby want to know what I've come to learn" I asked as she nodded her head, and I put my hand under her chin and slowly turned her head towards me. "Baby what I've come to learn is that our loved ones may not be here with us physically but they will be right here" I told her as I pointed to her heart.

She nodded her head as she threw her arms around me. "Thank you" she said.

For a couple of moments I just held her as she let out her tears, and anger. I know that I haven't really made a break through with her, and maybe she isn't completely ready to face reality, but either way I'm going to be here. "Hey baby what do you say we get you back to Kevin's place, he's probably worried sick about you" she nodded her head and handed me her keys, as we got up and headed towards the car.

KEVIN'S HOUSE

"Oh god you found her" Kevin exclaimed as he opened the front door. Penelope walked into his waiting open arms.

"Sorry Kevin" I heard Penelope say.

"Don't be, just don't you ever have me worried like that again. How are you feeling" he asked her.

"I'm ok, I think I'm just going to head up, I want to take a shower, clear my head a little." She said

"Ok, I will fix you a little snack, how about that" Kevin asked her.

"Thanks Kevin, can you bring me up a bottle of water too please."

"Yea sure" Kevin said as Pen gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked over and kissed my lips, and turned and headed upstairs.

I followed Kevin into the kitchen to help him prepare Pen's snack. He started going around the kitchen pulling out the things he would need.

"Hey Derek" he said

"Yea what's up Kevin"

"Ok. So I didn't want to tell you this especially with Pen in ear shot, but her brothers called, and they said that she need to be at the house, soon. They sounded very pissed off to know that she has been staying here instead of at home, where they think she was. I didn't want to tell her, so I thought, I thought -"

"Kevin that's fine I'll tell her, but you're going too, she will need both of us there."

"Yea but Derek, do you think that's a good idea, I mean her brothers don't know about you -"

"Listen Kevin there was only two people who I gave a damn about if they found out, and that was her parents. Her brothers can fuck off, I'm going to be there with her through this, whether they like it or not. Now give me a minute to go up and tell her" I said as I heard the shower cut off.

"Ok I'll finish fixing her snack, and I'll bring it up." Kevin said, as I turned and headed upstairs.

PEN

I turned off the water as I stepped out of the shower. I dried off and put on a pair of sweats and and a shirt. I headed out of the bathroom, and headed into Kevin's room. Trying to keep my mind off of things for just a couple of minutes, I turned on the stereo in Kevin's room, and sat down onto the bed.

"Hey baby" I heard Derek say from the door, I turned my head and looked at him.

I gave a small smile "hey" I said to him.

"How was your shower" he said as he came into the room, and came over and sat with his back against the headboard, and stretched his legs out onto the bed and patted the spot between his legs.

I moved over to him with my back against his chest "it was ok"

"Well that's good." He said as his hands began to rub up and down my arms. "Listen, ok, don't get tensed or all worked up, but your brothers called, and they want you to see you at the house."

*PEN*

Even though he said don't get tensed or worked up, I immediately stiffened under his touch. "Derek, No. I don't want to see them, I can't see them -" I began shaking my head frantically "I'm not going"

"Baby, baby breath, come on calm down" he said as I began crying. "Hey listen to me ok, you know that this was bound to happen, but you won't be doing this alone, me and Kevin will be right there with you. Ok."

"Derek if I go see them, they are only going to gang up on me, And blame this on me."

"And that's why me and Kevin will be there, ok. I promise you all you have to do is tell me that you're ready to go and I will take you out of there, but baby you need to go. You have to face them and that way you can put an end to this.

I slowly nodded my head, as I knew the words that Derek was saying was true. I do need to talk to them, and not to reconcile with them. I'm only agreeing to meet them out of respect for my mom and dad, I need to plan a place for their final resting place, they deserve that, and I'm not letting the four of them stop me from making sure they have that. "Ok I'll go." I said as Derek leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

"Ok, but if you want to leave you just say the word, and I'll get you out of there." He said just as Kevin emerged into the room carrying two plates and a bottle of water.

"Penny Pop I've made us some snacks" he said as he came over and put the plates down onto the bed "I left a plate downstairs, I'll be right back" he said as he turned and headed back towards the door.

"Kevin wait I'll get it, come have a seat" Derek said as he moved from behind me, and stood and headed out the door as Kevin came and sat on the bed.

"Here you have to take this" Kevin said handing me my vitamin pill, and the bottle of water.

I quickly popped the pill into my mouth, and swallowed it down with the water. "Thanks Boobie, I was wondering how I was going to take it with Derek being here."

"Don't worry I got you. Pen my parents wanted me to tell you, sorry for your lost, and that you're more than welcome to stay here as long as you want."

I nodded my head "where are they anyway" I asked him.

"They are stuck in New York with Bridgette, they don't know when they would be home."

He said as I nodded my head, just as Derek came back into the room. He put the plate down before coming back to sit behind me, like we were before. "I don't know what I would do without you guys being here." I said to them as we began eating the snacks Kevin had prepared.

After eating, we all got into my car as Derek drove us to the house. When we finally pulled up there was four parked cars lined up in front of the house. "So they all couldn't have just took one car" I said as Derek pulled into the driveway, and shut the engine off.

"Ok baby remember if you want to leave just say it." Derek said as we got out of the car.

"I know" I said as I took the keys from Derek, so that I could open the door, I took a deep breath before walking inside. "Wow I can actually feel the difference in walking through the door, reality has really set in my mom and dad aren't here anymore." I said as Kevin closed the door behind us.

"Oh now you want to show up" came Jasper's voice as we walked into the living room.

Sitting on the couches in the living room were my brothers Jasper my oldest brother, Jacob my next oldest brother, Jake and Jax my twin brothers.

"Where the hell were you" Jacob said.

"Look I didn't come here to listen to you guys yell at me, you guys do not have the right to question me, and I don't have to answer to you guys, I don't even know you guys like that, for you to be questioning me."

"We have every damn right, when your the reason our father was fucking killed, now where the hell were you!" Jasper yelled as he slammed his fist on the edge of the couch.

"It wasn't my fault, I wasn't the drunk driver behind the wheel of the other car, so don't you Dare! Blame me."

"Oh don't give us that bullshit, my dad wouldn't have never left that early, if he wasn't feeling sorry for leaving your ass here. You're ass could've came with them and maybe my dad would still be alive." Jasper argued back

"He wasn't only your dad he was my dad too! And if they would've asked me to come along I would've went, but they didn't because they knew that you assholes would've treated me like shit. So why would they have asked me to go or better yet why would I have came." I threw back at him.

"Why didn't your mom just stay at home with you, she was only in the way, she created fucking problems for us ever since y'all asses moved in here." Jake said, with a shake of his head.

"Yea we told dad plenty of times he need to drop the bitch like the gold digging slut she was" Jax said.

After hearing him saying that, I quickly charged towards him, where he was standing by the fireplace, I raised my hand and very hard I hit him across his face. I felt Derek and Kevin grab my arms as they pulled me back. Derek wrapped his arms around me as he pulled me to chest.

"YOU BITCH!" Jax's called out as I struggled to get out of Derek's arms, but he only tightened his grip around me.

"Calm down baby, stop struggling" Derek said as I continued to try and get out of his arms. But with no luck I couldn't get out so I stopped trying. But still the rage and hatred, was building up inside of me.

"And who the fuck are you!" Jasper said, as he stared Derek up and down.

"I happen to be the man who would beat all four of your asses if y'all don't watch how y'all talk to her." Derek said.

"So you're the one she's been whoring around with, hmmph, you look like a grown ass man, what the hell are you doing with her young ass!" Jacob said

"I am I grown ass man, and I'm a grown ass man whose about to whoop y'all asses. Didn't I say watch how you talk about her. And for your information she wasn't whoring around with anyone." Derek defended me.

"Derek you don't have to explain our relationship to them, it's none of their concern." I told him.

"Whatever, hell can we just get this over with, I'm tired of seeing her ass." Jasper said as he pointed towards the staircase "listen we have a lawyer coming over who's going to go over some things. But until then you can head upstairs and pack your shit, cause your not staying in our fathers house."

I heard Kevin scoff, as I just shook my head. "What makes you think that she's the one who is having to leave." Kevin asked.

"Kevin. It is Kevin right, why would my dad leave the house to her, instead of his real kids. Our dad wasn't that stupid" Jax said

"And Kevin this really doesn't pertain you, so why don't you fuck off." Jack said to Kevin, just as there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" Kevin said as he turned and headed towards the the door.

"Hello my name is Patricia Lewis, I am your parents personal lawyer, and I was also very close friends of you guys mother" she said as she came into the living room, suitcase in hand. "Now lets get right into business shall we." She said as she opened her suitcase and pulled out a folder.

I couldn't help but become emotional as she pulled out a folder that was labeled "WILL", I mean damn our parents have only been dead for a day, and already their plotting to get their hands on their things. "This is bullshit!" I scoffed as a tear escaped my eye.

"Is there something wrong Penelope." Patricia spoke up as she moved the rim of her glasses to the tip of her nose.

"Hell yes there's a problem. My parents haven't even been laid to rest yet, and they are already plotting a way to get their hands on my moms things.!" I told her.

"Hey! I can give a damn about your mom's shit. I just want to make sure my dad didn't leave anything to you that you didn't deserve." Jasper said sending a glare in my direction.

"This is fucking ridiculous. I mean come on, I can give a damn about all this material shit, all I want to do is make sure I have some where to lay my parents, where they can rest peacefully." I said.

"YOU CAN LAY YOUR MOM, IN A TRASH BAG FOR ALL I CARE, BUT YOU HAVE NO SAY SO IN WHERE MY DAD IS LAID!." Jasper exploded.

"Ok listen guys, please listen to me. All you guys need to sit down and take a breath. I know this is a very tough time for all of you, but you guys know your parents wouldn't be happy with how you're going about this." Patricia said. "Now we need to finish this business, Penelope sweetheart will you please come sit with me, please." She asked as she patted the empty spot next to her on the couch.

"No I'm ok right here" I said with a shake of my head.

"Penelope sweetheart, I'm trying to make this easiest as possible, but I can not do that without you participating." Patricia said

"What damn difference does it make, if I sit or I stand! It's not going to make this any easier for me, I could care less about what that Will say, I don't care who gets what and who doesn't get what. I don't care!" I said.

"Ok ok Penelope, I understand. I'm sorry -"

"Just please get it over, I'm ready to get out of here." I cut her off, and I heard groans come from my brothers, and I shot them a glare.

"Ok so, you guys, a couple of years ago you're parents came into my office, and we drew up a Will, in which I will be reading from today. They didn't want you guys to fight and argue over things, they only wanted you to come together in times like these. I have two different wills I will be reading from today, we will not be getting too formal and we will not get too long winded. I will read from you guys mothers first.

She flipped the folder open and began reading. "In the reading of my last will and testament, I Martha Anne Garcia, hereby leave my entire funds and businesses to my daughter Penelope Anna Garcia. Also to my daughter I leave a savings account of $12,570, that can be spent on her choosing, also to my daughter I would like to leave to her all the receiving's from my business and magazine, it would be her decision to make if she wants to continue or to end them. And to my four step sons, I leave to you, four arces of land that my father use to own. Use this land to build something you guys will enjoy. I also would love to leave all of my kids, my love and my heart. And Penelope your mother leaves you this envelope, now I don't know what's in the envelope, but whenever your ready, you open it ok."

She concluded as she stopped and handed me the envelope, then looked at each of us, as she caught her breath. "So does everyone understand." She asked

"What I don't understand is why in the hell did she leave us some stupid land. We don't want no damn land we don't even stay here." Jasper said.

I scoffed. "She didn't have to leave your ungrateful asses anything, that land means a lot to my mom, and plus its not even in San Francisco, it's in Los Angeles, it happens to be on Sunset Boulevard. So if you assholes aren't planning on using it for anything I'll be happy to take it off your hands."

"What the hell are we supposed to do with fucking land -"

"Do Not Start." Patricia said cutting off Jax from speaking. "You guys will use that land to build something that you guys love, whether it's a house or a music shop or a clothing store or whatever. Martha left the land for you guys to fulfill your dreams, and that's what you guys will use it for."

I let out a groan, I was getting tired of all the BS my brothers were bringing to this, I really just want to get out of this house, away from them. I don't care about all of this. "Derek can we go please" I said as I looked up at him.

"Are you sure, you don't want to hear you dads will." He said.

I shook my head no "no not like this, I don't want to do it this way, if they are going to have a problem with everything, I rather just remove myself from this."

"Ok baby lets go" he said grabbing my hand.

"Wait Penelope, I have a couple more things to read over." Patricia said as Kevin, Derek, and I turned and headed for the door.

I stopped and turned back to her "Listen, I'm sorry but right now I'm not ready to hear or do this. It's so disrespectful for them to act this way, right now, and our parents aren't even buried yet. I'm not going to sit here and listen to it, but you guys can carry own."

"Well can I at least visit you after the funeral" she asked.

"What funeral, we haven't even planned a funeral." I growled out.

"Your parents has it all set up in the will. Everything is set up for this Saturday, everyone will meet here, and go to the church. It's all paid for, your parents didn't want you guys to stress over anything. Your brothers confirmed all the plans and details over the phone, this morning." She said flipping the folder open to the pages, where it showed that they had indeed confirmed it.

I scoffed "you make it seem like some damn party event, is this fun for you or something."

"Penelope I'm only trying to make this easier for you, I know how you must feel, and I'm looking out for you because I know your parents would want me too. You know what how about this I will fax you over a copy of the will, and all the files, that way you can read it whenever you get ready, I think that would be best."

I groaned, and nodded my head "whatever" I said and with that, we turned and headed out the door, into the car where Derek, got into the drivers seat, and pulled away from the house.

"Babe are you ok" he asked me.

I nodded my head "as ok as I can be in this situation. It just got to me that our parents died not even a whole day ago, and already those jackasses got a lawyer reading the will, already confirmed plans and details about the funeral, without talking to me about it."

"Yes that was crazy Penny, they were more concerned with what they were getting from the will, than anything" Kevin said.

"Yes and see they were so damn disrespectful, I hate those stupid ass jerks." I said as tears rolled down my face. "I just want all this to be over."

"We know, Pen, we know" Derek and Kevin said at the same time, as I laid my head against the headrest and stared out the window, at the passing street. Sending a silent prayer up to God, that he will help me move and pass on through this.