"So, what am I doing this for?" Penny asked.
Neo smiled, "You and Roman are going out tonight."
"Why?"
"You've been in the house too long. You need to get out."
"I like being here."
"I know but if you stay here all the time, then you'll get bored. Just like you don't wanna go home. You're bored of that place."
Penny made a strange face, "I don't know if those feelings are mine or hers."
Neo sighed and put down the bobby pins.
"I guess I won't pretend to know how you're feeling or how it feels to be like you. I think it is great you respect Phlox's feelings since she is the reason you are alive now but don't you ever wanna do things for yourself?"
She blinked and looked down in shame.
"I don't know. Father gives me updates for emotions like... I can understand them better. I only learn by feeling them. When I go through those updates I dream about her. I dream I am her. Sometimes when I experience strong feelings, it feels familiar."
Neo began pinning the rest of Penny's hair up before she grabbed the long, blonde wig.
"Maybe next time when you dream about her then you should try speaking to her as yourself instead of as her."
"I can do that?" Penny asked, shocked.
"We live in a world full of monsters. People have powers. We can do amazing things. We can build things and create friendships. Whether we are good or bad we all dream and have feelings. Even if that soul you use as your own wasn't originally your own that's normal. My mother told me a story from when I was little that we are always born again when our soul gains power again. They become new.
"Your soul had no time to become new and it was forced into you so you are Penny with Phlox's feelings. Maybe in a way your father created you to give Phlox a second chance since her body was a prison. She was sick and didn't get to experience life like you do. I think it is sweet you want to give her the things she didn't have but you must do for yourself too. Otherwise if you die, your soul will regret the life it lived."
Penny's eyes became a cloudy gray color.
"I didn't think of it that way."
"I think Penny should be Penny for a night."
Penny grinned and wiped her face.
"Ok, I'll give it a try."
X
X
Neo walked down the hallway around seven in the evening. Roman was in the living room watching TV since Penny wasn't seated in front of it. He had decided to dress in all black. He honestly couldn't find anything better and he was nervous. Penny seemed like the type not to care about dressing up but he felt like it would be disappointing if he dressed in blue jeans and a T shirt.
"I present you... Penny."
Roman's head snapped upward to see the tall beauty standing there.
"Wow."
Penny covered her face in embarrassment but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
"Sorry it took so long. Her hair was being difficult."
"Oh ok."
She had the blonde wig from before but it was curled in loose curls like her own orange hair was. Her freckles were covered up and she had glowing, pink cheeks, Her eyeliner was thick black but it made her already big eyes bigger and brighter looking. Roman's eyes traveled down to her dress and it was something Neo wouldn't have picked out for herself.
The dress was an aqua blue color with silver glitter all over it. It fit her perfectly showing off what curves she had on her very slender body. Roman got up never taking his eyes off of her and put on his black jacket. Neo rolled her eyes and tapped her friend's shoulder.
"Be careful with that dress, ok?"
Penny nodded, "Of course. Thank you so much. I feel really pretty."
"Would you like to go?" Roman asked holding out his hand.
She nodded and took it.
X
Roman helped Penny out of the taxi. She looked around with wide eyes. The city looked so beautiful at night and it was her first time to really see it in person. Roman closed the door behind her and she returned her attention to him. She couldn't help but smile.
"You seem really happy."
"I am. It's so pretty at night."
"I have to agree."
"So, what are we doing here?" she asked.
"It's called dancing."
"Dancing?"
"Yea. You go with other people and move your body. Haven't you done that before?"
Penny made a face and thought about it.
"I did once. Ruby taught me how to do the robot."
Roman snorted and covered his mouth.
"What?"
"There's more to dancing than the robot. I'll show you."
"What's this place called?"
"Night Sky. The dance floor looks like the night sky. This place doesn't sell alcohol so it would be good."
"I don't drink."
"I know but some drunk asshole might try to touch you."
"Oh."
Roman shook his head.
"Let's go."
He took her hand as color started rise in his face. Penny smiled at the bouncer as they went in and the man blushed. The place was warm and loud. Penny could see people dancing together and then there was a few tables in the back. The music had a quick beat to it.
"Are you ready?" Roman yelled to her.
"Yes!"
They walked down to the dance floor.
"Alright, I will help you. I'll show you at first then you can do what you want."
Roman had come to find out Penny wasn't as graceful as she looked. Fast pace music wasn't really her thing and some people were getting really raunchy. Penny looked slightly horrified and intrigued at the same time. She gave Roman a weird look like she was curious to do the same thing.
"I don't think you wanna do that," Roman said looking embarrassed.
"They look like they're having sex."
He looked shocked and his mouth dropped open.
Roman could see why it looked that way. The guy had one hand in the woman's shirt and the other in her pants, groping her. Penny had a look on her face like she wasn't exactly sure what to think of the situation. Roman turned around to see maybe there was a different spot they could go to.
He turned back around and she was gone.
FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK FUC-
Penny wandered around for a minute when she ran into some guy who was dressed nicely. She looked around for Roman but he was no where to seen among the crowd of people. She turned around seeing the guy giving her a dirty look.
"I'm so sorry!" Penny said offering an apologetic smile.
"You can dance with me if you're sorry!"
"No, I'm with a friend," Penny said making a weird face.
Roman looked around frantically trying to locate her but it was almost impossible for him to see through the crowd. He must've gotten close enough when he heard an angry, female voice. Roman turned around to the left from hearing Penny's voice.
"Come on baby, let's dance!"
"I am with a friend," Penny's voice said sternly.
"I don't see him!"
"I got pushed out of the way!"
Roman pushed pass a few people and saw Penny shove a tall dumb looking man onto the floor. The man fell onto the floor hard.
"HEY!" some girl yelled.
"Penny!"
She looked around and finally saw Roman's green eyes.
"Are you ok?!" he yelled and she nodded but she looked upset.
"I told him no. He did not listen."
The guy got up and glared at Penny.
"Bitch."
Roman turned around and punched the guy in the nose knocking him into a small crowd of people. Penny gasped and looked at him in utter shock.
"Let's go."
Roman grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd of people. They made it outside and around the corner of the building. Roman didn't say anything.
"I'm sorry. All those people... I know I should've stayed close by-
"Penny, I'm not mad."
"Huh?"
"You're nineteen years old. You knew what a danger that guy was and you did something about it. You did nothing wrong."
"I guess I ruined your dance night," Penny said, "I know I wasn't very good at it."
Roman felt horrible. Penny looked ashamed and devastated. He couldn't let this night go this badly.
"Come on," he said taking her hand, "We're still going to have some fun."
"Ok."
They walked a little ways until they reached one of the less used roads of Vale. It had vehicles of all kinds parked there. Roman stopped and looked at all them humming to himself. Penny looked at him curiously wondering what he was thinking.
"Let's use that one."
Roman pointed towards to a motorcycle. He rushed over and pulled out a key ring. He got on the bike and flashed her a goofy smile.
"Isn't that stealing?" Penny asked looking unsure.
Roman blinked.
Oh shit. I forgot. She isn't anything like Neo or me.
"What if I promise you we would return it?" Roman said smiling trying to persuade her to get on.
She made a face like it wasn't a great idea. Roman held out a hand.
"Let loose. No one will know and you don't ever have to tell anyone. Neo would probably be mad but it can be our secret."
Penny smiled and nodded. She took his hand and he helped on the back. Roman put a black, toothless key into the ignition and turned it. The motorcycle roared to life and Penny squeaked. She didn't expect it to be so loud.
"Ready?" Roman called.
"Ready!"
Penny slipped one arm around his waist and place one hand on his chest. He shivered. Roman's heart started racing and it wasn't because he had just stolen a bike either. They rode off into the night and he made sure to take the roads less used than the rest.
Penny held onto him tight and he could feel her chest pressing up against his back. Penny wasn't just any girl. She wasn't bad or even slutty like the rest he had met in his life. She wasn't blunt or crude like Neo. She was an angel walking among people and she had decided to let him of all people to show her a good time.
Roman felt honored even as cheesy as it sounded in his mind. He liked her. He liked the way she made him feel.
The wind whipped through Penny's fake hair but Neo had done good work to make sure it stayed on. Penny felt... free. She felt like she was free feeling the wind on her face and going through her hair. The best part was she could feel Roman's heart pounding in his chest.
She laid her head on his back and closed her eyes. Penny didn't feel tired. The feeling she had at that moment was so great, she wanted it to last forever. She never wanted to go home as long as she was doing things a real person was doing. She didn't want to feel trapped anymore.
Once the bike started to slow down, Penny raised her head to see they were near some of the farming area. It had giant fields with cows and a few horses. Roman stopped and parked the bike. Penny got off first then he did.
"Why did we stop?" she asked.
"You haven't outside much. I thought maybe we could lean against the fence and look at the sky."
"Oh, ok."
Roman took her hand and led her to the cleanest part of the fenced area and they leaned against it like he wanted. They both looked up towards the sky to see the stars and the dark clouds above them. It was so odd for Penny. The night sky looked so different back at home.
"At home you can see the galaxy we are in."
Roman looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
"Even with all the technology we have, we have clearer skies despite the light pollution. You can see other stars and the light of a few other planets. Then the dust that swirls around to form other starts. This night sky here is so simple but it's very calming and less chaotic than at home even with the clouds in the way."
"Wow. I would love to it sometime."
Penny smiled, "I love to show you myself."
Roman couldn't help but smile back as his heart pounded furiously in his chest.
"You're really smart," Roman said, "I don't like I could've made a night sky seem so dramatic."
Penny grinned and looked down at the grass.
"It was something someone once said. She loved the night sky too. She said it was best to see at the north part of Atlas. The colors of space were more visible."
Penny scooted closer to him.
What the hell should I do now? I don't know how to date. Neo was right, I'm some kind of slut king!
"Roman?"
Roman turned his head and was surprised by the innocent kiss Penny placed on his lips. She pulled away slowly smiled.
"I think we should return the bike now."
He nodded as his cheeks started turning pink.
"Alright."
The two of them got back onto the bike and rode back into town without another word.
Life is so busy lately! I am so sorry! Right also... I'm trying to decide how this ends and it makes it hard to work on if I don't know where I'm going... I have three different ideas... I just have to decide which way to go!