Chapter 10
"Why is it that hate comes out so easily, yet...love? It gets trapped inside." - Unknown
-Flashback-
It was the middle of the day at school and Vinnie had mysteriously disappeared with Tracy. Link was brooding and didn't seem to be talking to anyone much. It was 1:53 pm when she heard the rumor that had shaken her very core. Penny and Seaweed had broken up. It couldn't have been true could it? She felt foolish for hoping that she had even a shred of anything to do with it. She couldn't remember a fairytale where the evil witch won in the end. That was the girl she was, the role she was destined tp play. If not by choice, by birth right. Sweet girls like Penny and Tracy, were the ones who lived happily ever after. She sighed dreamily at the idea of Seaweed coming in and sweeping her off of her feet. It was a childish fantasy. It was something that would never happen, could never happen. She knew this but it didn't stop the rumors from plaguing her. It was driving her nuts. She needed to know if it was true even if the break up had nothing to do with her. She shouldn't have cared. It shouldn't have mattered to her at all. But it did.
"Hello Amber? AMBER?! Did you hear a word I just said?" Tammy exclaimed holding her books tightly to her chest, and looking exasperated. Amber nodded finally snapping out of the trance she seemed to be in. She had so many thoughts swirling through her head, that she couldn't think straight.
"Sorry, you were saying Penny and Seaweed broke up…" Amber replied looking more concerned than she probably should have. She was reeling inside. She used to be able to tuck her emotions away so easily. Now she was feeling them helplessly unable to fight. She was stuck between wanting to go back to easier, uncomplicated times when she didn't care about anyone but herself and glad she had found someone who had awoken a heart long afraid to feel. Because even if he could never love her back and it would never amount to anything, he had opened her heart and made her feel alive.
"Yes, and that's not even the juicy part!" Tammy gushed excitedly beaming a bright smile.
"There's more?" Amber asked carefully and for some reason her stomach was in knots.
"He cheated on her!" Tammy explained in a hushed tone that caused Amber's skin to crawl. Gossiping used to be so much fun, one of her favorite past times even, but now it just seemed wrong when it was about Seaweed and it was nothing but lies. She didn't care when anyone else was talked about, hell, most of the time she was the one making the stories up. She cared about Seaweed. God help her, she had feelings for him. It wasn't just some phase or passing fad. The feeling in the pit of her stomach wasn't butterflies swirling around, this was real. Amber loved Seaweed. This realization was enough to make her cry because she was certain she had never loved before him. She couldn't just ignore it or pretend the way she did with everything else. He had a hold on her without even meaning too. He didn't want her back so what other choice did she have but to bury her feelings, or at least try too.
"That's not true." Amber insisted finally sounding offended which took Tammy back with surprise. Amber managed to somehow keep her emotions in check and push back any tears. She didn't want Tammy getting any ideas in her head. "Seaweed would never do something like that." She added a little more nonchalantly.
"That's just one of the rumors I heard. And why else would they have broken up? They were perfect together." Tammy shrugged and Amber bit back a bitter sneer. "Besides, why are you sticking up for him anyway?" She asked raising an eyebrow and to the outside world it wouldn't have made sense. They were both from completely different worlds. As far as anyone else was concerned Amber had never been nice to him or his friends, and he wasn't exactly pleasant to her. She herself had been known to spread rumors about Seaweed and especially his friends, so of course it looked weird for her to be defending him.
"I'm not." Amber insisted quickly. "I'm just saying he really doesn't seem like the type of guy that would do that." She tried to reason.
"He's a guy Amber!" Tammy cried with a roll of her eyes.
"I have to go." Amber replied deciding she had to speak to Seaweed herself. She needed to know what really happened. She wanted to make sure he was okay. She abruptly turned on her heel waving a goodbye as she fled down the hall.
"You're acting weird!" Tammy called after her, her face scrunching up in confusion.
Amber wasn't quite sure where she was heading because she didn't know where Seaweed could be so she just kept on walking. Maybe she'd get lucky and bump into him, and if nothing else it gave her some much needed time to try and clear her head. She didn't have a plan. She didn't know what to say to him. For once she was just following her heart without a script. She boldly asked a few of his friends if they knew where he was, but with no luck. She sighed when she found out he wasn't in detention. He wasn't with Penny because they had broken up…or at least that was the rumor that was going around. His friends didn't seem to know where he was. Link was being Mr. Pouty Loner. He wasn't in detention. She was running out of places to look and going in circles. She was pretty sure he hadn't left school.
Suddenly a thought dawned on her and she felt her heart rise in her chest. It couldn't be, but she had to at least check. She walked down the steps she had become so familiar with and turned the corner. She only had to walk a few feet before she finally spotted him. He was in the school basement sitting alone against the wall and he appeared to be deep in thought. It didn't mean anything that he had chosen to come down here for seclusion. At least that is what she kept telling herself. Although it did give her a warm feeling in her heart knowing that this was kind of their spot. It was where they had practiced together, and pretty much anytime they spent together at all was in this room. She approached him quietly still unsure of exactly what she wanted to say. She didn't want to startle him or have him run off. She didn't have time to figure it out because he seemed to sense she was there.
"What do you want Amber?" Seaweed asked quietly without looking at her and she moved closer until she was only a few feet away. He kept his eyes fixated on the ground. She took a deep breath, he was the only person who could make her nervous. Her stomach ached and she knew it wasn't something she ate.
"I wanted to see if you were okay." Amber answered softly being completely honest. Seaweed bit his bottom lip, looking anywhere but at her. "I heard about you and Penny…" She began awkwardly after a moment of silence.
"Everyone heard about me and Penny." Seaweed snickered shaking his head.
"I'm sorry." Amber offered quietly not sure what else she could say to comfort him. One question still wouldn't leave her mind.
"Are you?" Seaweed asked raising an eyebrow and finally looking at her.
"Yes, I am…" Amber responded immediately but she was cut off just as fast.
"Isn't this exactly what you wanted?" Seaweed accused starting to let his frustration show. "Why did you have to say all those things in that closet? What gives you the right?" He demanded rising to his feet and moving dangerously closer to her.
"I told you how I felt. I told you because I couldn't hold it in anymore! What does it matter anyway? You didn't want me! You didn't feel the same." Amber snapped, her voice fueled with emotion. Her cheeks burned crimson while the weight of her words hung in the air suffocating them. They stood still staring at each other, the tension was so thick it was hard to breathe. His burning eyes finally broke away from hers and he let out a deep breath. She watched him lick his lips and clench and unclench his fist. He looked like he didn't know what he wanted to say. "Why did you two break up?" She asked finally breaking the silence.
"She thinks I have feelings for you." Seaweed stated boldly looking her right in the eyes. Her breath caught in her throat . Her stomach churned and she felt her heart thump faster. She wondered what would have given Penny that idea, unless...
"So why don't you tell her she's wrong?" Amber uttered nervously finally willing herself to look into his dark soulful eyes.
"I don't know if she is. I don't want to risk lying to her." Seaweed admitted. Amber sucked in a breath not quite believing her ears. She felt so overwhelmed. In a few short words he had given them possibility, something she never thought they'd have a chance to have. "You're shaking." He added quietly before lifting his hand and softly stroking her arm. She felt goosebumps cover her flesh and his soft touch hadn't made the trembling any better.
"I feel shaken." She offered terrified to look up at him and find out this wasn't real or just a cruel joke at her expense. Was he really saying what it sounded like he was saying? Did he feel the same way?
"Amber…" Seaweed spoke waiting until she finally looked up at him to continue. She did, and she nearly melted into his eyes and the warmth she felt there. Seaweed, the man that used to look at her with such disdain, never looked at her like that. "I need to figure this out. I need to sort out my feelings and figure out what this means. So, I'm gonna kiss you right now." He warned her and her heart leaped. He gently cradled her face in his hands slowly moving his lips closer to hers. She had gone along with her mother's plan. Despite how real her feelings for him were, she had lied to him the entire time. She didn't want to be that person but she was. Would he want her anyway? She doubted it.
"No…" Amber gasped suddenly turning her face away and the softness of his lips brushed against her cheek. "Seaweed, I lied to you. I've been lying to you." She blurted out a confession that pierced her own heart because she knew in that moment, any chance there might have been was gone.
"What?" Seaweed demanded removing his hands from her face and backing away.
"I was trying to break up Tracy and Link. But I wasn't trying to get Link for myself!" Amber explained quickly. She hoped he didn't hate her. She hoped maybe there was still some chance left. But the look in his eyes had gone from warm to an icy cold.
"Then why would you want to break them up?" Seaweed asked angrily.
"I got him to sign with another show my mother is running…" Amber answered helplessly and she knew she was saying too much. She shouldn't have been confessing any of this. She couldn't lie to him. She wanted to be worthy of the way he had looked at her. She wanted for there to still be a chance for them. She needed the truth to set her free, from her mother's grasp, from her own restraints. She needed him to still want her despite her faults.
"Your mother?" Seaweed shook his head feeling like an idiot for believing her lies and actually letting himself think he may have feelings for her. He risked everything he had with Penny for a back stabber. "So this…" He began to ask pointing between them.
"How I feel about you had nothing to do with any of that. I wasn't expecting to fall for you but it happened. God, do you know how much easier my life would be if I hadn't?" Amber insisted emotionally and she tried to reach out and touch him but he pulled away from her.
"Link signed with this other show?" Seaweed asked to which Amber could only nod. "I was stupid enough to trust you against my better judgement. I only have myself to blame. Thank you for showing me how truly wrong I was about you Amber." He added shamefully. She wished she could take all back.
"I've done awful things, some of them unforgivable even.You just don't understand what it's like with my mother…it's like you don't have a choice in who you want to be. You have to be who she tells you to be and do what she wants you to do, or there will be hell to pay. But you're the only person who's ever made me want to be better than that. When I'm with you…I feel alive. Seaweed, please…" Amber pleaded pouring her heart out and he shook his head.
"There's always a choice Amber. You just don't want to pay the consequences of doing the right thing and being your own person. Change is never easy but what you go through to get there is always worth it in the end." Seaweed insisted passionately. "Just when I think maybe…I find out you've been lying to me this entire time, you're still the same. I hid things from my friends for you. I risked what I had with Penny for you." He cried obviously hurt, regretting ever giving her the benefit of the doubt.
"No, Seaweed please, you have to believe me. I'm sorry. I know I've done some pretty awful things. But I promise you I've never been more myself, or who I want to be than when I'm with you." Amber cried and she was showing the emotion she always bottled up so tightly but she didn't care anymore. She loved him.
"That's not enough." Seaweed chuckled. His voice sounded sad and tired, like he had been given more than he could take. She wanted to make it better. She wanted to make this right, to show him that there was more to her than the strings her mother pulled. He turned to walk away. She impulsively grabbed his arm. She couldn't let him go and let it end like this. She looked into his eyes and saw so much there. She had hurt him and his friends. He felt betrayed. She didn't deserve him. She smashed her lips against his without restraint. He was like a stone statue in her hands, although his lips were soft and warm to the touch. He pushed her away touching his lips as if he had been burned. Her heart was racing. A kiss had never felt like that. Even if he hadn't really kissed her back, it felt more powerful than any kiss she had ever experienced. There was so much emotion and need there. She wondered if he felt it too. Or if any chance of him feeling anything was completely dead. She felt her chest tighten. She couldn't take the way he was looking at her.
"I can change." Amber promised softly and in that moment she meant every word, even if she wasn't sure if it was true. She felt weak and vulnerable as the words left her lips. Her small fingers were still fisted into his sweater.
"Prove it." Seaweed answered gently pushing her hands away and walking passed her down the hall, leaving her alone when the tears finally came.
End Flashback
It was around lunch time when Amber finally got to school, completely flushed and out of breath. Seaweed's words and her feelings for him had touched her in such a profound way that she needed to make things right. She had to make things better no matter what the cost. She didn't care about her mother or the consequences, it was all or nothing now. She wanted it all with him. She confided in Vinnie about this, hoping to find a common bond. He seemed to be getting sick of it himself, maybe even feeling sorry for Tracy. But she should have known better. She had known Vinnie her entire life. When he wanted something he made it happen. What she didn't understand was his urgency to destroy Tracy's life. It couldn't have been the money or the spot on the show could it? No, it all seemed more personal than that and it didn't make any sense. When she had brought it up to him, the idea of not taking it any further and trying to right all that they had wronged, he laughed in her face. She asked him not to go through with whatever it was he had planned but there was no reasoning with him. He told her there was no backing out for either of them. He said this was something he had to do. He said it like he needed it to happen. They fought back and forth until Vinnie managed to lock her down in the basement. She finally got out when the maid heard her screaming and unlocked the door. Vinnie had promised by the time she got out, it'd be too late. She ran up the stairs to the school praying he was wrong. It was after lunch and the halls were swarming with students. She felt something strange in the air, something wasn't right. She looked around and spotted a group of her friends talking amongst themselves by the lockers, probably gossiping. She barely stepped a foot towards them when Darla came bouncing up to her.
"You're never going to believe this!" Darla gasped and the other council girls quickly joined them.
"What? What happened?" Amber asked feeling a bit panicked.
"Tracy went all the way with Vinnie!" Tammy blurted out and all the other girls gasped as if they hadn't heard the news already. Amber's heart dropped to her knees. She was too late.
"No way. Tracy wouldn't do that." Amber insisted and she hoped her saying she didn't believe it would sway their opinions. Some of them could be such followers after all.
"Yes, she did! Twice right in her bedroom while her parents weren't home!" Shelley informed like it was a matter of fact. "I overheard Vinnie telling Brad with my own ears!" She added with a smug grin and Amber felt like punching her. Brad and Shelley were now an item, so of course Vinnie would choose to tell him, knowing what a big mouth Shelley had. He probably shared the same story with a few of the other guys who also had chatty girlfriends, and now it was around the entire school. Amber looked around the hall, everyone was talking about it. She'd give him one thing he was smart. A smart asshole.
"He's lying." Amber cried and there was venom in her voice. She knew how odd it must of looked, her getting upset over gossip regarding Tracy but she didn't care.
"Then he's a liar with proof. He had some of her undergarments." Shelley challenged. "Besides aren't you the one who claimed she went all the way with the entire football team last year?" She laughed at the irony but Amber was walking away before she could say another word.
Amber scanned the crowd finally laying her eyes on Vinnie. If looks could kill, her glare would have been the death of him. He was with a group of guys from the show, wearing his usual cocky 'I'm better than you' smile. She started to march right up to him but was stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Tracy. Tracy pushed passed some of the other students, her face covered in tears. She was making her way over to Vinnie. Amber held her breath. This wasn't going to be good.
"Vinnie, can I speak to you?" Tracy asked quietly unable to hide her emotions. She had obviously heard the rumors and was probably picked on all day because of it. Vinnie exchanged a knowing look with the other guys before stepping aside with her.
"What's up, dollface?" Vinnie smiled like nothing was wrong. Tracy looked around them and he could tell she was trying to be discreet.
"Vinnie, you didn't…did you tell people that we…" Tracy uttered trying to think of the right way to say it. "…that you and I…" She tried but she felt the tears stinging her eyes at the very thought. It was killing her that everyone was saying and believing such awful things about her. She prayed with everything she had that Vinnie wasn't the one spreading these lies. He wouldn't do that. He was her friend wasn't he?
"…that we went ALL the way?" Vinnie questioned rather loudly, startling her and everyone who wasn't looking at them was definitely looking now. Vinnie clenched his jaw, ready to publicly humiliate her and destroy her reputation. Tracy looked around them, her cheeks burning crimson.
"That's what everyone is saying!" Tracy replied in a hushed tone giving him a pleading look to not make a scene and draw more attention to them. "You have to let everyone know the truth." She insisted and her eyes all puffy from tears, were practically begging him.
"That is the truth." Vinnie grinned with a chuckle and she couldn't believe her ears. In an instant his entire demeanor had changed. Something was off, this wasn't the person she had grown to know. He wasn't warm. His eyes were an icy blue. He didn't smile the same. There was more of a smug arrogance. She didn't like the way he was looking at her, like she was his prey and he was about to rip her apart.
"What?" Tracy uttered in surprise. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"It's nothing be be ashamed of doll. Everybody does it. You should be happy you lost it to a guy like me. I mean I did kind of lower my standards." Vinnie offered coldly with a cocky smile. Amber covered her mouth with her hand, if this was hard for him, he wasn't showing it.
"Lowered your standards? Why are you being such a jerk? Nothing happened! Tell the truth Vinnie!" Tracy cried completely enraged.
"I am telling the truth. We had sex and now I don't want you. Deal with it." Vinnie shot back harshly raising his voice. Without thinking, Tracy swung at him slapping him hard across the face. Amber gasped. That was the last thing she expected to see from Tracy, not that he didn't completely deserve it.
"You're a liar. We never did anything. I don't know why you would want to lie or hurt me when I've done nothing but be your friend, but I know the truth. I'd never lower my standards to your level." Tracy snapped and it was viscous, passionate and fueled with emotion. She stormed off, running down the hall.
"I believe you Tracy!" Amber called as Tracy passed her but Tracy kept running. She had to get away from all the lies and judging eyes.
Vinnie walked over to Link, who was standing nearby. He, along with the rest of the school, had seen the entire exchange. Vinnie stood right before him, their blue eyes locked in a hateful war. Vinnie leaned in close, right next to Link's ear.
"She was good." Vinnie whispered slipping Tracy's promise ring Link had given her, into Link's hand. "Damn good." He grinned cockily like he had won. He walked away and Link was frozen in place staring down at the tiny ring in his hand. The ring he had hand selected as a symbol of everything he shared with Tracy. Their love, commitment, loyalty and friendship. He felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He should have been a man and went after Vinnie. But all he could do was look at that damn ring in his hand.
"He's lying Link. I know he is!" Amber whispered and he hadn't even realized she was standing in front of him. "Link!" She cried desperately and he finally looked at her. The look in his eyes broke her heart.
"I'm glad I signed with that show. I told Corny I signed with another show today...he wasn't happy about it." Link explained when he was finally able to talk even though he still felt like he couldn't breath.
"Link, did you hear me? Tracy wouldn't do something like that!" Amber insisted praying to get through to him. Link looked down at the ring in his hand and then back into her eyes.
"So, this will be my last week on the Corny Collins show. Friday's my last show." Link continued to speak ignoring her words. "I can't wait for this new show to start. We can finally go back to the way things were." He faked a smile before giving her a small kiss on the lips. All she could feel in his kiss was a broken heart. She didn't want to go back to the way things were. He walked passed her without another word. Seaweed, who had also witnessed the entire thing, gave her a disapproving look before heading down the hall after Link.
"Link!" Seaweed called following the crooner out the school doors and into the parking lot. Link threw a glance back at him but didn't stop. Seaweed ran to catch up with him, grabbing him by the arm and yanking him around. "Link, come on do you really think Tracy would do something like that?" He demanded.
"Back off Seaweed." Link shouted shoving him away. Seaweed took in a deep breath trying to control his temper.
"Now, I'm gonna let that go because you're upset." Seaweed began, his jaw clenched tightly. "Link, you know Tracy." He insisted.
"I thought I knew her." Link admitted quietly.
"So you truly believe Tracy and Vinnie went all the way? That she would do something like that? She still loves you!" Seaweed exclaimed.
"All the evidence says she did." Link shrugged looking away. "Plus, she...she threw herself at me the other day. She wanted to...you know. Maybe she was so ready because she had already done it." He added refusing to meet Seaweed's eyes. Link looked broken, like a little boy struggling to be a man in a complicated world of manipulation.
"She loves you. She wanted you back. Maybe she thought that was the way to make it happen. But I know Tracy. I don't care how much 'evidence' he has stacked against her, making it look like they did it. I know Tracy. And so do you. Look deep into your heart and tell me do you really believe She would do that? With him, while still being head over heels in love with you? That's not Tracy." Seaweed explained intensely hoping his words would get through the wall Link had so carefully built up.
"She was hurting...she's human..." Link began to reason shaking his head.
"If Tracy says nothing happened, then nothing happened. Link look into your heart, and stop doubting. You know her. You love her. Stop running away. Because eventually you will lose her." Seaweed advised giving Link's shoulder a comforting squeeze.
"You don't know anything about me and Tracy." Link answered pulling away.
"I know you're a fool if you believe Vinnie's word over hers." Seaweed offered honestly. Link looked down at that damn ring again. They were silent for a moment, neither one making the move to walk away.
"Amber manipulated you into signing with that new show, you know? She told me so herself. She was trying to break you two up the entire time." He finally broke the silence looking at Link expectantly.
"Maybe it's for the best." Link shrugged like it didn't matter. He hadn't cared when he signed the contract anyway. He only regretted it when he saw Tracy break down and cry. He couldn't take much more of this. "Who are you to stick your nose into this anyway?" He asked sounding upset and Seaweed wasn't sure why Link was always on the defensive but the answer was simple.
"A friend! I'm your friend. I'm Tracy's friend. You look like you could use a friend. You're being stubborn and you don't want to listen to what I have to say even if you know it's probably true." Seaweed explained honestly.
"Maybe had you paid this much attention to your own relationship, you and Penny would still be together." Link called as he walked away to his car, there was anger in his voice.
"Maybe if you had opened up to Tracy, instead of running scared, Vinnie would have never been able to come between the two of you in the first place! Stop blaming it all on Tracy, Link!" Seaweed shouted as Link climbed into his car. "You know her!" He yelled shaking his head watching Link pull out of the parking lot and speed off.
Amber rushed through the back door of the Von Tussel home, and Vinnie wasn't too far behind her.
"Amber this is ridiculous, stop being so dramatic." Vinnie sighed closing the door and she looked around like she was on a mission.
"No, I'm gonna fix it." Amber insisted desperately.
"There's nothing you can do now." Vinnie replied calmly.
"Yes, there is. I'm gonna find Link's contract and then I'm gonna tell everyone your my cousin. I'll tell them everything." Amber snapped angrily.
"And then they'll hate you even more. You'll betray your family and everyone will hate you anyway. What sense does that make?" Vinnie reasoned not taking her very seriously.
"I have to try." Amber answered simply and quickly walked out of the room just as the phone rang.
"You'll never find that contract Amber." Vinnie called after her with an exasperated sigh and roll of his eyes. He picked up the phone. "Hello?" He asked.
"Vinnie! Sweetie, it's me. How come you never called me back?" Victoria Von Tussel questioned worriedly.
"Called you back?" Vinnie asked in confusion furrowing his brow.
"Yes, I called the other day and Velma said she'd give you the message. I wanted to talk to you about something. I've been thinking a lot, ever since I came out to visit you. I know it's mostly my fault, and all you've ever done was try to protect me. But I couldn't live with myself if you turned out to be anything like your father. If I know your Aunt Velma, whatever she wants you to do must be pretty awful. Please Vinnie, don't hurt that poor girl. I promise I'll leave your father and we can start over. We'll move in with Grandma until we can get on our feet, we'll make it work. I should have done this a long time ago. You're the most important thing I have in this life. Staying with your father isn't worth compromising my boy's heart. I promise I'll leave him...but please don't hurt Tracy." Victoria pleaded. Vinnie's mouth hung open in shock. He felt like he couldn't breathe. It was everything he ever wanted to hear. Finally, he and his mother would get away from his wretched father. That day, meeting Tracy, must have really clicked something in her. She didn't want him to be that kind of person. It was too late. Things had gone too far. He could feel his eyes painfully burning.
"Vinnie, are you there?" Victoria asked with concern becoming even more worried by his silence.
"But everyone thinks we did!" Tracy sobbed as Penny wrapped her arm around her shoulders and they walked up the stairs.
"You know it's not true and I believe you Trace! Who cares what everyone else thinks." Penny offered supportively. Penny who was still nursing a broken heart, still managed to be there for Tracy in her time of need.
"What about Link?" Tracy sniffled. They finally got to her bedroom door and Tracy was startled to see her mother, Edna, sitting on the bed. She looked up spotting the two girls in the doorway.
"Tracy Edna Turnblad, I have never been so disappointed in you." Edna announced and there was pain in her eyes.
"What did I do?" Tracy asked wiping the tears from her face and looking at Penny fearfully. Penny held her hand tightly.
"Would you care to explain this?" Edna asked. Tracy stared at her mother's hand for a moment before she registered exactly what she was holding. An empty condom wrapper. Tracy's face dropped. "I found it under your bed while I was cleaning. Your father and I trust you and this is how you repay us?" She cried heatedly.
"Ma, I swear I don't know where that came from!" Tracy cried choking on the tears that were already building up again.
"Now, your going to lie right to my face?" Edna snapped with a frown becoming increasingly upset.
"I'm not lying. Ma, I swear!" Tracy insisted desperately but she could tell from the look in her mother's eyes she didn't believe her.
"So it just got here on it's own?" Edna shook her head incredulously.
"It's mine, Mrs. Turnblad." Penny blurted out suddenly, taking the fall for Tracy. Tracy's mouth dropped open and she looked at Penny in surprise.
"Penny Pingleton." Edna gasped. "I'm very disappointed in you. Wilbur and I take you into our home and this is how you repay us?" She cried just as upset, because Penny was like a daughter to her.
"I'm so very sorry Mrs. Turnblad." Penny apologized.
"Wilbur and I will have a talk with you when he gets home. Tracy I'm sorry for accusing you." Edna replied shaking her head at Penny and giving Tracy a hug and kiss on the cheek before leaving the room.
"Penny..." Tracy uttered softly looking at her best friend.
"I figured better me than you." Penny offered and Tracy threw her arms around her in a big hug. They stood there, holding each other in a tight, comforting embrace. They both needed it.
"That old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind. The time is always right to do the right thing." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
A/N: Special thanks to Kat...who is about to suffer for this chapter. :P And thanks to Jen for being kind enough to yell at me when I need it. lol. Thanks to Kayla and Jess as well for always asking about updates. Thanks to: onetreefan, KAT(your review was so cute and sweet! You got the S/A/P back full force in this one...the last chapter was just some important things that needed to happen but so was this one lol.), MAGZ(If you liked Vinnie in the last one I am sure you loved him in this one ;)), JESS (Aww, thanks Jess, that means a lot to me that you like the way that I write them!), Sarah(wow, thanks!), Lola, Az, Ley(I love you and your Vinnie love, and how despite what he does you always manage to have faith in him.I LOVE YOU MORE!) Kayla (LOL), Wifey(LOL), Anna, Irish, Pandora147, -XxDulce.Beat(thanks for the wonderful review, glad you noticed that!), Sher(Nice SN. Thank you for RR all the chapters! I loved hearing what you thought. Things certainly progressed in this chapter for all of them so I can't wait to hear what you think!) Ashley, and chasing-heartbeats. For being kind enough to leave reviews, I love hearing what you guys think and it really helps with the updates(motivation:P) It doesn't hurt that Kat is going to profess her Vinnie love for the world to see either! LOL.
Preview: Shit hits the fan. Stay tuned and please remember to RR. :D