I do not own Dirty Dancing

Chapter Nine

POV Johnny

Penny's Problems

Billy scrambled around the me and woman I was dancing with, trying to get my attention. His face was painted in terror and urgency. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good. "Johnny," He hissed.

"What?" I ask. It was never a good idea to interrupt these women. They could overhear something, or report me to Max. Billy pulls me further from the woman I'm currently dancing with. "Hold on," I tell her.

"One of the guests found Penny crying in the kitchens," He said. I stop. A guest found her? That couldn't be good. I needed to get her out of there.

I look back at the woman. "I'm sorry, ma'am, you'll have to excuse me," The woman nodded in disappointment. Billy and I dash out of the gazebo, towards the kitchens. The girl who I danced with last night follows us. That one, the one who I couldn't get out of my head. With a start, I realize that she must've been the one to discover Penny. But she didn't need to be around for this. "Why's she here?" I ask Billy.

"I brought her in case Neil comes back," Billy answers.

Tonight the girl was wearing a loose fitting white dress, and a pale blue cardigan. She looked beautiful. I inwardly groan. I had to stop thinking about her. Nothing good would come from it. It was a fleeting moment of curiosity, not even a crush yet, and it would go away soon. But if Max could read minds, he'd already have sent me packing. I didn't even know this girl's name.

"Penny just doesn't think," I remark. She should know better than to sit down in the kitchens and have a good cry. Though I could understand why she wanted to. Especially after the Hell Robbie had put her through.

"She wouldn't do anything stupid, would she?" Billy asked. I didn't know how to answer that. Penny was desperate. Sometimes desperate people did stupid things.

"What's wrong?" The girl asked, "What's the matter with her?" The three of us step over the chain link border on the sidewalk.

I say nothing, straightening my jacket. This girl had no business being here. Billy answered anyway, "She's knocked up, Baby," Baby? Was that her name? What kind of name was Baby, I question. It was probably just a nickname.

"Billy!" I scold. This girl could report us. She didn't need to know Penny was pregnant. She didn't even need to be here.

"What's he gonna do about it?" Baby asked Billy.

I turn to her. "What's he gonna do about it?" I repeat in indignation. It was then that I realized, she used 'he'. Not 'they' or ' the Father'. He. Baby wasn't talking to both of us, she was just talking to Billy. So she thought I got Penny pregnant. "Oh, it's mine, right? Right away, you think it's mine," I spat bitterly. Everyone thought Penny and I were sleeping together. They never took time to consider for even a second that we weren't.

"But I thought that-" I walk away from her. She was just like the rest of them. Just as bad, just as presumptuous. This was why it was a bad idea to have a crush on her.

The second we stepped into the kitchens, I could hear Penny's sobs. I strode down the aisle, looking around for her. She was curled up in a ball on the floor. I knelt down next to Penny. Upon seeing me, she sat up. Her eyes had gone red from crying, and her makeup had started to run.

"It's okay. It's okay," I put my arms around her, and Penny buried her head in my chest. Softly, I stroke her long blonde tresses. "Johnny's here. Johnny's here. It's okay, it's okay," I reassure her. "I'm never gonna let anything happen to you," Penny sobbed into my shirt, "We've gotta go," I tell her. Penny curled her arms around my neck, and I picked her up. She was practically skin and bones. I could feel her ribs and shoulder blades through her skin. "Just hold on. Just hold on. Good girl. Good girl,"

All four of us head over to the storage facility where the staff hold their parties. I set Penny down on the couch, while Billy and Baby went to grab a blanket for her, and a bottle of booze.

"What do you think you're doing?" I ask Penny, while Billy and Baby entered the room, "You're in trouble, you talk to me, I'll take care of it," Billy handed me the blanket, and sat down to poor the drinks. "You should've come to me in the first place," I wrap it around her shoulders.

"Forget it, Johnny, I'm not taking what's left of your salary," Penny argues.

"Penny, that's my business," I tell her.

"And besides, it wouldn't be enough," She insists. Billy handed her the alcohol. She sobbed again, "Oh, God, it's hopeless,"

"Don't say that," The girl, who Billy called Baby, said. She didn't understand that not all of us lead charmed, sheltered lives, "There's got to be a way to work it out," She told us optimistically.

Penny looked up, "Baby? Is that your name? Well, you know what, Baby? You don't know shit about my problems," She said bitterly. I threw back the rest of the booze with a swallow.

"I told her," Billy admitted guiltily.

Penny groaned, "Jesus, Billy! Now she's going to run and tell her little management boyfriend, and we all get fired! Why not sky write it?" She questioned, her voice full of venom, "'Penny got knocked up by Robbie the creep!'"

"Robbie?!" The girl exclaimed.

I stand up, Billy following me. I start, "Look-" But Billy cut me off.

"No, Baby! Baby," He walked over to her. I hoped what Billy had to say worked. All three of us needed this job. We had to keep her from telling Neil. I doubted she would, but none of us could risk it. Quickly, Billy began to explain the situation to her, "One of the Counselors knows a Doctor. A real MD, just traveling to Newpulse for one day next week. We can get her an appointment, but it costs $250,"

Baby looked over to us. "But if it's Robbie, there's no problem," She said. This girl didn't understand. Not everyone had a rich Daddy. "I know he has the money. I'm sure, if you tell him-"

"He knows," Penny told her, cutting her off. Baby said nothing. This girl was naive. She believed everyone had a kind heart, rather than that there were those of us out there who simply didn't give a shit. Penny shook her head, and laughed at her naivety, "Go back to your playpen, Baby,"