Chapter Twelve
*
There were things that Penny had managed to keep secret about her very secretive life. To understand Penny fully, you really have to know these secrets. When she was five, her alcoholic mother abandoned her outside a church. Her father was dead; or that's what her mom told her anyway. Penny wandered inside the church and was found days later, sleeping in an unused cupboard. The nuns took her in but she was shipped off to a Foster Home like every other unwanted child.
The years passed. Penny had many foster homes, most of them normal, some of them not. Because of this, Penny had adapted a sense of longing. A need to be wanted; since her own parents did not. Her lies grew and soon, she was telling them without even realising it. And then the manipulative behaviour came. At first, it was just to keep her friends from finding out about her past but it soon become more.
Despite her damaged childhood, Penny pretty much got what she wanted. She could sing, she could dance and she could certainly act. She was the perfect triple threat. And along came Nick Lucas. Of course he showed interest in her; what's not to like? But, Penny grew bored, fast. She wanted people who didn't want her. She had to make them want her.
First it was Jimmy, but that was mostly just to piss off his parents. They didn't approve of her wild ways and even Jimmy was reluctant. Then, she had to have him. But he was boring, trust her. Enter Nick Lucas. He was hot, and he liked her and she even liked him back. Bye bye Jimmy. But she grew bored again, fast. She had to have someone who showed interest in her at all. Bye bye Nick.
Months passed until one morning, she noticed something. Nick would no longer smile at her or even bother with her anymore. He was too busy talking to her. Walking with her, laughing with her, doing that stupid science project with her. Enter Macy Misa. Penny's blood began to boil, how could she have missed that?!
Enter her evil conniving plan. Enter Van Dyke. It took a while but finally, Macy had been the humble little girl she was and bowed out. Now she finally had Nick Lucas. But, she wasn't stupid. Macy and Nick still loved each other. So it was on that clear sunny warm day that Penny decided to step it up one notch. How could she not? She had to win.
She began thinking. If Macy Misa was out of the picture, then Nick would just have to let her go; there'd be no other option. So she pulled out her phone, dialled a number and held the phone to her ears.
In her best acting performance yet, Penny began to cry.
*
"The dance is here, the dance is here!" Stella grinned, racing upstairs to wake up Macy. Macy groaned and rolled over, placing her head under her pillow. Her parents had returned at 5am and after a tearful reunion, Macy had only had 2 hours sleep before Stella was shaking her excitedly.
"Stella" Macy groaned, sitting up, "It's 7am! Leave me alone!".
Stella pouted, "Pleasseee Macy! We can go grab breakfast and then head over to mine for dress, hair and beauty! Please? I'll love you forever!".
"You already do love me" Macy yawned, rubbing her eyes.
Stella pouted again and Macy glared, getting out of bed.
"Aw thank you!" Stella hugged her best friend. She pulled her hand towards the door.
*
Nick yawned, walking back up the stairs; a scowl plastered onto his face. The sight of three different stylish suits hanging up on the railing made him sigh. Well, of course Stella would even want to do that. He raised his eyebrow as Kevin came out of the bathroom, shaving cream all over his neck.
"Dude, it's already 1 in the afternoon, you don't have all day!" Kevin cried.
"The dance starts at 7, Kev" Nick flopped back onto his bed, sighing, "And who cares anyway?".
"Okay, okay" Joe walked by, talking on the phone, "Yeah, sounds like a great ida, okay... See you there, bye".
"Stella?" Kevin smiled.
Joe smiled back then hesitated, "She wants all of us to get together before the dance, like, go for dinner...".
Nick's head shot up, "No thanks".
"Oh Nicky, you have to come!" Kevin whined, "This is like our first prom man! Please!".
"Dude, this is not prom" Joe frowned, "This is the Sadie Hawkins Dance..".
Kevin glared, "Not cool, dude".
Nick sighed, standing up "We're not staying for long but!".
"Thank you!" Kevin cried, rushing back to the bathroom.
"Hey bro" Joe started towards Nick, "Look, I know this wasn't the way you expected things would turn out, actually it's not the way we thought anything would work out but it's going to be okay, I promise".
"Don't even act like you know what I'm going through" Nick sighed, shaking his head.
"Nicky, we know how you feel" Joe replied, "It's not like this hasn't happened before--".
"It's not like before!" Nick shouted, cutting him off, "All the others were just crushes, I love her, do you get me?".
Joe took a step back, nodding.
Nick sighed again and then stormed back downstairs.
Kevin popped his head out of the bathroom, frowning.
"Dude, we gotta fix this" Kevin muttered.
Joe nodded slowly, "Yeah... agreed".
*
"Stella" Macy sighed, going through Stella's wardrobe for the 100th time, "These are all your overly pricey fancy dresses that I just can't pull off!" she slumped down on Stella's bed, "What's the bloody point anyway?".
Stella walked into her room, having just come out the shower, "Macy Misa you are going to this! You are going to go shower, and then put on a freaking hot dress and turn up with Van Dyke and forget all about Nick!".
Macy stayed silent.
"That is... after we all have group dinner, of course" Stella muttered.
"What?" Macy's eyes snapped up, "No!".
"Okay, just hear me out" Stella smiled nervously, "I wanna test the waters with Joe, if we go ourselves, then it's like proper alone time, but if we go in a group, we can just see how it feels".
"Stella, you've known Joe since he was a toddler, you've had plenty alone time with him!" Macy cried.
"Yes, when we were just friends" Stella replied, "It's different now, it's..." she trailed off.
Macy folded her arms.
"Please Mace" Stella begged.
Macy looked up, "I suppose so, just promise we won't stay long, I don't know if I could handle her all over him" she tensed.
Stella bit her lip, "Look, go have a shower and when you get out, I'll make you look so hot Nick will wonder why he even broke up with you!".
Macy frowned, "I broke up with him, Stella".
"Oh right, well just go!" Stella pushed Macy towards the bathroom and then turned back towards her wardrobe.
*
Macy stood in front of Stella's mirror with a blank look on her face. The silver dress hung just above her knees with a jewelled waisted belt and the top half a halter V-neck, covered in diamonds and jewels. She had to admit, Stella had impacable taste, she couldn't deny that. But she didn't know what it was; whether it was her sleek hair in shiny curls, her pretty and make-up covered face, her black painted nails, her worn out converse she had begged Stella to let her wear or the vintage clutch bag on her arm; the one Stella had gave her. No she didn't know what it was but something, some kind of ill and black feeling was nesting itself in her soul and it was something she couldn't shake.
She turned in time to see Stella stride into the room, wearing her long black Armani dress that swept down to her feet, showing a little bit of her black-jewelled heels. Stella's hair was elegantly pulled back and her make-up no less done. Macy's mouth dropped a little and Stella did the same.
"You look beautiful, Stellz" Macy went to hug her friend.
"Oh thank you! You look really hot too!" Stella cried, "You think Joe will like it?".
Macy smiled, "Of course, he'd be a fool not to!".
Stella blushed, bending down to pick up her red satin bag, "I'm so looking forward to tonight!".
Macy bit her lip. Now she really wasn't in the mood for this.
The door bell went and they both looked up.
"That'll be Van Dyke, he said he was going to pick us up" Macy said.
"Oh good, we can score a lift to the restaurant" Stella was already out of her room.
Macy smiled slightly and followed after her friend.
*
"Stella!" Joe waved her over to their table. Stella smiled and instantly slipped into the chair next to him. Macy felt her stomach flip over as she scanned the table. Nick was sitting with a overly-exposed Penny, and Kevin with Angie; she was the picture of an innocent angel, her and Kevin deep in conversation already.
Macy stepped up to the table and meekly sat down next to Stella, Van Dyke sitting down next to her; all beams and smiles.
"Finally, you guys are here! We can order food!" Joe smiled, picking up a menu, offering it to Stella first and making her blush.
Macy watched with slits as Penny grabbed one of the menus and smiled at Nick, "Nicky, what do you fancy?" she showed him the menu.
Nick shrugged, "Just me whatever you're having".
Penny look disappointed and glanced up to Van Dyke, squinting her eyes at him and then to Macy. Van Dyke's eyes widened in return and he turned to Macy.
"So, Mace, what are you hungry for? I've heard there's some great ribs here" Van Dyke grinned.
"I'm vegetarian" Macy rolled her eyes.
"Why?" Van Dyke asked incredously.
Everyone at the table looked up to him and he pursed his lips, "I meant... cool" he turned back to the menu.
"The ribs are gross here" Kevin advised Van Dyke, also sharing a menu with Angie, "Trust me, just don't go there".
Van Dyke looked up, "So Macy, maybe we should get the 2-for-1 platter; looks interesting, oh and they even do vegetarian options".
"It's fine, I'll just get a salad" Macy replied.
"Coke?" Van Dyke asked.
"Diet" Macy replied again.
The waitress arrived, chewing her bubble gum and tapping her pencil. So cliche. She took the orders and left the quiet table in an uncomfortable awkward silence, apart from Kevin and Angie, who had now gone on to talk about computer games.
Stella and Joe kept exchanging private smiles while Nick kept his eyes on his bowl and Penny lamely attempted to make conversation with him. Macy sat, arms folded, staring ahead, bored. Van Dyke idly tapped his fingers against the table, humming every ounce in a while.
"So Macy, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go see a movie with me next weekend?" Van Dyke broke the silence.
Macy looked up and smiled slightly, "Yeah, I guess".
Van Dyke seemed happy with this meek answer and grinned.
Nick's anger was rising, his blood boiling. Penny, sensing his obvious struggle to stay calm, grabbed his hand and pulled him up.
"Look Nicky! Some photographer's taking memorabilia pictures!" Penny pulled him towards the man, handed him some money and stood beside Nick. He stood, mute, and depressed while she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulled him into him and planted a kiss on his cheek as the camera clicked away.
Macy's looked up, the pain slowly biting back at her. Then something worse happened. Nick wrapped his arms around her and smiled. Actually smiled.
"I'm gonna be sick" Macy put her hand to her mouth.
"Are you okay?" Van Dyke placed a hand on her back, frowing in concern.
"Van Dyke, we're leaving" Macy picked up her clutch bag and stood.
"Mace, you haven't even ate yet!" Stella said, eyes wide.
"I can't stay here, Stella" Macy stressed every word, "Look, I'll see you guys at the dance" she gave Kevin and Angie a slight smile and followed after Van Dyke.
Nick's eyes trailed to see Macy walk to the door with Van Dyke and he froze. Where were they going? What were they going to do? The thought sickened him to his gut and for a moment he was lost in that pain.
"Thank you!" Penny took the snap-shots from the photographer and went to show Nick, "Look, Nicky, how cute are we together?".
Penny's ramblings were lost on Nick and all he could stare at was Macy and Van Dyke, driving away in his car.
*
Macy rubbed her temples, sighing.
"Are you feeling better?" Van Dyke looked over, turning right in his car.
"Not really" Macy batted herself with her clutch.
"Are you wanting to go to the dance?" Van Dyke checked his watch, "It'll have just started".
"Yeah, I suppose so" Macy replied.
The rest of the ride was silence and the distant echo of Macy's furiously over-beating heart.
*
Macy took Van Dyke's arm and walked towards the school entrance. The outside was decorated with banners and all sorts and for a second she could appreciate it's beauty but then the pain of her broken heart was too much too bear and she found tears welling up again. Macy silently scolded herself and tried to reject those tears again.
Van Dyke looked down at her and smiled, oblivious to her pain. They walked into the school entrance, unaware of a young Latina woman watching them, puffing intently on her cigarette.
*
"Did I tell you how pretty you look tonight?" Joe asked Stella as he helped her out of the car.
Stella blushed, smiling back at him, "No, but thank you".
They walked towards the school entrance, followed by Kevin and Angie. Nick closed the door after Penny and began to walk on, not even bothering to wait for her. Penny glanced over and noticed a Latina women leaning against the side of the wall. She walked past her, into the themed school.
"Nick, I'm just gonnah pop to the ladie's room for a sec" Penny smiled innocently.
"Uh sure" Nick looked at her curiously then nodded, "I'll be in the hall" he walked on after the rest of the group.
Penny smiled and watched him until he was out of sight then walked straight back out of the school, striding towards the Latina woman.
Penny smiled, "Chachi, you came!" she leaned in for a hug.
Chachi leaned in, hugging her back, "Of course, Pens! When I got your call, all upset, how could I not? So where is this bitch?".
Penny glanced back, "She's inside, I didn't wanna have to do this but she's pyscho, I'm telling you, she threatened me with a broken bottle of glass, telling me to stay away from Nick".
"Nick?" Chachi frowned.
"My boyfriend" Penny replied, "Macy's always had this crazy fantasy that Nick was her boyfriend but this is getting beyond a joke".
"So, you want me to hook her up?" Chachi's voice turned angry, "Cause I will hook her up if I need to".
Penny folded her arms, "Yeah, I definitely think we need to hook her up... Like scare her or something, not anything bad obviously but just... Something to scare her".
Chachi smirked and pulled out a card from her back pocket, "He's your guy".
"Thank you" Penny tried to conceal her excitement, "This is exactly what I need".
"Good luck, Penelope" Chachi smiled before turning and walking away.
Penny watched her go out of sight then pulled out her phone. She dialled the number on the card and waited, "Hi Carlos? This is Penny, Chachi's friend... Yeah... Yeah, I need a favour... No, let's go full out, this one's not easily scared... Yeah, I'll make sure she gets into the right car, no it's a friend's car but I just want to get her... Yes, the car is a...".
*
Nick sat glumly at one of the tables at the back of the room, frowning deep in thought. Macy and Van Dyke were by the food table and Macy was looking as bored as Nick was. Van Dyke was off in one of his rambles as Macy sighed again, downing her cola. This was ridiculous, he was supposed to be making Macy jealous with Penny but where the heck was she?
Nick glanced out to the dance floor and saw Kevin and Angie, dancing in their own weird and wacky way while Stella and Joe were slow-dancing. This only made him more angrier but then Penny caught his view and he jumped up to meet her.
"Let's dance" Nick took his hand and pulled her back out into the dance floor.
Penny smirked while she wrapped herself around Nick and bit her lip, swaying slowly with him in time to the music.
Macy felt her heart muscles contract as she saw Nick and Penny, interwined, dancing. She put down her drink and glanced up to a rambling Van Dyke.
"Ask me to dance" Macy blurted out, interrupting him.
Van Dyke looked surprised but never-the-less handed her his hand and smiled, "Macy, will you dance with me?".
Macy took his hand and he led her to the dancefloor. Hesitantly, she wrapped her arms around him like he did her and they began to sway swiftly to the romantic music playing loudly.
Her eyes clocked onto Nick's and for a moment, the barrier fell through and they weren both just staring at each other. But then their respective partners would move and the lines would blur. It wasn't just them. Not anymore.
All of a sudden, Van Dyke bent in and caught Macy's lips, catching her off guard.
Nick froze, his arms went slack. He just stood there, watching them. Penny spun around to catch his gaze and felt her blood boil.
"Leave them, Nicky" Penny tried to latch herself back onto them, "She's not worth it, I'm here".
Nick ignored her, tears at the surface of his eyes, threatening to fall.
"Nicky!" Penny cried.
"My name is Nick" Nick growled, turning around. He clocked the door and stormed straight for it, his heart bleeding dry with every step he took.
"Nick" Penny whispered, her own tears falling from her eyes.
Macy pushed Van Dyke away, placing a hand to her head.
"What?" Van Dyke looked worried, "Too much? Are we going too fast--".
"I don't like you that way" Macy said quietly, "I'm sorry, but I don't" she grabbed her bag from the table and fled after Nick, silent tears pouring from her heart.
Van Dyke glanced over and caught the sight of a sobbing Penny. In an instant, he was by her side and taking her in his arms.
*
"Nick!" Macy ran after him, catching him just at the school entrance.
"What?" Nick spun around, his voice breaking.
Macy shook her head, "I didn't kiss him, I didn't kiss him, I was in shock, I pushed him off!".
Nick closed his eyes in pain; not wanting to relive the horrible memory, "It doesn't change the fact that you still came here with him!".
Macy's eyes widened, "You're here with Penny!".
"What was I supposed to say?!" Nick shouted, striding towards her, "She tells me you've accepted Van Dyke's offer and you and him are talking and I was just... I said yes, okay?!".
"I didn't accept his offer until I found out you accepted her offer!" Macy screamed back, "What was I supposed to think?! I only broke up with you to keep your job and life safe, I only did that to make sure no one would find out and you wouldn't be ruined! Then on the same day, you just so publicably go out with her?!".
Nick frowned, "Wait, what?".
"What?" Macy frowned back.
"You didn't read my note and ignore it anyway to come here with Van Dyke?" Nick's head was spinning with confusion.
"What?" Macy repeated, "What note? What are you talking about?".
Nick stared at her, more tears falling out, "I'm sorry".
"Why?" Macy stepped closer to him, their bodies only inches apart, "What are you sorry about? It's my fault, I broke up with you...".
"All I do is bring you trouble and misery, Mace" Nick's voice was breaking, "You were right to break up with me, we wouldn't have worked out".
Macy's clutch bag dropped from her fingers in shock and a white envelope slipped out.
"Don't, Nick" Macy whispered, "Don't do this".
Nick shook his head, "No... You were right, you'd never get to live a normal life... And I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you becuase of me".
Macy's tears kept falling, "No, it was just a misunderstanding, okay? I thought... I thought you liked her more than me".
"Never" Nick muttered, "Not even close".
"And we'll go public, we'll handle it" Macy stepped closer to him but he stepped away.
"Nick" Macy shook her head.
"I love you, Mace" Nick whispered so quietly Macy almost couldn't hear it. He turned and walked away from her.
Macy's lips parted in shock and she shook her head. She bent down to pick up her bag, frowning at the white envelope. It had her name on it and it was Nick's handwriting.
Macy ripped open the envelope and fumbled to get the letter out. Opening it up, her heart began to break even more. The letter read;
Dear Macy
All my life I've fell too hard too fast, thinking I had found actual love, but this time, with you, I didn't have to think about it, I just knew. I get my life isn't normal and nothing is ever going to be perfect but I just have one thing to say:
Baby if I've got you
I don't need a parachute
You're gonnah catch me
You're gonnah catch if I fall
I will catch you Macy, I promise.
Always and forever,
Nick.
Macy's tears poured onto the letter and she scrambled up her bag to run after him.
Maybe she could still catch him before he left.
*
Nick angrily wiped his tears away before storming towards his car, fumbling for his keys in his pocket. He crossed the road, into the school parking lot and took a deep breath. Maybe he should go back. But he meant everything he said. He would ruin her life, he would ruin her normalacy. Nick shook his head and went to open his car door.
"Nick!".
Nick spun around to see Macy running towards him. He sighed and jumped into his car, closing the door.
"Nick!" Macy was almost there.
Macy was suddenly aware of Penny behind her. She was also screaming for Nick. She was about to turn around and slap the bitch but something suddenly felt wrong.
Her heart felt wrong.
She looked up towards Nick as he put his seat-belt on and put his key into the engine.
Macy's heart bet furiously. Something was going to go wrong. She could feel it in her bones.
"Nick!".
All of a sudden, Macy and Penny were both flung off the ground and onto the pavement. Macy struggled to get up as her eyes took in the burning jeep in front of her.
No.
"Nick!" Macy ran towards the jeep, as far as she could get before the flames got too hot for her to handle.
"No! This wasn't supposed to happen! He got it wrong! I told him Van Dyke's car! I told him Van Dyke's car!" Penny screamed, "It was supposed to be you in there! You should be in there! You should be in Van Dyke's car!".
Macy spun around, her blood going cold, tears just spilling freely out of her eyes.
"Oh my god" Macy turned back towards the jeep, "Nick! Nick! Nick!" the next thing she knew arms wrapped around her body and dragged her away from the burning jeep. From Nick.
"No!" Macy struggled against Van Dyke, "Let me go! I have to save him!".
Van Dyke dragged her back to where Penny was lying on the ground, sobbing.
Before she knew it, a crowd was gathering outside; they must of heard the explosion.
"Macy?!" Stella cried, "What's wrong?! Where's Nick?!".
Macy slumped onto the ground and buried her head in it, shaking hysterically.
Stella looked up to the burning jeep and realisation dawned on her. Joe was already there as well.
"Nick!" Joe went to go run but Stella grabbed his wrist and pulled him back.
"Joe!" Stella shouted, "He won't be..." she choked on her words. She looked over. Kevin's head was buried into Angie's neck, sobbing with everything he had while Joe just stared numbly ahead.
The crowd gathered were crying as well, some in shock, some panicking.
Macy could faintly hear Van Dyke on the phone in the background but something else pulsed through her veins. She raised her head, her eyes like slits.
"You did this" Macy hissed and almost everyone went silent to hear.
"You killed him" Macy jumped up and tackled Penny, punching her, "You did this!".
In a second, she was pulled off by two strangers and she pushed herself off of them and slumped onto the ground again. Her tears consumed her until she fell against the bench and wept silently.
Macy's eyes travelled up where the line of thick black smoke was circuling the sky while the distant sound of bells and horns could be heard.
She imagined that's what her heart would look like.
Thick and black and poison.
A/N: heeey! okay so very dramatic chap and I hope I pulled off! So only got another one left, Epilogue and then finished:(! Thanks to everyone who reviewed; you really convinced me to get this one out in time!
thoughts:)?
x
