Chapter 5
"Mom?"
Penelope Pitstop had just answered her phone.
"Is Panny with you?" Petunia asked. "Put me on speaker." She waited. "Pandora?"
"Oh… right here, mom," Pandora replied. "What's up? Ah… Alex Thorne's with us."
"Morning," said Alex. "Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Pitstop."
"Oh," she replied, chuckling. "Petunia, please. Mrs. Pitstop… that makes me feel so old. Anyway… I'm calling' from the hospital."
"Are you sick?" Pandora said, jumping a bit.
"No… some idiot tried to mug me."
"Oh my God!" Pandora gasped. "No! You… you're hurt?! Mom!"
Alex ran over, grabbing Pandora's hand gently. "Shhh…" he whispered.
"Pandora, it's fine," Petunia said reassuringly. "Honestly if it wasn't for Victor, I'd be done."
"You almost DIED?!" Pandora practically screamed as Alex began holding her gently.
"It's okay," Alex said softly, "shhh… she's okay."
"Oh my God, no!" she sobbed, burying her head in Alex's chest. "No! Mom! Mom?!"
Penny cocked her head. "Pandora you… I thought you resented her, what has gotten into you?"
"I had a conversation with Pandora last night and some rather ah… deep stuff was said," Alex explained. "Not hurtful, more… insightful. Heavy."
"I can't lose mom!" Pandora sobbed. "Not when I just found her, no!"
"Come here, Panny."
Pandora ran to Penelope, holding onto her for dear life.
"Could you give us the room, Alex?"
Alex smiled and left, heading to his car, a red and black Aventador SVJ, and driving off.
"I've never seen you upset like this, Pandora, what's wrong?"
"I'm so sorry for everything!" Pandora sobbed. "I was such a bitch to you, I'm so so sorry!"
"Shhh… Pandora…"
"I just wanna be a family so badly! I can't be Pandora anymore!"
"Come on," said Penny softly.
They headed to Pandora's room and sat on her bed.
"I just… I was so horrible to you… you're my sister and I love you! I can't lose you! I… I can't lose mom!"
"You haven't lost anyone," Penelope cooed, rocking a sobbing Pandora gently. "Shhh…"
"I just… I just want to be loved…"
"I know," Penny whispered. "I love you… mom loves you… and if you decide to be a decent person then… then others will, too."
That was when Alex appeared at the door.
Pandora smiled through her tears. "Hey," she said, her voice hoarse from crying.
"You okay?"
She nodded. "I… I will be, Alex."