First week at school went by very fast. Penelope and Josie had some work to do for the classes they missed and Hope was there to help if they needed any. They didn't need much time to catch up with the rest of the class. They were very smart and their magical abilities were on high level, especially when it came to Penelope. There was almost no limitations to what she could do. They had entire weekend ahead of them and Josie wanted her and Penelope to go out on a date. She convinced Penelope to have dinner at the Grill and after that to go and see a movie…a real date night. Penelope was more into idea of having some food in their room and watching movies in bed. She was not in a mood to go anywhere. Josie knew her girlfriend well enough to convince her to go out and have nice night in town. They got ready and went downstairs. Rick and Emma were standing in the bottom of the stairs and looking at some papers Emma had. She was surprised to see them coming down and then she couldn't stop looking and the crescent necklace both girls had. Penelope noticed what Emma was looking at and she felt bad and guilty. She made Josie into murderer. Rick was trying to play it cool and try to fix it with Josie.
''Going somewhere girls?''
''Yes, dinner and a movie dad.''
''Oh, a date night…?''
''Yes, a date night…''
''Do you know what you would be watching?''
''No idea… Josie is the one picking the movie.''
Josie put her arm around Penelope.
'' It doesn't matter what we watch… We both know we will not see much of the movie.''
She winked at her dad and Penelope and led her girlfriend to the school door. They got out and Penelope was still processing what Josie said.
''I can't believe you said it to your dad.''
''What?''
''About us possibly making out during the entire movie…''
''Possibly? Do you not know yourself? As soon as those lights go down, you turn into some love hungry beast… We never know what the movie was about.''
Penelope smirked at Josie.
''Maybe…''
''Maybe?''
''Ok, fine! We never know…''
''I know…''
''That's my line Saltzman.''
''I don't care…''
They kept walking to Penelope's car and she opened the door for Josie to get in. Drive to the Grill was short and girls talked about what they could possibly eat. Diner was nice and they talked about some things that were on their mind.
''Emma kept looking at your locket.''
''I know… I saw it.''
''She knows you are part of the coven and she knows you…''
Penelope tried to find a word or better way to say it but Josie was sick of tiptoeing around the subject.
''Killed someone?''
Penelope was sad for Josie. She wanted Josie to stay unburdened by being the part of her coven. Unfortunately that was not possible. So, she had to face the fact that Josie was now full member of the coven and there to stay… and kill again.
''Yes…''
''Well, I am part of your coven… I had to do it.''
''I wish I could have done more for you.''
Josie took her hand and held it.
''You did what you could… You did your best babe and I am very grateful to you for it.''
''But I made you into murderer.''
''You are keeping me alive Penelope…''
Penelope was silent.
''I wish it could have been done differently.''
''I know…''
Conversation was over when they got the food. Josie tried to get things a bit lighter. She was tired of Penelope's guilty and her questioning if she did the right thing taking her to the dark magic coven. Josie was grateful to Penelope for all she did and she needed Penelope to be ok with it so she could cope with being a killer. Josie couldn't tell Penelope how hard she is taking it because she didn't want Penelope to feel guilty and bad…even more than she already feels. She had to find a way to fight all these feelings without burdening Penelope with it all. When they were done, Penelope suggested they take a walk instead of going to the movies. Josie was ok with it because she was under impression that Penelope needed to talk and that maybe it was good idea for them to get some things out. She had no doubt in Penelope's feelings or that she regrets getting back together with her. But Josie knew there were many things on Penelope's mind that had to be said for them to move on from the potential problems and secrets. They went to the lake and took a seat on the blanket Penelope got from the car.
''What is bothering you Penny?''
''Everything….''
Josie smiled.
''Anything less vague?''
''I feel guilty…''
'' I know…''
''And it hurts me that you had to do it and step over some principles you had in life... just because I was not creative enough. I regret taking you to my coven… You would have been better without them.''
Josie understood where Penelope was coming from.
''And I might have been dead… ''
Penelope flinched. She had the same reaction every time Josie mentioned being dead or anything death related.
''You saved me Penny… MAYBE your way was not the best thing ever, but it was the only way for us right now.''
''I wish I could save that pure soul you have.''
''Baby, that died the moment when I realized my mom and sister want to kill me. You didn't kill the good in me. My family did that… You and your family gave me strength to carry on and fight for myself…''
''But Jojo…''
''No! Listen to me Penelope… I am not a saitn… I am not interested in being one… I don't have halo, and I don't want one… I am not an angel… I am not anything other than a person. I have flaws… And I have to accept my path…''
''And what is the path you have to accept…''
''That I am crazy in love with the future High Priestess of the coven I am part of.''
''I don't want that spot.''
''But it's yours. It's your destiny Penny… And I am so proud of you baby… And you will be amazing being the leader…. And I will be there with you every step of the way… You are my choice…I am finally brave enough to choose you Penelope… With all the faults and all the darkness in you… You are my choice… I just need to know if I am still yours?''
''Josie…''
Penelope put her palm on Josie's cheek.
''You never stopped being my choice… Even when I was not yours.''
''But you were my choice… The problem was that I didn't let myself often have a choice… But when I did… I picked you every time.''
''So, what will we do now Jojo?''
''Keep picking each other.''
''I am down with that…''
''And one more thing….''
''Yes, Jojo?''
''You and I are a team… You must know I don't blame you for what I did. My actions are only mine. I killed those people for me, not for you…''
''Josie…''
''No, listen to me! I know there will be more… There must be more… And I am ready for it. I will do it when the time comes and you will be there to hold me when we are alone and to tell me that I will make it and be ok. You are the only person keeping me sane and not falling apart. I don't have anyone but you… My own family wants me dead… Please Penelope, don't abandon me out of fear, guilt or something else.''
''I will not… I am here for you.''
''Good. Now, let's move on to something more cheerful…''
''What is that Jojo?''
''Today would be our two years anniversary…''
Penelope forgot and felt so bad about it.
''Jojo…''
She started laughing at Penelope's serious face.
''It's ok… I almost forgot too… But I found my diary and I saw it. I have something for you.''
''What is it?''
Josie got the letter out of her pocket. It looked a bit old.
''A letter?''
''I wrote you this letter on the night we started dating…and I never dared to give it to you.''
Penelope smiled.
''Really? That night?''
''Yes, after Lizzie went to bed… I wrote it in secret.''
Penelope opened the letter and started reading.
Dear Penelope,
It sounds so official and cold, but I have no idea what sort of pet name you would be ok with…or do you even love them? I have no idea about many things when it comes to you, but somehow I feel like I know you… Like I know you better than anyone in this world. You kissed me tonight and I felt somethings I never felt before. You somehow woke me up and made me believe I was special…I was worth of your love affection and those magic smiles you have… I believe your smile can fix anything… No, I KNOW it can… It fixes me every time I see it… All the cracks, all the chipped parts of me that happened during my life…you somehow fix them… With you I feel like I am worth all the attention and nice words you give me. I believe you when you call me beautiful…I believe you when you tell me that somehow I am helping you be a better person… I believe everything you say because your presence makes me feel like sky is the limit… or even that there are no limits… I never told you this, but I sneaked out to see you. I never told Lizzie where I am going. She has no idea that I was with you… For the first time in my life, I casted a sleeping spell on my sister so I could see you and not hear about it for hours. I never imagined that the least favorite part of the school (the roof) would become the place where I would have my first kiss ever… That night I got over my two biggest fears…one was height and the other was kissing you. I know that you were the one who actually kissed me first, but it didn't make my fear any less scary… I felt weak at my knees, my hands were shaking and all I could think of is that you would be so disappointed and would leave me there…. But I was wrong… We did kiss again after that, again you were the one who kissed me, but I feared you less. I learned that I actually like the entire kissing thing and that most of it I loved kissing you… Our night was amazing… It was the first time I was out all night and it just flew by…. I barely felt time passing… I was so taken by you that I didn't notice how time went from nine in the evening to six in the morning. It was night of few firsts… My first kiss, using the sleeping spell on Lizzie and first time laughing that much that I started crying… and I talked… For the first time in my life I talked about myself… What Josie wanted? What were Josie's dreams? And you just sat with your hands on your knees, that daring look in your eyes…and you listened… Without saying a word, you just listened and smiled with that glow in your eyes.( Oh, I forgot to mention that your eyes are the most beautiful thing I ever saw) I told you things no one ever knew about me and I felt good for sharing them. I knew you were wanted and popular, but somehow it didn't matter to me… You got the essence of Josette Saltzman…and I got the essence of Penelope Park… I got the goofy, funny, flirty side of you that is not that hot predatory side… ( I like that side too, but it confuses me a lot). I got you to laugh…and I got you to bake cookies with me at two in the morning… I must say I am impressed with how good you made them. Because I know you would never see this letter, I can even say I am impressed with everything you do… and I can say one more thing that you will never see… I can say that I love you Penelope Park… You are perfectly imperfect and I love you for that!
With all my love and heart,
Josie.
Penelope finished reading the letter and wiped her eyes. She was crying from some middle of the letter.
''You wrote this after only one date with me?''
Josie was blushing…
''Yes.''
''Oh, Jojo… This is the most beautiful letter I've ever got.''
''You got some other letters too?''
''Some for Valentine's…but… This… This is amazing… I love you so much.''
''I love you too Penelope.''
Penelope kissed Josie like her life depended on it.
''No one has ever said so many beautiful things about me.''
''You deserve beautiful words Peez.''
Penelope pulled Josie down on the blanket and into a kiss.
''Do I still scare you?''
''Honestly?''
''Yes, always Jojo..''
''No… Now you have me frightened…''
''Why?''
''Because I know what it's like to be with you and what's it like to be without you. I am frightened that someday you will give up on me and leave.''
''Never Jojo. You are stuck with me…''