Chapter 22

Penny was frozen in the doorway, which was very evident to her friends by her lack of movement and the expression on her face, so both Amy and Bernadette got up to get her and help her to the couch. A few quiet seconds passed as Penny looked at each of her friends before going back to the question that had stunned her just a moment previously, "What happened between me and Zack?" It was the uncomfortable shifting around of her friends and their quick looks at each other that gave Penny sinking feeling in her stomach, she had seen them do this before, they were obviously not wanting to say what they knew and that could only be bad for her. The awkward silence didn't help either and the more she sat there, Penny thought the worst, she was beginning to think again that she cheated on Leonard and she did with Zack.

Penny's immediate go to feelings were despair, but then there was also a little anger, whatever happen last night she just couldn't believe that her two best friends would let Zack take her to this room, while she was drunk and unable to stop anything, then just leave her with him. Didn't they know they had history, didn't they remember how she was when she was badly drunk, didn't they know she loved Leonard, this was not what real friends were supposed to do. It gave her flash backs of High School, her so called friends then would definitely allow something like that to happen to her and then laugh about it the next day because it was drama for their group and they all lived for the drama. However, that anger dissolved almost as fast as it came up in her because back then and now Penny knew the real person to blame for all her problems with and about guys was herself. She knew she let those things happen, she knew what she was doing and she was the one with the ultimate responsibility to whatever happened to her, it again made that feeling that she was a slut come back to her and the thought that's what sluts do.

It was that acceptance of responsibility that extinguished that brief flare of anger leaving only the despair as she now looked at her friends, "So Zack and I spent the night together in this suite." she stated with a tone of acceptance and regret, like she just confessed to some major sin.

Bernadette immediately shook her head, "Oh No! We would never leave you so drunk with a guy. Zack did put you in the bed but then he left."

Amy nodded, "Bernadette told him to leave."

That news felt like a wave of relief had washed over as again a ray of hope seemed to be given to her, but that was only temporary because Penny was still very confused. "So, who was in bed with me this morning?"

Amy looked down, "There was only two bedrooms in the suite and we were worried about you, so I slept with you while Bernadette used the other room."

"We drew cards and I won this time." Bernadette said with enthusiasm and a smile, the alcohol she had earlier at the pool still having an influence on her.

Amy's statement again fanned the flame of hope for Penny and in her mind she was desperately trying to make that faint hope grow, as she now asked the question that she thought might save her, "So, I didn't sleep with any guy last night, I just got drunk and you guys put me to bed for the night."

Both Amy and Bernadette nodded, now making that previous wave of relief wash over Penny like a tidal wave, however, she still couldn't shake a sense of guilt that wouldn't leave her, the guilt of that night could have happened much differently if it were not for Amy and Bernadette saving her, that thught was still firmly fixed in her mind. That guilt would do nothing to dimmish her previous feelings that she was still acting like a slut, even after knowing she didn't cheat on Leonard that night, she still somehow couldn't control her ways. It made her ashamed and brought old feelings she had thought she had gotten over long ago about being not good enough for him and he deserved better. She also didn't feel completely safe, there were still things she didn't know, like about this suite, and not knowing made her feel in danger. "Why are we in this room?"

To the girls this was a safe topic, so Bernadette quickly answered, "Before you got too drunk to throw the dice at the Craps table, you won a significant amount of money."

Penny was again confused; this now not only gave her questions about the room but also about this money Bernadette was referring to. "How much did I win?"

"$30,000" Amy quickly told her, then as an afterthought, "before taxes."

It definitely surprised Penny but she was still worried she didn't know enough, so again she asked the question, "Did I rent this room?"

"No, the hotel is running a contest, anyone who wins over $10,000 gets a Suite for the weekend." Bernadette explained, "So they gave us this Suite."

"I think they want people to stay and lose the money they won back to the hotel." Amy added, Bernadette just nodded.

That answered her question about the room, also she had won money and she had not slept with anyone, however although that all sounded good Penny still did not feel good, she was relieved she didn't cheat on Leonard but that guilt she had about her slutiness still wouldn't leave her. It made Penny go quiet as her mind processed everything she had just learned and this was obviously noticed by the girls, they had now told her the good things that happened so Bernadette thought they needed to ask the serious question and cause the pain. It was partly because of the alcohol in her bloodstream, making her so bold, added to how much they went through the night before with her, and finally there was a little anger, she just wanted to know why Penny hid it from them, so Bernadette decided to just pull the band aide off. "Penny, how long have you been married to Zack?"

Penny's head shot up and eyes went wide as she now stared at Bernadette, "What...what did you just say." she asked is disbelief.

Bernadette continued, "Penny we know you are married to Zack, when we went to get your payout after you left the Craps table, the casino office checked on your marital status before they would release your winnings check. They told us that even though we were obviously your friends that they couldn't release your check to us because you were too drunk and you were married, so that either we came back when you were sober or your husband, Zack Johnson, could pick it up for you."

Penny just stared at Bernadette before squeaking out, "I'm not married to Zack."

Bernadette and Amy looked at each other, both having the same thought, Penny has decided to lie to them. It really hurt both their feelings that Penny would take that route, especially after all they went through with her since they got to Las Vegas. Bernadette was actually a little angry that their friend was doing this with them so she decided not to let it go. "Yes, you are!" she told Penny sternly, Amy nodding next to her.

"no" Penny responded weakly

"Penny, Zack was not in the office when we were told about your marriage, he was watching you with a hotel security guard, so they didn't know he was your husband. After they gave us the room key, the four of us rode the elevator up to the Suite and I asked Zack if he was your husband." Bernadette stopped there to look seriously at Penny to see if she would now tell them the truth, but Penny just sat there with an expression like a deer caught in headlights.

When nothing was said for several seconds, Bernadette decided to continue. "Penny, Zack at first tried to avoid answering the question, but he is really not too bright, so finally he admitted that yes, you and him are husband and wife."

Penny's expression didn't change much but her head now slowly swung from right to left as she muttered, "no". Her mind had felt like it was in a flat spin falling to earth, during the rollercoaster of thoughts her mind had gone through over the hours, never had her thoughts ever come close to contemplating what the girls were now telling her. It felt like she was still asleep or that someone was playing a cruel joke on her, how could she be married to Zack, but Bernadette's serious description of the facts were hard to ignore and that made Penny afraid, afraid that somehow it was true.

Bernadette, after not getting any further response from Penny, continued, "Since we were shocked about you being married and didn't feel we really knew what was going on, we never told Zack about the money and did not let him stay with you even though he admitted to be married to you. We wanted to hear what you wanted to say and leave the money thing up to you." Bernadette was now finished and she left out a little sigh of relief, happy things were now out in the open.

Amy, like Bernadette, was happy things were now out in the open and she just wondered what Penny would say, Amy never felt trust in other girls until she met Penny and Bernadette so Penny lying to them now would probably break that trust it took years to develop with her friends. Bernadette was much more cynical than Amy, growing up in a household of kids and then being on the beauty pageant circuit made her subscribe to the adage "Do on to others before they do on to you", she had just thought Penny had been better than that. So, it was with those thoughts both girls watched and waited for Penny's response, they never expected what happened next as Penny broke down before their eyes.

It was too much for Penny, it was like the rug was pulled out from underneath her, she was still hurting from her hangover and still upset over what she thought had happened since the night before, so now learning she could be married to Zack was about the worst thing that she thought could happen to her. She was hurting so bad that the one only person she wanted was Leonard, she wanted him to hold her and tell her everything would be okay, but if she was really married to Zack, she knew everything was over, there was nothing that could fix that, there was not forgiveness to be given, she would be married and how could anyone forgive that. The crushing weight of all than overwhelmed her, she felt helpless and at that moment she had absolutely had no control of her life, there was nothing she could do, this kind of pain was something she had tried to avoid of all her life, it had led to her commitment issues, her trying to keep in control, but now that was all over.

For Amy and Bernadette, they watched as Penny's deer in the headlight's expression changed to pure sadness and watched as tears started to fall from her bloodshot eyes. The sobbing immediately followed and it wasn't long before Amy and Bernadette started to seriously worry about her friend as she began to shake in grief. They both looked at each other in confusion, their friend did not look like a girl that had a secret finally found out or someone that was lying, but a person who was truly traumatized, so they both did what true friends do and took their friend into their arms and tried to console her.

Penny felt herself being scooped up in her friend's arms but she still couldn't help the sheer helplessness she felt, like nothing would ever be the same and she had absolutely no control over what was happening to her. There was also the cold, she felt so cold like nothing would ever be warm again and she couldn't help shivering from both the feel and thought of it. The worst of it was she couldn't understand how she got to this point, her mind couldn't piece together anything that would lead to her to where she was now, it was like she was thrown into her current situation as punishment. To Penny it felt like everything from her past life had now come back to haunt her, if there was a hell on earth Penny felt she now was in it.

Amy quickly took off her robe and wrapped it over her shivering friend, the whole time looking at Bernadette and seeing the same worried look on her face as she had on hers. Something was really wrong; they couldn't help think again that this whole thing about Penny being married to Zack had hit her harder than it should of if she knew about it before. It was like the information had been dropped on her like a ton of bricks and it now had Amy and Bernadette wondering if Penny actually had known about it.

Bernadette nodded to Amy after she wrapped her robe around Penny, then she started to rub Penny's back, "Honey, did you know you were married to Zack?" she asked her friend softly

"I don't understand." Penny replied between sobs and then, "I don't know."

Bernadette and Amy looked at each other after receiving Penny's response, something was definitely wrong, and with Penny being their friend they immediately believed her. So, Bernadette began to softly speak to her again, "Honey, you are not alone, Amy and I will help you find out what is happening, just let us help you."

Penny's sobs started to diminish as she nodded and softly replied "ok"

The rest of the evening was spent in the suite, the Amy and Bernadette afraid to leave Penny alone so they just ordered room service and stayed inside all night. However, there was really not much they could do, Penny was confused and distant, they would see her just freeze and stare off into space, her obviously being in her own world. Consequently, it was during one of those times where Penny seemed to zone out that Amy whispered to Bernadette, "Didn't Zack give you his hotel information in case we still needed his help?"

Bernadette nodded with confusion on her face, "Yeah, why?"

"I was thinking if he is still in Vegas, we could have Penny talk to him."

Bernadette thought to herself, it was the only idea any of them had since they told Penny she was married, and she couldn't honestly say if it would help or hurt, so she finally shrugged, "I guess it is worth a chance, it might do some good." She then got up to go in the other room's bathroom, to privately call Zack.

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Back in Pasadena things were weird for Leonard, too, he hadn't heard from Penny all day and he had no idea why, as he sat in front of his TV, not really watching but checking his phone every so often. He felt like he was in the no-win situation, he didn't want to check up on Penny and infer he didn't trust her, but at the same time he did want to do just that, and he couldn't understand why she hadn't contacted him. He honestly didn't know what to do so when he got a Text from Howard, asking why Sheldon was mad at him, he finally decided to try and find out.

Unfortunately, Howard only was able to alleviate his major fears, Bernadette told him all three of the girls were staying the room tonight, keeping Penny company as she got over her hangover. At least he knew she was safe, but he still didn't know why she wouldn't contact him and why she was so hungover, it didn't make a lot of sense, which drove his overthinking into overdrive.

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Sunday wasn't much better, Penny was so depressed that she didn't want to leave the bed, making the girls worry even more about her because they didn't know if she was even sleeping or just lying there. Even when Bernadette told Penny that she had made a meeting with Zack to discuss the marriage on Monday before they left, she just acknowledged her information then went back into her depression. The girls did leave the room one at a time on Sunday, always having one of them in the room, but otherwise the Vegas trip was pretty much ruined and they were just trying to help Penny until they all could go home.

Penny spent the whole day just thinking, trying to first understand how she could be married to Zack, and then how she could fix the situation, unfortunately finding no answer to either of those questions. This became the source of her depression as she thought about her time with Leonard, especially over the last year, and how it was going to feel like to lose it all. What made things worse, she blamed no one but herself, her relationship with Leonard being the best she ever had, the one that could possibly go forever, however like every relationship she ever had this one was going to crash and burn too because of her.

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Sunday was miserable for Leonard, he didn't sleep well the night before, then waking up with no contact from Penny was driving him nuts. He shamelessly invited Raj and Howard over to play some video games, not especially because he wanted them over, though their distraction by being there would take his mind from fixating on Penny, but more because he wanted to know if Howard had any idea what was happening in Las Vegas through Bernadette. He was still keeping himself from sending a text to Penny, her lack of contact making him even think she specifically didn't want to communicate with him, but the not knowing why she would be doing that was getting to him.

So, it was just afternoon when Leonard heard the knocks on the door, letting his two friends in, both of them seeming happy and ready to spend the day gaming. Howard getting right to the point after his greeting of 'Hi', "What game do you want to play today?"

"Let's play HALO." Raj suggested

"Sounds good to me...Leonard?" Howard now looked at Leonard who hadn't said more than 'Hi' since they entered the apartment

Leonard just shrugged, "Okay."

Howard and Raj both looked at each other before Howard spoke again, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing" Leonard lied, "Nothing's wrong."

"Then how come you are acting like someone just ran over your dog." Howard was now looking at Leonard intently and Raj was too.

Leonard hated that they all knew each other so well, he knew now he was not going to be able to get information from Howard nonchalantly, "Okay here is the thing, I wanted to ask you if you heard from Bernadette today?"

"Yeah, why?" Howard looked at Leonard with confusion

"What did she say." Leonard now asked

"She said they were hanging around the hotel and doing things there, like the casino, restaurants and pool." Howard again felt confused why Leonard would ask that question, so he asked, "Why what does Penny say they are doing."

Leonard now got quiet, "I don't know." he responded quietly

Howard thought that kind of response was strange, "You don't know what?"

Leonard sighed, "I don't know what is going on in Las Vegas with Penny, she hasn't contacted me since Friday night."

Raj who had been very jealous since Howard got Bernadette and Leonard moved in with Penny couldn't not say something now. "Penny probably just found a taller, handsome and rich man to replace you." he then smiled as he saw Leonard's expression become sourer.

Howard decided to pile on Leonard's discomfort, "Yeah, they don't only have smorgasbords of food there is literally a smorgasbord of men there, too, anyone of them easily being capable to lure Penny away." him and Raj then just looked at each other and smiled.

Leonard just frowned and sat down in his chair, he didn't appreciate Raj and Howard's remarks but honestly, he was more worried about what was going on with Penny that what they had said. This was getting to be a little too much for him, he couldn't understand why Penny, who usually sent him several text messages daily, suddenly was in a way ghosting him, it just didn't make sense to him. So, he did the only thing his mind told him there was left for him to do, he reached over to the coffee table and picked up his phone.

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On the third text notification ping, Bernadette went over a picked-up Penny's phone, not only because the pings were annoying but because even though the phone was on night stand next to Penny in the bed, she didn't seem to register the noise it was making or even that it existed. It didn't surprise Bernadette that the text was from Leonard, as a matter-of-fact when she thought about it none of them had really thought too much of Leonard since Friday, this whole thing with Penny getting drunk and then finding out she was married to Zack being the focus of all three of their attention. However, now Bernadette realized that Penny ignoring her roommate, calling him her boyfriend didn't seem right now that she was married, was probably not the most considerate thing to do.

"Penny it is a text from Leonard." Bernadette said to her prone form, hoping it would get a response from her.

Hearing Bernadette say 'Leonard' made Penny roll over to look at her, however that was all she could do, she absolutely had no idea how to respond to Bernadette's statement that Leonard had text her. She couldn't think of anything to say to him that wouldn't hurt him, and probably end things between them, she could only think back to her past and remember that boyfriends usually didn't take it very well when you told them you were now with someone else and being married was definitely with someone else. She couldn't bring herself to tell Leonard the truth, the thoughts of losing him were just too painful, and she couldn't just outright lie to him either, she cared for him too much, so she just continued to stare at Bernadette not knowing what to do.

Bernadette just looked at her for several moments before the pleading look, she was giving made Bernadette realize she was not going to say a thing. So, Bernadette decided that she would text Leonard herself, basically stall everything till Penny could actually tell him the truth. She really didn't have to say a lot anyway because Leonard just sent 'Hey, are you having fun' in his text so Bernadette quickly thought of a text that wasn't a blatant lie but still talked around the truth.

Hey, I'm with the girls, we have been having some really serious girl time this weekend.

Bernadette wasn't surprised to see his quick response.

OK, you have fun.

Bernadette quickly typed back:

We will, see you Monday night.

She then waited to see if he sent any more, only after waiting a couple minutes for nothing more to appear before she put the phone back on the night stand. Bernadette then looked back at Penny who was still watching her, "You know you are going to have to tell him sometime."

Penny slowly nodded, then turned around again in the bed, her back now facing Bernadette again, as she again went over and over again in her mind how much pain she knew she was going to feel after Leonard left her.

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That Monday morning Penny knocked at the hotel door, it felt so strange with the mixed emotions she now felt, one of them being that she wanted to Zack to answer how they could be married and explain everything to her, while on the other hand her hoping he wasn't there so she could run away. Bernadette had found he wasn't leaving till Monday evening, like them, so she had made this meeting with him, it actually was something Penny wanted to do, because she still clung to the very faint hope that Zack being Zack was somehow wrong and without that hope, she knew she was lost.

It was the first emotion that was satisfied when true to his promise the door opened and Zack was there, she was actually so nervous that it took her a moment to speak, "Hi Zack, thanks for taking the time to see me."

Zack just smiled, "You're my wife, of course I have time for you."

Penny cringed when Zack said 'wife', the word seemed so wrong to her at the moment, the word just tortured her soul. She looked over at her friends who were standing there, the original plan had been that they would come with her to Zack's room then leave her to talk to him, but suddenly she didn't want them to leave. "Do you mind if Amy and Bernadette stay with me to talk?"

"No." then turning to them Zack gave them a little wave, "Hi, Amy and Bernadette."

Amy and Bernadette were both surprised Penny wanted them to stay and it sort of reaffirmed that the whole marriage to Zack thing was some big mistake and that Penny really didn't know about it. Also, both girls were dying to know how it all happened so even though it would probably be a little awkward for them to be there, neither of them would miss it for the world. So, they both gave Zack a little wave back and said in unison, "Hi Zack."

It was only a few moments later they were all sitting around Zack's room, Penny in a chair, Amy and Bernadette on a small couch, while Zack sat on the bed. It was only a moment after they got settled that Zack became the gracious host, "Do any of you girls want something to drink, I got some wine, beer, soda, water..." then looking at Penny, "and alcohol if you want it."

Penny felt she was going to need a strong drink before this was all over but also knew she didn't really need one after all that had happened that weekend. "If I could have a water that would be great." she told Zack.

Zack just smiled, "Sure anything for the wife." he then took the other girls' requests before he got up to get all the girls' drinks.

Penny was really starting to feel upset, every time Zack said something that inferred to her as his wife it just felt like a knife to her soul, and the worst part of it was she knew he wasn't being mean or teasing her, Zack was just not that kind of guy, so she really couldn't get mad at him, even though he aggravated her to death. So, it was only short time later they all had their drinks and were settled down again to talk, it was now time for Penny to start the conversation but in reality, she was afraid to ask questions because she feared she would hate his answers. However, after a long awkward silence she knew she had to begin, "Zack, do you know how we got married?"

"Of course, a husband doesn't forget how he married his beautiful wife." Zack said with a genuine smile.

Penny took a deep breath to keep from screaming at him for saying 'wife' again. "Where did we get married."

Zack's smile dropped, "You don't remember."

Penny shook her head, "No Zack, I had no idea we were married until the girls told me Saturday."

"But we have been married now for a while."

Bernadette couldn't help herself from asking, "When you say a while, how long are we talking about?"

Zack looked up as he thought, taking several seconds while the girls watched, "It has been over two years, so I guess we are in our third year of marriage." he finally told them smiling again.

They all jumped when Penny's water bottle hit the floor, it was just lucky it was plastic and she had screwed the top back on after taking a drink. "How can that be?" she asked in disbelief.

Bernadette jumped in again, "You didn't tell us where this marriage took place." she reminded Zack

He smiled again, "Well here of course, Las Vegas."

Penny looked at him, "But I only came here once with you while we were dating, over two years ago...OH MY GOD!"

Zack smiled, "Now you remember." He then quickly told all three of them about the evening, Penny having a great time, getting really drunk, and how she thought it was so funny there was an Elvis chapel and wanted to go in and see it. Penny just stared at him as he explained what happened next as Amy and Bernadette just listened in disbelief. His story was all over in just a couple minutes and it took almost a minute longer for Penny to find her voice, the girls just looking at and waiting for her to say something.

"No, that couldn't have happened, that was a fake wedding, it couldn't be real, the guy that performed the wedding was an Elvis impersonator, it couldn't have been real." she blurted out in shock

Zack just continued to smile, "Of course he was an Elvis impersonator, we could never afford a real Elvis."

Penny just shook her head, "No...NO...there has to be a mistake, it was not real, it was a fake chapel and a fake wedding." She then looked at her friends and saw their sympathetic looks to her, and it finally sunk in that it had maybe been real.

"Penny I'm so sorry but they are real." Amy said softly to her and Bernadette only nodded

Penny just slumped in the seat she was in, a look of sadness and defeat covering her face as she quietly mumbled, "It really didn't seem real."

Several awkward minutes again went by with Penny not saying a thing, so as previously Bernadette decided to ask a couple of questions. "Zack, didn't it seem strange to you when you and Penny stopped seeing each other."

Zack nodded, "Yeah, a little, but one of my friends told me about open relationships and knowing about Penny's past I figured that was the kind of marriage we were in."

Penny groaned at Zack's response before looking at him, "God Zack, what made you think I would marry you and then have an open relationship type marriage."

"I don't know, I guess it was the one night you got really drunk and gave me the idea to laminate the menus."

Amy looked at Penny in confusion, while asking "laminate the menus?"

Penny shook her head, "I'll explain later." then she looked back at Zack, "Why would me getting drunk make you think of me wanting an open relationship?"

"Well, that night you got pretty drunk, and before you started to throw up, you told me about all the guys you dated and all your one-night stands, then you asked me what I wanted to be." he explained.

Penny immediately hid her face in her hands before mumbling, "Oh God." to her it was another example of slut Penny and all the men who passed through her life.

Again, silence came over the room and Bernadette could see that Penny was not talking again, her face now in her hands, so she decided to continue with Zack for Penny, "Zack you do know that Penny has been in a relationship with Leonard for a year now?"

Zack smiled, "Little Science Leonard." then he frowned, "Isn't that not cool in an open marriage, I thought you weren't supposed to do relationships with anyone but your spouse, everyone else is just a hookup."

Penny now lost it, "I am not your wife! I didn't even know we were married or even agreed to be married! I have known Leonard for almost six years now and have been in love with him since the first year I met him, if I married anyone it would be him!" she then slowly calmed down, she really didn't want to hurt him, he was just a gentle giant, "Zack, you are a great guy but I have been with Leonard a lot longer than you and have been in love with him the whole time, can't you see this marriage thing between us was a misunderstanding, a mistake."

Amy and Bernadette stared at Penny in shock, her admission to loving Leonard for so long was something neither of them ever knew or even suspected based on the way Penny had acted since they both met her. Suddenly, Penny's actions and responses during the weekend made perfect sense, she was worried about her relationship with Leonard, she loved him and didn't want to lose him. They also couldn't not help but feel a little sorry for Zack, because he seemed to be happy married to Penny even if he didn't see her and that they were in some kind of open relationship thing he dreamed up.

"Wow Penny, I had no idea you felt that way." Zack said quietly

Penny sighed, "Zack, I have no idea what would have happened between you and I if I never knew Leonard and was dating you, but that didn't happen. Can you just understand that I have loved him for years and want only him."?

Zack nodded and smiled again. "Yeah, I'm actually happy for the little guy, you guys will be great together. I was a little stressed out about the whole open relationship thing anyway, I didn't know how many dates I could go on with a girl, how many I could sleep with or even if I was supposed to ask your permission first." he confessed. Penny, Bernadette and Amy all rolling their eyes after he told them that.

"Okay, can we get this fixed now, can we end this marriage." Penny asked, then looked at all of them to see if someone had an answer.

Amy who had been on her phone now spoke up, "I found the government site for annulments of marriages for Nevada."

"Well, it seems you can annul a marriage if it hasn't been consummated." she then looked at Zack and Penny, Zack was smiling and Penny had a sour look on her face and she shook her head 'no'.

"Okay, moving on, it also says you can get an annulment for fraud, bigamy, want of understanding."

Penny looked at Amy, "want of understanding, what does that even mean."

Amy then looked at Zack who just shrugged, before she looked over to Bernadette, "I think this will do." to which Bernadette nodded.

Two hours later the three girls and Zack where at the county courthouse having their signatures notarized on the annulment paperwork. It was actually surprising how fast the whole process was done, the clerk telling them they do at least 50 of these a week and it was the reason the courthouse was open on Saturdays to catch the Friday night weddings. She also told them that the paperwork would take 60-90 days to process so until they received the approved paperwork of their annulment, they were not to marry anyone else, the way she told them making it clear she was very serious. The clerks warning, not bothering Zack, made Penny feel stupid and foolish, and again like a slut.