Josie woke up in Penelope's arms and she realized what stories and words were exchanged yesterday. She noticed that Penelope was awake and there was moment of panic. She needed her walls up. She needed them to survive.
''Do you want me to pretend I am asleep so you can sneak out again?''
She took some time to answer.
''No… I just don't want to talk about it now. I know you want to talk…But please… Can we just skip it now?''
''Ok… I can give you the free pass…''
''Thank you Penelope.''
''It doesn't mean that I will drop this…''
'' I know that too.''
Josie lifted her gaze and was faced with her favorite set of green eyes.
''Good morning Jojo…''
She kissed her and Josei smiled.
''Good morning Penny…''
They were about to kiss again when Hope opened the door. She smirked at them and turned on the side.
''Found her! Tell Dr. Saltzman she will be there in a minute.''
Penelope and Josie covered themselves and glared at Hope.
''Jo, you are needed. Your evil twin is demolishing the kitchen…again…''
Penelope and Josie honestly didn't want to hear that or have anyone disrupt their morning.
''What happened?''
''What do you think? New object of her affection said she is not object of his. Long story short, your dad is there avoiding flying plates and knives.''
Josei rolled her eyes.
''Need some help Jojo?''
''Yes… Please put her to sleep…or something…''
''Oh, it will be my pleasure babe.''
Penelope turned to Hope.
''Can you give us a minute?''
''Sure… Get dresses…''
Hope closed the door and Penelope and Josie got dressed very fast. Penelope put on sweatpants and shirt and Josie put on jeans and shirt she had last night.
''Let's go and handle the pest.''
Josie just rolled her eyes.
''You are enjoying this too much.''
''I am…''
They got to the kitchen and saw Alaric hiding and Lizzie using magic to throw things around. Josie was a bit worried, but Penelope said the spell that put the other girl to sleep and made her float in the air. Rick and Josie turned toward her.
''It's not safe to let her drop on the floor. She might cut herself. Dr. Saltzman, take her to her room and Hope and I will clean this mess up. ''
''Thank you Penelope.''
She nodded at Josie to join her dad. This was not about Lizzie, it was about him. He needed her so Penelope believed it would be easier for him if Josei was there. They left the kitchen and Hope stood there with her arms crossed.
''Why are we cleaning up this mess?''
''For Josie… She doesn't need this too… And I know that you know the spell to get all the broken things back together…and so do I… So… It will take us…less than five minutes to fix this. It would take Josie and her dad hours.''
''Fine Park…''
They did the spell and all the broken things came back together. Then Penelope did another spell and it was all back in the place. Kitchen was good as new. Dr. Saltzman came down to see if they needed help. He was surprised to see everything as it was before Lizzie's tantrum0.
''Wow! You did amazing job.''
''Thank you Dr. Saltzman and you are welcome.''
''Thank you girls one more time… Please don't mention this to anyone. It's better for no one to know about this.''
Hope just nodded and Penelope turned to face him.
''You know that everyone knows? She is talk of the school...and so are you and Josie. She has all the privileges that you deny the other students. If anyone else demolished kitchen or any other room, there would me some consequences. Everyone would get some sort of punishment from this, but she gets away with it all the time. She gets all of your attention and Josie gets to clean up the mess. No matter what mess her life is at that moment. You don't see that… You never see Josie and her pain. You only see Lizzie and justify all of the things she says or does.''
''What do the other students say?''
''That she is crazy, that you are weak and you have favorites. They call Josie doormat. You get the picture. You must pick…You is either father or headmaster… You can't be both.''
Penelope left the kitchen and Rick stayed shocked.
''What was that?''
''Someone finally saying what many people think.''
''You agree with her?''
''About most of the things said…''
''But…''
''You forget that you are father of two. Just because Josie doesn't make mess doesn't mean that she doesn't need her dad too.''
''She is very opinioned and passionate. She thinks I suck as a father.''
''That is just Penelope. Sometimes she just cares too much… And she really cares this time. Especially when it comes to Josie.''
Hope smiled.
''She loves Josie.''
''They are friends?''
''Dr. Saltzman, I think you should talk to Josie about her and Penelope… Maybe that's the best thing to do.''
Hope's comment set the alarm in his head that said dad talk needed. If his gut feeling was right, this was just a speech he got from Josie's girlfriend. He was schooled by Josie's girlfriend that he sucked as a dad. If she was really dating Penelope and he had no idea about it, than the other girl was right. He sucks as a dad.
Penelope opened the door of the twin's room and found Josie sitting on her bed and watching Lizzie sleep it off. She turned and saw Penelope at the door. She showed her to come in and she did. She took a seat beside Josie and Josie cuddled up to her.
''You are already done?''
''Yes, two spells and it was finished.''
''My dad will hire you to be permanent cleaning crew.''
''I am not so sure.''
'"Why?''
''I might said some things… I think he is angry at me.''
''What did you do?''
''I basically told him he sucks as a dad.''
''Penelope…''
''I am sorry… But he really got me angry and some of these things I wanted to say for the longest time ever.''
''Thank you…''
''What for?''
''For defending me.''
She kissed Penelope and at that moment door opened and Alaric walked in. All three of them were surprised with this. He expected Josie to be alone with Lizzie and girls had no idea he would come.
''Oh, I'm sorry…''
Penelope got off the bed.
''I'll see you later…''
She passed Rick at the door.
''Dr. Saltzman…''
''Penelope.''
Father and daughter were left in awkward silence not sure who should start the conversation and what the actual topic should be. Lizzie? Penelope? Josie's relationship with Penelope? Lizzie's tantrum? Josie needing him too? So many topics and none of them knew how to start.