Penelope was sitting on her bed with few books and doing her homework. Josie had to do some things with her dad and Lizzie, so she was not expecting her for a few hours at least. There was a knock on P's door and she was surprised to see Raphael standing there.
''Can we talk?''
''Sure, come in…''
She took a seat on her bed and he was sitting across from her on a chair.
''What is it?''
''I think I like Hope…''
She knew he did like Hope. They were looking at each other a lot lately and she noticed that her friends liked him back. But, that was Hope. She would rather die than tell anyone she has romantic feelings for someone… She looked at the boy in front of her and raised her brow.
''You think?''
''Fine, you ass… I like her…''
She smiled triumphantly…
''Good, now we can talk.''
''You are so frustrating sometimes Park.''
''And yet, here you are…In my room…talking to me…''
''Who else can I talk to?''
''You wound me young wolf…''
''I am sorry. I didn't know your witch heart was so delicate…or is it your vanity and pride that is delicate?''
'' You see this hand ? If I move my finger right and say the right words….''
''You can make Josie see stars?''
''You are not helping your case wolf…''
''Oh, sorry… I was rude…Continue your threat.'''
''Thank you… You are one spell away from being blasted out of the room…''
Josie came back early and just entered Penelope's room. She was surprised to find Raphael there. She knew nothing was happening with him and Penelope, but it was surprise.
''What are you doing here?''
''Your girlfriend was bragging what her hand and magic fingers with right words can do?''
''Do I even want to know?''
''I told him he is one spell away from being blasted from the room... He was the one mentioning your orgasm…''
Josie looked at two of them confused. She took off her shoes and took a seat beside Penelope on the bed.
''What did I walk in to?''
Penelope kissed her and smiled.
''He likes Hope…''
''Oh, he finally said it or you used your wicked mind tricks to get him to say it.''
''He did it himself…''
''Oooo, cute… Now we can double date.''
''You are screwed my friend! This one is on the mission now.''
''I am afraid of this Josie…''
''You should be. She is about to pout at you and make sad eyes for you to accept her idea of arranging the double date.''
''Penelope!''
''What? I am just saying that it would be easier for him if I blasted him out of the room.''
''Please Park, tell me it's still and option….''
''No, I'm afraid it's not. I want to see you resist this…''
''Bitch…''
Josei followed their exchange and didn't' really understand what the issue was.
''Why? It would be cute…''
''Baby, let them do it themselves.''
''But she likes him too…''
''I know, but maybe they should try to do some things alone… Stop planning their wedding in your head.''
Josie rolled her eyes on that. Raphael saw that as a good chance to tease her.
''Yes, focus on yours with P.''
Penelope threw a pillow at him that he returned very fast.
''Stop two of you!''
''She started it!''
''I can't…I already have one brat in my room… I can't deal with two more.''
''Babe, that hurts.''
''I know…''
Hope entered the room wanting to talk to Penelope and was surprised to see Raphael and Josie there.
''Just the person we were talking about?''
''You were?''
Raphael narrowed his eyes on Penelope.
''We were thinking about going for lunch and wondering if you wanted to join…''
''Me?''
''Yes… MG has some mysterious date so our Raphael needs company since he thinks we are not good company.''
''How is that possible? Two of you sucking faces all the time? I am not sure if I could call you company…''
''We can always go back to fighting…''
Josie pulled Penelope in her arms and kissed her cheek.
''Hey, I love being in a relationship again. Stop it two of you!''
Penelope hated the word cute.
''You are sickening cute.''
''I am not cute...''
''Yes, you are babe…''
Raphael looked at Hope?
''So, lunch?''
''I guess. Someone has to save you from these two idiots.''
''And Penelope, how do you know about MG and the date?''
''I know everything Hope…''
''I am afraid of you…''
''You should be.''
Penelope got off her bed.
''This body of a goddess and a smile of angel can get you every information…even the MG's date.''
''You set him up?''
''Yes…''
'"Who with?''
''Angela…''
''The hot vampire?''
''Yes… And I appreciate you saying she is hot since Josie is very jealous when I say that.''
Josie was pouting.
''She is not that hot.''
Raphael had to comment on that.
''She is but you are just jealous she was after Penelope.''
''I hope you know I could also blast you from the room?''
''But you wouldn't…''
''Don't push…''
Penelope changed and they all went downstairs to the dining hall. Hope and Josie went for food and Penelope stayed with Raphael.
''How do you do it?''
''What?''
''Think of things that fast and easy?''
''This lunch?''
''Yes… She has no idea …No, they both have no idea that you made this into double date.''
Penelope smirked.
''I can't refuse her anything… BUT I will never let her know how much power she has over me.''
''Why?''
''People tend to abuse power…Sometimes for good and sometimes for things that are not so good.''
''Do you think she would abuse that?''
''We all do… Especially Josie.''
''What?''
''She does believing she is doing the right thing. She did it before when we were together. She believed I would forgive her everything because I love her. She believed I will always understand her need to run to Lizzie whenever she asked it from her. At one point I snapped.''
''Why?''
''I felt like her personal whore rather than a girlfriend.''
''What?''
''She comes to get off and hten she leaves to be with Lizzie, help Lizzie… You know…''
''But she loves you.''
''She does, but I wanted more. I wanted her to recognize me as a partner. She didn't even come out to her dad…''
''He has no idea?''
''He found out after we broke up….but it's not the same. ''
''I get it.''
''And she came out just because she was cornered… She had to… Lizzie called me a bitch and they had to tell their dad what's going on. Because I would get in trouble if he didn't know. Lizzie called me a bully.''
''That sucks.''
''Yes, it does.''
''But you are ok now?''
''We are… We are working on it…Sometimes it's amazing, and sometimes I wonder if I really need to go back into that.''
''And what happens then?''
Penelope turned to watch Josie and Hope talk to some girls in line. Josei was fixing her hair and then she caught Penelope's look. She smiled at her and the other girl smiled back. She turned back to Raphael.
''This happens… I just look at her and realize that I love her and she is worth the effort.''
''Do you think I should try something with Hope?''
''I don't know. It's your choice… I know she is pretty awesome and you will be missing if you don't try. She is very loyal, fearless and badass… And I think you need that now.''
''Why?''
''If you start dating, she is not scared to face your demons because she has hell of her own. She knows how it feels.''
''Fine… I will think about it.''
Two girls came with their food and they started eating. There was weird silence. Raphael turned to Hope.
''Hope, would you like to go with me to the movies?''
''What movie?''
''Whatever you want?''
''Like a date?''
''No, not like a date…Actual date.''
''Ok… I could do it.''
''Good…''
''Friday?''
''After five… I have practice with dr Satlzman until five…''
''Six?''
''Sure…''
''We can got for dinner too. I know nice small place with amazing burgers.''
''I love burgers Hope.''
''Good…''
Hope raised her look from the food and noticed Penelope's smug face and Josie's very proud look. She narrowed her eyes on Penelope who blew her a kiss. Raphael went to get them some napkins and Hope continued glaring at the girls.
''You knew of this?''
''Yes, we did…''
''You set us up with this lunch Park?''
''I am not saying anything…''
''You are…''
''I know… I am amazing, sexy, deviant.'''
''Your girlfriend is annoying Josie…''
''I know… But that can be sexy sometimes.''
''Like now?''
''Maybe.''
Penelope left her fork and looked at Josie. She got up and took the other girl's hand.
''We'll see you later… MUCH later Hope… Enjoy playing with your puppy mate…''
She gave them the finger and they just run back to Penelope's room. Hope didn't want to know what why they left….but she really knew. Raphael was surprised to see them gone.
''What happened?''
''Their libido got in the way…''
''Cool, more food for us.''
Hope smiled at him and took Penelope's plate.
''This means longer run…''
''So, be it.''