A/N: Warning! This chapter is a bit heavy on the . . . "sexy" side, I guess you could say. Very PG-13. Don't look at me, Penny is well . . . Penny. However really it's mostly implied and vaguely describled so um, yeah. . . .

('Wicktory (you know who you are), sorry but you can't read this chapter. Ask Xandry or me to give you a vague summary.)

Chapter 18/Interlude: Penny Hayes

Looking at myself in the floor length mirror that stood beside my closet in my bedroom, I ran my hands over my flat stomach and down to my hips, turning this way and that as I studied my body. On good thing about prison, I suppose, was the weight loss. I was thinner than I had ever been in my life, so much so that I had to buy new clothes to fit my new figure. I frowned slightly as I placed my hands on my hips. My curves had diminished. How disappointing.

However thankfully I was still as gorgeous as ever. Plenty of makeup had covered up the circles under my eyes and a good long shower had softened my hair. I noticed I still needed a little mascara and so I grabbed some from my dresser and leaned into the mirror, applying it carefully. When I was done I stepped back again. It felt strange to wear something other than the Sky High cheerleader uniform. I rarely had worn anything else during the school days. The outfit I was wearing now though looked very similar. I think in my wistful reminiscing of the old days, I had picked it out on purpose that way.

Low-necked with slight mid-drift bearing, the shirt was long sleeved and bright orange. The low-rise mini-skirt was deep blue. The Sky High school colors. Sure I had hated the saps that went to that school, but I had loved being a cheerleader. It was an ugly shock to go from extremely popular to suddenly invisible when I was sent to that awful prison. I shuddered slightly and quickly put it out of my head.

The only thing that marred my beautiful outfit was the thin white cuff that was attached around my ankle: A power-draining cuff. They did not trust me enough to let me walk around town without it. That was why there was just me tonight, and no more. It was horribly lonely not to have my constant companions by my side. I had almost gone crazy in jail without them. Oh, but there I went again, thinking about that terrible place. I turned my thoughts to what was going on tonight as I got out some dark blue nail polish (to match the skirt).

The date with Lash. My date with Lash. No one ever knew this, but I had always had a slight crush on him. Sure he wasn't hot like the guys I used to flirt with, but he was awfully cute and good-looking. And he had always been deeper than Speed. I could tell sometimes when I studied him when he wasn't looking. He would get these thoughtful looks on his face that sent shivers down my spine.

Of course we flirted back and forth sometimes, never serious because Royal Pain wanted to make sure we formed no attachments. I had flirted with Speed too. I flirted with every guy at that stinking school. But never, not once, did I ever know what it was like to have someone who actually cared. I saw that Lash could care if he wanted to. He just didn't want to. That posed a challenge, and I liked challenges.

So when he came to visit me in prison, I knew I would not be allowed to live if I gave out any crucial information. Royal Pain's little henchmen would make sure I never spoke again. I did not know why they had not done away with Lash yet, but supposed they did not see him as a threat. However they knew that I knew more than the two boys did put together. Girls like to stick together and Royal Pain had told me much more than was safe for me to know.

For some reason though, I figured: why not help out? I was just going to be stuck in prison the rest of my life anyway if I didn't help. And they had witness protection programs. I could demand for that. But still, that did not change the fact that I was in danger.

Now normally I would not even think about putting myself out on a limb for anyone. But I thought to myself: this is my chance! If I could just get Lash to actually care about me, everything would be alright. He would protect me. He would make sure I was safe.

"Penny!" my mom's voice broke through my ponderings and caused me to almost trip over my shoes as I turned to the door quickly. "That young man is here!"

She could never remember Lash's name. Not his nickname or his real name, although his real name is pretty forgettable. Who in their right mind named their son 'Stanley'? Unbelievable. Primping one last time in front of the mirror, I grabbed my purse and made my way downstairs. My lone footsteps on the steps caused my heart to ache once more in loneliness. I didn't know how much longer I could take being out of jail without my clones.

I opened the door and prepared a bright smile for Lash, which quickly turned to a frown of disappointment as he looked at me with extreme annoyance and dislike. He only glanced over my carefully planned outfit once before turning away and walking down the driveway without a word. I frowned darkly, shifting my purse higher on my shoulder and closing the door behind me as I stalked after him. Obviously this was not going to go very well.

His car was nothing flashy. I was slightly surprised. Lash always cared about looking good before the whole Royal Pain mess. I supposed he had mellowed out since then. He got into the driver's side of the car without holding the passenger's side door open for me. I huffed in annoyance at the lack of chivalry although I was hardly surprised. I let myself into the car and buckled my seat belt.

"So," I said as he backed out of the driveway and into the street, trying to keep my voice light and somewhat condescending like my normal tone. "Where are you taking me?"

His hands tightening on the steering wheel, turning the knuckles white, and his jaw clenching tightly was the only response I got. Holding back a sigh, I tried to get some sort of response out of him, just so he would acknowledge my existence. Crossing my dark, slender legs slowly, I smoothed my short skirt on them and then twisted slightly to give Lash a small grin.

"If you're trying to make this easier on you," I said slowly, planning my words carefully. "Don't. This angry angst act of yours is sooooo sexy."

A muscle in his jaw twitched, but he still refused to look over at me. Instead he made a quick turn that tossed me against the side of the door. My elbow hit the hard plastic harshly and I growled in annoyance, shooting a glare his way. I was even more annoyed to see the smug smirk that graced his way-too-hot lips.

"Geez, you don't need to get so offended," I said, flipping my hair over my shoulder with an air of indignation. "It was a compliment." I snickered, wondering if that would get a reaction. . . . It didn't.

Giving in to my sigh, I leaned back in my seat and massaged my sore elbow. I hoped he did not do that again. Didn't he know I was delicate? Well, maybe not that delicate, but it was nice to think so sometimes. After a few more miles he pulled into the parking lot for a restaurant I had never seen before. It was simply called "Nicky's" and looked nice enough. Not as fancy as The Paper Lantern, but not a dump either. Without a word Lash parked and got out of the car, slamming the door abruptly. Trying my best not to be offended by any of his actions, I opened my own door and slid out, shutting the door softly behind me. I walked up to the door where Lash was and we went inside.

Apparently my outfit seemed to work on every male in the building except Lash. Eyes followed me as we followed our host to a free table and several cat-calls were heard. I smirked and glanced at Lash to see how he would react. No response was forthcoming. Inwardly sighting in disappointment, I sat down abruptly and he sat down across from me.

He was so different it was aggravating! Before the Royal Pain-in-the-butt incident, he would have been scoping me just like all the other guys in the room. He would have laughed at my snarky comment and flirted back. He would have taken notice of me. But now instead he just sat there, glowering at the menu as if it had personally ruined his life. I inspected by bright blue nails while I waited for a waitress to come. The silence was very heavy between us and I didn't have the courage now to try and break it.

Luckily the waitress came quickly. I just ordered a salad and some water, and all Lash ordered was a burger. I twiddled my thumbs absently as he lightly drummed on the table with his knuckles, not having anything to glare at now that the waitress had taken the menus away. I cleared my throat hesitantly to speak, but he suddenly glowered at me with a look so fierce it made me shrink back in my seat.

The minutes passed by slowly. It was agonizing. Every time I ventured to say something, he would growl softly and I would stop. It was obvious that he was determined to have the worst date in the history of mankind. I ended up pouting through most of it. Several guys came over to our table to introduce themselves to me near the end, and when they did I smiled pleasantly and flirted back and forth for a while before their own dates got jealous and dragged them back after a while.

Throughout all this, Lash continually checked his watch and ran his fingers agitatedly through his hair. When our food came he ate quickly and quietly. I ate between visitors. Therefore there was not a lot of time for me to think of something to say to him. When we were both done eating, he got up abruptly, grabbing the check, leaving the tip, and going over to pay for the meal. I got up slowly, straightening my skirt out and getting a few whistles from behind me. I ignored them.

Lash came back and we both walked outside. Before we got to his car however, I decided I was fed up with this silent treatment and wanted some attention from him. However it turned out I didn't have to, for as soon as we arrived at the car, he stopped and turned toward me, leaning against the vehicle and folding his arms.

"So, I took you on a date," he said, speaking for the first time that night. His face was dark with a frown. "Now tell me what I need to know."

I huffed in annoyance. "You call that a date?" I demanded to know, placing one hand on my hip and shifting my weight to the foot connect to that hip in a perfect picture of cheerleader skepticism. My eyebrows raised high for effect. "I might as well have been dating a lump of wood!"

His scowl did not let up. "That's as good a date as you're going to get," he growled. "Now tell me what you know."

I pursed my glossy lips, knowing I was more valuable now to him than I would ever be. I needed to use that to my advantage before he took what he wanted and left me to be killed by Royal Pain's cronies. Taking a deep breath mentally, I simply tossed my head and smirked slightly.

"Nope. First you have to kiss me."

His scowl gave way to an expression of shock and confusion. "What?" he choked, his arms dropping to his sides as he slumped against his car. I smiled coyly and stepped closer.

"You heard me. That was a terrible date so the only way you can get your information is if you kiss me."

Lash blinked at me blankly and I had to hold back another sigh. He obviously knew nothing about girls and the way they thought. Had he never guessed that I had a crush on him? Had I been too subtle? Or had he been too oblivious? I decided he must have been too oblivious. He was now watching me nervously, as if trying to understand.

"Look, if you don't want the information . . ." I said with a shrug, readying to go back to my safe (comparatively) jail cell if he was not going to cooperate. I turned to go around to the other side of the car.

Suddenly his hand grabbed my elbow, and he turned me to him. Wrapping his other arm around my waist, he pulled me up to him, pressing my body against his as his lips came crashing down on mine. I responded almost instinctively, wrapping my free arm around his neck and running my fingers through his hair vigorously.

Unfortunately the force at which he pulled me too him knocked us off balance and we slammed into his car rather painfully. My knee cracked against the edge of the fender and I could feel it break the skin. However it proved to be worth it for now we were lying across the hood of his car, making out as if we were the only ones in the universe. I had made out with guys before, but this, this was heaven to me.

I was suddenly glad I didn't have my powers at the moment. There was no way I was going to share this experience with any one of my clones. His hands moved over my back, my hips, and my bare stomach, sending shivers up my spine as I massaged his scalp and gripped his shirt tightly, holding him to me. To say I was surprised at his sudden passion and fervor would be an understatement. I honestly did not believe he would react like this.

In our enthusiasm we eventually rolled off the hood of the car and onto the ground. Thankfully I landed on top of him and therefore did not hurt myself any further. We only broke contact to take a breath before we plunged into each other's mouths once more. I seriously wondered if we were going to do it right there in the middle of the parking lot, but suddenly we heard a loud clearing of someone's throat and broke apart abruptly.

The manager of the restaurant was looking down at us with a disgusted and angry expression on his face. He pointed to the car.

"Get up and get out of here," he ordered. "You're disturbing my costumers."

I stood slowly, pulling down my skirt to his normal position and straightening my top. I walked nonchalantly over to the car and stood by the door, waiting for Lash to unlock it. He got up quickly, pulling down his shirt, his face a deep scarlet. Muttering an apology to the manager, he walked stiffly back to the car and unlocked it, getting inside quickly. I did so as well and we drove back the way we had come.

A tense and uncomfortable silence fell over the car. For some reason I suddenly felt dirty. What I did was awfully underhanded and while usually I don't mind, this time something about it bugged me. I smoothed down my skirt over my legs and noticed that my knee was bleeding. I sighed.

At my small sound, Lash jerked almost convulsively. The car swerved slightly but he was quick to bring it under control. I noticed then that his face was pale and that he looked rather sick. Beads of sweat dotted his forehead and his breathing was ragged. I smoothed down my rumpled hair and tried not to feel guilty.

When we reached my house I got out slowly. Lash stayed in the car. When I noticed this I sighed and got back in. Opening the glove compartment, I pulled out a map of Maxville. Looking over it intently, I eventually found what I was looking for.

"There," I said softly. "That's where the Academy is. It's underground and heavily surveillanced, so I don't know how you'll get in, but that's where it is." I pulled out a pen from the compartment and circled the spot. Lash glanced down at it.

"There's nothing there," he said in a strained voice. He cleared his throat roughly.

"You're smart, you'll find it," I said flippantly, shoving the map back into the compartment and shut it abruptly. Picking up my purse from where I had put it under the seat, I got out of the car again and shut the door. Turning, I walked back up toward my house.

"Hey Penny?" I heard Lash's voice call me. I turned slowly, apprehensively.

"Yes?"

"If you ever try that again, I'll personally report you to Royal Pain's guards." The ice in Lash's voice sent shivers down my spine, and this time they were not at all pleasant.

Jerking my head in a stiff nod, I stalked up my front steps and into my house, slamming the door behind me. It was only then that I let myself break down. Running to my room, I threw myself on my bed and sobbed, ignoring the now throbbing pain of my skinned knee. By being the slut people expected me to be, I had lost the one thing I had ever wanted. Lash. There was no way he could ever like me now.

Lash's POV

I breathed much easier when she was out of my car and out of sight. As I drove home the sick feeling in my stomach worsened however. My hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly I felt the leather creak underneath my sweaty hands. How could I have been so stupid? I ground my teeth together and pushed sixty on the neighborhood street, half wishing a cop would pull me over so I could get punished for my disgusting act.

I did not know what had come over me. Obviously some part of me was attracted to Penny in that way, otherwise it would have never happened. I ran my hand through my hair agitatedly, still tasting her vividly. Grimacing in disgust at myself, I abruptly pulled into a driveway only to find that it was not my own but Ana Lucia's. I groaned and dropped my head down onto the steering wheel. My mind must have automatically gone here for I often went to her house when I was feeling troubled.

Turning off the engine, I climbed out of the car and walked up to the door, feeling miserable, dirty, and sick all at the same time. The door opened slowly and I felt even worse when I looked down at Ana Lucia's sweet face. She had her glasses on which told me she had not been expecting me. Right now though a dorky Ana Lucia was a thousand times better than no Ana Lucia at all . . . or worse, Penny. A shudder of self-loathing ran through my body.

"Lash?" Ana said hesitantly. "What's wrong?"

I stumbled in without answering her for a minute and hurried to the kitchen to get some Coke, wanting to wash all taste of Penny out of my mouth. When I finally could not feel it anymore, I turned to Ana Lucia who was watching me worriedly. Without waiting for her to ask again, I walked over and gathered her up in my arms, burying my face in her shoulder.

"Lash, what's wrong?" she asked again, her accent thick with concern. "You're scaring me."

I groaned. "Oh Ana, just smack me or punch me or kick me or something!" I begged, holding her tighter so I would not have to look in her face. However she pushed me away anyway since I could feel my will crumbling just standing there.

"Now why would I do any of those things to you?" she asked, her voice light but her dark eyes serious.

"Icheatedonyou," I mumbled incoherently. She frowned in confusion.

"What was that?" she asked.

I heaved a great sigh. "I cheated on you," I said slowly, miserably. "With Penny."

Ana Lucia blinked at me for a moment, before realization dawned on her. She took a small step backwards.

"Oh," she said simply and then just stood there, watching me.

Her silence just about did me in right there. I found myself babbling. "I don't know what happened. I was making sure I didn't do anything that would lead to that. I didn't speak to her. I hardly looked at her and never said or did anything to make her think I was remotely interested in her. But then she said that since it was a crappy date I would have to kiss her to get the information. I wasn't going to do it, but then I thought of Alex and I knew I couldn't just give up so I kissed her. But I . . ."

I trailed off, unable to finish. Ana Lucia betrayed no emotion. Dang, she was good.

"Went too far?" she concluded for me, her voice impassive.

I swallowed hard. "Yeah," I said lamely.

Ana Lucia crossed her arms. "Do you like her?" she asked.

I shook my head instantly. "No. It was purely a male instinct thing I swear. She was really . . . seductive the whole time. My will just . . . collapsed." I grimaced. "Forgive me? Please?"

I looked at her pleadingly, unable to think of what I would do if she dumped me right then and there. A sick part of me realized that I might go crawling back to Penny and I knew there was no way I could let that happen.

Ana Lucia gave a small sigh and uncrossed her arms, relaxing visibly. I held by breath as I watched her tentatively.

"Of course I forgive you, Lash," she said, and held out her hand to me. I took it and then crushed her to me in a hug.

"Thank you," I murmured into her hair, feeling as though a gigantic weight had been lifted off my shoulders. She gripped the back of my shirt tightly and I could feel her when she sighed slightly again.

"Did she tell you where to find Alex?" she asked, her voice muffled by my shirt.

"Yeah," I muttered, breathing in her scent with relish.

"Mmm, good." She snuggled deeper into my arms and I was again relieved. However I knew that despite all this, I could never go near Penny again. Never.

So um, yeeeeeeeah. That's how it turned out. Review and tell me what you think. ducks flying tomatoes